“I know, baby. It’s a pain that never goes away. You and Rome were best friends, just like me and your mother. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. It could be something as small as watchingIn the Heat of the Nightor something as big as her boy showing up on my doorstep hungry that brings a wave of emotions.”
“Now, don’t you start all of that.” I got up from my seat and went over to hug her. Mama Bea was usually all smiles and jokes, but I knew talking about Rome and my mama stung a little bit. My mom and Mama Bea had been best friends since elementary, and when they got pregnant around the same time, they decided to raise their boys together.
Rome’s pops did stick around for a little while when we were young, but I never met mine. I remember Rome’s dad taking us to the park, and I’d be praying mine would somehow be there, waiting. That shit never happened though. That was what really motivated me to adopt Sakani.
My mama was the best woman I ever knew. She stepped for me in every way possible and went above and beyond to try to make sure I never felt the absence of my dad, but there were justsome things you couldn’t shield a child from. The experience of never having a father was one of those things.
“Oh, I’m just so proud of you, LaMicheal.” She grabbed both of my hands and looked into my eyes before continuing. “I know you are nervous, baby, but you are going to be the best father to that boy. I just know it.”
“I really hope so. You know I didn’t really have no examples. All I can do is put my best foot forward like I do with everything else.”
“Honey, you have served this country and inspired men all around the world with your actions. Raising a child is not going to break you.”
“I just hope I can make him feel at home, Ma.”
“You will. Now, go on, have a seat. Let me fix your plate.”
I went back to my seat as she continued moving around the kitchen. It wasn’t long before she joined me with two plates, one for each of us. Mama Bea knew exactly what to do because she’d made a breakfast I couldn’t refuse even if I wanted to. My plate was running over with grits, eggs, bacon, sausage, and honey butter biscuits.
I wasted no time digging in because my stomach was about to touch my back. The grits had just the right amount of salt and butter. The bacon was crispy just the way I liked it, and the biscuits melted in my mouth.
“I didn’t get him a lot of stuff yet. Maybe I need to go back to the mall,” I said, finally putting the fork down but still in my own head.
“Or you can just wait until he comes home. Right now, you will just be going out blindly buying stuff. Let him come home first, LaMicheal, and he will tell you what he needs, if he needs anything at all.”
“You right, Ma. Well, I hate to eat and run, but I gotta get out of here. I don’t want to be late to my first day of fatherhood.”
I’d never seen somany muscles on one person in my whole life. I didn’t spend much time in the gym these days, so maybe I didn’t have much of a reference. I determined running was more my speed than spending hours in the gym, self-conscious about my body.
Clearly, the man standing in front of me now didn’t have that same problem. He was dark-skinned and stood well over six feet. He probably weighed in the mid-two hundreds too, but it was definitely all muscle.
He was bow-legged and well-dressed, and although he was here for Sakani, he’d gained the attention of almost everyone in Renewed. We were all gathered in the common area to say goodbye to all the children who were going to new homes today.I was happy for all of them, but none more than Sakani. He was getting the second chance he deserved.
“Did you hear me, girl?” Aniya asked, pulling my attention away from the stranger holding it captive.
I didn’t know how long I’d been staring at the man, but I was sure it was longer than I should have. Giving my attention to a man wasn’t something I was used to, so even with all his fine-ness, he shouldn’t have garnered more than a glance. I didn’t have time or the energy to put up with anyone of the opposite sex, even if he did look so good.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked you, how do you feel about losing your favorite person today?”
“We’re not losing him, Aniya. I am sure Sakani will be back to visit us from time to time.”
“Hopefully it’s just a visit.”
“You stop it.”
“Girl, that child was a nightmare to everyone but you. I’m just happy he got adopted because we both know his story could have went a whole other way.”
“Yeah, you right about that. Sakani has worked hard to turn his life around.”
“I’ll give him that. And that new daddy of his is finnnne.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
I stood up straight with my head high and fixed my clothes. I was not about to let Aniya know the things that had been running through my head at the sight of that man. None of them were clean, and Aniya was known to gossip.
“Girl, please. Don’t try to act like I didn’t just pull you out of a lustful daze. I know you a goody-two-shoes, but don’t be bougie.”
