“Aye, just because we ain’t together doesn’t mean I stopped loving her. She’ll always be the lady in my life who came through, wrecked shit, and got the fuck on.” We laughed.
“That’s crazy.”
“It is. But, fuck Leo, baby girl. You’re going to get somebody better, who’s going to appreciate you for who and what you are, and love those kids like they’re their own.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I receive that.”
“Good.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but the kids want pizza. Is that okay with you, or would you like for me to cook them something?” Basil asked, coming in with Carlee in his arms. The kids were now in the lounge chairs, looking at their iPads.
“Who is that?” my dad asked.
“It’s my manny.”
“What the hell is a manny?”
I laughed. “A male nanny, Daddy. Basil, yes, that’s fine. We’re on vacation, so they can have a few cheat days.”
“A’ight, cool. You want pizza, Lee Bear?”
“Pessa, pessa, pessa!” Carlee chanted as Basil joined her while heading back outside.
“It’s giving stepdaddy, not manny.”
“Daddy!” I palmed my forehead and shook my head. “You are worse than Mommy.”
“We be knowing, baby girl. Bring that nigga with you when you come to the house. I need to check his vibe since you got him around my grandkids.”
“We’re going to Universal Studios tomorrow. Why don’t you meet us up there?”
“Sounds like a plan. What time?”
“Sometime in the afternoon. I’m going to call you tomorrow to let you know.”
“Okay. And Alicia?”
“Yes.”
“Keep your legs closed. Don’t listen to thattoget over one man, get under anotherbullshit, a’ight?”
“Oh my God! Bye, Daddy.”
He chuckled as I hung up and looked out of the patio doors to see Basil playingred light, green lightwith the kids. I smiled and went to use the restroom. I knew, eventually, that was going to be the case, but I prayed I would have enough restraint not to get under Basil.
After we were donewith the pool, we all took our showers and got dressed. We let the kids play in the arcade room while Basil rewashed the sheets and blankets and did his own rendition of cleaning. I completely understood because I was going to do it, but he demanded I found myself something to do that didn’t require manual labor. So, I went out on the patio and decided to read for a little while. I had always been a lover of reading, but since starting law school, I hadn’t had the time to read anything but law books.
I called myself resting my eyes for a bit and ended up going to sleep in the chair.
“Hey, the pizza is here. Ready to eat?”
I nodded. “Yes. Starving.” When I looked at the time, it was almost eight o’clock. I didn’t realize I had slept that long, but I truly needed it and felt revived.
We were now sitting at the dining room table while Basil played a game in which whoever answered the question first would win five dollars for every question they got right.
“What’s the closest planet to the sun?” Basil asked Carsyn and Chloe.
“Earth!” Chloe called out first.
