Silence stretched between them before Demo said, “No offense, Big, but I don’t think she has to claim anything. That’s your son, nigga. Looks just like you. Should I say congrats, or?”
Biggie shook his head.
“Nigga, just shut up and take me home.”
Demo clamped his mouth shut and turned on some rap music, allowing Biggie to get lost in his head as he looked out at the scenery, completely consumed with coping with the fact that he was a father.
FOUR
“How you feeling?”Winter asked; sympathy dripping from her voice.
Tuesday cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear as she scrambled eggs in the pan before moving to cut up some fruit.
“I didn’t sleep at all,” she confessed.
Yesterday had completely thrown her for a loop. She had hoped she would run into Biggie again, but it didn’t make it any less of a surprise that yesterday was the day it had to happen. She could tell he was in denial about Wallis being his son, and she couldn’t blame him. They didn’t know each other at all, but she could tell the moment acceptance bit him in the ass. Their son looked just like him. He couldn’t deny him even if he wanted to.
“I honestly don’t blame you. I can’t believe he just popped up like that,” Winter commented.
Tuesday placed the phone on speaker so she could finish up with breakfast before glancing over her shoulder at Wallis, who sat at the table drawing on his tablet and waiting for his food.
“Same, and Mama didn’t make it any better, asking me why I didn’t make him take the DNA test right then and there. I’m glad she didn’t know what was going on until after he left.”
Winter giggled.
“Now you know Mama Celia don’t play about you or her grand baby.”
“I know.” Tuesday sighed. “But I threw a lot at him yesterday. I didn’t want to be a bitch about it and demand he step up to the plate right then and there.”
“I just hope he calls you today and doesn’t disappear again.”
Tuesday had to agree with that. After Biggie left, she realized she should have gotten his number. She glanced over at Wallis again and felt a pain in her heart as she realized she may have failed him by not getting more information from Biggie. She wanted Wallis to have a father so bad. He deserved that. She knew what it was like to grow up without a dad, and she didn’t want that for her child.
“Same. I?—”
Her phone beeped, showing an unknown caller coming through, and she froze.
“Oh my gosh! I think he’s calling. It’s an unknown caller.”
“Answer it, crazy! Call me back!”
Before Tuesday could say anything Winter had hung up, so she took a deep breath and answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Y’all up?”
It was Biggie. Her heart raced as she took the eggs off the burner and set them aside.
“Uh…yeah.”
“Bet. Text me your address. I’ma come pick you and…Wallis up. Be ready in an hour.”
She opened her mouth to ask questions on what they would be doing and if he thought they needed to talk more before theyhad a whole family day, but the call disconnected, indicating that he hung up.
Tuesday glanced back at Wallis once again, and her heart felt a huge amount of joy for her son. The way he responded to Biggie yesterday had her emotional well into the night. But then fear gripped her because she really didn’t know Biggie. She didn’t know if he would be a good father, and her first priority was to make sure Wallis was good.
She knew she and Biggie would have to hash a lot out, but the first step she needed to take was to feed Wallis and then get both of them dressed.
