"Hello?!"
"Hi babe. It's me."
"Oh Scotty! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, babe," she thought he sounded tired. "How are you?"
"I'm okay. Beady's here with me and Phonso and G are getting together your bail money."
There was no response for a moment. "Good that Beady's there. But I want you to move in with Miss Gloria like we planned-"
"No, not until you're out on bail. I'm staying in our house, Scotty." It had his smells and his essence. She wouldn't move in with Miss Gloria without him.
"Babe, listen to me, okay? I just had a murder bond hearing."
The word murder almost caused Vanessa to hyperventilate. Murder—not murder because-
"The bond is too high-"
"But we get it back, right?" She interrupted. "That's how bail works, you just have to pay a percent and then you get it back."
"Yes," he replied. "But no one can afford to be out money like that for as long as it might take to go to trial."
Vanessa didn't speak. She was in too much shock. She felt Beady take the phone.