Chapter 12
I rode shotgun in Coye’s car, biting my nails as he drove to my father’s house. My nerves were shot, and no matter how much Coye told me to relax, I couldn’t.
I spoke to my brother earlier in the day and was glad he and his family were out for the day. I didn’t need them popping up at my dad’s place, and him catching Coye and me there together.
“Babygirl.” Coye put his tattooed hand on my leg as it bounced. “You gonna chew your damn nails off, and I need to feel them on my back when I’m in yo’ shit.” He smirked.
For a brief moment, I forgot about where we were headed and thought about what he said. I didn’t need him getting me wet before we made it to my dad’s.
I cut my eyes at him. “Sir, not right now.”
His low chuckle cut the silence of the car. His fingers on me made me warm as he rubbed my leg where my jeans were ripped.
“My bad. I’m just trying to loosen you up some. You tense as hell over there, girl.”
I put my hand over my face. “Because I’m so nervous,” I whined.
My father wasn’t as bad as my brother, but I knew he didn’t like most people. Coye was his boy, but as my brother’s friend, not someone dating his daughter.
“I understand how you feel, but you know it doesn’t matter what anyone says, right? I’m not going anywhere until you tell me to.” He gave my leg a light squeeze.
“Okay.”
It wasn’t okay, but I knew there was no sense in saying anything else. Coye had always been a calm and cool person. I never saw him bothered by anything. I didn’t even know if he ever got mad at anybody.
“Thanks for my cookies.”
“You’re welcome.” While Coye was at work, I baked him some lemon and strawberry cookies since they were his favorite. It helped me take my mind off everything until he picked me up. “Can you tell me about some other places you visited?”
I needed something to calm my nerves before we got to my father’s place.
“Did I tell you about Madagascar?”
“No.”
He told me about the jewels he picked up while he was there.
Apparently, he got some of the best aquamarine and quartz from there.
He told me about his adventures seeing the lemurs, hiking, snorkeling, and whale watching.
He had done a lot of things, and by the time he finished, we were pulling up to my father’s place.
“Oh, boy.” I looked out the window at my father’s apartment building.
“It’s going to be fine. Maybe I can take you to Madagascar after this,” he said as he turned off the car.
“Like, as soon as we leave?” I knew that wasn’t possible.
Coye laughed. “Obviously, not today, but let me know when you’re ready.”
One of the things I noticed about him was that he was the type to get things done.
Coye didn’t do too much talking about what he would do.
I told him I wanted something, and he delivered.
For him to get up before the crack of dawn to bake cookies with me spoke to his character as a man.
He always made sure I wasn’t alone in the shop.
It was something about him that I appreciated so much, and there were no words that I could say to express that.
“You ready?” Coye asked as he shut the car off.
“No, but I guess it’s now or never.” I ran my hands over my pants.
Coye leaned over the console and kissed me. “Stop worrying. I got you.”
He got out of the car and walked around to my side. He helped me out of the car, and he held my hand as we walked to the front door. My father’s apartment building was similar to mine, so his door led directly inside.
I knocked on the door but used my key to enter.
“Daddy,” I called out as we stepped inside.
“Yeah.” He came from the bathroom and paused when he spotted us. “What do I owe the pleasure of this visit? And you two together?” His eyes roamed from my Coye to me, then down to our joined hands.
My father went over to his favorite recliner and sat down.
As I took the seat across from him, I noticed how yellow his skin had gotten.
I knew it was because of the liver cancer, but it was shocking to see it in person.
His skin looked a little ashen, and it seemed like he had lost more weight.
My nose burned as I held back tears. My poor father was deteriorating before my eyes, and that shit hurt.
Coye must have noticed the sudden change in my mood because he spoke up.
“Pop. River and I have been dating for a little minute, and she wanted to come by and get your opinion on it. She’s worried about Jordan finding out since she was supposed to be off-limits.”
My dad’s eyes darted back and forth before a smile broke out on his face.
“River, what are you worried about your brother for? You are an adult and are free to date whoever the hell you want. Don’t worry about that boy. He has his clingy ass wife to deal with.”
Coye and I laughed, and I was glad my dad was still in the spirit of joking.
He had always been one of the funniest people I knew.
His stories about his childhood used to crack me up.
People thought he was mean, but that was just his face.
I got told the same thing during my lifetime.
Girls in school used to call me stuck-up just because I didn’t talk as much as others, and as my mom would say, I always looked like I was mad.
“Am I lying, Babygirl?” my father asked.
It was crazy hearing my dad and Coye call me Babygirl because it had a different effect on me, depending on which one of them said it.
“No, sir.” I chuckled.
“I love her, though, but she doesn’t know how to let that boy breathe,” my father continued.
My dad looked at Coye, and he put his hands up. “Don’t put me in that, Pop.”
The three of us laughed again, then my father got serious. “So, you’re worried about your brother?”
“I am. I just don’t want it to mess up their friendship,” I spoke honestly.
“I don’t think it will. No, I know it won’t. Your brother might be a little upset at first because he still acts like you are a little girl. I know that he trusts Coye and knows that he won’t hurt you.” He focused on Coye. “Ain’t that right?”
“Absolutely. I would never play with River’s heart.”
My cheeks burned as Coye’s gaze bore into mine, even though he was talking to my father.
“Good. I need someone here to protect her when I’m not.”
My eyes shot over to my father. “Daddy, what are you talking about?” The tone in his voice made my heart rate spike. Pair that with the way he looked, and I was bothered.
“I decided to do home hospice.”
For two seconds, my heart was at a standstill. Hospice meant he wasn’t going to be around for much longer, and the thought made me sick to my stomach.
Water filled my eyes as Coye rubbed my back.
“What? No.” I shook my head.
“River. I can’t fight this anymore, Babygirl. I want to spend the rest of my time here on Earth being comfortable. There is nothing left for me to do but enjoy you all while I can. When it’s my time, it’s my time. There is nothing any of us can do at this point.”
I got up from the couch and threw myself into my father’s arms, as a loud sob shot from my mouth.
He rubbed my back, whispering that it was going to be okay. For a few moments, I just held on to him. With my arms around him, I could feel just how thin he’d gotten.
My father lifted my head with his hands cupping my cheeks. His eyes were wet, but he held his tears back.
“Listen to me. You are strong. I’m so proud of the woman you are and will continue to be.
Coye will take care of you.” His gaze traveled to Coye, and he slightly nodded his head.
“Don’t worry about your brother. You have my blessing, and that is all that matters.
” He smiled, then kissed my forehead. He hugged me again, and I rested my head on his chest. He wasn’t upset about me dating Coye, but his declining health overtook any joy I would have initially felt.