-1 month later

Mariah

"Hey princess good morning." I picked Skylar up out of her crib

She rubbed her eyes and laid her head on my shoulder. I was already partially dressed so we headed into her bathroom to start her morning routine.

Once we both were fully dressed, we headed downstairs. I turned on Gracie's Corner for her and put her in the baby safe play area before heading into the kitchen where I could still keep an eye on her.

"Baby, what are you doing?" I asked Dorian, who was maneuvering around the kitchen with his cane

"Starting breakfast."

"You don't have to. I got it." I said

"Nah, you been taking care of me so good. The least I can do is make breakfast." He opened the fridge

"Well let me help. You shouldn't be-"

"Baby I'm not completely crippled. I got this."

"You're not crippled at all. Just temporarily disabled." I stood in front of him and pecked his lips

"Oh wow that makes me feel better." He said sarcastically

"It should. Some people never regain the ability to walk and the physical therapist said you're doing better every week."

"Yeah I know."

"And if there's anything I can do to help you feel better about your situation, just let me know." I placed my hands on his shoulders

A grin spread on his face "Well there is one thing..."

I sucked my teeth and moved away from him "Dr. Smith said no strenuous activities until two months."

"It don't gotta' be strenuous, I can just lay there and you can get on top." He tried to bargain

"Boy, hush." I chuckled

I decided to still help him with breakfast by doing little things like stirring the pancake mix. I didn't want him on his feet too long.

"Fineee. What you got planned for today?" He changed the subject, putting bacon in the pan

"Probably just check up on the shops. Might take Sky shopping she's growing out of her clothes so fast."

"Yeah I know. She gone have big feet like you."

"My feet are not that big." I side eyed him

"Shiiid. You can almost fit my shoes."

"Shut up." I squinted "What about you? What you got planned?"

"We got a warehouse shipment coming in-"

"I thought we talked about this. You said you would consider leaving the game."

"I said consider."

"Dorian we almost lost you. I don't wanna' go through that anymore." I sat the spoon down

He cut up some potatoes "Baby that was just a one time thing."

"You say it like it's normal" I leaned against the counter

"In this line of work it is." He shrugged

"That doesn't have to be your line of work. You have two restaurants and two nightclubs, you got other options."

He deeply exhaled "Mariah can we not talk about this right now?"

"Well when are we gonna' talk about it? When I'm making funeral arrangements?"

"We all gotta' die one day." He joked, trying to lighten the mood

I scoffed "You know what, I'll pick us up something to eat while we're out." I left out the kitchen

"Mariah." He followed as best as he could

I ignored him as I got Skylar's jacket on and we headed out.

*

I went on about my day, ignoring all calls from Dorian. Don't get me wrong, I love my man deeply and I appreciate how he provides for this family. But now it's becoming too dangerous. I know we all got to leave earth one day, I just don't want his time shortened by nonsense.

"Hey, you ok?" Rio asked

"Yeah." I snapped back into reality, continuing his facial

After running my errands, I stopped pass Rio's, and of course he put me to work. He had majority of the skin care products to do a facial on himself but he claimed he liked how I did it so here we are.

"Ok, don't mess my skin up Ms. RyRy. I got a date tonight."

I lightly chuckled "I won't." I looked over at Skylar who was scribbling on a piece of paper and drinking her juice

"No snappy comeback?" He asked with his eyes closed "Ok seriously what's wrong?"

I sighed "What's wrong with your brother?"

"A lot of things. You got to be more specific."

"When he first came from the hospital, we had this long talk about how he would retire from the street life. But now since he's getting better, it's like he completely forgot what we talked about." I vented

"That's Dorian for ya'. He's stubborn as hell."

I stored the mixture some more "I know that, but it's time to make some compromises and he doesn't understand that."

"Maybe you should-"

"Talk? I haveee."

"Unh-Unh. You need to talk to Kendra about this." He chuckled "You know I'm not good with relationship advice."

"I don't want to talk to her about it because she lost Omari to the drug game, it might be a sensitive topic."

"That's true... Maybe my mom and I can talk some sense into him."

"No, it's fine." I sighed "Besides this is our marriage. I'll find a way to get through to him."

*

"Hey." Dorian came in just as I was finished folding the last of the laundry

"Hey." I quietly greeted

"I see Skylar knocked out."

"Yeah." I simply replied, putting the clothes away

There was an awkward silence between us but the tension was thick.
After I put the clothes away, I sat on the bed, pretending to watch TV. But I was really watching him, seeing if he'd start a conversation off.

"Can we talk?" We said at the same time

He chuckled before coming to sit beside me "You go first."

"Ok" I turned the TV off "Baby I'm not trying to take away from who you are or anything like that, I just know that the life you living isn't safe. It isn't safe for you or our family. Dorian I don't wanna' lose you."

"I understand that baby. But I've put years into this game, I can't just walk away."

I took a pause before speaking "Let me ask you this, what if Smitty had chosen to take Skylar instead of you? Would you have been able to live with yourself?"

"No, but that's not what happened and it won't happen. I'ma always make sure y'all safe."

"You aren't around us 24/7 Dorian. You never know what could happen."

"Ry, you gotta stop looking at the negative side of this."

"There is no positive!" I raised my voice, getting frustrated "Why can't you see that?"

"No positives huh? So all them bags, clothes, shoes, the beauty bar, the car you driving-"

"Means nothing and is materialistic bullshit."

He chuckled "You wasn't saying that when I was buying it."

I threw my hands up in surrender "You know what? There's no getting through to you. You just as bad as the crackheads you sell to. Addicted to the fuckin' dope boy lifestyle."

He fanned me off "I'm not tryna argue wit' you."

"Cool. We ain't even gotta' talk baby." I got up and headed to the bedroom door

"Why you always tryna' run off every time we disagree?"

"Oh I ain't leaving. You in the guest room tonight homie." I opened the door

"Really?" He straight faced me

"Hop along nigga." I said

"Real mature." He said before getting up and leaving out

"I could say the same for you."

After he left out, I closed the bedroom door and went and plopped on the bed.

"Ughhh" I groaned, feeling tears run down my face

Dorian's alive and well!

Well, I wouldn't say well because as you can see he finna' lose his wifeee

-Carlisha ❤️