“Thank you. It’s been years since the last time I was pampered. I’m looking forward to it.”
Her excitement made me smile. My parents had been doing well for themselves my whole life, and my mother had regularly scheduled self-care and pampering appointments. I was aware that not everyone had that luxury, but hearing that it had been years since Malyah had been on the receiving end made me want to give her the world.
“How much longer before you’re ready to leave?” I asked.
“About thirty minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll grab my things and meet you at my car.”
“Did you forget we drove separately?”
“No, but you can leave your car parked here overnight, and I’ll give you a ride tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? I have to be here pretty early, and I don’t mind meeting you?—”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll see you in thirty.”
I left her office and returned to mine to find my father sitting at my desk, waiting for me. I expected to see him sooner than this, so I wasn’t surprised.
“What’s up, Pops?”
“I waited up for you last night so we could talk.”
“I got home late.”
“Your mother, grandfather, and I were very disappointed by your behavior yesterday.”
“I’ve been disappointed ever since I was told I have to get married before my birthday.”
“You’re an intelligent man, Son. You should understand why we think this is for the best.”
“Not only am I intelligent, but I’m also very much a grown man. Pops, we can go back and forth on this until the end of time. I won’t agree to marry a woman I don’t choose. If you’re truly waiting for that to happen to retire, buckle up.”
“I never realized how selfish you were,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m selfish, but I am an only child, so it’s possible.”
“You’re an only child of an only child. The legacy my parents built, the legacy that I helped to grow, will be left in your hands. As a soon-to-be thirty-five-year-old wealthy Black man, women have you on their radars. Every interaction you have with a woman can turn into a lawsuit. You need stability with a woman who matches your?—”
“And that’s another thing I’m disappointed about.”
“Did you just interrupt me?”
My family didn’t play about respecting your elders, and I was rarely disrespectful, but this situation was too serious for me to handle with kid gloves.
“My bad, Pops, but I’ve always known you and Gramps, and even Ma when I was younger, to be down-to-earth, accepting of all people, regardless of their background, and far from uppity. Now, Ma has a tendency to forget where she came from sometimes, and if I had to choose something I didn’t like about her, that would be it. She keeps talking about finding me a ‘suitable’ woman and trying to set me up with a rich, bougie woman from the suburbs who I know I don’t have a thing in common with.”
“You never know, Son. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know a few of them. You might be surprised.”
“I’d rather not. At this point, it’s more about the principle. I’m very capable of choosing my life partner. I have a few appointments I need to get to, so we’ll have to finish this conversation another time.”
“Kenny—”
“I gotta go, Pops.”
I gathered the things I wanted to take home and left my father in my office. Thankfully, he didn’t try to stop me.
“You’re quiet,” Malyah said.
