“What’s going on, Son?”
“Hey, Pops. Nothing much here. You good?”
“I’m great. I’ll be even better when your mother stops worrying me about this trip to see you and your brother.”
I laughed. “Don’t hate because your wife raised two mama’s boys, and she misses us.”
“Yeah. I knew we should’ve tried for a girl so one of my kids could give a damn about me. I’m surprised you called. You must need something.”
I laughed again because if Kyle St. Patrick didn’t do anything else, he would give Knox and me a hard time.
“I can’t just be calling to talk to my old man.”
“You could be, but I know you’re not. What do you need, Son?”
I sighed before responding. “Your advice.”
“I’m listening.”
I told him everything, including that Ward was Nyeem’s biological father, but I left out that Nyomi was pregnant because I wanted to surprise them when they visited.
“It sounds like you got your hands full,” he said when I finished.
“Yeah, and I’m handling everything well, but this situation with Ward won’t go away unless he does. He says something negative about Nyeem every chance he gets, which is really starting to piss me off because it’s unwarranted.”
“Have you called him on it?”
“Pops, I check him every time. Knox has checked him. Regardless of his lack of involvement in Nyeem’s life, he still came from his nut sack. How can he not want anything but the best for him? It’s like he’s mad that Nyeem is such a dope ass kid despite his absence.”
“That’s exactly what it is. His ego is too big for him to see past it. I agree with Knox. Ward will fuck himself right out of that contract. It’s just a matter of time. You try to control your temper around him and don’t let him make you step out of character. He’s not worth it.”
“I hear you, Pops. I appreciate you.”
“It’s never a problem, Son. Anyway, I need to get back to work. I was out in the garden with your mother when you called.”
“Okay. Thanks for listening, Pops. Oh, and please don’t mention anything about Nyomi to Mama. I don’t want her harassing me until next week.”
“I guess I can hold that for you. I love you, Son.”
“I love you too, Pops.”
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
She smiled. “You told me as soon as I opened the door.”
“You’re always beautiful. Even when you’re sweaty from working out, with your curls wild and untamed.”
“You’re pushing it now, but thank you.”
“I’m serious. You don’t even have to try because beauty radiates from you. I can’t wait to witness you growing the life we created.”
“Thank you, Kilo. You’re laying it on pretty thick, and I don’t mind one bit.”
“How do you feel? I know bringing you here was risky, considering you haven’t been able to keep much down, but I wanted to take you out on a real date,” I told Nyomi once we were seated at our table.
“I appreciate your efforts. Hopefully, your child, or children, behave.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe I’m about to be a father. Thank you.”
