When we pulled back and continued down the aisle, I asked, “How are things coming along with that house that you’re constructing?”
“It’s coming along well. We’re almost finished. Did you send me the email on the selection of landscapers you thought I should go with based on the consultation specs?”
He had pulled me into this project, and I found that although it was out of the scope of my normal work, I enjoyed it.
“Oh yeah. You didn’t get the email?” I asked, pulling the email app up on my phone.
“No. I thought you said you would send it last Tuesday, and I looked for it but didn’t see it, not even in my spam mail. I thought you got caught up.”
“Not hardly. Let me see,” I muttered as I slowly followed behind him as he pushed the cart. I flipped through the sent emails and found it. “I’m sorry, bae. I don’t know what happened, but it’s sitting right here in my sent emails. I’m resending it now.”
“It’s all good. I’ll look over it when I get home. That way I can call the selected vendor at that time and let them know we went with them. I’ll set up an appointment for them to get started.”
“Sounds good to me.”
I walked behind him, scrolling through my social media. Harlem was a good man, and I loved that he valued and respected my opinion enough to let me give feedback on a new project entirely. We continued shopping until we found all the items we needed.
“Hey, Hollis told me to tell you thank you.”
“Oh. Did they like the package?” I asked, looking up from my phone as we headed to the checkout line.
“He said they loved it, and Kena appreciated you taking her for a day out away from the baby.”
Hollis and Kena had made Harlem and me their baby’s godparents.
“Anytime. I think she’s a great mom, despite being so young, but she does need to have at least one day a month where she can get a break. Mental health is so important, and people underestimate how impactful postpartum depression can be. She seems like she has a great support system between her mom, grandmothers, aunts, and older sister, though.”
“I don’t know about postpartum, but I’m glad you do.”
“I meant to tell you that I think you guys are doing a great job of supporting Hollis with your Friday night folds.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, he’s one of the crew now.”
Eli, JC, Josiah, and Harlem spent Friday nights with Hollis for three hours, just kicking it, letting him “fold” or vent about whatever he was going through at that time. They gave him “big brother” advice and encouragement, and it usually happened while they were doing some recreational activity like playing basketball, bowling, attending a professional sporting event, or just going to the restaurant or one of the guys’ houses and kicking it.
“I love the work that you do, Harlem. You’re a great role model. Have you thought about who you’d like to mentor next?”
Hollis had grown out of the program, but Harlem had made it clear that their relationship wouldn’t end. He was taking a six-week break from his mentoring responsibilities before he jumped back in.
“Yeah. I’ve been chatting with this kid named Angel. He’s fourteen, a little Colombian kid. He’s pretty cool.”
“Well, you keep doing what you do, babe.” I tipped up and kissed his cheek after he scanned his card to pay for our purchases.
“Babe, what do you want with your steaks?” I called up the stairs.
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you feel like eating. You sure you don’t want to go out to dinner tonight?” Harlem shouted back.
“I’m sure.”
“I’ll be down in a few.”
I turned to run back down to the main floor. When we returned home from the hardware store, Harlem had busied himself with some activities around the house, and I turned my attention to setting up a little surprise for him.
The minute that he hopped in the shower, I told him that I had to run to the grocery store, and I would need his truck. He gave me the keys without question or hesitation.
Because of the call that I made prior to leaving the house, I was able to make it back just as he got out of the shower. I ran around to the backyard and unlocked the side gate to set things up, and I busied myself over the next ten minutes getting everything ready.
“Baby? Where are you?” I heard Harlem shouting from within the house.
