Page 13 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn

BALTIMORE

JustwhenIthoughtmy ass couldn’t fall harder for Maddie, she went and did some shit that solidified her place in my heart and my life. From the moment she held Genesis, I knew that she was in love. Judging by how Genesis calmed the minute Maddie held him, he felt the love flowing from her. Whereas he cried the whole court session, he hadn’t made a peep the whole ride back to Bell Estates.

At my age, I had already made up my mind that if I didn’t have an heir, I was cool with it. Although my parents yearned for me to have children, I wasn’t pressed to give them any. If it was meant for me to have my own natural children, then I would be cool with that too.

Genesis Bell, though. Something about that little boy snagged the fuck out of my heart. Recalling how I waited by Genika’s side as she lay on the floor dead, with her baby still inside her, I swallowed emotions that flared up out of nowhere.

The entire time I prepared Genesis’s room, I prayed and blessed everything my hands touched. In my head, Genesis and I had a bond that was deeper than any bond I had with the Bells. I risked my freedom to see to it that he didn’t lose his life. I would risk my life to see to it that he was safe and secure, always.

Shit.A part of me wished to bring Duval back if only to break his fucking neck. Genika was an adult and made her own bed. Genesis was a defenseless baby. I didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened to him had I not gone inside Genika’s house or made the decision to call the paramedics. Duval made no effort to save Genesis. He made no effort to get help to Genika or the baby at all. That nigga was the lowest of scum and was where he deserved to be.

And now, I was about to cuff his widow, daughter, and his son.

Now that we had Genesis secured, it was time for me to secure Maddie’s heart. I said I would give her time to prepare, but I’d changed my mind. We were grown as fuck and time wasn’t waiting for either of us. Fuck that she’d just buried Duval mere weeks ago. She’d mentally left her union years ago, and Duval had plenty of time to show her true love. Instead, he died and left a widow who was yearning not only for a man’s love, but a man’s touch as well. I would supply her with both.

Early that evening, I was in the kitchen prepared to start dinner when Mrs. March walked in on me.

“What are you doing in here?” she questioned. Like her daughter, Mrs. March was a youthful beauty. Even with her stank ass attitude, she was still a very beautiful woman.

“Cooking dinner,” I replied. My pops and mama didn’t raise me to be a disrespectful ass nigga, so I was going to always respect the elderly no matter how much it grated my skin.

“I can do that. You should be working,” she stated.

Lightly chuckling, I continued to get whatever dishes I needed ready to use. Maddie wouldn’t tell her mama, but I knew damn well she was doing everything in her power to dodge Mrs. March. Maddie was upstairs in her bedroom, fussing over Genesis. After her mama’s initial meeting with Genesis, Maddie had been hiding ever since.

Understanding that she needed some space and was likely already a little wore out from dealing with Genesis, I decided to cook for her like I’d done plenty of times before. I respected Mrs. March, but she wasn’t about to run me out of Maddie’s kitchen.

“Nah… I got it. If you want to help, you can.”

Mrs. March turned her nose up. “You sure do know where everything is. If Duval were alive, would you be in here?”

“I’ve been workin’ for the Bells for sixteen years. I know more about this place then anyone.”Including you, I wanted to add but didn’t. Starting some shit with Mrs. March wasn’t the way to Maddie’s heart.

“Well, don’t make this a habit. Maddie isn’t looking for a man right now, and even if she was, you’re not her type. Plus, it’s deplorable of anyone to move on so fast after the death of their spouse. It would be shameful on both parties.”

I had to grit my back teeth from spraying this woman. Her mouth was something serious, and her husband wasn’t here to catch the fade I was going to issue her ass if she didn’t back the fuck up off me.

“I appreciate ya advice,” I quipped with a stiff, fake smile.

“Don’t just appreciate it, follow it,” she ordered before leaving the kitchen. I chuckled and shook my head. She really had no idea who the fuck she was talking to. Just to fuck with her, I was going to do everything except follow her unsolicited advice.

An hour later, I carried two plates and two drinks upstairs. Lightly tapping on Heir’s door, I waited for her to answer. She poked her head out of the door and grinned when she saw me standing there.

“You made your famous stuffed peppers!” She snatched the proffered plate from my hand, then grabbed one of the drinks too.

I chuckled. “Figured I’d help you out.”

“Thank you!” Her eyes darted toward the stairs. “Did she go to bed yet?”

I laughed at the look on her face. “Nope. She’s wide open.”

Heir rolled her eyes hard, then closed her door. Chuckling again, I headed the opposite way down the hall toward Maddie’s room. Her door was cracked, so I eased inside. Genesis was lying on her bed fast asleep, and she looked like she was almost out for the count too. Her television was on but down low, and she had the lights turned down low.

“Thank you!” she gushed when she saw the plate in my hand. Although she was delighted to see me bearing food, the puffiness around her eyes caused me to withhold the plate from her waiting hands.

Her grieving process was hers, and I couldn’t, Iwouldn’ttell her how to grieve the people she’d lost. Still, it was selfish of me to hope she wasn’t grieving Duval.

“You wanna talk?” I asked her.