Chapter 4
“Congratulations, baby boy! I’m so proud of you!” my moms, Gloria, exclaimed. We were sitting in the dining room, enjoying a slice of pound cake my moms made from scratch. It was a celebratory cake she made for me when I got my certificate.
I smiled widely. “Thank you, beautiful.”
“It only took him eight years, but hey, at least you got it done,” my father, Brian, countered and patted me on the back. He and my mother laughed as I shook my head.
“Very funny.”
“Don’t be like that, lil bro. Like Pops said, at least you got it done,” my brother, Bilal, replied.
“That’s right. So, now that the hard part is over, what are your plans to use those degrees?”
“Well, I was thinking, instead of opening a daycare, I’m going to use my trust and open a nanny agency.”
“Nanny agency?” my father asked, confused.
“Yeah, a nanny agency. In my case, it would be a nanny/manny agency. I’m going to hire women and men who are professionals and love children as I do.”
“Being a manny is crazy work. I thought you’d at least open the daycare or something,” Bilal wondered aloud.
“What’s the difference?” I asked.
“You won’t be going to anyone’s home to take care of their kids. You’ll take care of them in a secure facility.”
I ran my hand over my beard. “You remember when Moms used to take us to her single friend’s house to play with their kids?”
Bilal laughed. “Yeah, I couldn’t stand Ms. Tanya’s kids, especially her daughter, Neosha.”
I laughed. “Lies! Nigga, you had the biggest crush on Neosha.”
“Stop lying. I couldn’t stand her baldheaded ass.”
“Oh, really? Is that why I caught you two kissing behind the garage?” Moms asked, laughing. We all laughed except for Lal, who sat stoically as he squinted at our mother.
“Anyway! What about it?” he asked.
“I saw how hard things used to be for them and always offered to help. Single mothers have a lot on their plates, and I want to alleviate their stress. I know that shit is hard, especially if they have multiple children. And let’s be honest; ya bro has a gift with taking care of children.”
“Spoiling them is not a gift, my G.”
I chuckled. “I spoil them and teach them. It’s a win-win, my brother.”
“So you say.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, baby. You’d be the perfect manny. You’ve been taking care of your nieces and nephews—and the children in this community—for most of your life. I can see your dream reaching great heights,” my mom said, smiling at me.
“Thanks, Ma.”
“I don’t know how your nieces and nephews are going to feel about that. You got their asses spoiled to death,” Lal inserted.
I chuckled. “They will be alright. I’ll still kick it with them when I have free time.” I looked at my mom. “You think you could help me start the process of finding employees?”
“Of course, baby. When did you want to start?”
“As soon as possible. I’m excited to finally do something I love.”
Lal chuckled. “You the only nigga I know that would open up a damn nanny agency.”
His ass was always teasing me, but it bothered me none, not like it used to when we were kids. Now, I teased him back and laughed at him.
“You know, we can make this a family thing. You and Pops can run the security team, Moms can be the administration, and Sheena can hire and vet the nannies.”
“Nigga, what?” Lal’s eyebrow raised as he looked at me like I told him I had an incurable disease.
I smiled at him. “What’s wrong with you helping ya little brother run his own business?”
“Did you forget that I run my own trucking business?”
“I could have sworn you were the CEO and don’t have to be on the road or a damn clock. Not to mention the twenty-odd employees that you’ve hired that can handle those loads.”
“I’ll tell you what, Son. Bilal and I will vet and hire you a security team once your building is up and running. We’ll all be a part of your administration team and help you build your brand,” Pops suggested.
I nodded. “I can rock with that. Thanks, Pop.”
“Yeah, and Sheena’s a content creator, so you know she got you on that tip,” Lal said.
“Bet. We need to celebrate.” I stood from the table and went to my father’s liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of scotch. I grabbed four glasses just as a shrill of little voices could be heard coming down the hall.
“Nama, Gampop, we’re here!” my six-year-old niece, Siori, yelled, coming into view first.
“Siori, slow down, princess!” my brother told her.
“Sorry, Daddy!” she exclaimed, going around the table to hug and kiss everybody.
“Uncle Baye! You’re here!” Sahira exclaimed and jumped into my arms as I caught her.
I kissed her cheeks and hugged her tight. “How’s my favorite girl?”
“I thought I was your favorite?” Siori asked with a cute pout.
“You are. I have two favorites.”
“Uh un, Uncle Baye. You gotta choose,” Sahira said, folding her arms around her chest.
“See what your ass done started?” Lal asked as I laughed. I knew better. I wouldn’t dare choose, because they both were indeed my favorites. I placed Sahira on her feet and hugged my nephews, Brenton and Brendan, who were nine and ten, then hugged Sheena.
“We were about to have a toast for me getting my certificate and opening up my new nanny/manny service,” I told Sheena.
“Oh, wow. Manny service? That sounds interesting.” She smiled. “What will it be called?”
“I hadn’t thought that far yet, but I’m sure it’s going to come to me.”
“That’s dope, Brother B. I’m proud of you!”
“He needs you to make some flyers so we can start passing them out and posting them online,” my mom told her.
“Oh, I got you. You know that’s my specialty! I’ll run an ad as well.”
“That’d be dope, sis. I’m glad to have everyone’s support. This makes me excited to make it happen.”
“Oh! And I have a few friends that’ll need your services, too, so I can’t wait to get started.” She smiled widely, geeked as hell. I laughed and pulled out another glass and poured us all a shot.
I lifted my glass, and they all did the same. “To a successful business venture and making single mothers’ and parents’ lives much easier.”
“Here, here!” We all tapped our glasses and saluted. It would be the start of something great.
Per usual, my nieces and nephews roped me into letting them stay another night at my house.
Since it was Saturday, I planned to do an activity with them to keep their minds busy.
We went to Michael’s, an arts-and-crafts store, and picked up a few canvases, beads, paint, glitter, stencils, paintbrushes, yarn, and colored pencils.
My nephews were growing up on me, so their idea of doing arts and crafts wasn’t as appealing as it was for my nieces, so I took them to the Lego store and let them go crazy.
As they picked out the ones they wanted, I heard a cute little giggle in the aisle, then her voice blessed my ears.
“You want the princess one, Chloe?”
“Yes!” I looked over, and we both locked eyes.
Although she was smiling at her baby girl, I could see the sadness in her eyes.
She had been on my mind, since seeing her that day at the deli, when she shouldn’t have been.
She was a married woman whom I couldn’t pursue.
It didn’t stop me from seeing her beautiful face in my dreams, though.
“Ms. Alicia, . . . we meet again.” I smiled.
She frowned in confusion. “How do you know my name? I never gave it to you.”
“You, uh, dropped your business card on the floor at the deli,” I admitted.
“Oh . . .”
She looked away as I continued to stare at her.
She was so damn beautiful. Beautiful and sad.
My hero syndrome pushed me to rescue her from whatever was the cause of her melancholy, but I knew I couldn’t cross that boundary with her.
She was a married woman, and no matter how bad I wanted to hold her close, I knew I had to sit this one out.
“Uncle Baye. We’re ready,” Brendan said, tossing his LEGO set inside the basket, pulling my attention away from the beautiful, married vixen. “Hi, I’m Brendan,” he said, holding out his hand for Alicia to shake.
This boy.
She smiled down at him and took his hand. “Hi, cutie. I’m Alicia. How are you?”
He smiled widely at her calling him cute. “I’m good.”
“Hi, I’m Chloe!” The little girl waved.
“Hi, Chloe. I’m Siori, and this is my sister, Sahira, and my brothers, Brenton and Brendan.”
“Hi!” she exclaimed excitedly, a huge smile on her little cute face. She looked just like her moms.
“This is my uncle Basil, and he’s single,” Brendan shared, looking at Alicia.
I pulled him back and chuckled. “A’ight, that’s enough, snitch.” Brenton and the girls laughed while I shook my head. “Sorry about that. I’m in the process of training them on how to act in public.”
“But he isn’t wrong, Uncle Baye,” Sahira said.
“That may be true, but Ms. Alicia is married. That means she’s unavailable, so better luck next time, princess.” I pinched her cheek as she smiled.
“I have to go. Nice meeting you all.” She gave a small smile, then rushed down the aisle. I gently placed my hand on hers when she walked by me, to stop her from walking away. She looked up into my eyes as I watched the sadness ooze from her pores. She was hurting but putting up a brave front.
We stared at one another for a moment before I broke the silence. “Whatever it is, just know that God is preparing you for greater. Nothing He does is without purpose. You’re going to find your smile again.”
She didn’t reply, but she gave a small nod, then rushed off again. I watched until she turned the corner. Then I looked down at my nephew, who was cheesing like a Cheshire cat.
“She was pretty, Uncle Baye.”
“She is pretty, but I don’t need you to try to hook me up, champ. I got this.”
“No offense, but you don’t have any game, Unc.”
“Or good taste,” Sahira countered.
I chuckled. “What you know about taste, little girl? You’re only seven.”
“So, but I’m smart.” She cheesed.