They all broke into a fit of giggles, even though two of the girls were in pain. It seemed as though everything was right in the world finally. All three of them had lived and made it through hell. There were some things in life that they would never be able to get back and some dreadful memories that would always haunt them, but they would always have one another. To them, that was all that mattered. They were the epitome of true friendship; nothing would ever tear them apart. Jay squeezed Mila’s hand, and Mila squeezed Taina’s.

  Epilogue

  Sometime Later

  The day was sunny when she made her way through the cemetery. It was the first time she’d ever been able to muster up enough courage to show her face at his grave since he’d been buried. It blew her mind that Denny still intimidated her even from the grave years later. His tombstone was a large angel, bigger than any of the others in the cemetery, and he was separated from the other deceased. It was a nice winter day, and the air was frigid, but that didn’t stop Taina from making footprints in the snow to reach her father.

  She breathed heavily when she finally reached where her father was laid to rest. She put her hand on the cold tombstone to wipe some snow away and read the engraved words:

  Here lies Denny Alexander Capello. A loved husband, father, and businessman. May he rest peacefully in the arms of forgiveness.

  “Hey, Papi,” Taina said and kissed the tombstone. She felt a breeze on her cheek, and she smiled. “I know, I know. What took me so long, right? I’m sorry.”

  Taina knelt and talked like her father was kneeling right in front of her and in her face.

  “I just wasn’t ready to see you,” she said. “It took me a while to come to terms with all of this. I never meant for you to die, Papi.”

  Taina took a deep breath. Everything in her life had finally fallen into place. Not only was she a part owner of ABC, but she also took control of all of her father’s businesses, including the illegal part of it. She was doing good by Denny Capello’s name and proved that she looked like him and had his hustle too. She moved out of her apartment and back into the house she’d grown up in. Jay visited often, and Mila brought the kids by whenever she could. But despite all her successes, she felt like something wasn’t right in her life.

  “Oh, Papi, I would do anything to have you here with me. I wish we could get another chance, but unfortunately, that’s not how things can be. But I love you with all my heart.”

  Taina felt another breeze. That one seemed to linger on her cheek as if it were caressing it. A tear came to her eye, but she quickly wiped it away, remembering that her father hated to see her cry.

  “Anyway, I have tons of news for you,” she said. “I’m finally happy. I’ll spare you the gory details of what has happened to me up until now. We all know how angry you get. I made two new friends. They’re amazing. Mila is the nicest person that you’ll ever meet. She sometimes has an attitude problem, but that’s usually in the morning. She has twins now, so her nerves are really bad, but that’s what tequila is for, right?”

  Taina giggled a little bit.

  “Her husband is my business partner. You should see how much work we’re moving. We are about to close one of the biggest heroin and Ecstasy deals this state has ever seen. And Jay? She’s a fighter. You would like her. Her loyalty speaks volumes. If I were to go against the world at this very minute, she would be right by my side. I won’t tell you exactly what bonded us, but know that we are literally bonded by blood. I love them like my sisters, and I’m blessed to have them in my life. Stephanie is still around the house, fussing at me. She disagrees with me taking over parts of your business, but I’m a Capello. It’s only right. I’ll have to take a few months off, though, for the wedding and other things.”

  Taina smiled and pictured the surprised look she knew would have spread across her father’s face.

  “Yes, Papi,” she said. “I met somebody. And no, he’s not an undercover assassin. I did my research on this one. His name is Antonio, and he’s a good guy. I love him very much. He loves me back and doesn’t care about any of what happened in the past. He’s giving me a fresh start. You would like him. He’s smart and has a master’s in accounting, so our finances look lovely if I say so myself.”

  Taina reached into her Alexander McQueen coat pocket and grabbed a wad of cash totaling $1,000.

  “OK, Papi,” she said, tucking the money inside one of the flower vases around his headstone. “That’s enough for now. I would have brought you more flowers, but I thought you’d like this more. I’ll come back next week. I love you. Oh, and I’m sorry for killing your wife.”

  She kissed his headstone and stood to her feet, holding the small of her back. There was one other person that she had come to see. She left her father’s grave and took a few minutes to find another one. When she found it, she felt her heart skip a beat. There was also an angel on the gravestone, but it was small. She did just like she’d done with her father’s tombstone and wiped away the snow.

  Here lies Marisol Ramos, beloved daughter, sister, and friend. When all hope seems lost, hope some more. Forgive and always put love out into the world because you only get what you give out.

  Taina sobbed because she could hear her best friend saying those exact words. Taina didn’t care about the snow. She dropped to her knees and hugged the tombstone.

  “Hi, Em,” she whispered, letting her tears fall freely. “I miss you. I would tell you everything that’s happened to me until now, but I think you already know. I feel horrible standing here alive while you’re here buried. But knowing you, I know you’re at peace. You were always the stronger one.”

  Taina shut her eyes and remembered Marisol’s radiant smile and the hugs and kind words she gave Taina during tough times. Taina thought of Marisol daily. Whenever she thought of her, she couldn’t believe she was gone.

  “I kept your promise.” Taina pulled away from the tombstone. “It may have taken me a while to get the courage to come here, but I never forgot about you. Not even once. I mean, who could? You were the best friend a person could hope to have. My new friends would have loved you. You would fit in perfectly just because we all love to laugh. I have some more news for you, though.”

  Taina smiled and heard Marisol’s voice in her head saying, “Ooookay . . . I’m waiting.”

  “Well, I’m getting married to the love of my life,” Taina said. “His name is Antonio, and I met him at a Super Bowl party last year. I know, I know. Crazy, right? But I followed your three rules this time around. Remember those? He loves me. The way he looks at me, I just know I’m safe. When I’m with him, it’s like all the skeletons in my closet are nonexistent, you know? I hope heaven has tons of cute boys to keep you occupied.” Taina giggled and put a hand to her stomach when she felt a flutter. “That’s not the only news I need to tell you. I didn’t tell Papi yet, so please don’t dry snitch up there, but I’m pregnant. Yes, girl, I promise I will love this baby until she gets sick of me.”

  Taina cradled her stomach. It had been five months since she found out she was pregnant, and she was just starting to get a little pregnancy pouch. She absolutely adored the little baby growing inside of her belly. Her love for it made it impossible to understand her mother’s ill feelings toward her.

  “It’s a girl . . . I’m naming her Marisol. It just has a ring to it, don’t you think?” Taina said and let her fingers gently brush against the tombstone. “I love you, girl, always and forever.”

  Taina said her goodbyes, promising to visit her whenever she came to visit Denny. Then she stood up and turned her back on them to go down to where her car was waiting. When she reached the vehicle, the back door opened.

  “You OK?” Mila asked, stepping out of the Mercedes.

  She took two steps to Taina and started fussing over her. She zipped up her coat for her and tightened her scarf. Ever since Mila found out that Taina was pregnant, it seemed she had turned into her own personal nurse.

  “Yes, I feel so much better now.” Taina smiled.

  “Good.” Mila smiled back.

  “OK. We can go now. A bitch is hungry,” Taina whined and walked to the passenger seat of the car.

  Once her door and Mila’s were shut, Jay locked them and looked at the two like they were crazy.

  “Umm . . .” she said. “I have an unregistered weapon under my seat. I will need you two to put on your seat belts.”

  “Well, nobody told you to be riding around hot.” Taina rolled her eyes but did as she was told.

  “Well, nobody told you to be riding around hot,” Jay mocked Taina. “I was just playing anyway. I’m not that stupid. Did you handle what you needed to handle?”

  “Yes.” Taina smiled. “Yes, I did.”

  “Good.” Jay sounded genuinely relieved as she drove off. “Hopefully, now you won’t be so uptight and bitchy. Little Marisol has you mean as hell.”

  “Fuck you,” Taina said, surprised. “I am not mean. Huh, Mila?” She whipped her head around when she heard nothing but silence from the backseat. “Mila?”

  Mila pretended to be looking out of the window, but when she saw Taina looking at her intensely, she burst out laughing.

  “Dang. I was trying to sip my tea. But no, for real, Taina, you have been a little mean lately.”

  “I’m sorry, y’all. It’s because I can’t smoke my weed for another four months,” Taina whined. “I’m all on edge and shit.”

  Everybody in the car laughed.

  “I love you, for real,” Taina said to her friend. “Both of you.”

  “Blood couldn’t make us any closer.” Jay nodded.

  “Ride or die, fool. Ride or die,” Mila said, sending them all into another fit of giggles.

  Looking lovingly at one another, they said the one phrase that would bond them for eternity. Taina had never known a bond like that and was grateful that she could experience it for the rest of her life. She smiled at them and nodded.

  “Ride or die.”

  The End

 

 

  Treasure Hernandez, Girls from Da Hood 15

 

 

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