“What do you want to drink, handsome?” she asks me, her Scottish accent curling the words.
“Henny,” I reply, watching her smile before she walks off, hips switching light.
Uncle pushes open a thick double door and nods me inside. “Welcome to my office,” he says, gesturing to the leather seats.
I sit. He does too, lounging deep, crossing his ankles, flicking ash into a crystal tray. “I’m proud of you, man. When I needed help, you stepped up. That showed me everything.”
“A the least mi can do, mi fadda,” I say.
He leans forward and shakes my hand firmly. “Any favor you ever need, don’t hesitate. I’m here.”
Then he props his feet on the desk and rolls up his sleeves. “But tonight, we toast. To the hotel launch being a success…and to the fact that my nephew is now officially my business partner.”
The door opens. She’s back with Hennessy and Belaire on the rocks. She places the drinks and sets down a vape and a fresh pack of cigarettes. I take the vape, uncle lights up. She pours for us in delicate wine glasses.
“Respect, muma,” I tell her.
She grins, fingers brushing over my uncle’s shoulder again. “If you need anything else, you know where to find me,” she says, then disappears.
We sip, vape, smoke then business begins. “Mi want transition the thing outta underground… polish it up fi the new year,” I say. “But mi cyah settle on the right idea.”
“You’ll figure it out,” he says between puffs. “Just let it simmer. If you need my help, you know I’m here.”
He sips his drink, eyes glinting. “I’m heading to Vegas soon. Got a few friends to check in with. You should roll with me before you go back to your wife.”
I laugh. “Funny thing is, she bout fi be man wife fi real. Officially a new member to the Jacobs Empire.”
His eyes widens, smiling in disbelief. “If youeverget my hopes up.”
“Mi engage now, man. Real thing, and mi know it sound wild, but she deserve it.”
He raises a brow. “Jah… What? Mari?” he chuckles. “Next week when I come down, I want a dinner. I need to meet this woman.”
“No problem,” I tell him. Then I pause. “She’s pregnant too.”
His eyes widen. “Fi you?”
“Yah.”
“Damn.” He leans back, smoke circling. “Who is she?”
Everybody weh know yuh a dem in a denial the most.
I start vaping again, hiding my grin.
“You really out here engaged and expecting?” he laughs. “Mi affi meet har.”
“When you fawud a yaad, you’ll meet her mon.”
He’s still smiling. “Mi proud a yuh, mi bwoy. Owayne would be proud too. The change in you… it’s real. And it’s good.”
I nod, staring into my glass. “What kinda baby unuh having?” he asks.
“We nuh know yet,” I say.
“You want a bwoy?”
“Yah… yuh know the vibe.”
