Dauterive
It looked like Asylum was about to blow a gasket. His eye twitched and mouth hung open. He was frozen in his chair, seemingly looking right through True. I had an idea that her question would knock him off his square, but not to this extent. This was the first time in all the years I’d known him that I’d seen anything make my husband speechless. Leave it to his princess, . . . his baby girl.
Clearing my throat, I tried to hide my simper as I rubbed Asylum’s thigh. When that didn’t make him move, I called his name softly and sweetly while rubbing his neck.
“Asylum?” I gripped his chin and forced him to look at me. Finally, his eyes blinked.
“Hmm?”
“True just told you she likes a boy in her class and wants to know if they can go to the movies. You haven’t answered her.”
My smirk spread into a grin when he scowled.
“That actually just happened?”
His question caused my laughter to finally erupt. Meanwhile, True was looking from me to her father as if she was waiting for God to smite her. She’d come to me first and asked for help on how to soften Asylum to the idea of her dating. Sierra had already told her she was okay with her dating now, but Asylum wanted her to wait until she was fifteen. I felt like if he tried to keep her from dating, she’d do it behind our backs.
I was honored that she’d come to me for advice. She called me Mama Doe, and we still had a strong bond even though Sierra had come back. More than anything, I wanted to make sure she knew I was here to give her extra love and support above all else.
“Yes, baby. That actually happened.”
Asylum shifted to face True again. His head hung as he huffed, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his dramatics.
“Princess, are you trying to give your daddy a heart attack?”
“No, sir.”
“I don’t think I want you dating now. You just turned fourteen. I thought we agreed you’d start dating at fifteen?”
“Well, yes, but I really like him, Daddy. He’s nice and we have a lot of fun in class and gym. He asked me to go to the movies with him and that’s it. We’re just gonna hang out.”
“That’s never it when it comes to little boys. First you’ll be asking me if you can go to the movies to hang out, and then he’ll be kissing you and tryna fu?—”
“Sy!” I yelled, shoving his shoulder.
“Aight, aight. If I let you go to the movies with him, there will be a hell of a lot of rules. No touching. No kissing. No body parts joining in any way. I’ma go with you. It can be a double date.”
“Ugh,” True groaned. “Just forget it. I can’t go on a double date with y’all.”
“Why not?” I asked. “We’re cool.”
“No one wants to go on a date with their parents, Mama Doe.”
“Okay, how about this,” I started, taking Asylum’s hand into mine. “We will go, but you two can do your own thing. We won’t sit with you or talk to you. Or, your daddy will likely put a guard on you, and I’m sure that’s not what you want.”
She released a dramatic sigh, and for her and Asylum to not have been related by blood, they sure acted a hell of a lot alike. I chuckled as she considered the offer.
“Fine. I guess I have no choice,” True agreed. “But Daddy can’t talk to him or threaten him or embarrass me.”
“Helllo,” Asylum stretched. “Y’all talking about me like I’m not even here.”
“Deal,” I said, extending my hand across the table for True to shake.
“Deal!” She squealed as she stood and walked over to our side of the table. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she added, “Thanks, Mama Doe.” True kissed Asylum’s cheek. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Mhm,” he grumbled, making me laugh again. Hewaited until she was out of the dining room to say, “Judas. How could you betray me?”
Cackling, I couldn’t even respond immediately. “Asylum, I didnotbetray you.”
