“You promise?” she asked.
“On me,” Cassidy stated, placing a hand over his heart.“Let’s get y’all to the house. Papa can’t wait to see y’all.”
“How is he?” Ellie asked.
“If you ask him, he’llsay he’s fine. He’s def missing mama, though,” Cassidy stated.
“Aren’t we all,” Ellie shot back. It had been four years since their mother had been called home. It had happened two weeks before Christmas. It was the last time Ellie had been home.
“Get in, I got the bags,” Cassidy said.
“Why do you still have this car?!” Ellie asked.“This shit is ancient! I’ma need you to take some of that lounge money and go to the dealership, because no. Nobody’s pushing old schools anymore.” She lifted the front seat so her girls could squeeze in.
“It’s kind of cool,” Brooklyn chimed in.
“It smells like gas!”Tessa added.
“It’s aclassic,” Cassidy stated.“Remodeled classic. Classic shit never goes out of style.”
“Sounding just like an old head who went to jail andain’t up on the times,” Ellie teased.“I bet you still rocking themFubu jerseys too, ain’t you?”
“You got jokes, I see,” Cassidy said, taking them in jest.“Papa is throwing you a welcome home dinner, just a heads up.”
“Wait, what?” Sheer terror shot through her.“Why does it feel like I’m about to walk into an ambush? Who is coming, Cass?”
“You know the regulars. Auntie Lisa, probably some of the church members, a few neighbors. You know Uncle Joe and his kids coming with their kids. You know your daddy.”
“It sounds fun, Mommy,” Tessa said.“Will Daddy be there?”
“Umm, no, baby. Daddy had to work. I’m going to take you guys to him tomorrow,” Ellie said.“Okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” Tessa said.
Her tone wasn’t to be missed.“When’sthe last time they saw him?” Cassidy asked.
“Don’t,” Ellie whispered.
They rode the rest of the way in silence as Ellie took in the sights outside her window. There was just something about Christmastime in Michigan that made her feel festive. It was the only time of the year when she didn’t mind the frigid temperatures or the mountains of snow. Christmas lights decorated everything, from the businesses they passed, to the houses, to the highway overpasses. It made her heart leap in excitement, even though she had no idea what was in store for her time here. It was the season of joy, and she felt it bouncing around inside her. Christmastime just brought the little girl out in her. When they finally made it to her childhood home, she climbed out of the car, freeing her daughters from the back. Her dad was out on the porch before she could even announce herself.
“My girl!” he shouted. He didn’t have on coat the first, and he didn’t care as he made his way down the porch stairs and accepted her into his arms.
“Oh, Papa, you’re going to freeze,” she said.
“I’m an ox, girl,” he said, growling in her ear as he held her close.“I missed you, Ellie. It’s good to have my baby girl home.”
His health hadn’t allowed him to make the trip to go visit her since her mother had passed. This was his first time seeing Tessa face-to-face, but they were far from strangers. Her father made sure to FaceTime her twice a week, and he spent an hour on the phone with each of them. It was a ritual that he never broke. He only released her to open the circle as Brooklyn and Tessa crowded him for a hug.
“Papa!” Tessa cried out in excitement.“Can we go sledding on the hill you were telling me about? Can we please, please, please?”
“You damn right we can! Papagon’ show y’all how to do Christmas the right way!”
“A’ight, old man, let’s get everybody in the house,” Cassidy instructed.
Ellie reached for a bag, and Papa removed it from her grasp.“You know better. Get them girls in the house and check on that spaghetti that’s in the oven,” he said.“I’ma drop the fish in the fryer in the backyard as folks come. Don’t nobody like cold fish.”
Ellie snickered and did as she was told. The man could cook his ass off. She never remembered her mother having to lift a finger in the kitchen. It was always her dad. His Louisiana roots had been a blessing to their family coming up. Breakfast and dinner were always on the table, waiting for them like clockwork. She could smell the love he put into the food as soon as she stepped through the door.
“Brook, take Tessa upstairs, and y’all get out them airplane clothes. All your cousins will be pulling up soon,so don’t take long,” Ellie said.
