Crazy In Love With A Thug: Bari and Seven Read Online Free PDF Page A

cell phone with him. Macy never left home without hers either. It was like her third ear.
    It would be getting dark soon. Macy knew that Daddy would never let her drive as far as the L.A. Airport in the dark with just her and me. Now we'd have to wait until a flight out tomorrow. I was pissed. I carried my suitcase into the living room and turned on the T.V. I fell asleep on the couch and didn't wake up until I heard the doorbell ringing. It was almost light outside.
    "Big Mama! Paw-Paw! What are you guys doing here?" I asked excitedly.
    They had solemn looks on their faces. A man in a uniform stood next to them. I looked past them all and spotted his patrol car in the driveway. Another officer was helping someone from the back seat.
    "Bari, he drove us over from the hospital."
    That was all I heard.
    "No. No! Noooo!"
    Paw-Paw picked me up in his arms and held me tight while Big Mama stroked my hair.
    "Baby, those people at that hospital did everything they could to save your daddy's life. Macy, she died instantly. Didn't feel one ounce of pain," she said, as if that would make me feel better.
    "What happened, Big Mama?"
    "We'll talk about it later, Baby."
    "I wanna know!"
    "They were coming home from taking Trish to the salon. They were hit by a drunk driver."
    At that moment, Trish walked up, leaning on the arm of an officer for support. She was in tears. She looked so upset.
    "Why didn't anyone call me last night?" I screamed. "I could've at least said goodbye to Daddy!"
    "We didn't think that was a good idea, Baby. And your daddy never regained consciousness after the accident. He never even knew we were there."
    "Bari! Oh, Bari!" Trish cried, grabbing me up into her arms. "This is all my fault!"
    "You damn right!" Paw-Paw roared.
    "Stop it!" Big Mama ordered. "No, it's not your fault, Baby. It's nobody's fault but that fool that was drinking and driving. Now, don't you go blaming yourself, Trish."
    Even though Big Mama couldn't stand Trish, I knew she felt bad for her.
    "What are we gonna do, Big Mama?" I asked through my tears.
    "We'll think of something, Baby Girl," Paw-Paw said.
    "You're coming home with us," Big Mama said.
    ''No!" Trish cried. "Please, let Bari stay with me. She's the only part of Barry that I have."
    Big Mama looked at her sadly.
    "I can't leave Bari here. She should be with her family."
    "I'm family too. Aren't I?'' Trish asked, looking not much older than myself.
    "Of course you are," Big Mama answered.
    "Bari is coming home with us," Paw-Paw said with finality. "We'll stay here long enough to bury my boy, then we're leaving. And we're taking Bari with us." Trish burst into tears and ran from the room. "Leech," Paw-Paw said when she was gone.
    Big Mama shushed him up and walked me to my room. She sat with me on my bed while I cried with my head on her lap. Trish didn't leave her room for the rest of the night. When I saw her the next morning, she looked like hell.
    "Bari, you do know that if you go home with your grandparents, the court can take you from them and send you back to your mother, right?" My head snapped up. I looked at her wide eyed. She nodded sympathetically. "Yes, Sweetheart."
    I never heard her mention my mother before.
    "Are you sure? I better ask Paw-Paw."
    No!" She jumped up to stop me. "You don't want to worry them anymore. They just lost their son and their grand-daughter. Promise me that you won't tell them what I'm about to tell you." I promised her. "I called a friend of mine this morning. He's a lawyer. He told me that if you leave the state of California, you must return to your birth mother. He said that the only way you won't be returned is if l agree to take you in."
    "Trish, you have to let me stay here with you! I can't go back there with her!" I said, my voice rising in panic.
    "Don't you worry, sweetheart. I'll take care of you. I promise." She hugged me close to her.
    My grandparents came in.
    "How you feeling this morning, Bari?" Big Mama asked.
    I could tell she