The World in Reverse by Latrivia Nelson

her hair affectionately.
    “I figured that you should be the first to know,” she said, walking over to the children. “I haven’t told anyone yet.”
    “Not even Trina?” Nicola asked of her best friend and sister-in-law.
    “No one,” Ivy said, shaking her head. “Not a soul. And I talked to Trina just today. She called and we spent about an hour on the phone talking about the kids, Emerald and Brooks.”
    He really wished that his dead friend was here to celebrate with them, but he quickly pushed the painful thought out of his head. “I’m breaking out a bottle of the good shit, and after dinner I’m going to give you a big girl massage with that thing I bought you for your annive rsary and then we’re going to….”
    “Daddy, you cursed,” Adam said with a frown.
    Nicola winked at his son. “What did I say?” he asked sarcastically.
    “You said shit ,” Michael answered as clear as a bell while he dug in his nose.
    “Michael Agosto!” Ivy admonished, narro wing her eyes on her son. “You do not use that language in this house. I don’t care what your father says.”
    “Aww, let the boy say shit . It should be his favorite word from the look of his underwear. He uses his draws like tissue paper,” Nicola said, going back to the stove to fix their plates.
    “You are not helping,” Ivy said, trying to repress a laugh.
    Just then the doorbell rang. The echo of it clanged through the house like the sound of broken glass.
    Ivy turned around and looked towards the doorway.
    “I’ll get it,” Nicola said, putting down the plate.
    “Who could that be at this hour?” she asked, looking at her watch. It was nearly nine.
    “Don’t know. That’s why I’ll get it,” Nicola said, walking out of the kitchen.
    As Nicola peered out of the front door peep, he cursed. “Fuck,” he said, opening the door.
    Johnson smiled. “Hello to you, too, beautiful. Can I come inside?” He leaned against the door opening.
    Nicola stepped back and opened the door wider. “Sure.” Closing the door behind them, he pulled his department cell phone from his pant’s pocket and frowned. “I didn’t get a call. Is there another body?” His chest constricted.
    “You could say that,” Johnson said, looking around the large house. “Damn, is your wife rich or something?”
    “No, we both work for a living,” Nicola said, trying to get his attention. “So why are you here and how did you find me?”
    “I got your info from Cory at the office,” Johnson said, shaking his head. He looked back at Nicola. “Somebody somewhere has to be rich in order for you to afford this, man. We don’t get paid nearly enough to…”
    “Johnson, please just fucking concentrate,” Nicola said, snapping his fingers. “Why are you here, man? Is this a social visit? You having problems?”
    “Homicide just found Twist’s body inside of a car, blown to shit downtown. I wanted to get down there to check it out before it was completely processed.”
    “Twist is dead,” Nicola repeated, rolling his eyes. He let out a sigh. “Fuck!” Wiping his face, he grabbed his boots from the corner and sat down on the bench to put them on. “This is not coming at a good time. I’m supposed to be cooking dinner for my babies; my wife…”
    Ivy came around the corner, looking curiously at the man who stood in her doorway. She wiped her fingers on the kitchen towel clutched in her hand and spied Nicola putting on his shoes.
    “Baby, what’s going on?” she asked. “Where are you going?” Her frown was unmi stakable.
    Nicola stood up and walked over to her. “Baby, I’m sorry. I gotta go.”
    “You just got home,” she growled. “And what about the news I just gave you?”
    He held her slender shoulders in his hands. “I know. It’s fucked up. I know, but I promise not to be too long. I’ve gotta go. I think I just lost my only lead in this case.”
    Ivy rolled her eyes.
    Johnson looked over at them with shock and awe in his eyes.