Read Online Everything is Everything Book 2 by Pepper Pace - Free Book Online

liar too! I never stole-“
    “SHUT UP!” Vanessa flashed the woman a withering look before returning her attention back to Jalissa.
    “Who do you think you’re talking to!” Callista continued loudly.
    Vanessa stared at her cousin, “J, I’m not lying.”
    Jalissa closed her eyes. “Vanessa you need to leave.”
    Vanessa stared at her cousin in disbelief. “You can’t believe-“
    Jalissa’s eyes opened. “That’s my mama …” she appealed.
    “Get the fuck up out of my house Vanessa White!” Callista screamed.
    Vanessa’s attention returned to the screaming woman. Blue and black sparks began to flash before her eyes as her rage at the woman began to intensify.
    “My mother trusted you and you did her wrong. You did me wrong. For that I hope you burn in hell!” Vanessa threw the telephone at her aunt and stormed out of the kitchen. The phone struck Callista in the forehead and the woman clutched her face and wailed.
    Jalissa felt the first streak of pain course through her back and across her swollen stomach when Vanessa rushed out of the kitchen and then out the apartment without giving her a second glance. Jalissa didn’t connect it to the labor pain that was so long over-due. She thought it was just the feeling of her soul being sucked from her body.
     

     
    Scotty’s fingers moved gently over her skin. She had thought at first that she would want to be alone—maybe to cry some more, maybe to smash something. But when they had returned to his apartment Scotty had led her to the bedroom and insisted she lay down. She would have resisted but suddenly she felt so weary and once she had climbed into bed Scotty had followed her, holding her in his arms as she drifted into an exhaustive sleep.
    The ringing of the telephone woke them both. Vanessa looked at it suspiciously and Scotty reached over and answered.
    “Hello.” He listened quietly for a while. “Hold on.” He covered the mouthpiece and looked at Vanessa.
    “It’s Jalissa. She had the baby. She wants to talk to you.”
    After a brief hesitation she accepted the telephone.
    “Yes?”
    “Vanessa, I had the baby.” Jalissa said tiredly. “He’s a boy. Seven pounds 2 ounces.” There was a pause where Jalissa waited for a response.
    “That’s good.” Vanessa finally said.
    After another long pause Jalissa spoke again.
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry about everything,” she said softly.
    Vanessa stiffened. “You believe me?”
    “Vanessa …” the words trailed away.
    “It’s okay,” Vanessa said quickly, the bitterness evident in her voice. “You’ve always stood back and just watched her do her dirt to me. Yes. I get that she’s your mother but when she treated me like shit back when I was a kid you never stepped up on my behalf. When she made me clean the kitchen and the bathroom or scrub the floors you just … left me to it.” Vanessa gripped the phone tightly.
    “Why I’m surprised that you’d stand silently by once again is something I can’t fathom. Stupid I guess-“
    “Vanessa, stop,” Jalissa cried. “You know how she is! She’s my mother but that doesn’t mean that she’s on my side. When I …” Jalissa sounded as if she was crying. “… She’s not on my side, okay?”
    “Yeah.” Vanessa said without emotion. “I needed you back when we were kids. I don’t need people like you in my life anymore. Good luck with your baby.”
    Vanessa handed the phone back to Scotty who hung it up.
    She silently fell back into his arms and he held her, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead.
    “Are you okay?” He asked.
    She nodded. “I just feel like this is long over-due. I should have never come back here.”
    “But then we wouldn’t have met again,” he said. “So don’t wish that.”
    Vanessa smiled and looked up and kissed him. She was so grateful that he was in her life. Without him she would be utterly alone.
     

     
    Jalissa placed her lips on the top of her baby’s soft downy curls. He had