Page 6 of A Don & His Doll

“A’ight bro,” Syn shot back.

“Before you go,” Mitch caught Monroe before he hung up. “Close that deal in Chicago. Everything legit. I pulled his people’s jacket, and met with the leader last week.”

“Good lookin’, Unc. I got it,” Monroe said, breathing easy as he clicked over to speak to his mother.

“What’s up, son?” Macie greeted with a smile that was evident through her tone.

“What’s good, mama? What’chu doin’ up this late?”

“Sleeping is for the dead,” she replied in her usual sweet rasp. “The sun always shinin’ bright somewhere in this world.”

Monroe laughed, already knowing his mother didn’t sleep much. They were alike in that way. He also knew if she was calling this late it was for a reason, so he waited for her to continue.

“How’s that Chicago situation coming along? I’m up crunching some numbers, and the expansion makes sense.”

“I just heard the word from Unc. He gave the green light from his end, and that’s all we needed. I’ll be makin’ some moves once I get back from St. Lucia.”

“Good. I’m on board with that too,” Macie agreed, then shifted the conversation. “So, how you been doing otherwise?”

“I can’t complain, mama. Life is good,” Monroe said, rising from his seat to pour himself a shot. “I got somebody I want you to meet soon.”

“Who?” Macie asked, but didn’t rush him. She never did.

“Her name is Promise.”

Macie paused for a moment. She knew that if Monroe wanted to introduce her to someone it was serious. He was in love. She knew the type of man her son was, any woman who had the privilege of being with him had to be someone special. Macie smiled when Monroe said her name. “Promise,” she repeated. “That’s a pretty name.”

Monroe relaxed, something easing in his chest. “She’s good to me.”

Macie nodded, reaching for her glass. The silence that followed wasn’t disbelief, it was recognition. If Monroe was ready to bring a woman into her presence, it meant he was already invested. Her son didn’t entertain lightly. Love, when it touched him, was all-consuming.

“Just remember,” she said lightly, as if offering advice instead of warning, “Men in your position don’t get the luxury of distractions.” Macie took a slow sip before continuing, letting the brief silence settle where it needed to. “Love makes people careless. Serious relationships ain’t built for people like us.” Her tone stayed even, but dismissive. “We love ‘em, and we leave ‘em. This late in the game, weaknesses cost too much.”

Monroe didn’t respond right away. He let her words pass through him, familiar but unwelcome, settling somewhere he usually kept locked. He’d heard numerous versions of that speech his whole life. They were warnings dressed up as wisdom, caution masked as love, and for a long time, he’d allowed himself to believe it. He believed that caring too deeply was a liability, and that love came with a price tag he couldn’t afford. But Promise had shifted something in him, softened edges he didn’t realize were still sharp. She didn’t make him careless, she made him intentional. More focused. It wasn’t the time to challenge his mother, his only intention was to test her temperature. Macie never spoke without reason, and nothing she said was ever accidental. So, he swallowed the response forming on his tongue, filing her words away where he kept everything else that mattered. His silence wasn’t agreement, or defiance…

It was mere awareness.

“Thanks for always havin’ my best interest at heart,” Monroe returned. “Love you, ma.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you soon,” Macie replied.

After concluding the call with his mother, Monroe silenced the music, his attention drifting back to the window; but his thoughts found Promise instead. She had a way of doing that…slipping into his thoughts without effort, settling into places he hadn’t invited anyone. She’d shifted his heart, realigned it, and tuned it to something softer than survival. He thought about how she’d walked into his life, and shifted his heart to a position that could only beat in tune with hers. Monroe had no clue about her past relationships because he never asked. Not because he didn’t care, but because if he found out any man hurt her; he’d kill them. The only thing that mattered was what they shared in the present, and the future he’d intentionally build with her. For the first time in a long time, Monroe wasn’t just existing. He was choosing to live in a new truth with Promise. The vibration of his phone cut through the quiet, sharp enough to pull him from his thoughts. Monroe glanced down at the screen, his expression shifting the moment he saw her name.

My Doll: Hey Lover! You know I miss you more I can’t wait to see you next week at the wedding. You still up?

Instead of responding, Monroe hit call. Promise answered almost immediately.

“Hey you,” she said, warmth wrapped around every syllable.

“You beat me to it,” Monroe replied, his voice low. “I was just thinkin’ about you.”

She smiled on the other end, he could hear it. “It’s good to be thought about.”

“Shit, next week can’t come fast enough,” he said. “You should call out and catch a flight to come see a nigga tonight,” Monroe suggested seriously.

“I miss you too, babe,” Promise murmured. “You know I gotta leave right though.”

“I miss you more,” Monroe countered easily. “But fuck that job. You don’t need that shit no way. You know I’ll take care of you”