Chapter 26
Sex with Aliza was nothing compared to what Honey and I had done all night into the morning. We’d slept for all of four hours before I woke her up to more dick and a hot shower.
As we got dressed, I wanted to bask in the euphoria of it all. I wanted to stay forever, but reality would set in soon. Until then, I’d ride the wave of bliss.
“You want to go out and get breakfast with Quis?” I asked.
“Sure. We have nothing planned.”
I slid on my white forces. “Do you think we can tell Quis today?”
She nodded. “Yes. It’s time. I trust you moving forward to do what’s best for your family.”
“I will.”
“Good, because you’re on strike two. If you get one more mess up, that’s it.”
“Damn. You are strict, mama.”
“I have to be.”
“Straight up.” I adjusted the watch on my wrist and did a once-over in the mirror.
“You want me to get Quis ready?”
“Please.”
“I got you.” I grabbed her by the waist and pecked her lips several times before I left the room.
This was the life—waking up with my dick inside Honey’s warm ass pussy and getting my son’s day started. I had missed a lot of monumental moments in his childhood, but I wouldn’t miss another one. I would have a reserved seat in the front row of every event to come. Big or small, I would be there.
I tapped my knuckles on the bedroom door to announce my presence before I entered his room. Quis was lying on the floor, playing with his toy cars. There was a fire truck, police car, tractor, tow truck, and a vehicle I couldn’t name. I knew it was related to construction.
“What’s the yellow truck called?” I asked as I leaned down to get a better look.
“This one is called as ex-ca-va-tor.”
“That’s a big word. What do they do?” I asked.
“They dig holes.”
“They could have just called it a digger.” I chuckled.
Quis laughed. “Yeah. It’s my favorite con-struck-shin car.”
“Good to know. I want to take you and your mom to get breakfast. Do you like pancakes or waffles?” I asked.
His eyes lit up, and the toy cars were forgotten as he stood up. “I like both of them. I like omelets too.”
“I forgot your mom made sure you had a diverse taste palette. I’ll make sure we go somewhere with all those things. We deserve to pig out now and then.”
“Can we wear the same colors?”
“You want to be my twin?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
We walked into his closet, and I searched his array of clothes to see if he had black joggers, a gray shirt, and white Forces. I spotted the Forces right away. They were clean for a kid’s shoe. That’s my boy.
The pants were easy to spot too. The difficult task was finding the right gray shirt. All his child sized shirts had printed designs on them. The closest we got was a standard gray shirt with a spiderman logo on it. The red spider was hard. I couldn’t even lie.
We got him dressed, and I brushed his hair. He had a nice line up.
“I need a chain like yours,” Quis commented as he pointed to the two chains around my neck.
“Here. I’ll let you borrow one of mine until we can get you one of your own. Okay?”
“Yay!” He jumped up and down. I took the shorter chain off and slid it over his head. He showed all his baby teeth.
“Let’s head out to the living room. Your mom should be waiting.”
“Mommy!” He ran out of the room, and I followed a few strides behind him. In the living room, Honey gave him a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead.
“You look so handsome, stinkabutt.”
“I look like Mr. Marquise.” He spun around.
Honey took in both of our appearances, and her bottom lip poked out. “Stop… my heart!”
“Don’t you start that. Let’s go before you get all emotional.”
“Let me take a picture at least.”
“C’mon, Quis.”
We stood together and posed. Quis tossed up a peace sign, while I tucked my hands in my pocket.
“Aht. Smile, Q.”
“Real gangsters don’t smile,” I replied.
“Yeah, Mommy. Real gang-tars don’t smile.” Quis agreed.
I laughed. “Let her know.”
Honey shook her head. “Fun’s over. Get out of here.”
“Don’t be like that.”
Honey grabbed her purse and went to the front door. Quis and I laughed as we followed her out the door.
* * *
“Baby, you’re going to be sticky.” Honey reached for a napkin, but I took it before she did.
“I got it.” I grabbed the napkin and wiped Quis’s hands and face before I gave him a clean fork to try again. He’d gotten two pancakes, a waffle, and a ham and bacon omelet—plus a side of seasonal fruit. How one kid could eat so much was beyond me.
Honey had ordered a breakfast platter of biscuits, hashed browns, bacon, and scrambled eggs. I got the Southern style shrimp and grits with a side of bacon and eggs. We all ate in a comfortable silence for a while.
“Hey, Quis.”
“Hmm.”
“I have something to tell you,” I continued.
Quis looked at me with curious eyes.
“I’m your dad.”
Quis looked between the two of us before he looked at his mother for confirmation. Honey nodded.
“It’s true. Mr. Marquise is actually your dad,” she confirmed.
“Most daddies always live in the house. Where were you?” Quis asked.
I nodded. “I was in a lot of trouble, which caused me to be away from you for all those years. I promise I won’t miss another thing.”
“Are we going to be a family?” Quis asked.
I smiled. “I hope so.”
“Do I call you daddy?” he questioned.
Honey spoke up. “You can call him whatever you are most comfortable with. He will be around as much as his schedule allows, and one day, we may all live in the same house.”
“Okay.” Quis returned his attention to the array of food in front of him.
Kids had it easy. He accepted me as his father and went back to stuffing his face. The relief I felt was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.
The high of getting shit in order with Honey and Quis had me elated. I felt like I was immortal. I could do whatever I wanted. I had a few more ends to close before I could really walk in my purpose, but I was ready to be the man both of them deserved.
* * *
It took Merlot a few days to get back to me. I didn’t mind the wait. When he finally sent the text to pull up, I wasted no time hopping in the whip to meet him.
“What’s up, nephew?” Merlot asked as I entered his office. He had a cigar burning in an ashtray with a glass of brown liquor in his hand. Knowing him, it was probably aged scotch or something along those lines.
“What’s good, Unc?” I dapped him up before I claimed the seat across from him.
“I saw the handiwork you did a few days ago. You won’t have to worry about the police because I got a young nigga taking the rap for both bodies.”
I nodded. “I appreciate you.”
“You know shit between us is squared. You got the nigga who killed my sister, and I’m forever grateful for that.”
I shrugged. “Listen, it was a personal vendetta for me. Chandler was a bitch ass nigga who needed to be dealt with. No questions asked. I’d do the shit again if I had to.”
“Luckily, you don’t have to. I heard about your son, and I see you’re fighting back against generational trauma. Stay on the straight and narrow for him.”
“Definitely. Honey has already done an amazing job raising him. I’m just here to add a patient and caring father figure.”
“Don’t raise him to be a mark though.”
“Never that. My boy will have the street smarts without the pain and suffering. He’ll be able to live his best black boy joy, while also knowing how to defend himself in the streets and suburbs. Shit is scary to think about, but I’d go to hell or jail before I let anything happen to my son.”
“That’s what I love to hear.”
We chopped it up for a while longer.
“Before you go, I’ve got something for you.”
I raised a curious brow as he stood up and moved to the safe. He unlocked it and grabbed a backpack. He tossed it to me, and I opened it.
“What’s this for?” I asked.
“Handling a final job for me,” he explained.
“I ain’t do that for money.”
“I know. He’s no longer an issue for either of us, so I wanted to give you a final token of my appreciation. No strings attached. Do with the money as you deem fit. Open up your own business, treat your family to a vacation. Anything.”
I stood up and dapped him up. “Thanks, Unc. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. We are good.”
“For life.”
Leaving Merlot’s spot, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. With this money, plus the money I had in my safe, I could give Honey and Quis the world. My lady was her own boss, bringing in her own money, but I knew she would appreciate someone spoiling her again.
The opportunities were endless. What path would I travel to take some of the weight off her shoulders?