Page 146 of Mia

“I’m fine. I just had a little upset stomach. I took something for it and I’m okay now.”

“You sure?”

“Mom, I promise. Are you and Titan in cahoots with me not getting some of Mr. Bronx’s food? It smells too good in here for me not to eat.”

Ms. Maddie eyed her skeptically. “Come on.”

She closed the door and led us into the kitchen. Mr. Bronx was plating a meal of braised oxtails, red beans and rice, collard greens, candied yams, and cornbread. Everything looked and smelled so damn good that it had my mouth watering.

“Damn, Mr. Bronx,” I said, rubbing my stomach. “You have it smelling good as hell in here.”

He chuckled as he wiped his hands on a dish towel and came to greet us.

“Thank you,” he said, slapping my hand. “I’ve been slaving all day to make sure everything was perfect.”

“It’s appreciated,” Mia said, hugging him. “Please tell me there is enough for some to-go plates.”

He laughed as he pointed to the counter behind us. “Already packed it up for you two.”

“You better keep him, Mama.”

Ms. Maddie blushed. “I plan to. Why don’t we all take a seat?”

Each of us grabbed a plate and headed to the set table. After joining hands for a word of prayer, we dug in. For a while, all that could be heard was the sound of smacking and forks scraping against plates. That shit was so good I almost bit my damn tongue off. The oxtails were seasoned to perfection and falling off the bone. The yams were tender and sweet, but not too sweet. The collards tasted like somebody’s granny was in the kitchen all day, and that cornbread… damn.

“Where is Bleu?” Mr. Bronx asked. “I was hoping to see my little fur friend.”

“Bleu is with her uncle Deuce,” Mia answered. “He wasn’t too happy about keeping her, but the kids wanted her and their puppy to have a sleepover.”

Ms. Maddie shook her head. “I can’t believe he really brought a dog home from Paris.”

I chuckled. “Salima wasn’t playing with him. He brought her home, and the rest of the girls demanded their men go get them a dog too.”

She laughed. “That sounds about right.”

“Daddy is talking about building a dog park beside the playground now,” Mia informed her. “Said his granddogs need a place to play too.”

Ms. Maddie rolled her eyes. “Extra ass.”

“Soooo…” Mia sang. “What’s the reason you called us over here?”

Ms. Maddie looked at Bronx with a big smile. He reached for her hand, and she eagerly slipped hers into his palm.

“Well, we have news,” she said.

Mia frowned. “Are you pregnant?”

“God, no! Why the hell would you ask me that?”

“I was just making sure. Can’t be too careful these days.”

“I assure you, you were my one and done. Anyway…” She paused for dramatic effect. “We’re getting married!”

She held up her hand, showing off a big ass rock that was hard to miss, yet we had because we were so focused on the food.

Mia gasped. “What! Oh, my God!”

She jumped up from the table and went around to hug her mother. I wiped my mouth and shook Mr. Bronx's hand.