Chapter 7 #2
She frowned and looked at me curiously. “They got those?”
I chuckled lightly. “He’s the owner of the business. There was a glitch in their system, so he had to be the one to come out.”
“That sounds like pookie-doo if you ask me.”
“You think so?” I queried.
“I know so. You need to watch him. Are the cameras all set up in the right places?”
“Yes, Mommy. Don’t worry; I’m watching.”
“Good. How is he?”
“He’s surprisingly amazing. The kids are loving him already. They are literally behaving, and it’s kind of scary, to be honest.”
“Scary?”
I laughed. “Not in a bad way, Mommy. It’s like he’s giving them room to be themselves, but in an organized kind of way. They listen to him, and he listens to them . . . It’s crazy, but it may just be because he’s new and . . . fun.”
“Hmm. Sounds like you like him too.”
“Not like that. He’s good to my babies, so that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bet he’s good to you too. I’ll be over in about an hour to meet him. Gotta check his temperature, or his car gon’ be the next one I blow up.”
“Mommy!” I couldn’t help but laugh, although that situation wasn’t funny. “It’s hard to believe you didn’t give my daddy hell when y’all were together.”
“I sure did! And the demons that came with it too.”
I laughed harder. “Bye, Ma. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Mm-hmm. Bye, baby.”
I hung up, and my thoughts went to my dad. He had moved to Florida seven years ago when he and my mom got a divorce. We talked twice a month, and he always sent the kids gifts. I hadn’t visited him since Carlee was born, but I thought I’d surprise him while we were down there.
He had no idea about my and Leo’s split, and I wanted to keep it that way for now.
My parents weren’t good at being nice to people they knew hurt me in some way.
I had always been their pride and joy, so I knew telling him wouldn’t be wise.
My dad would have flown up here like he was Hancock and put a bullet in Leo for the stunt he pulled.
I certainly wouldn’t be able to defend him on an attempted murder charge, since I sent guilty people to jail.
My parents never showed me bad times while they were married, but I knew they were toxic together.
I used to hear small arguments that they thought I couldn’t hear, but it never got physical until I was out of the house.
It was mostly my mom who caused hell, but my daddy wasn’t exactly a saint either.
They would cheat on each other and crash out on each other. It was crazy, but they loved my brother and me, despite their flaws.
I exercised for another thirty minutes while watching and listening to Basil and the kids. He was now serving them dinner since it was seven o’clock. My kids were picky eaters, but one thing they liked the most was homemade chicken tenders and French fries.
I had to admit that today seemed lighter than it had in over a month, and I appreciated every moment I could breathe without feeling overwhelmed.
Turning out the lights after I wiped everything down, I headed upstairs to my bedroom to shower and change. Once done, I slipped on some leggings and a T-shirt, then walked out of my room to find Carsyn in his bedroom, putting on his pajamas.
He slipped his shirt over his head and smiled at me. “Hey, Mommy.”
“Hey, baby boy.” I smiled while entering his room and taking a seat on his gaming chair. “Did you enjoy yourself today?”
“Yeah. Is Mr. B staying? Like Ms. Shelly?”
“He won’t be living with us, but he will be here every day for as long as I need him. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged his little shoulders. “I like him. He nice, and he play the game with me.”
I smiled. “You like him better than Ms. Shelly?”
“I like Ms. Shelly. She was nice, too, but I like Mr. B better. Ms. Shelly didn’t play the game with me, and she made me eat peas. Ilk,” he said, cringing.
I laughed. “Well, Mr. B is going to make you eat veggies too, buddy. Don’t think you’re off the hook.”
“As long as it’s not peas. I hate peas and aspagus.”
I shook my head, stood, and walked over to him to place a kiss on his forehead. “It’s asparagus.”
“Yeah, that.”
I tittered. “I love you, baby boy. You can stay up for another hour or so, then it’s bedtime. We’re going to go to church with Nana in the morning.”
“Okay . . . Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Is Daddy ever coming back home?”
That made me pause. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing to him, but I also didn’t want to lie.
My son was smart and growing up on me. I knew they felt the void of their father being gone, but since he was rarely ever home, they never really asked where he’d been over the course of his absence.
This was a fear of mine that I prayed would never happen, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think that it wouldn’t.
Chloe asked one time, and I told her he was on vacation, and that was it. Now, here my son was, asking about him.
“No, Carsyn. He’s not.”
His face grew a little solemn. “Why not?”
“He decided that he didn’t want to come back home, baby. But it’s okay. You will always have me.” I gave him a soft smile.
“Yeah. That mean Mr. B can move in then?”
I chuckled. “Slow down, buddy. Mr. Basil is only here to look after you guys, then he goes home at the end of the night.”
“Fine. Can I play my Nintendo Switch for a little while?”
“One more hour, then it’s bedtime.”
“Okay.”
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
I kissed his forehead again, then left the room to check on Chloe. She had finished up in the bathroom, and I told her the plan of her being in bed in an hour, then went downstairs to check on Carlee and Basil.
He kept her occupied while the three of us took our baths and showers. I found them in the family room, dancing to Gracie’s Corner’s veggie song.
Carlee giggled her little life away on his neck as Basil bounced her to the beat. I watched them for a moment until I heard the front door alarm. I knew it was my mother, so I went to meet her halfway.
“Where is he?” was the first thing she asked when she saw me.
I shook my head. “In the family room with Carlee.”
She waltzed down the hall to the family room with me close on her heels. Basil turned when he heard us enter, and my mom grabbed her chest before blurting, “Good God Almighty.”
“Nana! Nana!” Carlee yelled out.
“Hi, baby,” she greeted Carlee, then her head fell back as she looked up at the ceiling. “Lord, why did you send this man in my daughter’s home? You know she ain’t gon’ be able to resist bouncing on this man’s lap by the end of the week!”
“Mommy!” I exclaimed, my mouth hanging open in pure shock and embarrassment. I swear, I’d never heard her speak this way until I got older. She raised me with class and grace, but she was the complete opposite of me. My eyes went to Basil, who tried to hide his smile, but was failing miserably.
“Please excuse her. She doesn’t know the meaning of a filter.”
He chuckled that sexy-ass, manly chuckle. “It’s quite alright. How are you doing, ma’am? Basil Cassidy—the kids’ new manny.” He placed Carlee on her feet as she ran to my mother and extended his palm out to her. She took it with a small smirk on her face.
“Anika Dancy, the kids’ grandmother.” She picked Carlee up and kissed her cheek.
“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Dancy.”
“It’s Miss.”
“Gotcha.”
Still feeling slightly embarrassed by my mother’s outburst, I finally broke the silence between us. “Basil, I think we’re all set for the night. You are relieved of your duties for today. Thank you for everything. You made today a lot less stressful for me.”
“No problem at all, Ms. Alicia. Eight o’clock tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. We’re going to church tomorrow, but you have the option to either come with us or stay here and get some work done.”
“Uh un, he’s coming to church. We need to send up a prayer that God don’t make you mix business with pleasure.”
“Oh my God. Basil, I’ll walk you out,” I said, shaking my head at my mother. Basil gathered his belongings and followed me out of the family room. I opened the door and held it open for him.
“Oh, I need you to sign the timesheet for me,” he said, then pulled out his iPad and tapped around on it before he handed it to me. I signed my name, then handed the device back to him.
“Good night, Ms. Alicia. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Basil. Again, thank you for everything.”
“You’re most welcome.” He winked at me, and if he were a genie, my leggings would have been on the floor. He walked out, and I shut the door and leaned my back against it.
Having a manny was going to be way harder than I thought.