Chapter 26 Toni Roc
Trill-Land, ‘LoLux Estate
Days later…
Once again, me and Kay’Lo and his parents was gon’ sit down and try to get along, and this time I ain’t know if I was supposed to brace myself or actually believe what Treasure had said on the phone.
She had called Kay’Lo earlier in the week tellin’ him things would be different this visit, and I heard it in her voice when she said it.
Treasure never spoke in a careless way, so if she said somethin’, she meant it.
Still, history ain’t disappear just ‘cause somebody decided they was tired of fightin’.
Me and Kwame had never screamed at each other or disrespected each other outright, but the distance between us had always been there.
He looked at me in the beginnin’ like I was temporary, or like I was some ghetto ass bitch his son was gon’ grow out of, and even when he stopped sayin’ it in so many words, I could still feel it hangin’ between us.
But I wasn’t temporary…
I had been with Kay’Lo for years. I held him down when shit got ugly. I married him, and now, I was carryin’ his daughter.
I took my time gettin’ dressed, smoothin’ my gown down over my stomach and lookin’ at myself in the mirror for a second before headin’ downstairs. Kay’Lo had already been movin’ around the house like he always do when his parents come over, actin’ cool but lowkey on guard.
“You good?” he asked when I walked into the livin’ room.
“I’m good,” I told him.
He looked me up and down slow and nodded, then stepped closer and kissed me on the lips real soft before rubbin’ my belly.
“Whatever happen, I’m not goin’ back and forth today,” he muttered low enough for only me to hear. “I’m tryna keep it peaceful.”
“I know,” I said. “And I ain’t either.”
The doorbell rang right then, and I swear my stomach flipped.
Kay’Lo squeezed my hand once before walkin’ toward the door, and I followed behind him.
When he opened it, Treasure was standin’ there with that warm smile she always had for me, and I ain’t hesitate. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
“Hey baby,” she said, holdin’ me tight.
“I missed you,” I told her.
She placed her hands on my stomach before she even pulled back. “And how is my granddaughter today?”
“She been active,” I said, smilin’.
Kwame was standin’ beside her holdin’ grocery bags, and for a second I braced myself out of habit. But then he looked at me different.
“Hello Toni,” he said.
His voice was warm, and not stiff, forced or tight like usual.
I blinked for a second before respondin’. “Hello.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked. “And how is the baby?”
That caught me off guard more than the greetin’ did.
“She’s good,” I said slow. “She been movin’ a lot.”
“That’s good,” he replied, noddin’ like that information mattered to him.
Kay’Lo stepped aside and let them in, and the four of us moved into the kitchen together.
Kwame set the groceries on the counter, and Kay’Lo immediately started pullin’ things out while Treasure washed her hands and tied her hair back.
Kay’Lo reached into one of the bags and pulled out a bottle of expensive liquor.
“What’s this?” he asked, already lookin’ at his father.
Kwame took it from him and held it up. “I brought it from home.”
Kay’Lo smirked and grabbed a couple glasses from the cabinet without sayin’ much.
Treasure glanced over her shoulder. “Y’all behave.”
Kwame stepped closer to her and kissed her cheek. “We will.”
Kay’Lo came over to me next. His hand slid over my stomach, and he kissed me slow on the lips before rubbin’ my belly again.
“Don’t start nothin’ in here without me,” he muttered low, half playin’, half serious.
I rolled my eyes. “Go.”
He grinned, and him and Kwame walked out back together, takin’ the bottle with them.
The door shut behind them, and the kitchen felt quieter but not tense.
Treasure dried her hands and turned toward the counter. Then she started preparin’ everything.
She had brought everything to make stew, and the kitchen started fillin’ with that smell before it even finished cookin’.
Chunks of beef hit the pot first, seared down until they browned deep and rich, and then she added diced onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, celery, and fresh thyme.
She poured in beef broth and added bay leaves, black pepper, paprika, and a lil’ bit of tomato paste for depth.
The pot simmered low while the vegetables softened and the smell wrapped around the whole house like comfort.
While she worked, she blended me a smoothie without even askin’ what I wanted. She used frozen mango, pineapple, spinach, banana, almond milk, chia seeds, and a spoonful of peanut butter. She always added somethin’ extra for me, somethin’ she said was good for the baby.
“Drink this,” she said, handin’ it to me.
I ain’t argue, ‘cause I loved the smoothies she made.
While I stood there drinkin’ it, I felt My’Love kick.
“Ooo,” I said, grabbin’ my stomach.
Treasure turned fast. “She movin’?”
“Yeah.”
She came over and placed her hand on my belly, rubbin’ it gently and shiftin’ her palm until she felt it herself. When My’Love kicked under her hand, Treasure’s face lit up, lookin’ just like Kay’Lo.
“My’Love,” she whispered, smilin’ so big her eyes crinkled.
We both laughed soft, talkin’ about how we couldn’t wait to meet her, and for a second I forgot about the tension that used to exist in this kitchen.
Eventually the day turned to night. The stew finished cookin’, thick and hearty, and Kay’Lo and Kwame reentered the kitchen from outside with glasses in their hands and the bottle of liquor.
They both looked lighter.
Whatever they talked about out there must have been good ‘cause the energy shift was obvious. Kay’Lo wasn’t stiff, and Kwame wasn’t distant.
We all sat down at the table together, and for the first time since I had married Kay’Lo, I ain’t feel like I was sittin’ across from somebody who doubted me.
Kay’Lo sat beside me and his hand found my belly under the table like it always did. He couldn’t help himself. His thumb rubbed slow circles over my stomach while we ate, and I let him ‘cause this was his way of stayin’ connected.
The stew tasted amazin’. The meat was tender and the potatoes was soft, and everything blended together in a way that made you close your eyes for a second after the first bite.
About halfway through the meal, Kwame cleared his throat.
“Toni,” he said.
I looked up at him, expectin’ tension out of habit.
“Yes?”
“How has the pregnancy been for you?” he asked. “Are you comfortable? Are you getting enough rest?”
It took me a second to answer ‘cause I wasn’t used to him askin’ me shit like that.
“I’m good,” I replied. “Some days I’m tired, but overall, I’m good.”
He nodded slow. “Well. I can’t wait to meet her,” he said. “And I plan to be present in her life.”
My eyes burned a lil’ at that, and I swallowed hard before noddin’.
“Thank you,” I managed.
Then he did somethin’ I never thought I’d see.
He stood up, and walked around the table. And he stopped right beside me.
“Toni,” he said, his voice calm but clear, “I owe you an apology.”
The room went quiet…
“I misjudged you,” he continued. “I assumed things about you that were not fair. And over the years you have proven yourself to be loyal, strong, and committed to Kay’Lo.”
My throat tightened…
“You love him,” he said. “And you have stood by him. That is all I ever wanted for him, and I did not recognize it soon enough.”
The tears I had been holdin’ back slipped down my face before I could stop them.
Kay’Lo immediately wiped them away and pulled me closer, kissin’ the side of my face while I tried to keep it together.
Kwame looked at me with somethin’ close to regret but also respect.
“Thank you for being the wife I prayed my son would have,” he said.
That broke me…
Not ‘cause I needed praise, but because I needed the acknowledgment. I needed him to see me, and now he did.
Treasure was cryin’ too, smilin’ through it, and Kay’Lo held me tighter like he knew exactly how much that meant.
Kwame reached down slowly. “May I?” he asked, gesturing toward my stomach.
“Of course,” I said through my tears.
He placed his hand real gentle on my stomach, and for a moment the whole room felt different.
Kay’Lo’s hand stayed over mine while his father felt for his granddaughter, and for the first time since I had become part of this family, I felt like I truly belonged.