Gangsta Twist 3 (12 page)

“I'll have Taz or one of my uncles come and get them. I think they may hold some sentimental value to the crew so we better steer clear of them. But if they don't trip we can pull one out and get our roll on every now and then!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha. I love it! That's the Neema I remember. My girl is back! I love it we about to act a damn fool!”

Tazneema rolled her eyes at her besty and turned and left the room thinking,
oh Lord.

Taz and Sacha made it to the hospital a little after nine a.m. and were shocked to see the waiting room filled with their loved ones. Taz was overwhelmed by all of the love, not only from his crew but from the others who came to show their love and support for his mother. There was Bo-Pete's mother, Mrs. McClelland, along with her sister, Sherry, Reverend Collins and a few other people who were from Mama-Mama's church. After greeting and thanking everyone for coming they sat and settled down for the wait until Mama-Mama's surgery was over. Tari seemed to be extra calm and that transferred to Taz because she knew and trusted the surgeon who would be operating on Mama-Mama. He gave her a smile and she smiled, giving him a nod and a wink in return.

Tazneema was a nervous wreck; he could tell by how she kept wringing her hands together. He gave her a smile and said, “I don't know why you're sitting over there all nervous and stuff, Neema. I'm the one who should be scared. Mama-Mama is going to kill me when she finds out I authorized this surgery.”

Everyone inside of the waiting room started laughing. Though there was nervous tension in the room, Taz's joke seemed to put everyone at ease.

“I don't know who's worse, you or Lyla. She has been telling me all morning I need to calm down, everything is going to be all right. I know Mama-Mama will be fine. Shoot, I'm more scared she's going to make me move back home. I just moved out!” That got another roar of laughter from everyone.

Taz shook his head and said, “I was thinking about that. Don't worry, babygirl, you won't be having to move back home. I'm thinking about bringing Mama-Mama out to L.A. so I can look out for her properly.”

“Good luck with that one! Dog, you know Mama-Mama will not even entertain that thought,” said Bob.

“It's either that or I'm staying out here. I will not leave my mother out here living alone with a bad heart. Not gon' happen,” Taz said in a serious tone.

Hearing the passion in his voice made Sacha rub his thigh to calm him down some and said, “Don't you add to your stress right now, Taz. We'll come up with something to make everything right.” Before Taz could respond he smiled as his man Snuffy and his wife entered the waiting room.

Taz stood and said, “I told you to come out in a few days, clown.”

After shaking hands with Taz, Snuffy stepped back and said, “Did you really think we'd wait a few days to come down here when Mama-Mama is lying up in here? You tripping, fool.”

“Yes, really tripping,” added Charlene, Snuffy's wife and right hand.

Taz placed the palm of his right hand over his heart and told the couple, “That's love. Well, have a seat and join the wait.” After they were seated Red stood and asked Taz to step outside because he wanted to talk to him about something real quick. Once they were in the hall outside of the waiting room Taz asked Red, “You good, my nigga?”

“I'm straight. Just thinking about what you said about staying out here. You know me and Paquita been going back and forth about that. She's not trying to move West and that shit drives me crazy. I love her, dog, and I want to put a ring on it, but my loyalty to the crew comes first. So I'm getting at you with it real. What do you think I should do, Taz?”

Without any hesitation Taz said, “I think you should follow your heart, my nigga. You have been with Paquita for a good minute and your heart is telling you to make her your bride, do that. There's nothing that we can't adjust to. You being here will actually make things easier for me 'cause you know just like I do Mama-Mama won't let me take her anywhere.”

Red smiled and said, “Yeah, I know. I'll check on her every hour on the hour, dog. Not just to keep you sane but for my sanity as well. You know I love that old lady,” Red said sincerely.

“I know, dog, there's more to this though. We'll talk about that later. Right now let's finish sweating this wait out. When Mama-Mama is good we'll have a sit down with Snuffy and Charlene as well as the rest of the crew 'cause we need to remain on point. Coming home for a minute may be just what we needed. The West Coast has been our home for the last six years, but Oklahoma City is our home court for real.”

“I feel you. You really think that chink fool will try us?”

Taz shrugged. “He's the only one who's not with it. We have to take Mr. Suarez's words seriously. That fool is a threat. That combined with having to watch that snake son of a bitch Malcolm Brown we can't take anything or anyone for granted. Stay ready and we won't have to get ready.”

“Always, my nigga.”

“Come, let's go back inside. Call Paquita and let her know that you ain't going nowhere.”

Red smiled at his longtime friend and said, “That's right. One more thing, dog.”

“What up, dog?”

“Don't let that fool Wild Bill know about my moves yet. I'm really not trying to hear his mouth. Plus, he's going to be salty thinking I'm going to desert him on the strip club move.”

Laughing, Taz said, “Don't worry about that clown. We'll delegate him some more control over the strip club thing and he'll be fine. You right thinking he is going to try and clown ya ass! Come on, fool.” They went back inside of the waiting room to continue to wait for the news from Mama-Mama's surgery.

Four and a half hours after arriving at the hospital Dr. Porter entered the waiting room and everyone stood anxiously and prayed silently as they waited for the doctor to deliver the news on Mama-Mama. When he smiled at Taz everyone let out a long sigh. “The surgery was a success and your mom is just fine. As long as she can adjust to a proper diet she should be with us for a good lengthy period.”

“Praise Jesus!” screamed Mrs. McClelland.

“Amen!” added Reverend Collins.

“Yes!” Bob, Red, and Wild Bill said in unison.

Tazneema, Lyla, and Tari gave each other a hug and continued to listen as the doctor explained the process of the surgery and other specifics to Taz and Sacha. After he was finished Taz asked him, “When can we see her?”

“That's something I'm somewhat concerned about. Though she is fine and her heart is in good condition I was thinking that maybe we should wait until this evening before letting you all see her. My fear is that it may be too soon for her to become upset, especially after what you've shared with me about her not wanting to have any form of surgery.”

Taz nodded and said, “I understand that, Doctor, and I appreciate that. But I know my mother and even though she's a stubborn old woman she knows she's my everything. She may be mad, but when she opens those beautiful brown eyes and sees my face she won't do anything but shake her head at me and give me the smile I need to see so very much.”

The doctor smiled at Taz and said, “Well, in that case you can see her within the hour. But not too long; she needs her rest. We will be keeping her for at least another week or so to make sure everything is okay and she's healing properly. After that I will give you the strict diet that she must maintain.”

“Understood.” After the doctor left the waiting room everyone started clapping and laughing. Mama-Mama was going to be fine. Taz gave his wife a hug and a kiss and said, “Give Gwen a call, li'l mama, and have her bring the twins so they can see their g-mama. You know that's going to keep her in a good mood.”

“Yeah, she love her g-babies,” Sacha said as she pulled out her cell and did as Taz told her to.

Twenty minutes later the doctor came back to the waiting room and told Taz that they would have thirty minutes with Mama-Mama. Since everyone came and showed their love and support for his mother Taz felt it was only right that he let each person who came and suffered with him during the long wait while Mama-Mama was in surgery go in and have a quick word with Mama-Mama before he had his turn.

“Oh, that's so smooth, Daddy, let everyone soften her up before you go in, huh? Real smooth,” Tazneema said with a smile on her face.

“That's why I'm Daddy! You make sure you do your part and help your daddy out.” They smiled lovingly at one another.

After about ten minutes it was down to Taz, Sacha, and Tazneema. Taz took a deep breath and was about to say something when Gwen entered the waiting room with his sons. “Perfect timing, Gwen. Li'l mama, why don't you, Tazneema, and Gwen take the boys in to see Mama-Mama while I make a call real quick.”

“Yeah, right, slick. Come on, boys. Let's go see your g-mama,” Sacha said as she led the way into Mama-Mama's room.

Taz smiled as he watched them enter the room. He pulled out his phone and made a call to kill time while his sons spent time with his mother. After making sure everything was straight with Precious and Heaven's flight plans to come to Oklahoma City, Taz hung up with Mack and took a deep breath. “Here we go.” He stepped into the hospital room and couldn't help but smile at the sight of his mother smiling while holding on to each one of his sons' hands.
Thank you, God, for not taking this old woman away from me,
he prayed silently.

When Mama-Mama looked up and saw her son, she frowned for a few seconds and then gave him what he knew she would: that special smile that only Mama-Mama could give. “You do know your tail is in trouble, don't ya, boy?”

“Be nice, G-mama. You sick and you got to get well,” said Li'l Keno.

“Yeah, G-mama, be nice to Daddy,” added Li'l Bo-Pete.

“All right, babies, Mama-Mama will be nice to your daddy.”

“Promise?” the twins asked in unison, looking totally adorable to their grandmother.

“Promise. Now let your g-mama talk to your daddy for a little bit. I needs to get me some rest okay?”

“Okay,” they said and gave their grandmother a kiss and let Sacha and Gwen take them out of the room.

After they left, Mama-Mama said, “I'm going to keep my promise to my g-babies, Taz, but I want you to know that I am disappointed in you for not honoring my wishes.”

“Noted, Mama-Mama. But you know there was no way I was going to let you be taken away from us without a fight. So if you're going to be mad then be mad. I take full responsibility for that call I made. If I had to make it again I would make the same call. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you, old woman,” Taz said as he grabbed her frail hands with tears sliding down his face. This show of emotion was very rare for him. His tears made Mama-Mama cry, which in turn made Tazneema start crying too.

“Oh, Lord, look at us bawling worse than them babies that just left here.” They each wiped their faces and laughed. Mama-Mama was definitely okay. They sat and spoke about the surgery and how Mama-Mama was going to have to stick to the diet that the doctor was going to give her. She fussed a little, but Taz could see that she was going to do whatever it took to get healthy. She wasn't ready to leave this world just yet. After about ten more minutes Doctor Porter came into the room and told them that it was time for Mama-Mama to get some rest. After he checked her vitals and was pleased with what he saw Mama-Mama asked him, “Can you give me ten more minutes with my hardheaded son here, Doctor? I need to speak with him in private please.”

“Ten more minutes is about all I can spare for you, Mrs. Good. You need to get some sleep.”

“That's fine. Ten minutes and I'll be ready to go back to la-la land believe you me.”

The doctor smiled and shook his head as he left the room followed by Tazneema.

As the door closed behind them Mama-Mama sighed and said, “For the first time in your life I am not mad at you for going against me. You being hardheaded on this one was the best decision you've ever made, boy.”

With a puzzled expression on his face Taz asked, “What's up, Mama-Mama?”

“Since I only have ten minutes I'll give you the quick version of things. I should have had this conversation with you, but I never thought I'd have a damn heart attack.”

“What are you talking about, Mama-Mama?”

“Shh, and listen to me. I have some money put up for you and I have to make sure I give you all them codes and whatnot so you will be able to get a hold of it when the time comes. I'm sure you won't need to for yourself, but it's yours to do what you want. I was just watching over it for you because your daddy didn't want you to know anything about it until I was sure you was okay.”

“My daddy? What are you talking about, Mama-Mama? I thought my daddy died when I was a baby? You're not making sense here.”

“Your daddy did die, but not when you was no baby, Taz. Won was your father, son.”

Taz stared at his mother as if she'd lost her mind and whispered his next question. “How?”

Mama-Mama smiled and said, “Boy, you got three kids so ‘how' is something you already know the answer to.”

“You know what I mean, Mama-Mama.”

“Won and I had been together since I graduated from high school. I loved that man with all of my heart and soul. He was my everything, but I wasn't his everything, money was. Money and power. He chose that life and refused to give up anything that had to do with that illegal life he was leading. When I told him I was pregnant with his child he swore that he would always be there for us, but he wasn't leaving that life. You know me. I'm no punk so I told him if he chose that life over us then he wouldn't be able to see us period. He stuck to his word and I stuck to mine. That is all the way up until Mimi's death. When I saw how you was out there hurting people and on that deadly path of destruction I knew that I had to call your father to save you because he was the only man I knew who could reach out to you and make things right.”