Chapter 4
4
Esani
O ne Month Later…
“Would you stop fidgeting?” Kwame chuckled as we stood outside of his parents’ front door.
I couldn’t believe it had been a month since I met Kwame, and every day felt like an adventure. I told myself not to continue this with him. He was slowly breaking the ice around my heart, and I feared the consequences of this action. I had never in my life spent this much time with any of my conquests. However, Kwame gave me something I didn’t expect. I felt as if I was betraying my mother because I liked being with Kwame. He was smart as shit, attentive, spontaneous, business minded, and charming. Every time I tried to pull away, he would reel me back in somehow. Now, I had come upon the stage where we were meeting the parents. This wasn’t good for me.
He was taking me out of my comfort zone, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I tried hard to protest, telling him it was too soon, but his mother demanded to meet me. In her words, she needed to meet the new queen in his life.
The door opened, and a beautiful face emerged with a wide smile, a smile that matched my Kwame’s perfectly.
“Why didn’t you use your key?” she asked, wrapping her arms around him.
“We’re guests today, Ma.” He pulled me forward as I smiled graciously. “Ma, this is Esani Simms. Esani, this is my mother, Dr. Alina Wiles.”
“Well, it is a pleasure to finally plant eyes on the woman who has made my baby miss three Sunday dinners.” She laughed and took my hands, placing a light kiss on my cheek. “It’s nice to meet you, sweetie.”
“You as well, ma’am. You’re very beautiful.”
“Why thank you, darling. And please don’t call me ma’am. Mrs. Alina will suffice.”
“Got it.”
“Come on in. Your father is in the dining room waiting to meet this gem and also eat.”
We laughed as she led us to the formal dining room.
“Simeon, your son is here,” she announced once we entered.
Mr. Wiles looked up from his magazine and smiled. He then stood, came around the table, and hugged Kwame.
“It’s great to see you, son.”
“You too, Pop. This is Esani Simms. Esani, Judge Simeon Wiles.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wiles.”
“Pleasure all mine, doll,” he replied, doing the same as his wife and kissing my cheek.
“She does look like a doll, doesn’t she?” Mrs. Alina asked, smiling.
“She does. You did good, son.”
“What you trying to say, Pop?” Kwame jested.
Mr. Wiles chuckled. “I think you know. Let’s sit. Nuala, you can bring the food out now.”
A woman, who I hadn’t noticed standing at the entrance of the kitchen, nodded then disappeared through the double doors.
“You guys have a lovely home,” I complimented them.
It was almost identical to Kwame’s home without all the bells and whistles his home came with.
“Thank you, darling. Although, I’d prefer something much smaller, my dear son and husband wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I enjoy the space,” Mr. Wiles countered.
“I’m sure you do. Anyway, Esani, what do you do for a living, love?” Mrs. Alina asked.
Kwame chuckled. “Ma, can we at least get some food in our bellies first?”
“It’s fine, babe. They want to get to know the lady in your life and someone you brought them to meet,” I interjected and smiled at him. “To answer your question, Mrs. Alina, I own a hair and nail bar on the Westside of Detroit.”
“Oh, really? How long have you been in business?”
“It will be five years in August.”
“Impressive.” She beamed.
Kwame nodded. “Indeed it is. I told her she should expand.”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet.”
“Why not? You have the clientele, and I’m sure there are more stylists that could only dream of being in a shop instead of their living rooms or basements,” Kwame replied.
“I’m positive there are, and it all sounds great, but I’m not making that much to open a second location.”
“Sweetheart, you’re sitting next to a man who invests in small or large black-owned businesses. If you’re as multi-talented as you say, then I suggest you capitalize off your talents,” Mr. Wiles spoke.
Nuala pushed through the doors with a serving tray, halting the conversation. I was ever so glad for the interruption. I understood what they were saying, and I totally agreed. However, being the independent, stubborn person that I was, I didn’t want Kwame to invest in me. A new car, a new bag, some shoes, or wardrobe would be great. But allowing him to drop such a large bag on another shop for me scared me. I didn’t want him to think he owned my shop or me, for that matter. As much as I enjoyed these moments with him, that little whore on my shoulder was tapping me, telling me to slow the fuck down.
One minute, he’s investing in you, and the next, he’s taking over. Bitch, you falling in love with this nigga is crazy work. Your mother would be appalled!
“Let us bow our heads for prayer,” Mrs. Alicia announced.
We bowed our heads, and while I was trying to listen to the prayer, my inner thoughts prevented me from doing so.
Run, bitch! Run!
* * *
Dinner with the Wiles family was nice. For a long time, it had been just me and my mom. I mean, we had family, but we didn’t hang out often for it to matter. Seeing how loving his parents were made me wonder if I had, had a two-parent home, would I have turned out differently? My mother never spoke on my father, and any time I mentioned him, she’d either ignore me, deflect, or tell me not to ask about the ghost . I could see a hint of solemnity whenever I asked and wondered if it was my father who made her close her heart off to ever loving again.
We said our goodbyes to his parents then headed to have drinks with my mother. I wasn’t looking forward to this at all. I had been feeling off all day, and the feeling hadn’t gone away. I felt like this was all wrong or going to go wrong. My mother had met Marc, Solo, and Chris before, but this was different. Kwame was different. I couldn’t explain my feelings for him, and the more I resisted, the stronger the feeling became.
“Your parents were nice,” I told him as we headed to Na’Kia’s for drinks. It was a little after seven, so the night was still young.
“They a’ight,” he jested as I smiled. “They really like you, though. My mother has never been so talkative to any other woman I’d brought around.”
“And how many were there?” I asked, lifting my brow at him with a smirk on my face.
He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “Not many. Most of them were one-night stands. I had two serious relationships. One was in high school, and of course, Charlene, but I don’t really consider her a serious relationship. Although I did have love for her.”
“Hmph. I guess I believe you.” I laughed.
“You should. I would never lie to you, baby.”
“I know. Could we just skip having drinks with my mom? I’m kind of tired.”
I was trying to get out of this situation quickly. I knew my mother. She would be able to sniff out the attraction I had to Kwame and give me her famous disappointed look. I just wanted to hold her off for a little while longer.
“I’d really love to meet the woman who gave birth to my queen. I promise we’ll only stay for an hour then we’ll leave.”
“Fine, but you owe me a back rub.”
He laughed and kissed my hand again.
“Anything for you, my love.”
Oh goodness. This is going to be a disaster.
When we arrived, the valet came around to park his car. My palms were sweating as I nervously walked beside Kwame into the restaurant. I already knew my mother was here. She had always been punctual. Doing a quick scan of the restaurant, I spotted my mother in the lounging area. I pointed the area out to the hostess as she led us over to my mother. Shania stood with a beautiful smile on her face as we approached.
“Hey, Mom.” I greeted her once we made it over.
“Hello, princess.” Her eyes then went to Kwame, and those dimples I inherited from her surfaced. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Kwame. Kwame, this is my mother, Shania.”
“How do you do, beautiful. Your daughter has told me a lot about you.”
“Oh, has she now? I’m sure they were good things. You wouldn’t be standing here if she told you about the bad.” My mother laughed, and I gave a nervous chuckle. “Well, let’s sit. I’m meeting someone in the next thirty minutes, so let’s make this quick.”
“Mom,” I warned.
I could tell she was uninterested in this meet and greet. She had done this with Solo, Chris, and Marcus as well. In her words, they wouldn’t be around long before I found interest in someone else. In this case, she was wrong, but I wouldn’t admit to falling for Kwame this soon.
“I’m sorry, Kwame. I’m not trying to be rude. This impromptu meeting was unexpected, and I had already made plans with a friend. Forgive me.”
“It’s totally fine. I just wanted to introduce myself to the woman who gave birth this amazing gem.”
My mother nodded as we sat. “A gem she is.”
“Indeed. She’s everything I never knew I needed.” Kwame stared at me and smiled.
I tried not to blush, but I couldn’t help it. The man was fine and charming. My eyes went to my mom, and she was staring at me with a slight smirk on her face.
“Well, that’s enchanting. What is it that you do again?” Shania asked.
“I’m an investor. I have shares in multiple companies as well that have been really successful.”
“And what are your intentions with my daughter?”
“To love her, honor her, and respect her. I told myself that the next relationship I get into, she would be my wife and bear my legacy. I can see that happening with Esani. She’s beautiful, very talented, and ambitious. I know if or when the time comes for me to propose, I want her to have full confidence that the man who’s pursuing her will be the one to give her the world.”
My mom smiled and gave me an approving look.
“I’m sorry, Keenan. Could I borrow my daughter for a second?”
“It’s, Kwame, Shania,” I snapped.
“My apologies. Kwame .”
“Not at all. I’ll order us some drinks.”
“Thank you, handsome.”
Me and my mother stood and headed to the ladies’ room then waited until it was empty before she turned and looked at me.
“I know what you’re going to say, and it’s not like that. Kwame is just a really good friend and really, really rich. I’m only playing the game.”
My mother giggled and shook her head. “Who are you trying to convince, Esani? I gave birth to you. So, I know every little thing about you. I can tell when someone is being real or fake, and you, my dear, are falling in love with that man.”
She turned toward the mirror and began to retouch her makeup. I crossed my arms and stared at her through the mirror.
“Okay, I do like him…a lot. But what’s wrong with that, Ma?”
“Everything, Esani! Who’s going to be the one wiping your tears at the end of this climax? Tania?” She laughed. “No. I am. And while you’re blowing snot on my chest, I’m going tell you that I told you so. Don’t fall for the fairytale, baby. I didn’t raise you that way. Men are only good for two things—their dick and their money. They’re not strong enough to handle an independent woman. They’re going to always want to be the head of everything and not let you have a say in anything concerning the relationship, and eventually, they will cheat. They aren’t trustworthy to handle the pure part of your heart. If you give that man your heart, he’s going to mishandle it. Mark my words.”
I looked away from her glaring at me through the mirror. I knew this was a bad idea coming here. Shania wasn’t fond of my male friends. She would be cordial, but talks of having a forever with me had her coming off as being a bitch, and Kwame didn’t deserve that. Hell, none of my male friends deserved my disloyalty because they genuinely liked me…or the fake person I was portraying to be to them. In the month that I’d known Kwame, he made me see shit differently. He was like my male best friend but also someone I could see becoming more than friends with. As much as I liked Kwame, I believed my mother may have been right. What if this was all a facade? What if he knew my track record of using men and was seeking to destroy me? I shook from my haze when my mother approached me. She palmed the sides of my face and looked into my eyes.
“I love you, Esani. You’re my world, and I’m only trying to do my best to protect the precious gem that you are.”
“I know…but what about when I get old? Am I supposed to live my life being alone with no one to share it with?”
“You won’t be alone. You have me.” She smiled.
I scoffed and shook my head. “I hate to break it to you, Ma, but you’re not going to live forever.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “I beg your pardon, ma’am? I’m going to live until I’m a hundred! Don’t ever put that evil on me.”
We both laughed, but my stomach was starting to feel queasy. She wasn’t taking into consideration when she left me. Where would I be? Who would be there to comfort me? There were so many questions and no real answers about how I was supposed to live without her. As much as she detested the value of having a life partner, I knew in my heart I never wanted to be alone.