“Not at all. Like I said, I’m always here, picking up my son. And our kids kinda keep me and your dad here pass the allotted time anyways.” We stood there for a minute longer, just silent and staring at each other, but it didn’t feel as creepy as it should’ve considering we didn’t even know each other’s names.
Well tell her yours, fool.
I opened my mouth to do just that when Ceona dragging out my title and her son coming over pulled both of our attentionfrom each other and onto the little people who demanded it instead.
“Come on, Daddy, I’m hungry. They had bologna again today.” Now Ceona was doing her best to pull me toward the car. I glanced back toward the beautiful stranger who was now facing her son with her knees bent slightly, giving me the perfect opportunity to confirm what I already knew was true.
Gotdamn.
“Daddy!” Ceona snapping on me had me remembering where I was but also needing to remind her who I was.
“Ceona, I heard you. Take Neela to the car, I’m coming.” Of course, by the time I turned back around to at least exchange names with the beautiful stranger, she was already on the move toward her car.
Shit.
You’ll see her tomorrow.
With that thought, I turned and headed toward my car so I could get my girls situated before I took them for food.
The girlsand I sat in BJ’s with Neela dipping her fries in the ketchup far too many times and Ceona only drinking her chocolate and vanilla shake.
When I tell you this was their favorite spot, I’d become accustomed to eating here at least twice a week.
I waited a minute before I asked the question that had been on my mind since we left the park a half hour ago.
“So, you made a friend, Cece?” I figured this was the best way to approach the conversation. The girls weren’t used to me dating and I wasn’t sure how they would even feel about me asking questions about one of their friends’ moms.
Man, they not even old enough to know why you would ask.
“Yeah, his name is Jo-Jo. He goes to Little Einstein’s though. Can I go there next year? He says his dad is a Marine. What isa Marine, daddy? Is it like a Navy man like you used to be?” I didn’t want to talk about him though, so I quickly brushed over my answer to get to the main source for my line of questioning.
“Yeah. Something like that. They help to defend our country in a different way than what I used to do. What about his mom? Do you know her name?” I asked nonchalantly.
“Ms. Liv, Daddy.” Neela answered this time as she dipped the last tiny piece of her fry into the ketchup.
“Okay. Is she there a lot? Have you met Jo-Jo’s dad?”
Cece shook her head. “No. Jo-Jo said he’s coming home soon. Ms. Liv is there all the time though. She’s nice. She brings us snacks all the time. The other day she brought us popsicles. Red ones! They were good, Daddy. Papa met her,” Cece said as she finally put her cup down to take a bite out of her burger.
Damn, so she’s not even single.
You don’t know that.
I was trying to stay optimistic and hopeful with my thoughts about Olive.
At least you have a name.
A beautiful name at that.
I began to wonder why my pops hadn’t mentioned her at all. Kelvin was good for bringing up potentials he thought either Tunk or I should date, even when we told him we were good. Since he had the girls a lot, he met a lot of women, and we heard about them all. From the grocery store runs to the single ladies at church and the coffee shop he was a regular at.
“Oh wow, the red ones are the best. Well, that was nice of her. I hope you two told her thank you,” I said and of course their little heads began to bob up and down.
“Ooh, Daddy, can we do something nice for her and Jo-Jo next since Ms. Liv always brings us popsicles and stuff?” Ceona asked through a muffled tone since her mouth was still full of food.
I loved that my baby girl was always looking for ways to return the favor or pay it forward. That was her mother coming out of her. And since I wanted another excuse to be back in Olive’s face, I didn’t waste any time agreeing. Ceona just didn’t know she was helping her poor dad out in that department.
“Of course, Cece. What did you have in mind? I can bring popsicles for y’all tomorrow but what about Ms. Liv? Do you want to give her one too?” I asked as I took a sip of my milkshake.
