Time had gotten the best of me, so I had to change courses at the last minute. I texted Enzo that I wouldn’t be able to make it to see EJ and asked if it would be okay if I brought the gift I’d picked up for his cousin to the party. He agreed, letting me know that there was no rush for me to get there and to drive safe.
I thought that was cute. Him inviting me and KJ to his family gathering was cute too, considering that he’d been heavy on my mind the past two days. His generosity spoke volumes, and I wanted to thank him ten times over for aiding in the transfer of my father. Watching a man spring into action while you were in distress and actually get shit done meant a lot.
Sullivan Manor was beautiful. I could tell that his aunt had put a lot of thought into the place, from the decor and cleanliness, down to the way you were greeted on arrival. Parker Jewish didn’t hold a candle to all Ms. Fawn had going on at Sullivan Manor. It was clear that my father had gone from the projects to the penthouse of rehab centers.
Ms. Fawn gave me the full layout and had a treatment plan in place for my dad that I was fully on board with. She even let me know that she would personally see to it that my father was doing his PT three times a week and walking daily. I caught the twinkle in her eye when she spoke to my father and the way she rubbed his hand lovingly. She still had a thing for her high school sweetheart, and I was sure that once my daddy was back at one hundred percent, he’d be back to his same charming self.
Finally making it home, I balanced the bags on both of my arms and shouldered the door open. When I walked in, I could see KJ pacing the living room floor with his head down. His phone was in his hand on speaker, and by the way he was burning a hole in my floor, I could tell the conversation wasn’t pleasant. I already knew who was on the other end before I heard his voice.
“Dad, what I…”
“No,”Kaleb interjected,“this is the part where you shut the fuck up.”His voice was sharp and tight. Whatever KJ had done really had him pissed off.“Just the other day, I’m tellin’ ya moms that she need to give you some room to bump your head as young men do when growing up, then you go and do some dumb shit, and for what. KJ?”
“I didn’t even do it.”
“But you were going to, right?”
Silence.
“Exactly. Don’t play me, KJ. You can’t play a nigga that already been in the game. I’ve been your age. You ain’t been mine.”
I closed the door behind me, and KJ’s head shot up, freezing mid-step.
“Is your mother there?”
KJ hesitated before letting him know that I was and walked over to hand the phone to me. Setting the bags down at my feet, I took it.
“What happened?” I asked him, and he just walked away.
“Oohhhkay. So, I’m assuming you’re gonna tell me what happened,”I said with the phone attached to my ear and my body heating up from nervousness.
“I’m not gonna go into detail because I handled it.”Kaleb’s tone had shifted. It was still heated but more controlled now that I was on the line.
“Really, Kaleb? KJ has two parents.”
“Yeah, well, just like you didn’t feel the need to tell me you went to The Bronx late as hell to get him, I don’t feel the need to divulge this. What I will say is if he’s not at school, practice, or Danae crib, that lil’ nigga is to be home until I say otherwise.”
“That don’t tell me nothin’, Kaleb.”
“Ain’t shit to tell other than what I said. I handled it. All I need you to do is be on board with what I just told you. Tell him I’m gonna call him tomorrow.”
The line went dead before I could say anything else.
“Rude ass,” I griped. I hated not being able to have the last word.
I sat EJ’s, Enzo’s, and his cousin’s gifts in the living room and headed to my bedroom to put the others away for wrapping later. Taking my coat off, I walked down the hall to KJ’s room. It was cracked, like he knew I was on my way, but I still knocked.
“Come in, Ma.”
I pushed the door open, and he was laid out on his bed, tossing his basketball up in the air.
“So, I’m not gonna ask what happened because your father made it very clear that it’s between you and him.”
He sat up and looked at me with a raised brow.
“Hey,” I threw my hands up, “sometimes I know when to back down. He said he handled it, so that’s what it is. But he also was very clear that if you’re not at school, Danae’s, or practice, you’re home. Pretty much what’s already in place.”
He huffed. “I guess I can tell my friend it’s a dub for the party he invited me to.”
