Chapter 10 #2
“That’s the best part,” Shuga interjects. “Especially the eyes. They make your eyes sparkle. Ain’t that right, Nana’s princess?”
“Yes,” Niya says.
“Well, y’all can definitely have that. I cannot eat an eye,” Mireya says with a grin. Then she cuts her fish and I fork the head piece and place it on my plate for Niya.
“You sure you don’t want this?” I ask jokingly.
“Ten thousand percent positive. Do you eat the eyes?” she asks.
“Nah. That’s all Shuga and now my baby. She could never get us to even try it growing up,” I tell her.
“Never,” Deuce adds before gathering his stuff. “I gotta bounce and get to the club.” He kisses the side of Shuga’s face. Asali leans back a little in his chair then extends his hand. Deuce slaps Asali’s hand.
“Don’t work too hard, son,” Asali says.
“We don’t know any other way,” Deuce says. He walks to our side of the table then leans down and kisses the top of Niya’s head. “Nice to meet you, sis,” he tells Mireya.
“You too.”
“And bruh, hit me this week,” he says to me.
“No doubt.”
After Deuce’s departure, we all eat while having small talk.
Niya’s unusual shyness wears off and she dominates the conversation about her Bluey birthday party that I have no knowledge of.
Apparently, she has it all envisioned and she’s excited to invite her two little friends she met in school.
Against Shuga’s wishes, two weeks ago, she started Pre-K at Diamond Elite Academy.
If Shuga had her wish, she would homeschool Niya and have her every day, but I want her interacting with other children, especially girls, and getting a well-rounded education.
“When is your birthday?” Mireya asks.
“In a few weeks,” Niya answers.
“More like a few months. It’s February,” I correct.
“The eight,” Niya finishes.
“My birthday is in February too,” Mireya reveals.
“The eight too?” Niya asks.
“No, it’s a week after yours on the fifteenth.”
“You having a party with your friends?” Niya asks.
“Probably.”
The conversation tempers down and we finish our food. Mireya actually tasted and ate most things on her plate. She’s open to my family and our food and I really like that, a lot. She fits.
“If you want any more, get it now before I pack it all up for the twins. They are heading back to college and I swear they are stockpiling food,” Shuga tells Mireya.
“Oh no. Thank you though. I’m full full in a good way. Everything was delicious. I have to learn how to make that seasoning blend and rice,” Mireya says.
“I can definitely teach you, but Quintus knows. All my boys know how to take care of themselves. I taught them how to cook, clean, laundry, you name it. I didn’t want them depending on a woman,” Shuga says.
“And I know too,” Niya adds.
“That’s right. My little princess knows too. She loves helping in the kitchen,” Shuga says and both Niya and Mireya smile.
“Then you can teach me,” Mireya utters to Niya and she nods.
Shuga stands and grabs hers and Asali’s plates.
When she reaches for Mireya’s, she stops her.
“Oh no. I got this. Let me help with cleanup. It’s the least I can do for the invite and this delicious dinner,” she says, then turns to me and Niya. “Are y’all finished?”
“Yeah,” I answer and Niya nods.
Mireya and Shuga walk off with the plates and trash. Niya gets up and follows them. When my eyes linger on them for a minute, Asali clears his throat then chuckles.
“Be careful,” he says and I turn to face him.
“With what?” ask, truly wondering the hell he’s talking about.
“That need in your eyes. I see you, son. A woman has to need you more than you need her. She doesn’t seem like she needs a man. She’s a judge, hasn’t been married, and has no kids. You entered into a marriage already at a disadvantage.”
Now, I love my parents, have much respect for them both, but I’m a grown ass man at the end of the day. When something doesn’t sound right to me, I speak on it. I don’t bite my tongue for anybody, especially now when Asali’s words aren’t landing like I think he intends.
“I want to make sure I’m understanding you. Disadvantage? What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
After straightening his posture and propping his elbows on the table, he clasps his hands together then nods.
“Look at Sade. She didn’t have shit before she got with Ace.
Now I know she’s a good mother and wife and takes care of your brother and the twins, but if Ace goes to jail, she won’t have shit.
She needs your brother more than he needs her,” he begins and I can’t believe this bullshit he’s saying.
I don’t even speak on Ace going to jail; that shit isn’t going to happen. I jump right on his dismissive summary of Sade.
“Sade runs the business with him. They’re partners,” I say.
“But it’s Ace’s business at the end of the day,” he counters.
“Where is this shit coming from? You’ve never shared this point of view before.”
“Because you weren’t married before. Dating doesn’t mean anything. Marriage is when it gets real. It’s forever, no matter what, so a man has to pick the right woman. You can’t have a wife that can up and leave anytime she wants. She has to need you and have an incentive to stay.”
What the fuck?
“The incentives are love and commitment.”
“And need. Hear what I say, son,” he says and I just shake my damn head. “Look at Shuga and me,” he continues but I stop him. He’s talking wild as hell and I need to excuse myself before he says something out of pocket about Shuga.
“Imma just chalk this conversation up to that brown liquor in your cup ’cause you on some crazy ass shit tonight, Asali,” I tell him, then stand. “I’m leaving.”
With a smug look, he nods then says, “Ina yini.”
“Good night,” I reply in English before walking off.
I make my rounds to the tables to say goodbye then head into the house to find Niya and Mireya. The minute I walk through the door, I almost bump into Ace.
“Damn! You in a rush?” he asks.
“Not really but yeah. My bad,” I apologize. “It’s just getting late. What time y’all leaving?” I ask, choosing not to mention Asali’s bullshit to Ace. He’s got enough going on with his case and he’s barely been home a few days.
“Now. Sade wants to stop by The Marketplace to pick up more shit for the twins. She acts like it’s their first year in school,” he says with a smile. Out of all my nephews, they are the only two who decided to go to college. He’s proud of his sons for doing something he didn’t.
“Stop by the office Tuesday and we can discuss what’s next.”
“Ain’t you supposed to be on a honeymoon?”
“She’s got a lot going on with the campaign,” I embellish. There’s a lot of shit Mireya and I obviously didn’t think through. I’m going to fix the ring soon though.
“Don’t let the election or my case fuck this up for you. She’s a good look for you and Niya seems to like her already. Keep her around. Shit, I was tired of being the only married brother,” he says with a smile before hugging me. “Tuesday,” he utters, then walks onto the patio.
Still shaking my head at Asali’s fucked up words, I enter the kitchen and find Shuga hugging Mireya and Niya sitting at the kitchenette with her bookbag on the table in front of her.
“Y’all ready?” I ask.
“Yes,” Niya says.
“I’m not,” Shuga says with a pout. Then she looks at Mireya. “I’m serious about helping with the dinner. I can do all the cooking.”
“We definitely need your help,” Mireya says and Shuga’s whole face lights up. “But I can’t have you cooking. We’re talking about fifty people. That’s too much. We’ll find someone to cater. I just need you to show up looking pretty. I’m thinking formal.”
“How about black tie? I never get to dress up and Asali looks good in a suit,” Shuga says.
“And so does his son,” Mireya adds, then glances at me.
“All my men do. I’ll just call you and we can talk,” Shuga says, to my surprise.
Call? She has Mireya’s number?
“Perfect and I’ll introduce you to Duke, my campaign manager.
Thanks again for everything. I haven’t eaten food this good in a long time.
And don’t think I forgot about that painting.
I still need to know how you managed to get The Revolution.
I have loved that Nina Wright painting since I first saw a picture of it.
That was one of her first paintings. I really wish she wasn’t so reclusive. I would love to meet her.”
“I love all of Nina’s paintings but I think you love her more than me,” Shuga says with a titter. “But that one, I got it so long ago I don’t even remember.”
“I figured.”
“If I remember, I’ll let you know.”
“Please do. I really want Blues of a Woman. I can’t find that one anywhere. I’ve seen pictures of it but never the actual painting and I’m obsessed with it.”
“Let me see what I can do,” Shuga says, then winks.
“And thank you so much for coming today, sweetie. And don’t forget your bag.
” Shuga steps to the island and touches two bags.
She looks up at me. “I packed containers for you too.” After I step to the island, I hug Shuga and grab both bags.
“If you need me to pick her up this week, let me know.”
“I’ll double check my calendar with Aven, but I think I’m fine,” I tell her.
“Now that you’re married, I guess you don’t need my help,” Shuga says, then laughs. Her eyes focus back on Mireya, then she asks, “You’re in Crescent Falls, right?”
“Yes.”
“But that has to change. You’re married now. That means one household,” Shuga says and I swear I see the melanin drain from Mireya’s face.