By the time we made it out to the dining room, the table was set with all the food I had requested.
“Ooh, Mama, everything looks and smells so good.” I rubbed my hands together as I salivated, glancing over the spread Kat had prepared for us. Along with the catfish, she made fried jumbo shrimp, homemade hush puppies, baked macaroni and cheese, and collard greens.
Burkeley guided me into my chair that he pulled out and I wasted no time making our plates which had my parents looking at me with silly looks on their faces. Well, my mother anyway. My dad was a different story. That man was giving me the craziest glare I had ever gotten from him.
“Mickey, I don’t see anything wrong with that man’s hands. He can make his own plate,” he said.
“Dad, Burkeley is a guest. I’m just being a nice host, and besides, Mama makes your plate all the time. I’m just being a good girlfriend.” Kat put her hand on my dad’s shoulder, getting his attention.
“Oh calm down, Chris, and just bless the food so we can eat.”
A quick prayer and we were all back in motion, but this time, I paused to get the bag, clearing my throat in the process.
“Dad, Mama, before we officially get started, I?—”
“We,” Burkeley cut me off, correcting my word choice.
I looked at him and he nodded for me to continue, saying his word choice as I looked at him, swearing to seeing something in his dark brown eyes that caused butterflies to swarm in the pit of my stomach.
“Wehave one more gift for you two.” I lifted the bag, with Burkeley quickly taking over and passing it to my dad.
Burkeley grabbed my shaking hands, kissing the back of one, holding them tightly as we watched them dig into the bag, pulling out a box with T-shirts that said Grandma and Papa on them that Hollis had made.
Kat reacted first, screaming as they reached the first shirt, Chris holding it up. His was on top.
“My baby is having a baby. I knew it! I told your dad this was it from the moment you mentioned bringing your boyfriend to dinner. Oh, Mickey, I’m so happy for you two,” she cried out, getting up and rounding the table as I stood to embrace her. Katencased me in her arms so tightly, rocking me from side to side. She leaned back and I noticed tears free falling down her cheeks.
“Oh, Mama,” I cried out, now wrapped up in the emotions with her. She then walked over to Burkeley and hugged him too, then made her way back to her seat.
“How far along are y’all?” my dad asked.
“Three months. We wanted to share the news after we got out of the first trimester.”
“And how long have you been together?” Chris asked. His questions were coming at a rapid speed as we began eating. So far his mood was calm but his scowl said anything but that. I should’ve known this would be his reaction, especially when he didn’t say anything about the baby.
“Six months, so far. Of course, if you ask me, I plan to spend my life with her.” Burkeley spoke up this time. He looked from my dad to me, holding my gaze. Something in my chest warmed, as if his words held truth. I smiled as Burkeley placed another soft kiss to the back of my hand.
“Hmph, and what is it that you do for a living?” Chris asked and I mentally prepared myself. Even though we were clearly here for the baby announcement, Burkeley too would be a heavy topic of discussion tonight.
“I’m a private investigator and I run my own firm.”
Kat pressed her lips together with a surprised expression on her face as she nodded.
“Oh wow, well that’s interesting. How long have you been in business?” Chris asked again.
“A little over ten years now. It took it a little while to become a steady and successful stream of revenue, but I can happily say I am the number one P.I in town.” Burkeley finished selling him on his business and career. I was glad he’d sensed Chris needed the reassurance without it being too much for him to handle.
“Ten years? Wow, so how old are you again? Mickey is only twenty-four. So, ten years ago she was still in high school.”
“I’m aware of how old McKay is. I’m only thirty-six, Chris.”
“Hmph…You mentioned your company being successful. I’m assuming your plan is to move my baby girl out of that condo before the baby comes, correct?”
I jumped in. “Okay, Dad, that’s enough. BK, you don’t have to answer that.”
“Like hell he doesn’t. Mickey, you live in a one-bedroom condo when I’m sure he lives in a house. Y’all have made a baby, so obviously your boyfriend can afford to move you and the baby somewhere more suitable. You don’t need to be coming in the parking deck late at night, with a baby in a stroller and trying to carry that and groceries up. Elevator or not, it’s a lot. And again, you don’t even have a separate room for the baby to sleep in,” Chris stressed to me while his stoned expression held Burkeley’s full attention, making me groan while I took another bite of my fish.
“No, your dad is right, baby. And of course I do. We’re still looking. There is a little bit of time left before those final decisions need to be made. That’s the part that McKay fights me on, but I agree with you. I don’t like the idea of her coming in late from the parking garage,” Burkeley said, now taking a bite of the food.
