“Where’s Tony?”
Mom turned and looked. “Here he is.”
Then Tony swept in and gave me a fist bump and a back-slapping bro hug. “Yo, bro. Merry Christmas.”
“Hi. Come in. Let me show y’all around.” We did a quick tour, and I promised to play pool with Tony and Troy upstairs later. We ended back in the kitchen, where Vince had everything laid out.
I introduced him and my family seemed a little cold or unsure. Then Tony embarrassed the fuck out of me. “So like you’reloaded, right? Ex-racecar driver and whatever.” He flailed his hand as if to insinuate Vince’s nice big house meant he was rich. “So what do you see in this guy…” He shook my shoulder.
Vince smiled, looking a little shark-like. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait for his response, which I could imagine would be scathing. “Everything. Joey is everything.” I practically saw the hearts popping out of his eyes, and so did everyone else. I hugged him. He couldn’t have said anything better as far as I was concerned.
“But you are rich. Right?” Tony asked bluntly.
“Yes. I’m very well off.”
“Okay then.” Tony looked like he was going to say something else, but Mom popped him on the back of his head.
“Shut it. Be gracious, Tony.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Anyway. Food’s ready. Let’s eat.” Vince picked the perfect change of subject.
We all loaded our plates and sat around the now-extended table, with the kids set up at the counter. Troy and Willow talked about what was going on in their lives and their kids, and Mom asked them questions. I listened to the chatter, so familiar and at the same time so foreign now. I hadn’t had dinner or any event with them in the last two years. It was a bit surreal. I’d known these people my entire life, but they seemed more like strangers, and it hadn’t taken long for that gulf to settle between us. It felt a little sad, but it also seemed like how things were supposed to be. If it hadn’t been difficult there, why would I have left home? I was independent, and even if I didn’t have Vince’s help, I could support myself on my own now. I didn’t want to.
Finally, Aunt Sissy asked about me.
What about me? What could I say? “Well. I’ve given up the influencer thing, mostly.” I shrugged. “But my marketing company has really taken off and I have some great clients.”
Mom smiled brightly. “I’m happy for you, Joey.”
Tony snorted. “Couldn’t get a promotion like me, huh?”
“I promoted myself instead of waiting for it to happen.”
“That sounds exactly like you, Joey.” Mom ruffled my hair. “I’m starting to like the purple.”
“Me too.”
After that, it felt like the ice had broken. There was a lot more teasing and also heartfelt conversation. All in all, it wasn’t terrible. Eventually, though, they left. The house seemed quieter after I shut the door.
“Sorry, my family is, uh, I don’t know what I’d call them. Crazy in their own way.”
“Nothing to apologize for but it makes me miss my folks. Let’s plan a trip after the new year.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Joey seemed a little worn out after his family left, and I needed to give him some TLC. He deserved it. Joey always put others first. He may act like a brat when in his little headspace, but I knew better. His generosity was heartwarming. I’d seen him open up a lot over the past year as well, becoming closer withhis friends, closer with me, and surprisingly open to reconciling with his family. That wasn’t something he had to do, but he did it for them and his own heart. My sweet boy.
I needed to take care of him every way I could. That meant taking charge. “Right now, I need to clean up in the kitchen. Why don’t you go play for a little bit? Then when I’m done, I’ll give you a bath.”
“I can bathe—”
“I said, go play. Don’t argue.”
“Yes, Daddy.” He gave me a quick kiss. “Thanks for everything today.”
“You’re welcome. Now, go on.” I swatted his ass as he walked away, heading upstairs.
