ch01 : homecoming
part 1

<sade>

Sunday
june 5,
Around noon

𝕾𝖆𝖉𝖊́ sat in the drivers seat of the silver Ford Taurus listening to Dame's enthusiasm over the coming day. He was eager, but she saw drama. "I don't know about this shit, Dame. You sure you ready to just throw yourself in?" She asked him.

"What you think, Georgie?" He turned around to see his three year old daughter in the backseat, "I just here to play with Mani. Tha's my bestie."

"Yeah, whatever. Y'all trippin'. This only our first family reunion. And I haven't met most of them. So, I'm kinda excited. And y'all need to be excited too. Know why?" He asked.

"Why?" Georgie asked.

"Well, Georgie did you know daddy has a sister?"

"Nope. What her name?"

"Aajané."

"Her same last name to you?" The three year old asked.

"Nah, her last name is Lovejoy, now." He responded.

"That's cute! Can my name be love and joy?" She gushed at the name causing Sadé to laugh.

"Baby girl, you don't like our last name?"

"I guess. It's the same as Grandoll so. That's still cute too." Georgie reasoned. "Why I didn't see her before?"

"You know what? I haven't seen her since she was your age. So me and you are going to meet her together. Are you excited to have another auntie?"

"Only if her can dress. Because my auntie Chey can dress so cute and so do my mommy sister. So she have to be cute like us."

Sadé shook her head at her daughters banter. "You want McDonald boo?" She asked her.

Georgie snapped her head dramatically, "I thought we wasn't gone eat fast food no more? That's what you was saying to Aunty Chey!"

"Girl, stop listening to me on the phone. You want a happy meal or no?"

"I'll pass. I just eat at the barbecue."

Sadé shook her head again, laughing at her daughter. "Chile, we ain't raising her right. Obviously because she don't know that you eat before the cook out!"

Dame laughed too.

"You want McDonalds?" Sadé asked him.

"I'm not really hungry."

"See, you not helping my case at all." She complained, then looked at him, " You just nervous. I'm making both of y'all eat. I don't want to hear nobody complaining about how hungry they are later." She said, pulling into the long drive-thru line. "Is Cole gone be there?"

"I mean, he was invited. But, I don't know if he'll show."

"Was your friend invited?" She asked, referring to Dame's girlfriend.

"It's a family thing. I'm attending with my family." He said, motioning between her and Georgie.

"I already told you, I don't really mind. That's your girlfriend. You need to start inviting her to stuff."

"I mind though. I respect you and my daughter. And so does she."

"Okay, but at some point, y'all gotta admit that is a serious thing. Right. It's been like two years since y'all been official. If you decide to marry her, how is that gone work?"

"IF I marry her, she'll be family. Then, it won't be an issue anymore."

"Welcome to McDonalds, go ahead when you're ready."the woman at the restaurant yelled through the intercom.

"You don't owe me nothing, Dame" she assured him.

"The baby in the car, Sadé. You know she pick up everything. We can talk later, Aight."

Sade cruised along the bridge as the crossed the Detroit River. "Look at the water Georgie." She cooed, driving slow enough for the three year old to take it all in. Moments later, they were passing the clock at the entrance of Belle Isle. The next five to ten minutes were spent driving around the island, road after curve after backway after dead-end until they finally found where they were supposed to be meeting the rest of the family.

The three of them sat in the car eating their burgers and fries with all four of the doors open. It was a hot day—98 degrees. Dame watched people pull up to the lot. He saw no familiar faces except for some he recognized from the photo albums in his grandparents' house. Then, he saw Lonnie pull up with an unfamiliar guy and Jah in the car with him. He tensed up. The last time he'd seen Lonnie was, well he couldn't remember. But, when he saw him, he thought of everything that went down that summer, including Cobe being killed.

"Sade." He said, still watching the three men across the lot. She followed his gaze. "You think this is a mistake introducing Georgie to all this so early?"

"She don't have to know everything, Dame. Just that it's her uncle."

"He killed people, Sadé." He said as low as he could, fearing his daughter still may be able to hear him, he turned the radio up a bit. "He a monster. It's like, I hated how Maverik treated him when it came to Reese, but now I feel the same way about my kid being around them. And I know that shit ain't right." He shook his head. All his excitement had gone down the drain. Instead of butterflies, he was feeling something tugging at his insides. "I feel like I gotta shit." He mumbled, watching the three men make their way over to the shelter. A few people got up, greeting them with smiles and hugs.

He looked at his daughter sitting in the backseat. "She deserve to live a life ignorant to all the evil shit in this world. I don't want her to grow up as fast as I had to."

"Just don't overthink today, aight? It's just a lil party with a few bad people but mostly good people with good intentions who are excited to see you after all these years. And, you're getting to see Aajané for the first time since y'all was kids. Don't let that nigga ruin shit for you. And I mean not one muthafucking thing— he already took enough from you. Don't let him take your joy too."

"Period." Georgie added from the backseat.

Sadé's mouth fell agape, lookin at Georgie. "See, she just be all up in grown folks convos. We gotta get her some damn ear plugs." She laughed.

"Cole here." He exclaimed, looking at the big blue bronco across the way. He stepped out the car and leaned down so only his head was peeking into the car at his baby, "I'll be right back, baby." He said, kissing Georgie on her forehead.

He heard his name being called behind him, but he kept walking as if he didn't. He knew who's voice it was. He knocked on the window of Cole's truck and got in. "Yo, pull off real quick." He urged Cole, seeing Lonnie waking across the lot. As Cole pulled off, he texted Sade to take Georgie to the park on the other end of the island until he got back.

"We gotta talk, real quick."

Cole narrows his eyes at his brother, "okay?"

"I like this new shit. When you get it?" He complemented the brand new Outer Banks Ford Bronco they were riding in.

"It was a gift from a partnership I did with Ford last year."

Now Dame was narrowing his eyes at Cole. "I ain't been able to catch up witchu since the accident."

"Who said it was an accident?" Cole laughed, looking over at Dame realizing he wasn't laughing. "I'm just playing, damn."

"What happened?"

"It really was an accident forreal though. I been clean for a minute. I was clean for about a year by then. But I ain't know I wouldn't be able to try the same shit, you know? What I was doing before was too much for me not having done it in so long. They said that's what causes a lot of overdoses. Niggas relapsing not realizing that their body basically did a hard reset."

"That's what they said in rehab?"

"Yeah. How you been though? That Sadé in the car?"

"Yeah, her and the baby."

He nodded. "You told her yet?"

"Nah, I don't really think it's her business."

"How not?"

"Nigga, can we just talk about something else." Dame resisted with a sigh. Cole watched him for a moment before changing the subject.

"You know what they say about Comas? Like how some people live a whole other life and some people are conscious the whole time but just can't move or talk?"

"Sure." Dame responded, distracted by his thoughts.

"I ain't experience none of that shit. I was in a coma for five days."

"Okay?"

"I felt like I went back in time. It felt like a dream though."

"What you dream about?"

"That summer after my pops died. Really the whole year up until Lonnie got jumped and Cobe got shot. I relived the whole thing. But I wasn't just seeing it from my side. I could see everything that was happening. Like, it was some shit none of y'all told me was happening. I don't know what the fuck else was real, but everything that happened for me that year happened exactly the same. So, I think everything else was real too."

"Shit."

Cole nodded. "Hell yeah. It kinda felt like I read niggas diaries or some shit. Or like I was watching y'all from a distance like the CIA." He chuckled lightly. "It was very eye opening. Yours was the most interesting."

Cole watched Dame for a reaction, "I don't think I ever realized how much you was going through on top of everything I was putting on you, Dame. I was high as hell most of the time, but I can't even blame it on that. I should'a known better than to think just cause you was calm that you was straight. I missed Georgie birth because I was on some bullshit."

"You missed her birth because you were heartbroken and depressed. I ain't ever trip over that."

"It don't matter. I should'a been there for you. And how I acted about you and your pops at first was dumb as hell too. You always there for me and I don't always reciprocate or or appreciate you enough for it."

Dame looked out the passenger window silently. It was a few minutes before either of them said anything else. They'd parked and found an empty place by the water. They sat together on the grass, this being the first time they'd been in each other's company in the last year or so. "Remember what I told you?" Cole scrunched his eyebrows. "What you I told you the day you we came home from our birthday trip." Cole nodded, remembering. "Well, it wasn't exactly what happened."

"What you mean?"

"I told you Lonnie was dead." Cole nodded his head. "Well, I lied."

"What you mean, nobody lies about niggas dying?"

"Aight, I know it's fucked up." He said, looking Cole in the eye. "He was close to it. He got fucked up pretty bad. When he got discharged, Uncle Mac and Maverik made him leave the city. He been gone ever since."

Cole still hadn't said anything. He just stared at Dame as he spoke.

"Cole, I'm sorry I ain't tell you the truth. He wasn't supposed to have contact with anyone here just in case they were being watched or something. You know, for safety. Jah said it was better for you to think he was dead and Uncle Mac agreed." He kept trying to explain more of the situation to persuade Cole that it was all in his best interest, but Dame could feel the energy shifting between them. "It's been a few years, and everything seems to have calmed down so Uncle Mac is letting him visit. He gone be at the cookout today." He mumbled. He just knew Cole was about to fly off the handle. But, Cole didn't over react like Dame expected. He barely got the words, "Fuck you." out.

"I had to swear not to say anything to you." Dame shamefully defended himself.

"So it's them over me now?" Cole asked lowly, hurt evident in his voice.

Dame shook his head, "Them niggas don't play, Cole. I'm not part of that world and neither are you. I lied to you to keep you from ending up like Cobe. It's all love, Cole. I'm always gone do right by us, you just gotta trust me."

"How you tell me to trust you in the same breath as a lie?" Cole asked, shaking his head at his older brother. "I don't care about a whole lot no more, Dame. But that shit right there?" He shook his head, walking away. Dame didn't follow him. He sat at the edge of the water contemplating the damage he knew he'd caused.

Over on the other end of the island, Sadé was on the phone with Holly while watching Georgie go up and down the jungle gym. "Yeah, I'm at the park near the giant slide. I don't mind watching Mani too if you want to bring her over so Georgie don't have to play with these random kids."

"Okay, I'll bring her over. I got some popsicles in this cooler in the trunk for them. Is it alright if she has some?"

"Yes, and I need one too. Out here sweating up a storm. I'm trying to see if Cheyenne gone bring Rosie down, but Little got a baseball game this afternoon. I told her she could stay with me while she take him to the game, so we'll see." She informed Holle, referring to Three who had 'rebranded' himself as Little C rather than Three as he got older and became more fond of his father.

"Girl, she probably trying to find an excuse to avoid this awkward ass cook out. Shoot, I wish I had a baseball game to go to!" She laughed. "Where's Damon? He over there with the guys already?"

"Nah, him and Cole went off somewhere. They'll be back over there in a few minutes."

"Oh okay, we'll I'm passing the horse statue right now so I'll see you in a few." She said, and they hung up. Just seconds later, her phone rang again. It was an upset Dame.

He began talking immediately saying, "Sadé. I really fucked up."

"What happened?"

"I had to tell him. I didn't want him to get caught off guard, seeing him today. But, fuck. I should've told him way back when."

"You want me to talk to him?" She asked only getting a sniff as response. She could tell he was holding back tears. "Hold on, I'm about to call him." She said hanging up and immediately calling Cole. He answered right away, "Cole. Where you at? I just talked to Dame."

"Fuck Dame. He a fucking liar. He sat in my fucking face multiple times and lied to me. You know how many times I was crying and shit and he felt comfortable to keep lying in my face and got the nerve to act like he did some good fucking deed? Just lying like it ain't shit. And he do shit like this and want to say shit ain't change between us. He a fucking hypocrite and I'm tired of his bullshit! I'm not coming back. Fuck him and his dumb ass family."

"Cole listen. I hear you, for real. And you're right. That's real fucked up that he let you believe  your friend was dead. Okay? I been said that shit was wrong, but he say he had a good reason for it and I trust that he did."

"So everybody knew but me? Alright." He laughed, "See this shit so fucking  funny. So y'all had me out here looking like a dumbass. Y'all so fake, dawg. I swear to God, fuck all of y'all. Fuck y'all cuz y'all always trying to play me like I'm a fucking kid or some shit. I'm 'bout grown as hell and every single one of y'all lying to me like I'm three."

"Cole, just come back and we can hash everything else out afterwards."

"Fuck no." He hung up. She rolled her eyes knowing Cole was coming back despite the theatrics. He probably never left the island in the first place. She smiled big seeing one of the twins walking up with a stroller.

"Kalil!" Georgie screamed, running across the playground to meet her uncle. "What are you doing here?" She asked, holding his hand while they both walked over to where Sadé was sitting.

"Mommy! Look!" She yelled, looking up at her favorite uncle. How she could tell the difference between Kalil and Kwame amazed Sadé because she's still confused herself.

"Hey Twin!" She exclaimed, getting up to hug the teen.

"What's up, Sadé." He smiled before being pulled away by Georgie.

"Girl! Ditch these babies with the twins and come get something to drink with me!" Holle yelled, walking down the path to Sadé. "You will never believe, I saw a drink truck. Like an ice cream truck but with liquor." She said, excitedly.

"Girl, we can drink for free at the cookout."

"I ain't tryna go over there just yet. I guess I'll just sit my little self over here with you and watch the kids. You doing alright today?"

"Yeah, it's a nice day so far. Regardless of the drama."

Holle nodded, "That's good. My day ain't been nothing but drama. I had to fight to get the baby today. It's supposed to be Maurice weekend but that dummy picked up an extra shift. Like, why would you do that when I told you I ain't a damn babysitter. Then, iLeah mother calling me talmbout, what she going over there for if her daddy ain't there. Like bitch! Reese ain't her only family. I swear, this the problem with teenaged parents. They mommas and daddies think they supposed to be raising the babies too. Nah, they figured out how to make a baby they can figure out how to raise them too. Give them the space they need to figure all that shit out themselves!"

"I know that's right."

"By the way, I love what you did with baby girl hair. That's beautiful."

"Cheyenne did it. Sis is talented. Georgie never sits still like that for me. That's why she always got a lil ponytail with bobos when I do it!" She laughed.

"Well she needs to get in Imani's head. I want her to get some black girl styles." Holle nodded excessively.

"Ain't ILeah and them Black?" She looked at Holly with big eyes.

"You wanna tell them?" The two of them burst out laughing.

"Ooooh you wrong for that!"

"Hey, I just tell it like it T.I. Is. Honey."

Sadé jumped up out of her seat, grabbing Georgie quickly, "Oh my God, what they doing?" She exclaimed, looking at a large group of people not ten feet away from them. They were getting louder and rowdier by the second.

"Hell nah. Boys!" Holle yelled as the two of them quickly approached the twins and the girls. She urged them to pack everything back into the car and they left the playground finding their way back to the lot where the cookout was taking place.

"And that's why I don't do the hood any more. As soon as I could afford to leave, I  never looked back. I'm too old for that shit now."

"We'll buckle up, honey. You bound to see a couple more fights 'fore we leave." Sadé added, leaving Holle as the two of them parted ways to their separate cars.

Cole came over to the car offering to help with the babies when they arrived at the spot where everyone else was. "You good?" Sadé asked him, getting the diaper bag out the car. She looked at him noticing he wasn't looking her way at all. She followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at Lonnie who was huddled up with his two brothers and two other men. "You going to talk to him?"

He didn't respond, he just looked away. "You need me to carry anything?"

"Nah, I got it. But, Holle has a cooler in her trunk she might need help with." He nodded and walked over to where Holle was parked. Cole's absence was quickly replaced with Dame's body. He stood beside her watching the same group Cole was just watching. "You better apologize to Cole. He's really hurting, for real."

"He don't care nothing about an apology. Just gotta let him vibe through it."

"Y'all nigga's weird, I swear." She rolled her eyes. "He just got back from rehab, stupid. You know what vibing through it really means for him?"

"Aight. Alright. I hear you."

"Do you?"

"Fuck, Sadé. Yes, I hear you. I know I fucked up, alright? I shoulda told him sooner, but that's