“Ten. He’ll be eleven on the first of July.”
“Really? My nephew is ten. His birthday is next week. Maybe I can introduce them.”
“Like his mother, Keelan doesn’t have many friends. I’m sure he’d like that. Did your nephew go toBlack Elm Elementary?”
“No. He goes toBlack Elm Academy. I’m pretty sure my brother told me it’s a private school.”
“It is. Keelan recently got accepted and will start there in the fall.”
“Oh, I definitely gotta make the connection. I think you’d like my sister-in-law. She’s good people.”
“If you say so, but I’m not?—”
“If I’m going to connect Trey and Keelan, you have to meet Kindra and my brother, DJ, . . . unless you’re one of those mothers who don’t meet the parents of the kids your kid plays with.”
“What did you say your nephew’s name was?”
“His name is Dennis, but he’s named after my brother, who is named after our father. We call him Trey.”
“Hmm. Keelan asked me if he could go to a birthday party for a boy named Trey. Does he attend the Black Excellence Summer Camp?”
“That sounds like something they’d sign him up for, but I honestly have no idea. I’m just the uncle.”
“I’m guessing you don’t have kids.”
“Not yet. Do you want more?”
I squinted my eyes at him because I thought his question was intrusive, but I answered him anyway.
“I did want more, but then I realized my husband was a narcissist. Keelan is almost eleven, and that would be a pretty big age gap.”
“True.”
“Plus, I’d have to get married again, and that sure ain’t happening.”
He touched his chest and let his shoulders and head fall.
“You’re breaking my heart.”
“How so?”
“I’ve already imagined you having my children. It’ll be hard to get that visual out of my head.”
I laughed. “You are too much.”
“That might be true, but I’m also honest. I think I’m gonna head home. I have an early morning meeting.”
“I thought you were retired.”
“Only from fighting crime. I bought that old boxing club in that plaza on Regency Street, and I’m in the process of renovating it.”
“Oh wow! That place has been there forever.”
“Yeah. The original owner passed away several years ago. The person who took over was his nephew or cousin, and he ran it into the ground, so I’m hoping I can bring some life back into it.”
“Do you have any boxing experience?”
“I was close to going pro before I decided to join the police academy.”
