Page 63 of A Don & His Doll

"I think that's twenty-four cards you gotta eat," Monae said, continuing her two step. She loved this song and was feeling loose. Their laughter bounced off every wall in the house, filling spaces Monroe hadn't realized had been empty until Monae showed up.

"Come dance with me." Monroe looked at Monae like she'd lost her mind. "Don't be like that. Play the song back and come dance with me," Monae told her father. "Maybe I'll let you win the next game." Monae's confidence was on a thousand.

By this time Sienna was sitting up grooving while absorbing the whole scene as it played out. Monroe sat the thirty cards he held down on the table, and danced with Monae. He couldn't deny her. Once the song ended, Monae played her last card, winning the game.

"Let's play spades," Monroe said, done with UNO for the day. "I don't know how to play that," Monae told Monroe.

"I'll teach you," he said, gathering the cards to put back in the box.

Patiently, Monroe explained suits, books, partners, bidding, and why paying attention mattered more than the cards in your hand. Monae listened the same way she'd listened at the museum, hanging onto every word as if each lesson was something worth keeping forever. She asked questions when she didn't understand, smiled every time she got something right. Sienna sat quietly off to the side, scrolling through her phone, but every few seconds her eyes drifted back toward them. Sienna wasn't paying attention to the cards anymore. She was watching history write itself. Years from now, even if Monae didn’t remember every rule Monroe taught her, she'd remember who taught her. She'd remember the way her daddy looked at her every time she got something right. She was watching a picture-perfect picture of a father bonding with his daughter. They'd played countless games within the tw-hour time frame. Everybody had a chance to win at some point, but now it was time to switch gears.

"You hungry, Monae?" Monroe inquired.

"You can call me, Muffin…if you want," Monae told him.

"I got'chu, little lady,” Monroe nodded. "What you got a taste for?"

"Pizza sounds good right about now," Monae answered.

"That do sound good. I'll go pick it up," Sienna offered.

"You sure?" Monroe asked.

"Yea, I'ma go get it from the restaurant. You know they got the best pizza in New York."

"True," Monroe agreed, reaching in his pocket and handing Sienna five hundred dollars.

"Monroe, this is too much," Sienna said. “You know she gone cuss me out if I try to pay her.”

"Tell her I said get herself something nice."

"Ok, but if she doesn't take it, I'm bringing all this back to you." Sienna said seriously.

"It's just money, Sienna. If she don't take it, keep it for yourself," Monroe shrugged. "You wanna get in the pool?" He redirected his attention to Monae.

"I'd love to get in, but I didn't bring a swimsuit," Monae answered.

"No need. I got'chu 'bout five to choose from. They laying on the bed in the spare room next to the bathroom." Monroe had sent his house cleaner to the mall to get them.

"I'll be right back," Monae said, speed walking to the spare room.

"I won't be gone long," Sienna said, reaching for the door.

"Thank you," Monroe said before she opened it.

"For what?" Sienna returned.

"For her," Monroe said genuinely. "She's perfect."

Sienna's shoulders relaxed. "She really is, and she really loves you. Monae never warms up this easily with anyone, but with you it comes so naturally."

"That's 'cause she's mine," Monroe said proudly.

"She is," Sienna smiled, knowing Monae had him wrapped around her fingers.

That was the thing about blood...Some connections don't need years to grow roots. Blood has a way of recognizing blood, even after a decade apart. After Sienna left, Monroe went upstairs quickly to change into some shorts, and by the time he made it back downstairs, Monae was standing at the bottom of the stairs in an orange one-piece swimming suit.

"You ready?" Monroe asked as he descended the stairs.