Chapter 14 Bishop #3
I resisted the burning desire I had to look through all of his paperwork and ask him what was up.
Instead I stuck to the original plan, stacked the papers and set them in his top drawer to unpack the food.
I collapsed in the chair on the opposite side of his desk and messed around on my phone, reading the many messages that were flying in the family’s group message with the announcement of Novalie going into active labor.
I was as close to my sister-in-laws as I was to my brothers so while I was excited about meeting my niece or nephew soon I was also nervous for Novalie and hoping she was good and labor wasn’t too bad.
I was still catching up on messages when Asante walked into his office. He exhaled deeply then walked over to me and kissed my cheek.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” I smiled at him as he circled his desk.
“You brought me dinner?”
“Yeah. I have to make sure you’re well fed.”
“Is this fiancé treatment?”
“You got jokes?” I grinned. “Nigga, I’ve been making sure you’re good.”
“Yeah. You have.” He collapsed in his seat. “I just like pointing out that we’re engaged.”
My smile spread even further over my face.
“I’m down with that then.”
“Good.” Asante looked down at the different items I’d purchased then back at me. “This shit looks good,” he said as he grabbed one of the containers and pulled it closer to him.
He ripped the top off and immediately took a bite and nodded, letting me know that it was as good as he’d thought it would be.
“Everything good out there?”
“Yeah. The card machine was giving us some trouble but it’s all good now.”
“A’ight. Cool.” I reached over, grabbed a fry and popped it into my mouth. “How’s the rest of your shift been going?”
“So far, so good.” Asante exhaled. “I’m thinking about giving Layla a promotion.”
“What kind of promotion?”
“I mean outside of me I don’t have a manager and she’s damn good at her job. She knows how everything runs. She’s dependable. I feel like it couoldn’t hurt to at least try it out. Then maybe I won’t have to come in here every night.”
“I’m not mad at it and I’m sure Layla would love the upgrade.” I sat back in my seat. “Can you afford it?”
“What?” Asante stopped shoveling food in his mouth and looked up at me.
I didn’t beat around the bush or try to lie.
“You’ve got some past due shit that was on your desk. I didn’t snoop. It was just there.”
“Well, I still should be able to afford it.” He didn’t elaborate.
I slid my chair closer to the desk.
“How past due is shit around here?”
“It’s not that bad.” He took another bite of food. “I have some events and shit planned so it’ll all balance out.”
“And what about right now this second? How past due is shit right now at this moment?”
“Does it matter?” Asante lifted an eyebrow. “I’m taking care of it.”
“You’re not taking care of it because if you could have taken care of it, you would have.”
Asante set his food down and met my gaze.
“What does that mean, Bishop?”
“It means I respect you wanting to take care of your business on your own but as your husband, that shit’s not going to fly.”
“You’re not my husband yet.”
“You want to piss me off tonight, baby? Because I’ll snatch my food back so quick,” I jokingly threatened.
Asante chortled and shook his head.
“Man, I told you I’m taking care of it.”
“And I’m taking care of you. I’ll foot the difference.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Let?” I repeated. “You’re not my husband yet, remember? You can’t stop me from sending my money wherever I want it to go.”
“Bishop”
“When we get married we’re giving up the ‘I’ shit for ‘us’.
You think my pops is making my mom get random part time jobs to bring in her spending money?
You think King is letting Xavia’s cards get past due?
Fuck all that. My money is going to be our money and I want you to get used to spending it.
That’s what I work for. That’s what my family works for, to take care of ourselves and the families we create.
For me, that’s you. You’re the base of this family I want to create and,” I shrugged. “This gon’ be half my shit anyway.”
Asante full out laughed at that statement.
“Oh. Word?”
“You ain’t ask me for no prenup so yeah.
This is gon’ be my club ran by my husband and I’m gon’ pay our bills.
” I watched Asante look off and absently tap his knuckles on the desk.
“You’re not failing,” I said simply and he looked back at me.
“Businesses go up and down but I know you gon’ get it back right and when you do you can put the money back in our account. That’s it.”
“So, it’s a loan?” Asante asked.
“If that’ll make you feel better.” I leaned forward, grabbed one of his fries and tossed it into my mouth. “After all the shit you do or did for me that you can’t put a price tag on, I’m not clocking you for a couple of grand, Asante but if it means that much to you, you can track it yourself.”
He exhaled. “Look, I’ve been taking care of myself since I graduated high school and I appreciate you and love you but accepting handouts ain’t how I operate.”
“It’s not a handout and I wasn’t asking for your permission.
You can’t stop me from sending our money wherever I want it to go.
” I lifted an eyebrow. “You think I can’t track down bills in your name?
” I scoffed and shook my head. “If I have to go around you, I will but it would mean a lot to me if you just let me help you out.”
I watched Asante as he sank in his seat. I could visibly see him running numbers in his brain and weighing his options.
“I’ll give you half,” I offered. “Nothing more and nothing less, just a little cushion to get you through the rough patch.”
“Half?” Asante repeated.
“Unless I get you to agree to more, yeah. I’ll settle on half.”
“Alright.” Asante sighed and nodded. “And I’m going to pay you back.”
“As long as you track that shit yourself, cool. Put whatever you want in that motha’fucka.” I paused when I felt my phone vibrate and quickly pulled it out.
I answered Knight’s call immediately.
“It’s showtime.”
“Alright.” I hopped up. “I’m on the way.” I hung up and looked at Asante. “Nova’s about to give birth.”
“Fuck.” He started to throw all of his food back into their containers. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go.”
We both grabbed our keys and headed out.
Asante told Layla she was in charge but to call him if she needed to and we hopped in his whip to head to the hospital.
My father, Novalie’s father, Casmi and Winnie were already there. It was only a few more minutes before Rook showed up. King and Xavia got there last.
We all sat together in our big ass group just talking and joking and my mom came out to see us in the waiting room after three long hours of silence from inside the delivery room where she, Knight and Nova’s mother had been.
Quiet took over while we waited for the final verdict.
“A healthy baby girl!” she halfway screamed and bounced on the balls of her feet.
We all clapped and made varying sounds of excitement, earning us a few glances from other people but nobody really gave a fuck about that.
Our family slowly went in groups of twos and threes to see the new mom and Rook and I went in last.
Nova was lying down with a smile on her face and a small baby on her chest. Knight stood next to her with a hand on her head, massaging her scalp lightly. He grinned widely when he saw us and we walked over and dapped him up.
“Congratulations to both of y’all,” Rook offered.
“Thank you.” Nova smiled.
“How you feeling?” I walked over to her head and looked down at the baby.
“I’m good.”
“She’s a fucking beast.” Knight leaned down and kissed her head and Nova beamed. “She did so fucking well in here.” He shook his head. “It was crazy.”
“You ready to do this shit again in two weeks?” Rook asked.
I shot him a look. Knight shook his head and chuckled.
“Yeah, actually. I’m ready to be in here with Casmi, to have our family whole and safely at home.”
“I feel you.”
“So…” I leaned closer to Nova and smiled at the face of our niece. “What did y’all settle on name wise?”
“Eleanor Ames Barron,” Knight stated proudly. “We wanted a classic name.” He shrugged.
“That’s dope.” Rook smiled. “You gave the baby Nova’s last name as a middle name?”
“Nova’s last name is Barron,” Knight sniped and Rook laughed at how defensive he sounded. “But yeah, we gave her Nova’s maiden name as a middle name. If it was a boy, we were going to hyphenate last names.”
“For real?” Rook asked. “How you think Dad would have taken that?”
“I’m not the firstborn son and Nova’s an only child. Her last name will fall off with her father if our kids don’t take it in some way.” Knight shrugged.
“What about Casmi?” Rook asked.
“She has a brother so we’re not as worried about it but honestly, I’m down for hyphenating there too if that’s what she wants. Plus…” Knight looked between us. “I have three brothers that can carry on the Barron name.”
“Yeah. Alright. Well, I’ll let you know when I get Asante pregnant,” I deadpanned.
Knight, Nova, and Rook all laughed.
“Shut the fuck up,” Knight said between snickering.
“Baby E is beautiful though, y’all.” Rook said.
“Thank you, man.”
Rook and I washed our hands so we could touch the baby then hugged our elder brother goodbye and headed out. Since Knight and Nova’s father were going to spend the night with Nova Me and Asante decided we were going to stay the night with Casmi in their absence.
Although I’d been present when our entire family had gotten together to make sure the house was set up properly to bring a baby home Asante and I went through it again just to be sure after Casmi was sleeping, a little baby monitor beside her bed and the other clipped to my pants so I could hear her if she needed me.
After we finished looking over all the usual baby proofed spots, Asante and I sat in the backyard and each lit up a cigarette.
Between the conversation I had with Asante’s dad and seeing my newborn niece I felt like all I could think about was one day parenting with Asante especially after he’d made it clear that he would be down with children.
“You meant that shit you said about wanting kids?” I asked after a while lost in my thoughts.
“Yeah. I do.” Asante took a hit of his cigarette and ashed it. “What about you?”
“Yeah. I’d be down for a baby or two. I think we’d be good parents.”
A huge smile took over Asante’s face.
“Me too.”
I leaned into him and kissed him briefly.
“How long would you want to wait after we get married?”
“A couple of years,” he said. “I’ll be thirty soon so shit definitely within the next six years. I’d prefer less but I'm down for whatever you’re down for.” Asante snuffed his cigarette out and pocketed it to throw away later. “You have baby fever now or what?”
“Honestly, yeah.” I snickered. “So, I’m down with the six years or less plan.” I took another puff. “You want to have our first kid within six years or be done in six years?”
“Preferably done.”
I nodded at that. “Can’t wait.”
“To be up to our nose in diapers and crying?”
“To be a father and husband.”
Asante’s smile fell from his face and he reached over to grip my hand in his.
“Trust me. I’m counting down the fucking days.”
“Me too.” I lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. Then, I sighed and leaned my head back to look up at the stars. “Me too.”