Erys watched his father with a deadpan expression while Remedy muffled a giggle behind her hand. They sat back and watched as he picked up her stethoscope and placed it on his chest.
“Listen to it, baby girl,” he crooned.
Obliging him, she placed it in her ears and listened to the thunder of his heart.
“Yeah, that’s for you. Tell that nigga to get lost,” Ernie spoke, making her laugh harder.
“You’re too much, Mr. Ernie.”
“You want to find out how much I am?” Ernie posed. “You two get your asses out of here. I’m trying to get you a step momma, boy. You got to watch out for that one right there. Look at his face, he is a hater. Look like his daddy, but a hater.”
“He is handsome,” the nurse stated, silencing Remedy’s laughter.
“Alright now, bitch, that’s enough of all that fuckin’ giggling. Ernie, slow up before you get someone’s head turned around,” Remedy warned, no evidence of amusement on her face. “Flirt with Ernie, keep your eyes off of this one.”
Yes, Erys was in love and chose not to say a word. He found it amusing how Remedy didn’t even sit up in her correction.
“Ah shit, I done got you in trouble,” Ernie grumbled. “She’s a fighter, she’ll really turn your head around. I’ll holla at you on my way out. I can’t piss my girl off like that.”
The nurse winced and backed out of the room.
“Pops, you play too much,” Erys muttered.
“Too damn much, I almost forgot where I was,” Remedy huffed, crossing her arms and legs.
Ernie chuckled. “That boy hit you with the long stroke now you all possessive and shit. Good job, son.”
“Not the time, old man. You about to fuck up our dinner menu for the rest of the week,” Erys replied. “I haven’t had an egg white since she stepped into the house. Don’t mess that up for me.”
“Uh huh,” Ernie said, putting a mint in his mouth. “Got some cookie too. God knows you ain’t had that shit ever in your life.”
A knock sounded at the door pausing Erys from commenting back.
“Come the hell in,” Ernie called, rolling the peppermint around in his mouth.
The doctor strolled in, an iPad in her hands and a pleasant smile on her face.
Ernie sucked his peppermint and grunted. “All y’all fine. Good God almighty. Sweet Lick Ernie. What’s your name, sugafoot?”
Erys closed his eyes and settled his laughter. “I apologize. I think his sugar is low or something.”
“I’ve heard about him all day. The staff has been in stitches. So I’m looking forward to meeting the man of the hour. Mr. Moore, I’m Dr. Hammon-”
“You can call me, Sweet Ernie, suga,” Ernie grunted, taking her outstretched hand and caressing the back of it with his thumb.
Dr. Hammon chuckled and quickly recovered. “I’m the head of the neurology department here and I’ve gotten the reports from all the doctors and consulted them on how we’re going to manage the array of things expected from a man your age and your history. When’s the last time you went to a doctor?”
“When May was living, and her eyesight was good. I had a mark on my johnson one time and I swore that dirty hoe got me.I was trying out a new one. Don’t trip, son, it was before your momma,” Ernie stated.
“Not tripping,” Erys assured.
“So like I was saying, May did everything for me and my hoes. She even delivered one of their babies on her dining room table,” Ernie shared.
Remedy muttered. “I ate off that table.”
Ernie smirked. “I did too. Mm.”
Dr. Hammon cleared her throat in order to stifle her croak of laughter. “You are such a character. So let’s start with the light work.”
