Kev had been up ’til four-thirty in the morning trying to work through his plan. I heard him talking to himself. He sounded frustrated. He had it together but we both knew he couldn’t trust anyone to help him. We couldn’t take that chance.
I must have dosed off waiting for Kev to get in the bed. I woke up and turned to the clock that hung in the bedroom of our suite. It’s six in the morning. I sat up in the bed and swung my legs around to the side, put on my house shoes, and got out of bed.
“Kev,” I called out. “Where are you?” I reached the front room and saw him sitting on the couch, drinking orange juice and reading the Vegas newspaper.
“Hey, honey, how you feelin’ this morning?” Kev got up and escorted me over to the balcony where my breakfast awaited.
“Oh, babe, thanks,” I smiled.
He pulled the chair out for me, and I gave him a kiss. “Don’t tell me you been in here all night? It’s not that serious, Kev. Jason isn’t coming after us. We are being paranoid because we feel we did something wrong, but, babe, I thought about it and thought about it all night. I know we didn’t do anything wrong. We’re in love, that’s all,” I said so convincingly.
“Yeah, babe, I hear you, but wit’ Jason, you have to be careful.” He sat across from me and we ate. “Enough talk about him.” He jumped up and clapped his hands. “It’s time to go! I’m excited about goin’ home and you should be too. We picking up the boys after all. Huh?”
I nodded my head in agreement and smiled. “I am excited. I get to see and hold my boys again.” I swung around and held myself as if I were dancing. “I know they’re here, but it seems like forever since I’ve seen them, touched them, held them.” My voice grew softer and softer as I spoke about them. “I love them. I can’t wait to get settled somewhere and just live. You know what I mean?” I stared at Kev, waiting for his reply.
“Yeah, I do,” he answered.
Kev decided not to say anything else about Jason; not even in spite of Jason calling and texting him with concern about me. He thought it would be best to let me relax on the way home.
Kev looked around the suite at all the bags packed and chuckled. “We had nothing when we got here and now it looks like we have everything but the kitchen sink packed up.”
I joined in laughing.
“I’m gonna call downstairs for help so we won’t be late to the airport.” He reached for the hotel phone.
My eyes glanced around the room to see if we were forgetting anything. The couple of things I spotted I hurried and added to our things. Shortly after he called downstairs someone was knocking on the door to assist us. We left our suite, and called Toya to make sure she and the boys were on their way to the airport. Once in the lobby Kev turned in the hotel keys. We loaded the rental car, then headed to the airport. While Kev drove I questioned him about leaving Columbus for good.
“Kev, when do you think we are leaving Columbus?”
“Oh, you and the boys will be in Ohio just long enough for you to get the key to the safety deposit box and only the things you need out the house.” He looked at me, making sure I understood. I nodded my understanding.
“I will pick up the boys while you do that. After I pick them up I’ll swing back by your house to get you. Be ready. Okay?” Kev said firmly.
“Okay, okay, I’ll be ready.” I was being sarcastic. I wasn’t interested in camping out in Columbus any longer than I had to.
Once we arrived at the airport, Kev unloaded the rental in the front. Me and Toya got the boys out and we waited for Kev to return the rental and come back so we could get situated and then board the plane.
Kev took the car down to the end of the airport strip; we could still see him. Toya chased after the boys running wild and I stood and watched Kev. He went to the front of the little desk at the rental car place and handed them the keys. He signed off on the paperwork, put the paper in his back pocket, then jogged back down to where we were standing.
“You ready?” Kev asked and gave me a big hug.
“Yes.” I admired him.
“Let’s go.” He looked over to the boys who were running all around the outside of the airport. Kev shook his head then said, “Boys, come on. It’s time to go.” He grabbed an airport cart and began putting the luggage on it.
We went through the airport and security, then boarded our plane. Shortly after we sat down I’d fallen asleep and the boys were right beside me. Before waking us I’d heard Kev and Toya talking.
“I’m excited about sharing a life with Reese and the boys,” he told her.
“I’m so happy for y’all, Kev. You both deserve it,” Toya replied.
“I’m so ready to turn it all the way around. I’m tired of the so-called gangster life and all the drama that comes along with it.”
“Praise God!”
“I remember being in church as a boy and believing Jesus, Toya. I want my family to experience that.”
“Wow, Kev, I didn’t know that about you. Now Reese, she knows Jesus real well, so I am happy she has someone like you to lead her back into His arms.”
“Toya, Reese been tellin’ me about Jesus since I’ve known her and how we both needed to get it together. I’m ready now.” He smiled then said aloud, “I remember you, Lord. It’s over for me, Jesus. You got me. I hated some of the choices and decisions I’ve had made in the past. I know I had to change. I even hate some of the things I witnessed or ordered to happen to people.” He paused. “Oh God, I’m sorry, Jesus. I’m so sorry, Lord; please forgive me.”
I was so blessed, so grateful, and realized I didn’t deserve anything that God had done for me. All the hell I had caused but yet God! I thought.
Although I’d been half awake listening to Toya minister to Kev, when he woke me I flinched from been fully asleep. I stretched my arms and sighed and said, “Okay, okay, I’m up.”
Kev was standing and getting the luggage that was in the overhead. He got the boys up and Toya helped.
“You ready? We need to get the tickets to Arizona and go to baggage claim and get the luggage.”
My eyes got big and sparkled. “Arizona? It’s beautiful there.” I smiled. I could have gone anywhere as long as my boys and Kev were going.
“Yeah, but did you hear me? I’m going with you, now. We need to stay together. Forget Jason; let’s just bounce. That sound good to you, baby?” he asked.
“Yes!” I jumped up, threw my arms around his neck, and wouldn’t let go. I kissed his cheeks for what felt like the thousandth time. After I stopped, Kev picked up Gabe, and put his arm around me as we walked slow through the airport hallways. “We will never be in Ohio again.”
I had stopped at the baggage claim and watched Kev continue to walk. I looked at him and allowed him to take a few more steps then yelled, “Hello, here’s the luggage! What are you thinkin’ about?” I asked.
“Nothin’, just excited ’bout where we are goin’, you know what I mean. Fun in the sun, baby!” He grinned, showing his pretty white teeth.
