Page 91 of A Don & His Doll

“What?” Promise shot with squinted eyes.

“You wanted the next time you saw my daughter and her mother to be perfect,” Monroe said, resting his head on the headrest.

“And what’s wrong with that?” Promise asked, turning fully in the passenger seat to face him.

“Everything,” Monroe protested. “Ain’t shit about this world, life, or this situation perfect. Why the hell would perfection be the standard, when nobody is? All you gotta do is stay true to yourself, Doll. If you go in there on the perfection bullshit, Monae gon’ call bullshit. She got her daddy in her.”

Promise hollered. “Shut the hell up, Monroe.”

He chuckled. “Real shit. I’m tryna tell you.”

“Come on, man. ‘Cause you really sendin’ me right now,” Promise said, opening her door.

Monroe met her on the other side of the car before she closed the door. “I love you,” he said, pulling her close, and pressing his lips to hers. “Thank you for doing this for me.”

“Mhm,” Promise dismissed, straightening invisible wrinkles as she smoothed her hands down the side of her thighs.

Seconds later, they had made their way to the front door and rang the doorbell.

“This house is nice?” Promise complimented.

“So is the one being built for use as we speak,” Monroe said, revealing his own surprise.

“Come again,” Promise said with widened eyes and raised brows.

Monroe chuckled. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

“Hey, Daddy,” Monae greeted, swinging the door and her arms wide open.

“What’s good, Muffin?” Monroe said, returning the enthusiasm and love. “I want you to meet someone,” he said, pulling back slightly. “Monae, this is my lady, Promise,” he introduced.

“It’s so nice to meet you under better circumstances this time,” Promise warmly stated with an infectious smile.

“Muffin, who is that at the door?” Sienna yelled from her room.

“It’s dad and his new boo!” Monae yelled, looking back and forth between Monroe and Promise as amusement spilled from her tone. She’d noticed Promise’s baby bump, but chose not to address it right then, but planned to talk to her dad about it one-on-one later on.

Promise cracked up laughing, loving Monae’s sense of humor already.

“This girl,” Monroe said, laughing at Monae.

“Okay! Let them in,” Sienna yelled. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Come on,” Monae invited her dad and Promise in. “I just made some steak, veggies, and lemonade. I’ll fix y’all a plate,” Monae said, leading the way to the kitchen.

Monae had inherited her mother’s hospitality, and Monroe loved to see how well she’d taken his surprise. She was so easygoing, and she knew how to go with the flow. She’d gotten that from him. But, the cooking and inviting them to the kitchen was Sienna’s mother, Symie. Monae was the epitome of everything good the people around her had poured into her.

Promise didn’t contest at all when food was mentioned because she’d been hungry since she’d woke up that morning. As they walked down the hall, she couldn’t help but view all the pictures of Monae, Sienna, and Monroe when he was younger that aligned the wall. Monroe didn’t rush her.

“Aww, this is such a pretty picture. Is this you?” Promise stopped and asked.

Monae laughed. “Yeah, that’s when we were in Morocco,” she told her, referencing the mini photoshoot Sienna had arranged for her when she was three years old.

Monroe and Promise lingered in front of the pictures for a few minutes before walking into the kitchen where Monae had already started plating their food. Monae watched Promise and her father from afar as she wondered what was taking her mother so long to come downstairs, but still kept moving, adding ice to four mason jars, then sat them on the table. Doubling back to fix four plates.

Promise and Monroe entered the kitchen and sat down at the table, waiting for Sienna and Monae to join them.

“Hey, Mom. I fixed you a plate too. Come on, let’s eat,” Monae said sweetly.