My hand went to my necklace and rubbed it. It was crazy that he recognized it. I had no idea how this would play out, but I had a feeling that my life was about to be turned upside down.
Who Am I? . . .
The only way that I could think to get my mother and sister to meet me was to tell them that I wanted them to meet Solomon at a very nice restaurant. I hadn’t seen Athena in over a year and my mother since the reading of the will. She pretty much told meto fuck off in a churchly way. Although I hadn’t seen her, I talked to her a few times.
When I invited her to dinner, she told me that the only way that she would come was if her husband was invited. She suggested that Pastor Terry lead me and Solomon in the sinner’s prayer because she knew that we were fornicators. I made her believe that was a possibility. Athena had no hesitations about the invitation.
Solomon had been so supportive after we left the gym. The first thing that I did was go home to look at all of my important paperwork. My birth certificate had Brenda and James Bulb on it. Elica told me that it wouldn’t be weird for them to be on there if they legally adopted me. I didn’t understand if I had a father. It was all so confusing.
“Are you ready to see them?” Sol asked with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. “I want you to listen to what they have to say, baby. We are here to find out the truth.”
We were at a steakhouse that was my father’s favorite. I decided to come to a place that might calm me if I needed to be calmed. “Okay. Like I told you before we got here, my mother can be rude.”
“I’m not worried about that shit. I’m a rude assPolcanigmyself,” he said with a wink.
My laughter was hard. It hit differently when he said it. I couldn’t wait to tell Elica about it.
“What’s so funny? I want to laugh.” Athena had a very distinctive voice.
My cheeks were high at the sight of her. She looked good, happy, healthy. I stood to my feet to welcome her into a hug.This is my sister.“Hey, Sis! I’ve missed you.”
“You look so good, Sis,” she said. She pulled back from the hug without letting go of me. She leaned over a little to gaze at Solomon. “Mm, isn’t he fine. I see you, Gorjess.”
I felt my cheeks warm. When I looked over my shoulder at him, he winked seductively at me. “I did good for myself, didn’t I?”
We sat down before I introduced her to him. In the midst of the introduction, I noticed my mother and her husband, Pastor Terry, walk in. I stood again to greet them. “Hey, Ma. Hi, Pastor Terry.”
He smiled. “Hi, Gorjess. It’s nice to see you. I don’t mind if you call me dad.”
My slight smile dropped, and my face scrunched.Is he serious?“No thank you, I rather not.”
My mother’s eye roll didn’t escape me. She didn’t try to hug me before she sat down nor did she speak. “Ma and Pastor Terry, this is Solomon Leota. Solomon, this is my mother, Brenda, and her husband, Pastor Terry.”
Solomon extended his hand to Pastor Terry first. They clasped hands. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
When he extended his hand to my mother, she looked at it then him. I knew her mouth was about to be reckless. “What are you?”
My head dropped because this would not end well. Solomon’s tone was hard. “Excuse me? I’m not sure I understand your question.”
“I mean are you black, white, or what? What are you?” she asked with boldness and ignorance. She was so embarrassing. Even her husband seemed embarrassed.
Solomon glared at her for a moment before he snickered quietly. “I’ll excuse the ignorance that is laced throughout your tone. My mother is Caucasian, and my father is Polynesian and Black.
Athena shook her head. “I swear you always have to do too much. From the looks on his face, Pastor Terry is getting tired of you like Daddy eventually did.”
“Little girl, shut up. You would know about doing too much. My husband is fine where he is,” she proclaimed.
I saw the waitress in the distance walking our way. When she got to the table, I asked her to bring a round of water then give us fifteen minutes to order. If I could get away with not having Solomon pay for my mother and her husband’s food, I would like that.
Her attitude made it more urgent for me to get to the truth. I didn’t want to be here anymore. “Ma, since you asked Solomon what he is, let me ask you, what are you?”
My mother’s face tightened. She looked between everyone at the table with confusion. “What do you mean, what am I?”
“This might be a better question. Oh, this question is for you and Athena. Who is Travis?”
We were at a circle table, so my eyes were on both of them. Athena’s facial expression told on herself. Ma held it together a little better but not by much.
What . . . how . . . how do you know who Travis is?” Athena asked. “Where did you meet him?”
