Londyn and Josiah: A Chicago Love Story

Londyn

Since you went away, I been down and lonely

Since you went away, I been thinkin’ of you- Missing You; Webbie Ft. Latoya Luckett

G irl, if you don’t calm your ass down, my best friend and sister in law, Nette, said as we sat in my car along with my mother in law, waiting for my boyfriend to finally be released from prison.

Hush, Nette, you know she can’t help it. This is the first time she’s seeing my Siah in five years, well other than the visits she would take. Hell, I don’t blame her. Mama Jo laughed with the biggest smile on her face. A smile that was contagious and made you want to smile right along with her, if I wasn’t already smiling.

Right, hush Nette. I’m so excited, man, my baby is finally coming home to me, I said as I smiled.

Since I woke up this morning, I’ve been smiling so much that at any moment I was afraid my cheeks were going to start hurting, maybe even fall off from me laughing and smiling so much.

For the past five years, my boyfriend, the love of my life and my soul mate, Josiah, has been locked up in prison for some bullshit he didn’t even do. Him and one of his home boys were in a stolen car, and because his home boy already had two strikes, Josiah took the charge for him.

At first, we thought he was only gon’ have to do a few months, but the prosecutor had other things in mind. I don’t how, but somehow they found a gun in the car. Because Josiah said he was the only one in the car, they gave him five long and hard years. At the moment when the judge sentenced him, we were glad he didn’t have any priors. If he had any priors, I’m sure he would have been doing more than five years in prison and wouldn’t be coming home to me right now.

The whole five years he was in jail, I’ve been getting my life together, preparing for the day when he stepped through those gates. Now that the day was finally here, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had butterflies; I can’t stop smiling. It was starting to feel like it did when we first met.

Oh my God! Look, there he goes, Mama Jo yelled, snapping me from my thoughts.

I turned around and there he was. Although I made monthly trips to see him, this was my first time seeing him full body. Mama Jo had brought him a change of clothes because he didn’t want to bring anything out of jail with him. Nothing besides his discharge papers. While Mama Jo and Nette ran up to Josiah to give him hugs and kisses, I stood back. I wanted him to come to me.

After he hugged his mama and sister, I watched as he turned his attention to me. The way his light brown eyes pierced my soul had me feeling some type of way. I watched as he walked over to me while licking his big lips. I swear, my man was looking so good. Even though Josiah only had on a simple white t-shirt, some black jogging pants, and some black wheat Timbs. His dreads were hanging on either side of his face, and the tattoos that covered his arms were on display. I was glad that he decided to grow his hair out. Now, all I had to do was re-do his dreads and make sure my baby was straight.

So, you just gon’ stand there and look at me like I’m a piece of meat or some shit? he asked with a smirk on his face. I smiled as we started walking toward each other. I missed you so much, baby girl, he whispered in my ear.

I missed you too, baby, I said as the tears ran down my face.

What you standing there crying for? he asked when we finally stopped hugging.

I just missed you so much. This is like a dream to me, I told him.

He grabbed my face and wiped my tears away.

Stop crying. You don’t gotta worry about missing me anymore. I’m not going nowhere, he told me as he hugged me again.

Sorry to break up this lil’ love fest, but y’all have all the time in the world to do that. Let’s go! Mama Jo said.

Right, I need to get as far away from this place as I can, Josiah replied as he grabbed my hand and walked toward Nette’s car.

He and I got in the back while his mama and sister got in the front.

We’ll be back over here tomorrow, ma, Josiah said to Mama Jo.

Where are y’all going? I thought y’all were going to stay a little longer.

Nah, ma. You know me and my future wife need some time together. I promise, I’ll be over here bright and early tomorrow morning, Josiah said as he kissed her.

I walked over to where they were standing and kissed Mama Jo on her cheek.

Love you, Mama, see you tomorrow.

Love you too, baby, see y’all tomorrow, she said as Josiah opened the door and we walked out.

We should have left when Nette and John left, Josiah said to me as he pulled out his mama’s driveway.

You know dang on well your mama was not gon’ let us go. Shit, her ass didn’t want you to leave as it is. I thought she was gon’ ask us to sleep over. I laughed.

She wanted to. But I’m sure she knew I needed some alone time with you.

So, Nette and John wasn’t gon’ tell you, but we’re throwing you a Welcome Home party this weekend. It’s a three-day event.

Three days? What the hell do we need three days to celebrate for? he asked, causing me to laugh.

I don’t know. I’m just going along with what Nette has planned. You know you can’t tell her anything. I laughed.

You right about that, he said.

The rest of the ride was a silent one. I didn’t know about him, but now I was thinking about the future. When Josiah was locked up, he made me all kinds of promises. Two of the main ones being that he was gon’ leave the street shit alone and go completely legit. The second one was that we were going to get married.

I wasn’t rushing the getting married part, but I did want him to go legit. I didn’t want him out running the streets anymore. I had lost him one time to the system; I didn’t want the next time to be to a grave. After his parties this weekend, he and I were going to have a long talk about him really leaving the streets alone.

Josiah

I’m writin’ to you from a distance like a pen pal,

But we’ve been down- Too Much; Drake

D amn, girl, I groaned as I opened my eyes and saw Londyn’s head going up and down on my dick. That was one thing I missed about Londyn. The 5-star head she gave. Before I was locked up, I taught Londyn everything sexually. I knew from the moment I met her that she was the one I wanted to be with. She was gon’ be the woman I married.

Now, don’t get me wrong, before I got locked up, I was fucking bitches left and right. I let all them hoes know that Londyn was my main lady, and if any of them stepped to her, they was gon’ have a fucking problem. Even after I got locked up, I had hoes coming to see me.

I made sure that on the weekends that Lon was coming to see me, they weren’t coming. Shit was tricky, but I made it happen. I made sure that none of them hoes stepped out of their places and approached my lady. See, that’s where most niggas go wrong. They’ll let their side chick step to their main lady and ruin everything they had at home. I wasn’t a stupid ass nigga, I knew what I had at home, and I also knew I wasn’t gon’ find that in no other female.

Shit, girl, I groaned as my toes curled and I shot my kids down her throat.

Like the freak that Londyn was, she swallowed every bit before she got out the bed and walked into the bathroom that was connected to our bedroom.

So, what’s your plans for today? Londyn asked me from the bathroom as she brushed her teeth.

I gotta hit up John so he can line my shit up. After that, I gotta hit the streets to get to this money, I let her know as my phone rang.

I picked it up from the night stand. After seeing who was calling, I hit ignore before placing it back on the nightstand.

What you mean, hit the street? I thought you were over that shit, Josiah!

Come on, Lon, you know it’s not gon’ be that easy to leave the streets alone, ma. I sighed.

From the moment I got sentenced to five years, Londyn been on my back about leaving the streets alone. After about three months of her complaining about it, I finally told her what she wanted to hear. I let her know that I was done with the streets, but that was the far from the truth.

Whatever, Josiah, she said as she walked into the walk-in closet.

Taking a deep breath, I got off the bed and walked into the closet behind Londyn. Don’t be like that, Londyn. You know I can’t just walk away from the shit. I gotta clean up the money I got before I can totally walk away.

Okay, then clean the money up. You have how many barber shops? You have how many car washes? Don’t tell me you can’t clean the money up in those places.

Londyn was right, I had several barber shops and car washes scattered all over Chicago.

Londyn, it’s gon’ be a minute before I walk away, ma. I’m just trying to make sure I have enough money so we can live comfortably.

Josiah. We’ve been living comfortably. In case you forgot, you had John and Lante’ bring me money every damn Friday, faithfully for the last five years.

You plan on having kids with me, right? You want to get married and shit? All that shit cost money, Londyn. And I’m just trying to make sure we have enough so that you can have everything your heart desires. I want to make sure my kids have everything they want and need. Just give me six months, then I’m out for good. I just wanna make some more money and tie up some loose ends. After that, I’m done. I promise you, I said as I leaned down and kissed her on her lips that she had stuck out.

Six months, Josiah. And that’s all you get.

Alright, baby girl, I said, which caused a smile to appear on her face.

You go get in the shower and get yourself together while I go make breakfast, Londyn told me as she slipped on some leggings and one of my t-shirts.

Ight. I love you,

I love you too baby. She smiled.

Damn, I wish this bitch would stop calling me! I huffed as I sat in my right-hand man John’s chair at the barber shop I owned.

Who that?

Janecia. That bitch been calling me nonstop since this morning.

She knows you home. Lon know about her?

What? Hell nah, man. I’m not ready to explain the whole situation to her, and I damn sure don’t want to see the hurt written all over her face, I told him.

My nigga, you better let her know before Janecia tell her.

I am. I just gotta find the right time to tell her some shit like that. I shook my head. I couldn’t believe the bullshit I got myself in, fucking with Janecia.

About six years ago, I met this fine ass bitch Janecia. At first, when we started fucking around it was nothing more than us fucking around. When I found out that her pops, José, was the plug, I just knew I had hit the jackpot. After fucking her lights out, I got Janecia to introduce me to her father. From then on out, he became my connect and was giving me shit for the low. It was something that I couldn’t pass up.

Somewhere down the line of me and Janecia fucking around, she got pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to my daughter, Joseana Santana Whitehead. Even though I loved my daughter more than anything in this world, I regret fucking her mama and getting her pregnant. Then, to make matters worse, when I got locked up, José came to see me and told me that if I didn’t