My eyes softened and smile showcased. “I think that the president ofMediGenixis in love with the CEO. I guess that’s breaking news too.”
The elevator door opened on our floor. Like two damn kids waiting for Santa, Jackie and Joy stood in front of the elevator. “What did they say?” Jackie asked.
Robert shrugged. “There’s not much one can say when the CEO and president walk in and tell HR and legal that they are in love. What do you really say to that?”
Like a perfectly synchronized duo, Jackie’s and Joy’s heads bucked back, then they said in unison, “In love!”
Their heads snapped at each other, then back at us. “Yes, I knew our hard work would pay off!” Joy rejoiced. “This calls for a celebratory lunch. Lunch is on you, Mr. Brand.”
I laughed because Joy was too much. Robert chuckled. “Of course, it does. Let’s go to that favorite place that you ladies love.”
A Short Time Later . . .
Meet The Parents
“Baby, you know that you didn’t have to buy everything on the registry that wasn’t purchased, right? They would have gotten all of this stuff regardless.” Robert had been saying that since he pulled up to my house to find a utility van full of gifts for Simonette and Daylen.
Right now, we were still at my house waiting for two very special guests to arrive. Since the day I met Simonette, we’d talked almost every day. She got my phone number from Jackie to reach out to me. I wasn’t sure if Robert knew that we’d had a couple lunches and dinners.
I knew that she and her mother did not have a good relationship. When Robert told me how his ex-wife treated her own daughter, it brought me to tears. How could anyone treat the child that they carried and gave birth to like Simone did her daughter?
From the interaction that I had with Simonette alone, it was clear that she still very much craved the love and nurture of a mother figure. Most women who come into a romantic relationship with a man who had children said that they didn’t want to replace the children’s mother. Well, I wouldn’t say that. If I could replace her dumb ass mama, I certainly would. At thirty-three, it would be easy to say that she didn’t need a mother, but I begged to differ because she never had the chance to experience genuine motherly love.
“Robbie, I told you that I didn’t buy all of this. Me, Joy, and my mama bought these things.” My hand went to my hip. “Don’t mess this Glammie thing up for me.”
There was snickering throughout the living room and kitchen where we were all spread out. “Aye, you better chill. When my mama put her hand on her hip, that means she’s about to activate that superpower,” JJ joked.
The doorbell rang just in time because I was about to activate a slap to the back of his head. “See, God just spared you. Isn’t he an on-time God?”
Joy answered the door. “Mommy! Daddy!”
Robert’s eyes connected to mine before he walked over to me. He pulled me into his arms and put his lips to my ear. “I see y’all are a family of surprises and pop-ups.”
I laughed because he was right. Simonette called me when I was with my mama and sister shopping for her gifts. She didn’t get off the phone without inviting my parents to her baby shower. My mama thought that would be a great time for her and my daddy to meet Robert. I couldn’t have agreed more.
“Hey, what can I say? I wanted two of the greatest men in my life to meet.” I tilted my head back so that he could kiss my lips.
Our lips disconnected at the sound of a cleared throat. My daddy stood there with tight eyes. I moved out of Robert’s hold and wrapped my arms around my daddy’s neck. “Hey, Daddy! I want you to meet Robert Brand. Robert, this is my daddy, Charles Sampson.”
Robert smiled, then extended his hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Sampson. I am a huge fan of your work.”
My daddy glared at him for a brief second before he accepted his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, son. You said that you are a fan of my work? I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
I was confused by the comment too. My father was a retired electrician, which Robert knew. What work had my daddy done that he knew about?”
Robert smiled, stepped back, then grabbed my hand. He lifted my hand in the air and, with his other hand, held it out in a presenting manner. “Your work, sir. This is one immaculate piece of human art right here. I appreciate you and Mrs. Sampson for taking the time to create her.”
“Oh, yeah, I like him,” my mother blurted from behind my father. She walked around Daddy and stood in front of him. I blushed at the sight of my father’s arms wrapped around my mother.
“Julie, you like everyone. So, Robert, it’s your daughter who is having a lil boy?” After he confirmed, my daddy smiled. “If you thought being a father was an amazing feeling, just wait until your grandson is born. A child you can love, spoil, then send the hell home.”
We all got a laugh from that one. He told nothing but the truth. There were so many nights I would go pick JJ up from my parents’ house and he’d be wired on a pound of sugar and bullshit.
Last week, a beautiful fruit basket was delivered to my office with an official invitation to the baby shower. What took my emotions over the edge was that it was addressed to Baby Daylen Junior’s Glammie. Robert came to my office because he thought something was wrong after Joy told him that I was in my office crying. I couldn’t wait to love, spoil, and send DJ home filled with sugar and bullshit.
“Well, I don’t know about y’all, but I am ready to get to this baby shower and shower mommy and daddy. Are we all ready to go?” I asked excitedly.
Let’s Shower the Baby. . .
