Checkmate 2: Let the Games Begin (4 page)

“Yeah, she’s now ready to find out what I’m having. I can’t blame her because I’m real anxious to find out myself. You know she wants a granddaughter since we have our little, fat Monty Jr. now.”

“Yeah, we need a baby girl in the family, but if you have a boy we’re gonna love him the same.” Candy turned the faucet on in the kitchen sink as she gestured for Mona to come put her head under the warm water. Your brother is gonna be happy for you too, ya know,” said Candy as she began to wash Mona’s hair.

“I don’t know about Monty. He may have mixed feelings about me being pregnant especially while I’m still in school, but I told mama to let me tell him first.”

“Well, you may be right about that. Monty can be a little unpredictable at times.” Candy rinsed out the shampoo. She rubbed the conditioner in Mona’s hair as she continued to talk. “He’s just gonna have to get use to the fact that you’re pregnant and you know once he does then he’s gonna love his niece or nephew just the same as he does with MJ. He couldn’t be a better father and he’s going to be a great uncle.” Candy stated.

“Thanks for making me feel better about telling him,” Mona said as she sat down in the chair. Candy combed through her long auburn colored hair. She grabbed her scissors and began cutting the wet hair into layers for a shoulder length bob.

“Look at all my hair.” Mona said in shock as she picked up the hair off of the towel that was wrapped around her neck.

“Yeah, look at it. I still can’t believe you’re letting me cut it, but at least you still have hair. I’m thinking about cutting mine Nia Long short.”

“Wow, are you serious?”

Candy nodded. “Yep, I am but not right now. I’m gonna wait until after I finish school.” She then saturated Mona’s hair with setting lotion and wrapped it. “I can’t wait to start, because the sooner I begin the faster I’ll finish.”

“The good thing is that Cosmetology classes only last for 18 months and you’ll be finish in no time. You’re gonna breeze through it because you’re already talented. You got doing hair down to a
T
. You can cut, braid, sew in, bleach, dye, hot curl, and hook a sista up with the neatest eyebrow arching I’ve ever seen. I’m glad you decided to go to school for something you want to do. I’m also glad that your mama stood by your decision too.”

“Yeah, me too, but mama knows what I’m good at doing. She stop going to hair salons when I was about 13. She said that I was born with it. It’s just something in me. Thanks to y’all allowing me to experiment I’ve gotten even better with it over the years.” Candy grinned as she turned the dryer on.

“Yes, you have and I’m going to be coming to your shop all the time gurl. I can’t wait.”

“Me either gurl, because I’m going to hook my salon up; I can’t wait to start classes at the beginning of the year.” Candy lifted the top of the dryer up, asking her bestie to sit under it. Mona frowned. She hated sitting under the dryer. “You may as well come on if you want that hair to fall right when I stick that hot iron to it.”

“I’m coming.” She said sitting under the dryer with a playful pout.

“I’m gonna go check on my fat baby. He’s been knocked out this morning, but you would be too if you stayed up until three in the morning. Get yourself ready gurl for those long nights up.” Candy laughed as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom. She stood in her doorway and peeked in at MJ. He was still sleeping. She smiled and walked a little closer just to make sure he was breathing.

“Alright my sweet baby, mama’s about to wake your lil, fat butt up as soon as I put some warm water in your tub. We’re going to go see daddy.” She whispered as she stood there then a quick thought about Rico being at the office with Monty crossed her mind. She walked back into the den.

“Mo, why don’t you ride over to the office with me and MJ? We were going over there to see your brother and check out how far the remodeling has come along since they are close to finishing. My honey wants me to give him some pointers today when I get there.” Mona lifted the dryer up a little bit.

“You’re trying to be slick, huh? I know you Miss Thang and I also know when you’re up to no good. Rico is going to be there, isn’t he?”

Candy looked guilty. “Alright Mo, you got me but, you need to talk to him and it’s no time like the present.”

“It’s been about two months since I last saw Rico. Lord knows that I miss his sexy ass, but I’m still so mad at him.” She confessed.

“Well, don’t be. Just talk to him, Mo. Don’t let this chick come between y’all. Rico can take care of that baby, if it’s his baby, without being with her. It’s just up to you to forgive him and then y’all can move forward; if that’s what the both of you want. Did you tell your mama that he is the daddy?” Candy asked.

“Yeah, I did and to my surprise she basically told me the same thing you’re saying. She thinks it’s unfair to him not to know about the baby whether we decide to be together or not. She says she’ll give her grandbaby more love than he or she can get from me and Rico. I just laughed, because she can’t possibly love this baby more than I do. I’m in love already.” She responded.

“Trust me, I know the feeling.” She said thinking about the love she had for her son. “I’m about to fix MJ’s bath water and wake his lil butt up. So if you hear him screaming at the top of his lungs then you know why.”

Mona shook her head and grinned. “You and my nephew, y’all tickle me.” She paused with hesitating thoughts on her brain. “I think I’ll go ahead and go with y’all. It’ll be good to see how far along the building has come.” Mona said, feeling a little anxious about seeing Rico. “Plus, I wanted to spend some time with you and MJ.” Candy smiled, hoping that this would be the beginning of Mona and Rico working things out for the sake of the baby.

Chapter Four

Candy pulled up into the parking lot driving Monty’s new Tahoe, and parked right next to her black BMW 750 that Nancy had given her. She insisted that she keep it because she needed a bigger car with the baby and all. Mona looked around for Rico’s Impala, but she didn’t see it. She noticed Mama Mack’s black Chrysler 300 and was somewhat hoping that Rico had driven it there instead of his car. She felt a little relieved that he may not be there, but at the same time she was looking forward to seeing him. Candy felt disappointed that he was possibly not there too.
Damn, is he gone already?
She wondered turning off the ignition then looking over at Mona.

“Gurl, that hair looks good. Look how much body it has when you turn your head back and forth.” Candy stated.

“Chile, I know. I can’t believe how pretty it is. I wasn’t expecting this look.” Mona smiled as she pulled down the visor and took a look at her hair again in the mirror.

“You look like a more mature woman without those tomboyish braids.” Candy said.

“I feel like a different woman. Candy, gurl I gotta admit it, I’m really hoping that Rico is in there. I want him to see my new look. I guess I’ll just chat with his mama for a minute, because seeing her car must mean that one of them is in there.” Mona said.

“Yeah well, he’s gonna be stunned when he sees you. Whoever this chick is that’s supposedly pregnant by him ain’t got shit on you.” Mona hated the thought of knowing how pretty Monica actually was, but she definitely felt that Monica still ain’t have shit on her.

“Well, look at this place, Mo. It really looks good. They have really outdone themselves. I didn’t expect to all see this.”

“Yeah, I bet if the outside looks this good then, I can only imagine how the inside will look when Mama Mack finishes putting her charm on the place. She’s really good at what she does.” Mona said, opening the passenger door and stepping out the vehicle. “I’ll get my fat nephew out of his car seat. Look at him. He went straight to sleep before we could get out of the driveway good.”

Candy grinned. “Yeah, his lil butt is gonna keep me up all night; watch what I tell ya.” Mona unbuckled MJ’s car seat and lifted him up out of it. Candy picked up his baby bag off of the backseat, and admired how gentle Mona was with MJ. She knew that she would make a great mom.

“He really is getting heavy. I love this lil, navy blue Oshkosh B’Gosh jumper he has on. It is so cute.” Mona laughed as she held up MJ’s foot. “Who would think that they make Air Force One’s this small?”

“Well, he’ll be wearing Sean John after while, because his daddy is gonna dress him like he dresses once he starts walking. So I’m gonna take advantage of all the little cute baby outfits while he’s this small.” She and Mona walked toward the two-story building as Mona hugged MJ tight while sniffing around his neck.

“He always smells so good.” She said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, chile. I love that baby powder smell on babies.” Candy said as she opened up the double doors of the lobby and she and Mona walked in. “Wow, this place is nice as hell.”

“This place is really going to attract people and let them know that they mean business.” Mona agreed, turning in circles looking around. I thought Monty was playing around when he said that he was going to open up his own business soon. He proved me wrong.”

“Yes he did and I’m very proud of him.” Candy said just as Monty came walking down the stairs.

“Hey, baby. I’m glad you made it.” He said to Candy standing there with her back turned to him, peeking in one of the empty rooms. She looked good to him, with her black DKNY fitted jeans and a white button down blouse that hugged her small waist. Her black stilettos gave her a little height and he was turned on by her wide shapely hips. Candy turned around and smiled.

“Hey, babe,” Candy said quickly checking her man out with his favorite attire on. He was dressed in a blue and white striped, Sean John polo shirt, showing a hint of his white tee underneath it with a pair of dark blue, Sean John jeans and his white Air Force Ones. He smiled back at her with his pearly whites and she melted at just the thought of being in his arms. He walked over and kissed her on the lips. His touch still made her weak at the knees.

“Baby it looks so good in here. I just love this place.”

“I’m glad you love it.” Monty said noticing Mona with MJ as she walked around the corner where they were. “Hey sis, what’s up? Bring my lil man here.”

“Hey bruh.” Mona said walking over. “I am digging your taste. I love it in here.” She handed over a sleeping MJ. “Get your fat baby.”

“Hey daddy’s baby.”
Monty said, waking MJ up. As soon as MJ’s eyes were fixated on Monty’s face he began to smile. His deep dimples sunk in as Monty held him up in the air and blushed at his small look alike in his arms.
“Hey man. Hey… Is this Daddy’s baby?”
He asked gushing all over his mini me.
“Yes, it is. This is Daddy’s baby.”
Monty continued to hold MJ up in the air as his little shoes dangled back and forth. He snapped out of it looking over at Candy and Mona who were smiling too as if he was talking baby talk to them. “Y’all know I love my lil man.” he grinned.

“Let me show you ladies around. Y’all are gonna like the rest of the building too.” Monty began to walk around, showing each room. “Where we are standing is the lobby and over there by the lobby doors are the men and women restrooms. The remodeling crew is not done with the restrooms yet. The color we chose for the lobby area is Mochachino and as you can see it’s a smooth brown shade just like ya boy.” Monty grinned. “And if you look up you’ll see a beautiful sixteen light brass and gold transitional chandelier. It’s actually called quote unquote,
the lights on Broadway.”
Monty smiled feeling good that his new career came with ease. “They just put that up yesterday.” He said referring to the chandelier.

“Hey you’re really good at this. Are you listening to him Candy?” Mona asked. She was definitely impressed by her brother’s cool demeanor.

“Yeah, he is good with this and sounds very professional too.” Candy looked in his direction. “I love this side of you baby and I gotta say I also love this chandelier.” She stated. 

“Mama is going to love it too when she sees it.” Mona commented. “You may as well get ready to buy her one.”

“Mama don’t need this in her house. She got two nice chandeliers already. That’s all she need.” He said then continued to show them around. “So, ladies follow me this way.” He led them inside one the rooms. “Here is the main conference room. We’ll have most of our meetings in here. Right next door is the break room. Our guests will also be able to get snacks out of the vending machines.” He was very proud of what he had accomplished in so little time.

“Go head on, Bruh. It’s big in here.” Mona said as she looked around. “I love this color. It’s very pretty.”

“The color is called Sweet Midori. It’s a soft, greenish color, but more importantly it represents money for me.” Monty smiled kissing MJ on the cheek.

“You go, baby.” Candy said, smacking him on the butt. She could see the hustle mentality still in him, but was very thankful that it wasn’t from getting with pawns. “I love it.”

Monty smiled. “Thanks, Babe. Your man gotta new gig.” They all laughed as Monty directed them across the hall.

“This is one out of four private office spaces in the building. They are all very spacious and basically the same size. There are two of them upstairs and two downstairs. As you will notice all of the office rooms have the Sweet Midori covered walls and the rest of the building is in Mochachino. We will decorate our own individual spaces to our liking.” He informed them.

“That’s good.” Mona said as she smiled. “The fellas are going to like that.”

“So, look around. Tell me what you think of the place. When you go upstairs, it’s another nice size conference room and a smaller break room with his and her restrooms also. My office is upstairs and Rico is getting one of these down here.” He said just as Mama Mack showed her presence at the top of the stairs.

“Hey, ladies, how are you two doing today?” Mama Mack smiled. She noticed Monty holding the baby. “Wow, the baby has gotten so big. I must hold him in a minute, Monty.”

“Yeah, you can tell just how big he’s gotten when you hold him.” Monty responded while kissing MJ on the head again.