Capricorn
Chapter 48

Lunar Years Ruled By The Goat:
* 1931 (Feb. 17, 1931 - Feb. 5, 1932)
* 1943 (Feb. 5, 1943 - Jan. 24, 1944)
* 1955 (Jan. 24, 1955 - Feb. 11, 1956)
* 1967 (Feb. 9, 1967 - Jan. 29, 1968)
* 1979 (Jan. 28, 1979 - Feb. 15, 1980)
* 1991 (Feb. 15, 1991 - Feb. 3, 1992)
* 2003 (Feb. 1, 2003 - Jan. 21, 2004)
* 2015 (Jan. 21, 2015 - Feb. 2, 2016)
* 2027 (Jan. 31, 2027 - Feb. 12, 2028)
* 2039 (Feb. 10, 2039 - Jan. 22, 2040)

*

Adena looked at Craig and then at her open drawer full of bras, panties, socks, and other personals. "Why are you going through my things?"

"Don't answer my question with a question. Don't change the subject," Craig said to her, trying to choose his words carefully.

"Well, that's what you get. You go digging through my shit and find something; isn't that what you wanted? You're right. Whatever you thought you were right about..."

"Adena, what in the fuck are you talking about?" Craig asked her. "This is what I get?!" he chuckled. "I'll blame your pregnancy brain for that because you asked me to, remember?"

"Don't talk about my 'pregnancy brain'; you aren't perfect at all," she snapped. "I did not ask you to go through my shit."

"BUT YOU ASKED ME TO DO THE LAUNDRY!" he shouted without meaning to. She paused. Oh yeah, she did ask him to do that. She glanced next to him and saw a full laundry basket at the foot of the bed. Oops. "SO yeah, you didn't ask me to go through your shit, but I've been here washing your Victoria's Secret's on delicate like you specifically asked, and I find this," he said as he held up the envelope.

"Does it have your name on it? Does it say 'Open Me'? No. That still counts as going through my shit."

"FINE! Curiosity got the best of me. I thought they were just divorce papers or some old shit that may need to be thrown out, but I saw MY NAME at the top of the page, AND THAT gave me the right to look at it."

"Ok, fine, you caught me, whatever. Is that what you want?"

"I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN THIS TO ME!" he said, waving the papers above his head. The baby also kicked at the same time, pretty hard too.

"First of all, stop yelling at me-"

"STOP STALLING THEN! WHY. DO. YOU. HAVE. A BACKGROUND. CHECK. ON. ME!"

"Speaking like I'm stupid and yelling at me isn't going to get the answer you want," she said stubbornly as the baby kicked again. Ow.

"Adena, I have been completely honest with you about my past. On Valentines Day, I told you all the shit I been through. Remember? We were sitting right out there in the living room. That wasn't enough?"

"Because you haven't been completely honest with me! That's a damn lie, and you know it!"

Kick. Kick. What was wrong with the baby? It's never been this fussy and active before?

"Ok, what is it that I-"

"WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME YOU WERE WORKING AT A STRIP CLUB?!" she shouted at him. He paused. "Yeah, forgot about that, didn't you? You're not the only one with pregnancy brain."

"That doesn't make any fucking sense-"

kick, kick.

"Yeah, it doesn't! Why would my man lie to me about working at a strip club unless there wasn't something fucking janky going on?!"

"If you think I've been cheating on you, I haven't. I've been working there. That's it! To help you! To help pay for this place YOU wanted, to help-"

"Oh fuck that shit!" Adena retorted, "Don't say you did any of this for me. I would never want you to lie! You lied because you knew I would get upset."

"If I didn't work at the strip club, I wouldn't get the DJIR position. I didn't-"

"Want me to get in the way of that. Got it."

Kick, kick.

Craig sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right!"

kick, kick

"I KNOW I'M RIGHT!" Adena said. "I'm ALWAYS RIGHT! AND I HATE IT!"

kick, kick.

She needed to sit down. She sat down in a rocking chair in the corner of the room. She rubbed her stomach and tried to take deep breaths.

"I want to clarify that I'm not like the last ones you've dated and been married to. I'm not like him. At all."

"So you lose your temper and break his fucking leg instead. Did you do that for me too?"

"Actually, yes, I did that for you-"

"You did that for you. You hate him more than I do. You lost control. You lost your fucking mind, and you're better than that, and now you don't have a job! But hey, I should be happy right? You got fired from the strip club you weren't supposed to work at in the first place. Karma."

Craig started to pace around the room. "Ok, I'm sorry I lied to you. I only took it to get the residency spot; it was a means to an end. I would stop working there in a couple of weeks and help open the new club. It was always temporary. ALWAYS."

"Sugarcoat it all you want. You wanted to work there. You wanted that cake and ate it too."

Kick, kick.

"The only cake I wanted was yours. I've been faithful, and I haven't so much as looked at anyone else-"

"That's hard at a strip club. Isn't it a requirement to look at those pole-riding hoes?!"

Kick, kick. Ow!

"You ok?" he asked her. Though he was pissed at her, he could see she was uncomfortable.

"Yeah, the baby is just riled up for some reason," she said.

"Well, they know we're fighting. That lady said they start recognizing voices and sounds at this stage."

"Don't change the subject. Don't blame me for this," she grumbled.

Kick, kick.

"Yeah, let's get back to how you were right. I get it. I'm sorry, Adena. Ok? It was stupid of me, but I was trying to provide-"

"There are better ways to provide! Strip clubs, drugs, all that shit? No. You know I don't like those types of places."

Kick, kick. Fuck!

"You expected me to pass on getting paid double what I did at Fever? You expected me to pass on taking a job that would pay for this place and keep us comfortable? Really?"

"Yes, I did. We would have made it work any other way. You know what I've been through and just gotten out of! Why would I want my man to work at a strip club right after my last man cheated on me??"

"Stop comparing him to me. The only thing we have in common right now is having a little trouble with employment, but I'll bounce back fast. I always do."

"Yeah, you two are different. Taye got fired, too, but at least it wasn't because of his performance; it was just bad luck. You did something idiotic and lied to me."

Kick, kick. Damn, whose side was the baby on??!

"Wow, there it is. Timothy doing something right? Something better than me???"

"It's not a fucking contest, Taye-"

kick, kick. Shit.

"What did you just call me?"

Adena sighed, "You know I didn't mean to say it like that. We're talking about him; you know what I mean."

Kick, kick, kick.

"Did he say something to you? Why are you so forgiving of him all of a sudden? I wouldn't have beaten his ass if it wasn't for the shit HE pulled! If he would have left you alone, I would have."

"He told me everything! He told me what you did while lying to me to my face at that hospital. That's how I found out everything!"

Kick, kick, kick.

"That makes sense. It all makes sense now; of course, he would snitch-"

"He could still snitch, you know. He hasn't pressed charges yet. You're lucky! You don't know what I've even had to consider doing to keep you out of jail!"

"What do you mean? What has he made you do? Get this background check on me? He's been blackmailing you too?"

"Taye, I'm tired. Can we-"

Craig threw the papers he had tightly clutched in his hand, and they scattered all over the room. The baby was kicking harder and harder, so hard she couldn't think straight. "Fuck this shit," he said. He kicked over the laundry basket, and clothes scattered over the floor.

"Craig, stop!"

"You know my name now! I was starting to get a little worried there!" he shouted as he went through the closet, throwing stuff around that was in the way of what he was looking for.

"Craig, you're making a mess. You know I didn't mean it!"

He didn't listen. He went into the bathroom, and all she could hear was things being thrown around and dropped on the tile floors as he got his toiletries. She realized that he was filling up a bag with his things.

"I've given up a lot for you! I've stepped up to do something I didn't have to do! Ron was right. I did get lost there for a second. There are times that I feel that the baby is mine. That we were a family! Why am I kidding myself? I lost my job because of your fucking ex not minding his fucking business! I've taken care of both of you, and all I got in return is this!? Talking to him behind my back, getting background checks...I thought I could trust you!"

"I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU!" she shouted back at him. "I have SO MUCH going on! The last thing I need is not to trust you! You lied!"

Kick, kick. She winced.

"Then stop worrying about me then," Craig said as he threw his hands in the air. He picked up his bag, "How about this? Don't worry about me ever again! How about that!" he said and stormed out of the room.

If Adena had the strength to get up, she would, but the baby was going crazy. She clutched her stomach as Craig made noise in the kitchen, and then the front door slammed behind him.

It took a while, but soon the baby calmed down. "I'm sorry you had to hear that," she whispered to them.

*

Capricorn, combined with the Chinese Zodiac Horse, makes them relatively materialistic.

*

"What did you forget?" Ron said as he walked to the door and opened it. He was shocked to see Craig with a bag and a bottle.

This looks familiar.

"A lot of things..." Craig mumbled, answering his question. He walked in and looked around.

"What happened now?" Ron asked him. "How much have you had?"

"I would rather lie down and talk to you about it tomorrow."

"Oh, um...that's not your room anymore. Our roommate just moved in. Remember?" Ron asked him, and like clockwork, Craig's old bedroom door opened, and a girl walked out wearing a big fluffy robe and slides, and her wet hair was piled on top of her head. She paused when she saw him. "Carmen, this is Craig; you have his old room now."

"Nice to meet you," Carmen said with a small smile and walked over to the fridge and opened it. She got two bottles of water and then returned to his old room. "Good night," she said and closed the door behind her.

"Who is she?" Craig asked him.

"Carmen," Ron said.

"Yeah, but who is she?"

"She's my coworker, remember?"

"I distinctly remember Missy saying that was a no-go."

"Look, us having an apartment to come home to is more important than her jealousy. I'm not attracted to her, and she's not attracted to me. So what is the problem?"

"She doesn't trust that. She doesn't want no new bitch up in here."

"That's exactly what Missy said."

"Where is Missy?"

"She left. Packed her bags and left," Ron said, shaking his head. "Why does she have to take shit too far?"

"Well, she told you she didn't want that to happen. She found someone in her place, right?"

"Oh, The Rock's cousin? Hell no. Besides, he doesn't make as much as Carmen. I want us to be comfortable. The Rock didn't make enough."

Craig shook his head. "So she left? You two are over?"

Ron shrugged. "I don't know, man. But if you are trying to stay here, you can on the couch, but this place is a little crowded right now."

"Nah, it's all good. I'll just hit up my sister," Craig said as he went to the door.

"Craig, why you got that bag? What happened? Did you leave? You and Adena? Are you two over?"

Craig opened the door and then sadly nodded his head yes. He then walked out and closed the door behind him. He sighed; he wasn't sure either, but what Adena said hurt. Especially calling him by that fucker's name twice, the source of their problems. Who was he kidding? Ron was right. Taye snitched so he could get his little family back. He probably gave Adena the background check and somehow convinced her to let him back into their lives. And she accepted.

Right? She never said why she did it, which left many unanswered questions, but he had a feeling that's what went down.

"Hey, sis, I'm heading out to you," Craig told her once she finally answered. "I'll let you know when I'm close," he said and hung up. He took another big swig from his whiskey inside the brown paper bag and walked towards the subway.

*

A Capricorn Horse is not afraid of working hard to achieve financial security. They're more serious in their demeanor than one would expect of a Horse.

*

Missy gasped as she looked around Adena's apartment. "Craig did all this?" Missy asked her again. She must have heard her wrong.

"Yeah, he went berserk," Adena said sadly as she rubbed her stomach. "So, what's going on with you? What's wrong?"

"Well, you looking for a new roommate?" Missy asked with a huge, award-winning smile.

"What about-"

"He went behind my fucking back and asked some girl from his job to move in! After I told him, I wasn't comfortable with having another bitch in the house. Do you know what this nigga said? 'Your name isn't on the lease, so what you want doesn't matter. I need the bills paid'" Missy said, getting mad again. "I can't go to my parents. I don't want to go to my brothers because they'll cause drama, and your couch is better than all of theirs."

Adena sighed. "Wow, I'm sorry, Miss, you can stay for tonight, but I gotta think about it."

"Think about it?" Missy asked her. "You have to think about helping your friend through a crisis?"

"As you can see, I'm going through a crisis of my own."

"What happened?" Missy asked as she looked around their bedroom in shock. It was like a hurricane swept through the whole apartment. Adena explained it all to her, and Missy was shocked. "So, are you two over?"

"I can't trust him" was all Adena could say. "What about you and Ron?"

Missy sighed, "I can't trust his ass either. Like he said, it doesn't matter what I want. The last thing I need is to walk into that apartment and be right. If that's the case, I want no part of that shit."

Adena rested her head on Missy's shoulder. Missy was right.

Ron and Craig were going to do whatever they damn well pleased, and what hurt was that the girls were both under the impression that what they said and felt meant something to them. 

It did until it ruined their plans. 

Craig knew Adena would be upset about the strip club. That's why he didn't tell her. Ron knew Missy didn't want another woman moving in but expected her to be ok with it anyway.

Once Adena finished getting Missy comfortable on the couch, she walked into their bedroom and closed the door. Her head started to hurt just looking at all the mess Craig caused. He knew she didn't like unnecessary messes like this, but he did it anyway and expected her to clean it up. If she didn't feel physically, mentally, and emotionally drained, she would have gotten to work and cleaned her room until it was spotless. However, she didn't have the strength. She picked up the papers Craig threw around. She should have just thrown them in the fire. She looked down at the sheet of paper she was holding, and a few lines caught her eye.

It was like a roadmap of Craig's life with several speed bumps. However, all the major stuff that happened to Craig she knew about. Whatever Craig got in trouble with was all after those life-changing events that happened to him. She completely understood. He went joyriding in someone's car and was pulled over. He was just a teenager, but it happened just months after his father passed. Marijuana possession after his mom died. Getting locked up for unpaid parking tickets after his grandmother died. Public intoxication after Amanda died. She looked through the papers and sighed once she finished reading.

Nothing on the background check was deal breakers. 

People can do stupid things when grieving; that's all Craig was guilty of. Adena sat on her rocking chair and then started to cry. Her father overreacted, and she went with it. Why did she ever doubt him? She should have just read it and thrown it away. She messed this up, and Craig was so angry when he left. Was he done with her?

For good?

*

Famous Capricorn: Giacomo Puccini (World Renowned Composer, b. Dec. 22, 1858)

*

Adena paced the same spot in the gallery as she looked out the front doors. Usually, she would be happy that people were flooding in for the big day. Juneteenth. However, she couldn't concentrate. She looked at her phone for the hundredth time and called them again. 

"Craig? It's me. Ok, I get it. I'm sorry. How long are you going to punish me? You know how much this event means to me and how hard I've been working on this. Are you really going to leave me hanging? You promised! You promised me you would help out but now...I gotta figure something out to cover for your ass! Thanks a lot," she said and hung up on him. She sighed. 

She was supposed to be friendly, apologetic, and sorry for what had happened last night, but the fact that she had no music at this festival was like a cookout without a grill...or a DJ.

"Ok. Idea. I can plug my phone up to the gallery speakers," Lloyd said as he approached her. "It's only Spotify, but they have some great playlists."

"Do you have a subscription? We don't need ads for Duane Reed blaring out here."

"I don't..."

"Sign up for it and cancel it when the event is done. I wouldn't ask you to do this if it weren't an emergency."

"Is Craig ok? Is he still not answering the phone?" Lloyd asked her. "Why would he do that?"

"I just spoke with him. He's with family, family emergency. It just had to happen the same day as the biggest event I've ever done," she sighed. Even though she was furious, something made her cover for him.

"Ok, I'll sign up for premium and play one of my Beyonce playlists-"

"No, hold on," she said, taking his phone. She queued up a few playlists ranging from r&b, funk, soca, reggae, and afro beats. "We need everyone to be represented. Not just the Beyonce fans." 

Lloyd shrugged and rushed off. She was then approached by a group of art students, answered a few questions, and even talked to a journalist, and she sighed with relief when the music finally came on. However, it was Beyonce's version of Frankie Beverly and Mase's 'Before I Let Go.'

"It wasn't me; she was on the playlists YOU picked," Lloyd said as he walked back over to her. She rolled her eyes. "Are you going to be ok?"

"I'm going to have to be. This needs to go off without a hitch and be cleaned up before Donatella realizes anything like this happened in her gallery," Adena said as she looked around.

The whole gallery was turned into an Art Walk. There were so many artists and vendors; some had to set up small stations upstairs outside their offices, ensuring all the offices were locked. The place was packed. People of all ages were there. People of Color. This was the most she had ever seen in Donatella's gallery. Kids were running and dancing around with face paint and balloon animals while others took baby and children art classes. Adena hoped no one spilled anything that couldn't be cleaned up. 

There were a massive group of teens who came out. Kehinde set up a few of the underprivileged schools in the area to come for free as a field trip. The Anime and Manga art classes and exhibits were full, and most of the teens were waiting in line to have their turn to draw their favorite characters. Some entered the 'Pop Life Contest' to see who drew the best versions of Prince, Michael, Janet, Oprah, Tupac, Biggie, and other pop icons. 

There were caricature artists, portrait artists, and even graphic artists who did presentations at their various booths. Dozens of artists came out with their work, Raymond Hines included. He flew in from San Francisco. Of course, he couldn't miss out on an opportunity like this. They all had their works on display, and some had clothing featuring their artwork. Outside in the courtyard were some food vendors; all the food trucks were parked outside the front of the gallery. There were Paint & Sip groups. There were also paint-your-own pottery and sculpting classes. There was also a Color Sling Exhibit where you could sign up to make your splatter paint masterpieces on canvases, wood, and even t-shirts and old clothes you didn't mind painting up. 

And, of course, all of the African Art you can buy.

"How are you doing?" Kehinde said as he walked in step beside her.

"Kehinde, this is amazing. It's like an Art Amusement Park," she said to him. Now that she could walk around and enjoy the event, she was even more impressed.

"That's an awesome way of putting it. Wow, an Art Amusement Park. Never heard of that, but it's needed," he said. "So, did your DJ boyfriend show up yet? I was hoping to meet him."

"Ugh, no, he had a family emergency. Last minute, I know. I'll talk to him about that."

"No problem. I'm not upset. Unless you're upset?" he asked her. She only shook her head without looking at him. "Anyway, whatever you have as a replacement is doing just fine. You just can't hear it out here, though."

"Yeah, sorry about that," she said as they passed a couple's painting class. A man was painting on his wife's pregnant belly, and wifey laughed out loud at how the paint was cold as a photographer shot pictures of them. She sighed; that would have been nice to try.

"You want to try?" Kehinde asked. Reading her mind.

"Oh no, I don't have anyone to paint me."

"I can," Kehinde said with a laugh. "Imagine a Picasso on your belly. Anything you want, I can do it."

"I know you can, but I'm good, thank you," she said as she looked at her watch. "I'm looking forward to seeing your new creation. When did you want to unveil that again?"

"Oh, that's soon. Very soon. Let me head inside. Make sure to tell...whoever the MC is to have everyone come inside at 1:15," he said as he rushed off. She nodded. Too bad they didn't have an MC. She could kill Craig.

"Huney, this is amazing." She heard a familiar voice and saw her parents walking toward her. She gave them both a hug. "This is huge," her father added.

"Thank you for coming. Did you guys look around? Are you hungry? Did you get something to eat?"

"We literally just got here, but you tell us, what should we check out first?" her mother asked as she hooked her arm with hers. "I've never ever seen Donatella's gallery so...colorful and lively."

"Kehinde is unveiling his new masterpiece in about 15 minutes. We can go in now and get a good spot," she told them. She asked one of her coworkers to make an announcement so no one would miss it. A huge crowd gathered inside as Kehinde stood beside his masterpiece, covered with a cloth. Adena looked around in shock. Now that most people were inside, there were many people here. There was also a lot of press.

"Alright, I will make this short since our next artist is due up here in 5 minutes. How is everyone doing so far? Having fun?" he asked, and the crowd cheered. "I couldn't have done this without the Acting CEO of Donatella's Gallery, Adena Capricorn. Give her a hand," he said, and the crowd applauded. She blushed. "She asked me if I was willing to do a brand new painting just for this event, and I almost said no, but who can say no to that face?" he said, and the crowd laughed. Adena blushed again. "And you know what? For the first time, I was lost. I had no idea what to do. And then it hit me. As you can tell, Miss Capricorn is expecting her first child. Women, especially Black Women, are the driving force behind all of us. They birth and protect us; they make us who we are. As Tupac would say, 'Mothers, you all are appreciated,'" he said as everyone clapped.

"He sure knows how to make a speech," her mother said, nudging her.

"So anyway, without further ado, this is my brand new piece, debuting right here just for all of you. It's called 'Tribute To A Woman,'" he said, and the crowd clapped. Adena clapped excitedly; she couldn't wait to see what magic he had created. He removed the sheet, and her jaw dropped. The crowd clapped and ooohed and ahhed as cameras and phones flashed.

But no one was as shocked as Adena.

Why?

Because the painting was of HER, Kehinde never saw her naked, but he had a vivid imagination. Adena was sitting on the greenest grass she had ever seen—a few goats around her. A white sheet covered all of her necessary parts, but she was holding her pregnant belly, which was on full display. She was absolutely glowing against the bright blue, purple, and pink backdrop of a very late afternoon as the sun was starting to set. Her long hair blew in the wind.

But Adena loved it.

"Thank you so much. This painting will go to the highest bidder, and those proceeds will go to Miss Capricorn's charity of choice," he said, and the crowd applauded.

She didn't notice her parents staring her and Kehinde down with surprise because she was damn speechless.

And you know who else was in shock? Craig.

*

The next animal after the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac is the Goat. The Goat is associated with harmony, creativity, peace, and pleasure. In China, the Goat is seen as the harbinger of peace.

*

https://youtu.be/bGcrY1Mkd1U