Peaches**** Chapter Twenty-Six

I needed to find Ryella and the only thing I finally knew to do was go back to the donut shop after the meds had subsided. I sat in the midst of Twan's smoke, he playfully put the blunt to my lips. He hadn't taken me to the house, but to a room instead and said our possessions were in storage. A lot had transpired since I had been gone. I wanted my baby and would not rest until I found her. As the medication wore off I began to panic Twan would roll the blunts and we would smoke, I would calm down but then start looking over my shoulder because Mama had been calling after she found out I had left the hospital in Arlington. I knew who loved me and who didn't. A few days later after confirming she was not in state custody we went to the donut shop, the owner remembered me and even though I couldn't understand his dialect, I knew he recognized me. He began to wave a piece of paper at me and offer me food. Twan looked at the man and wondered why he was being so generous. There was a telephone number written on the paper and the name Carmella Long. I refused the food and rocked my arms as if rocking a baby, he said something and pointed at the paper in my hand and made the phone receiver motion. He tried to give me his phone. I said thank u and showed him I had my own. I called, Carmella answered, I could tell by her heightened "Hello" she was curious about the unfamiliar number. I told her who I was, yet confused, I figured she would translate for the shop owner or give me information to find Ryella, an agency or something. She had my baby with her and had had her since the day I had the seizure. She had known where I was and knew when I had left the hospital to go to the mental facility. She'd brought her to see me the day she turned 5 months, I vaguely remembered. "I didn't know anything else to do except keep her. I bought her the things she needed with some of your money from your bag. I have receipts and the money I didn't spend, oh...she needs a teething ring!"

The tears began to pour down my face, and at that moment if I had had any doubts before, I knew there was a God. I tried to remember how she looked, actually them both. I could hear Ryella in the background, and she could hear me. "She cried so much when I brought her to see u, I decided to not bring her back but I left my number with the nurses. I grew up in the system, I hadn't wanted to subject her to foster homes, u hadn't looked unfit."

I gave the phone to Twan and sat down for a moment, she gave him her address.

I was just so overwhelmed with joy, I stood and wiped my eyes, walked to the counter, grabbed the owner's hand and just held it. "Thank U" I said. I knew he understood, I knew he heard those words all day everyday but I really meant them. We left and went toward the address she had given Twan, it had been about 20 minutes away. When we arrived she explained she had taken the donut shop exit by mistake that morning and decided to get the peach creme filled donuts on the billboard. Her modest home was cluttered with the things she had purchased for Ryella, "I didn't know her name so I call her Peaches, she cried that morning until I began to eat the tarts. I asked if she liked peaches she giggled."

"Her name is Calliope," I said.

My babies hair was wild and bushy and she hadn't known how to manage it, and I could tell by the bald spot across the back they constantly held her. She laid on the floor on a blanket putting her trinkets in her mouth trying to soothe her gums. Why the hell was she teething so soon? I extended my hands, she just giggled at me with her feet up, her round thighs indicated they had fed the shit out of my baby. Twan had parked and come inside and walked past me to pick up his daughter. I introduced them as she was gathering her clothes, bottles etc., and other items she had purchased herself, out of pocket. She had done a good job taking care of my black child, I wondered if people had asked her why she had her. Her teenage son Jeremy had gotten attached to her as well as her husband. He said, she was alright in his book...she could come back anytime. Twan held her, I could see the relief as it covered his face, he kissed her she rubbed his face, as if confused. He loved her, apparently he loved us both. We left and went to our hotel room, I finally had my daughter back and suspected I had another on the way. My symptoms were the same.

Carlita just couldn't take anymore and Tobias and Christy were kicking it pretty strong. I mentioned the murders, without mentioning them, he quickly deterred my conversation elsewhere. He hadn't wanted to discuss it and she was still alive, that was fine with me, I had been to hell and back behind some shit that hadn't involved me. Dammit, she was still breathing but Carlita wasn't. Maybe enough blood has been spilled and I soon found out why Twan looked as he had. He had been stressing his hygiene had been similar to my own. He had money but slept in his car with his tool in his lap.

Everybody had their own problems, I just wanted us to be happy. I thought about how I really had faith in the relationship I was trying to mend with Mama, but she still wasn't shit. Twan was all we had. I had sincerely thanked Carmella from the bottom of my heart because she had kept Ryella out of the system and had taken care of her. I had lost two already. She'd developed a fever, Carmella had found her a pediatrician, one who had treated her own son. She said if I ever needed to take her I could give them her accurate information, her chart had said Peaches Long and she was healthy, just fussy. She hated clothes, that was Twan's trait.

Christy's pregnancy looked promising and she was happy but she was a married woman and Lamont was not taking the pregnancy thing well, he wanted to kill her and she knew he was serious. She vowed to kill Veronica, soon. She hadn't wanted this pregnancy to be like the last but she had unfinished business. I wanted to just lay low I was sick all day everyday but she constantly tested my loyalty. I knew she hid the real her from Tobias and I also knew Carlita only had hinted at being suicidal...

Tobias was hers, that's just all it was to it, she was in love and she had taken him to another level. Twan just wanted to be simple and I had too, I indulged in the luxuries and all but I cherished my relationship and everything I had risked for it. If only she knew, I hadn't even told her how I tried hard to protect her daily and I hinted around just to see where Twan's mind was at. He loved his sister and he knew I would leave him if he hurt Christy. She would soon desire what Tobias couldn't give her, we would talk. I feared she would do the unimaginable to protect herself if I told her though and concluded it was best to not say anything at all. I was in a fucked up position. Twan pressured me for sex, I felt so unattractive the first week...he loved me regardless and agreed I hadn't needed any meds, only him and Ryella. Even though they had mentioned postpartum schizophrenia I knew I would be fine, I just needed the love he promised to give and vowed to let no one come between us.

A month passed, I felt normal again, my belly began to rapidly expand, I'd quickly outgrown everything, the morning sickness was unbearable. I was forced to go and get a Diclegis prescription. They informed me I was pregnant, I had already known...but with twins.