Black Butterfly (28 page)

Seantay

             
Randy had me sweating like crazy and my calves were burning. My cell phone vibrating was a welcome distraction from the pain. “Let’s take five,” I said as I grabbed my phone and a towel.

             
“Hello,” I said walking away from Randy’s nosey ass.

             
“The baby isn’t mine,” Raheem said calmly.

             
I was glad that it was all over. “Good,” I said.

             
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you baby. I love you.”

             
“I love you too.”

             
“Besides, his lost. If he hadn’t been greedy he could’ve made some real paper.”

             
“Yeah, all of the billboards came down and he didn’t get the magazine spread. I decided not to sue since he promised to set the record straight about us.”

             
“A happy ending huh?” Raheem asked.

             
“So far, but you have to learn to trust me,” I said sternly. “I have been faithful to you.”

             
“Just my insecurites getting the best of me. I wonder what a woman like you would want with an old street thug like me. I figured Dean was more your speed.” He laughed, but I didn’t.

“Just kidding baby. From now on I will trust you.”

             
“Good, because I am launching my clothing line soon. I am going to be spending a lot of time around other men.” I said springing the good news on him.

             
“That’s great baby! I’m so proud of you,” he said. “I got accepted in school like I said I would.”

             
“ Wow, that great’s news babe. How about we celebrate later. I’m working out, so I will call you in a little bit.”

             
“Okay, keep it tight for your man.”

             
“Love you baby.”

             
“Love you too.”

Chapter 19

Renell

             
It was another Beauvois Divas Day. The three of us had declared one Saturday of each month to get together and do something special. We would alternate which of us would plan the activities of the day and it was my turn. It was after six o’ clock and we’d just grabbed a bite to eat at an ocean side seafood restaurant. I was full of lobster and crab legs and was feeling spontaneous. The plan was to go bowling to burn off some calories, but somehow I ended up pulling into the parking lot of a tattoo shop.

             
“What are we doing here Nell?” Seandra asked. “This isn’t a bowling alley.”

             
“We are going bowling. I just thought we would stop here first.” I smiled mischeviously.

             
“What? Not Renell? You want a tattoo?” Seantay asked with big, sly grin on her face. She was the only one who had a tattoo. It was just a tiny tweety bird on her ankle.

             
“We’re all going to get one,” I said waiting for Seandra’s reaction.

             
Her nose turned up. “Oh hell no. I’m not getting a tattoo.”

             
“You can’t back out Seandra. Renell’s in charge of what we do. We didn’t back out when you took us skydiving. Remember the rules. No objections.” Seantay backed me up.

             
I smiled approvingly at my baby sister.

             
“Oh shut up Tay. You don’t care about the preservation of your body. You have three piercings!” Seandra snapped. She was afraid of needles and was too ashamed to admit it.

             
“C’mon Seandra,” I pleaded. “We will hold your hand the whole time.”

             
“We sure will,” Seantay added for good measure

             
“Can I squeeze really hard if it hurts?” Seandra asked sounding like a little girl.

             
Renll and I nodded.

             
“Promise?”

             
“We promise,” we said in unison.

             
We got out of the car and walked into the tattoo shop. The rednecks had no idea who we were which was a good thing.

             
“You get to chose the tattoo,” Seandra said. “Since this barbaric ass idea was yours in the first place.”

             
After about fifteen minutes I’d found it. “He we are ladies,” I said excitedly.

             
“A black butterfly? Oh gosh. That’s so morbid,” Seandra complained.

             
“Yeah, a butterfly is fine, but why does it have to be black?” Seantay asked.

             
“Oh my darling little sisters you two have so much to learn. Use your metaphoric minds,” I said.

             
“You’re such a nerd. Explain it to us.” Seandra rolled her eyes.

             
“A tattoo on your body for the rest of your life should mean something. The butterfly is symbolic of change. We all have gone through a metamorphosis. Think about it. We’ve become much closer. Not only that, but there are things in all of our pasts that tainted us. Therefore a black butterfly is the perfect representation of the darkness of that time before the change.” After saying it I realized that it all made sense. “We are black butterflies.”

             
We walked out of the tattoo shop that day with black butteflies in flight tattoed on our backs. I was the oldest, so my butterfly was underneath my left shoulder. Seandra’s was located in the center of the arch in her back andTay’s butterfly rested on her lower back.

             
“That shit hurt like hell,” Seandra flinched as she got into the Escalade.

             
“Yeah, my hand is sore and my ear is ringing from all your screaming,” Seantay laughed checking her phone.

             
“How am I supposed to bowl now? Nell, you did this on purpose because you know I’ll beat your ass at bowling,” Seanda boasted giving me the challenge face.

             
“Oh, okay. We will see,” I said taking her challenge seriously.

             
“I’m glad we went through that together. It was such a bonding moment. I love you guys,” Seantay smiled.

             
“Aww,” Seandra and I said. We all laughed.             
              “Oh, and by the way. How do you two feel about doing a reality show? Some major networks have have made us offers,” Seantay said out of the blue.

             
“Hmm, that’s one to think about,” I said.

             
“Let’s call our lawyers after we go bowling,” Seandra said pulling out her iPhone.

             
Seantay was also engulfed in her phone when I noticed the look on her face.

             
“What is it Tay?” I asked. The look on her face was pure horror.

             
“I don’t know,” she said throwing the phone to me like a hot potato. “I don’t recognize the number.”

             
It was a text message that read in all caps.

             
YOU FUCKED OVER THE WRONG NIGGA BITCH!!!

             
“It’s probably nothing,” Seantay said with an uneasy look on her pretty face. She looked like her mind was scanning her memory for the culprit. “Maybe I should call the number back to see who it is.”

             
I couldn’t help but think it was probably something as I gave her phone back.

             
“Turn the radio up,” Seandra said. “I think I heard Maurice’s name.”

             
I turned it up and heard the deejay say, “The music mogul was found dead in his Atlanta mansion, the apparent victim of a drug overdose. This all follows the tragic split with his fiance’ Seandra Beauvois. We will have more for you as the story develops.” I reached over and grabbed Seandra’s hand. She squeezed, but didn’t say a word. Only silence filled the car as I drove off.

Stay tuned…