Page 26 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)

Isley

“Congratulations, baby!” Bern pulled me into a tight embrace and kissed my lips. “Are you excited?”

I nodded as I stared at the key to my suite in my hand.

I bit the bullet and got my own space. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and had Bern take a photo of me in front of the door.

I posted it to my socials immediately with the caption “Angelic Locs and Braids Coming Soon.” As soon as I hit post, so many notifications came through with my followers congratulating me.

Bern insisted on taking me out for a celebratory lunch at Taste of Italy before returning to the complex.

“Are you going to come up and spend the night with me?” he asked as we approached my apartment.

“Nah, I’m going to stay at home tonight. Aunt Fee is back and I want to spend some time with her.”

“That’s cool.” He pulled me into him. His cologne almost made me want to follow him back to his apartment immediately. He grabbed a handful of my ass then kissed my forehead. “I’ll call you later. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I replied before entering the apartment.

Bern stood at the door until I closed it. I couldn’t believe I was really dating my best friend. It was crazy how quickly life could change. But this was a good change. Progressing from friends to lovers was unexpected, but I welcomed it.

“What you smiling about?” Aunt Fee asked, nearly scaring me. My head was so far up in the clouds that I didn’t even see her sitting in the corner.

“Today I signed a lease for a salon suite so I can have a private space to braid hair instead of bringing clients here.”

She smiled widely and clapped her hands. “Oh wow. That’s awesome, Isley. Congratulations, baby!”

“Thank you, Auntie. I’m excited about it,” I admitted. I took a seat beside her. “What have you been up to today?”

The smile she had slowly faded away. “Well, I actually have something I want to talk to you about.”

A lump formed in my throat and my stomach did a somersault. I didn’t know what she had to tell me but the somberness of her tone assured me it was something serious. “Is everything okay, Auntie?”

She sighed. “I’m okay health wise…well, for the most part. But I’ve been thinking for a while now that I want to move back to Arkansas.”

Instinctively, I scrunched my face. “Huh? Where is this coming from?”

“With Steven being locked up there, it will be easier for me to visit him if I move. I already know they’re going to give him some serious time for those armed robbery charges.”

I sighed. They said a mother’s love was strong and Aunt Fee displayed that every day. She literally would sacrifice anything for her son. And as much as I didn’t agree with her reasoning for wanting to move, I simply nodded.

“Besides, Arkansas has always been home. Your Uncle Jack and his two boys are going to come up Saturday to move my things. There’s only a month left on the lease here.

I already talked to the property managers and they said you’re welcome to stay and take over this apartment unit and re-sign if you choose. ”

“I hate to hear that you’re leaving.” My voice broke. “But I want you to do what you feel is best for you. I’m going to miss you though, Auntie.”

“Oh Isley, don’t cry, sugar. You know you can come and visit me. It’s been a pleasure raising you and seeing you become a responsible woman. Nita would’ve been so proud. But it’s time for you to focus on you and you only.”

I wiped my tears as she wrapped her arms around me.

“I know Bern and Cynthia will love on you in my absence. That young man has always had a heart for you. So knowing he’s by your side makes my decision that much easier. You’re going to be just fine, Isley B.”

“But it’s not going to be the same without you here.”

“I know, baby, but I’ve been a burden on you long enough. You’ll never admit it, but it’s time to explore your dreams. Live life. Travel. There’s more to life than being a caregiver, Isley. You’ve spent more time taking care of me over the years than I did raising you.”

Everything she said was true, but I still didn’t want to accept the fact that she was moving.

Aunt Fee was a second mother to me. And even though I was critical of her coddling her son, she’d always been good to me and treated me like I was her own.

So many changes were happening and it was beginning to feel a bit overwhelming.

Bern and I had entered into a romantic stage, I was getting ready to open my salon suite, and Aunt Fee was going back to her roots in Arkansas.

There was a lot going on, but I was holding out hope that everything would work out for the best.

“I’ll take you to visit her next month if you want.” Bern held me tightly as I watched my Uncle Jack’s truck pull off.

I cried all week while helping Aunt Fee pack her belongings for the move. I had also spent all week finding her new health providers and signing releases to get her medical records transferred to the clinics she would be going to. I was emotionally exhausted from it all.

I wiped my tear-stained face. “She’s the only family I had here.”

“I’m your family,” he reminded me. “My mama is your family. We’re not blood, but you know how we both coming behind you. Don’t you?”

I nodded.

“I know you’re going to miss your aunt. But this new season is all about you, baby girl. I know your emotions are all over the place, but you’ll see it soon enough. In the meantime, you know my shoulder is always here for you to lean on.”

I smiled faintly. “You’re right. And I thank you for that.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I slid it out and was confused to see the police department’s number displayed on the caller ID.

I answered the phone and nearly fainted when I realized who was calling me.

“Snow? What the hell? What are you doing locked up?”

“I’ll explain later, but can you come bail my ass out?”

“I’m on the way.” I hung up the phone.

“What the fuck?” Bern asked with raised brows.

“I need to go.” I grabbed my keys from my pocket. “I’ll be back.”

“You want me to go with you?”

“No thank you… I got it.”

I made it down to the station in no time and was able to locate a bail bondsman to get my girl out. I knew Snow would be good for taking care of the fees later. After a couple of hours, she was released.

“So girl, spit it out… why the hell did you get locked up?” I asked as soon as we got into my vehicle.

“Well, you remember ol’ girl who shorted you on her hairstyle and claimed you fucked her cousin’s man?”

“Yeah, that broad Braylah. What about her?”

Snow pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

“She’s Unique’s cousin. Nique told Braylah you were fucking with Bern.

Apparently, they came up with a plan for her to schedule a hair appointment with you then attack you after you finished.

She was planning to get a free hairdo and whoop your ass.

But when Marshall showed up unannounced, she decided she would just short you on your money. ”

“Wow.” I didn’t even know what to say after that. Those hoes had plotted against me for something that hadn’t even happened yet. “How did you find out?”

“That hoe Braylah ran her mouth to the wrong people and it got back to me. So, I’ve been plotting on her ass ever since I found out.

Well, this morning the stars aligned because she was at the gas station at the same time as me.

She was struggling trying to put air in her tire, so I took that as an opportunity to go over there and wear her ass out. ”

“Why didn’t you beat her ass then leave so you didn’t get arrested, Snow?”

“Well, as luck would have it, there was an officer driving past when the shit happened. So, I was caught, sis. But that’s the gist of everything.”

“I don’t see any scars or marks on you, so I assume she didn’t get any licks in.”

“Nah, she never saw me coming.”

I chuckled. My bestie was not fucking around behind me. I knew she was fucked up about all that I had faced in the last couple of months. Between her and Bern, they had been super protective over me since the accident, so her running up on Braylah didn’t even surprise me.

“Thank you for having my back, sis.”

“Always. I know you’d do the same for me.”

Snow and I hung out for the remainder of the day.

Bern was so impressed with Snow getting street justice on my behalf that he offered to take care of any legal fees associated with her arrest. It was a great reminder that even though my aunt had left the city, there were plenty of people left who still had my back.