Page 31 of The Devoted Husband

Her pregnancy.

What if she had to give birth in prison? Dante would have to raise their child. Just the thought brought tears to her eyes.

“Okay.”

“Smiley?”

“Yes. I-I don’t have a number yet, so my calls will be free until I do. They said I’ll probably get one in the morning, and then you’ll have to pay. Is that okay?”

“Baby, I don’t give a damn about paying. Call me as much as you need to. What are they saying? I know you probably don’t have a bond yet.”

“No, not yet. They processed me, and that’s it. I’m still in a holding cell with some other women.”

Dante sighed heavily onto the phone. “I’m going to get you a lawyer. I have a few options, but I have to make sure it’s one who can practice in Vanzette. Are you okay, Day?”

Sniffling, Sade gripped the phone cord tightly. “I’m okay. I don’t want you to worry about me.”

He laughed. “Do you hear yourself right now? They arrested you for two murders, and you’re telling me not to worry about you.” She squeezed her eyes shut.

“I-I don’t want to get emotional in here, Dante.

I’m fine, really. The only thing I’m concerned about is having to give birth while I’m in here.

I’ll plead guilty and avoid a trial if they can just.

..let me stay out long enough to have and hold my baby.

” Her chin trembled, and she swallowed hard as her tears threatened to fall. “That’s all I care about.”

“I’m going to get you out of there...by any means necessary. Do you hear me?”

Sade nodded as if he could see her. “I hear you.”

“I know it may be hard but try to get some rest. Call me in the morning around nine. I should have some news about an attorney by then.”

“Okay, babe. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

After hanging up the phone, Sade stood there for a while, trying to compose herself.

“Come on,” the officer demanded, using her arm to lead her back to the cell.

This was going to be a long, long night.

The Next Morning

By the time Sade got to sleep, she was being woken up and taken to her cell.

A woman who gruffly introduced herself as Simone occupied it before turning onto her side on the bottom bunk and returning to sleep.

Not wanting to disturb her further, Sade quickly climbed up and tried to go to sleep.

Several hours later, they were being woken up by bright lights and yelling about it being time for breakfast.

Breakfast—dry eggs, a banana, and a huge piece of corn bread.

She didn’t want the eggs, and the cornbread was hard.

If she had an idea of what would be offered for lunch, Sade would have only eaten the banana.

Since she wanted to keep up her strength, she forced the eggs down but immediately threw them up.

Not bothering to take advantage of the free time in the quad with the other women, she went back to her cell.

Simone was curled up on the bed, whimpering.

“Are you...okay?” Sade asked, looking behind her, finding no one paying attention.

“Yeah.” Simone cleared her throat. “I’m good.”

“You don’t want breakfast?”

She shook her head. “I can’t get up.”

“Why not?”

With a huff, Simone ran her fingers over her slightly matted coils. “I’m on my period. I told them last night, but they didn’t bring me any pads or panties. I’m bleeding every-fucking-where.”

“What? Oh, hell no. That is unacceptable .” Sade charged out of the cell, heading toward the counter where the officer on duty was seated. She was engrossed in whatever she was watching on her phone, which was evident by her smile. “Hey,” Sade called, leaning against the counter.

The officer’s smile fell as she looked up at Sade. “Yeah?”

Sade looked at her name badge. Brooks. “My cell mate is on her period. She said she asked for pads and panties yesterday and has not received them. Can she please get those along with some new sheets? She’s bleeding through hers and unable to move.”

Brooks’s eyes rolled. “I’ll get it in a few.”

“She needs it now ,” Sade rebutted, clenching her fist by her side. “You’re a woman. You know how this goes. She’s in there, suffering. Help her...please.”

Standing, Brooks nodded and shooed her away from the counter.

“No leaning against the counter.” On her walkie-talkie, she requested what was needed from the laundry room.

Several minutes passed before a fellow inmate brought everything to the quad.

Brooks handed the items to Sade and told her, “Let this be the last time I see your face or hear your voice today.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sade agreed before quickly returning to her cell. “Hey, this is for you.”

Simone turned her head slightly, her eyes watering at the items Sade held.

“They actually gave it to you?”

“Yeah. Sorry you had to suffer with this all night. No one deserves to be treated like that. I’m going to file a complaint on whoever worked last night. What was their name?”

Simone chuckled as she sat up. “I appreciate the concern, but you’d only be making things worse around here for yourself. These people don’t care about us.”

“They should,” Sade replied, handing Simone everything she needed. “I’ll wait out there while you get freshened up.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Sade made her way back out to the quad and sat in the center of the room. Several plastic chairs littered the floor in front of the TV. Currently, there was a news broadcast playing. It wasn’t something she would usually watch, but Brooks had control of the remote.

Sade wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Simone tapped her shoulder. Her bright eyes and warm smile made her look completely different. She’d even slicked her hair back into a sleek bun.

“Thanks again. Um . . . Have you had breakfast yet?”

Sade chuckled. “If you want to say that. I’m pregnant and was only able to eat the banana. The eggs came right out.”

“Oh no. You can have my banana, and I know a few ladies in here who never eat their fruit. I’ll get you theirs too.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that.”

“Nah, you did me a solid, and I got you. Hold on.”

With tears brimming in her eyes, Sade watched as Simone worked the room. By the time she finished, she’d folded her shirt and used it as a basket to hold several bananas and apples. As she gave them to Sade, she laughed.

“I know you can’t live off this forever, but it’s a start. You’ll get used to the food, and once you get your inmate number, you can get commissary.”

“I . . . Thank you, Simone. Seriously.”

Sade followed Simone to the table where her food was, and they ate and got to know each other.

Simone was serving a twenty-year sentence for killing her abusive husband.

They justified the sentence by saying she killed him during a time he wasn’t abusing her, which was bullshit to Sade.

Having someone to talk to made her first day in jail easier, but Sade couldn’t deny how anxious she was starting to feel over never being able to go back home.