Chapter 6 Ashton
“So the reason I invited everyone over is because I’m starting a community project, and I wanted all of you to be a part of it.
I mean, I could do it on my own or get some of my teammates involved, but I’m not feeling that with this.
Besides, Dad, you always said you wanted your family close and to do life and business together. That’s what this is.”
“Okay, Figlio,” my papà replied, calling me “son” in Italian. “Tell us about it, and let’s see if it’s something that we can get behind.”
“It’s a two-part project that, if done correctly, could support each other and be exactly what the community needs. The first part is a tool library.”
“A what?” my sister, Corinna, asked.
“A tool library. It’s just like a library but with tools instead of books.
The community residents can come and check things out that they need to make minor home improvements and repairs with.
They would pay a small annual fee or a low-cost deposit, depending on what we work up, and they can access a large library of tools for a specific amount of time.
We could also host workshops to teach them skills and things of that nature. ”
I continued to explain the tool library along with the community managed tech center. They listened intently and, as expected, had several questions. I answered what I could, acknowledged what I didn’t know, and promised I would get back to them before I moved forward.
“So, tell me what y’all think?” I asked, looking around at my family.
My parents were there, along with Corinna and her husband, Jason; my brother, Giorgio and his wife, Nicole; my best friend, Paxton, who was a celebrity sports attorney, and his wife, Elonica.
I leaned down and stroked Titan’s fur as he snoozed by my feet. We had all come to my parents’ house for the meeting since they were halfway between everyone’s place. Titan popped his big head up and looked at me before resting it on his paws again.
“Man, I think that idea is dope.” Corinna was the first to speak up. “Being a blessing to a community and enabling them to get what they need at a nominal cost is cool, while teaching them skills they don’t have. It’s a great way to give back, Ash.”
“Yeah, I like the idea too. Have you thought about what community to do it in and if you’re doing both in the same community?” my brother asked.
“Gio, I actually thought it would be a great idea to let you look into that for me. You can look at the best real estate to build on, and Nic could go over the demographics for whatever area we decide to go in. She can do the comps and suggest which area would benefit the most from it.”
“Oooh! I already have three particular areas in mind, babe. We can get on that as soon as we leave here,” my sister-in-law, Nicole, remarked excitedly to my brother.
“Sounds like a plan, baby. That’s why I married you. That brain of yours and that heart is incomparable,” Giorgio replied before he kissed his wife.
“I thought you told me you married her because—ouch!” I grumbled when my big brother shot an elbow to my ribs. He was only one year older than me, but I loved playing the little brother who aggravated him to his big brother who bullied me.
Nicole shook her head, laughed, and stated, “You two are a mess.”
“I can help market and promote the projects. Get a jump on it before the build even happens so that we can build excitement,” Corinna suggested.
“That’s exactly what I wanted you to do, Cori. I was going to get Shaniece to help with that. She could draft a media announcement and send to the media outlets when it’s time.”
“Okay, that’s cool. I’ll get with her on that,” Corinna stated.
“Pax, I was thinking you could look over any legal ramifications or obligations we will have and draft contractors’ contracts and handle all the legal aspects of the project, or send us suggestions for people we can work with, if you don’t have the time.”
“Man, I’m all in this game. You’re not about to kick me out now. I’ve been waiting for my time to jump on the court and handle the ball,” Paxton declared.
I glanced at him. “Nigga, what?”
Everyone started laughing, and my mother walked over to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Dropping a kiss on his forehead, she warned, “Y’all better leave my adopted child alone.”
She always treated my best friend like he was one of us ever since I met him in middle school. I loved that, even though he came from a large, close-knit family of his own.
“Jason, I was thinking you could hook me up with the right construction firm and pull together a crew to do the job. They wouldn’t be volunteers. Obviously, this would be paid work,” I explained to my brother-in-law.
“I’ve got the right crew in mind,” Jason agreed.
“Thanks.”
“So what do you need from us? Money?” my papà asked.
“I actually wanted you to see if you could get some donors who were interested in giving back to the community. I could do it all on my own, but I would rather have local buy-in so everyone feels connected. Mama, if you could research any grants that might be out there to help with funding things like computers and technology and software, that would be great.”
“I’m on it, baby,” Mama stated, moving away from Paxton and taking her seat beside Papà again.
Titan bobbed his head up again and moved to where my parents were and sat on both their feet. Mama cooed and clucked her tongue at him as she lavishly loved on him.
Everyone else talked about the project and how exciting it would be.
I was glad that everyone wanted to be part of this and that they were excited about it too.
Everyone had full-time jobs except for Paxton’s wife, Elonica.
She was a stay-at-home mom with their baby daughter, Sophie, who had just turned one.
“What about me?” Elonica finally piped up.
“If you truly want in on this and have the time, I was thinking that you might interview staff and volunteers to run the project. I know you had an excellent career in HR for the time you did before having Sophie, and you’re great with not only reading people but managing them as well.”
“That comes from her psychology degree,” Paxton confirmed.
She smiled. “I would love to do that, Ash.”
“All right. Looks like we’ve got an entire plan in place.”
“What about Muffin?” Corinna asked.
“What about her?” I asked, looking back at my little sister.
“Is she not playing a part in this?” Mama asked.
All eyes were on me. I thought about the pictures that had been sent to Chanel and the risks that Muffin was now taking.
I thought about my fight with Alex and going to jail to “cool off,” thankful that I hadn’t been arrested and that bullshit wasn’t going on my record.
My pops prided himself about his kids never having a record.
I didn’t want to be the one who messed it up.
I needed to let them know what was going on; it was only fair.
After all, they were my family, and I damn sure didn’t want them to find out some other way.
I rubbed my hands together and pulled my fingers through my beard. “I’ve got some news.”
“Oh Lord,” I heard Mama mutter.
“Are you two finally having a baby?” Papà asked.
“No.”
“But of course, she doesn’t want to mess up her figure. You should’ve had kids back when she was the old Zoe. I don’t know who she is these days,” Mama fussed.
“If he had kids with her back then, can you imagine the regret or the type of mother she would be now,” Corinna countered.
“It doesn’t matter because we’re getting a divorce,” I spoke up when everyone had started chiming in.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Ashton.” Elonica was the first to speak up, while everyone else looked at me in shock and surprise, including my mother who no longer cared for my wife.
“Baby, I’m sorry to hear that. I know that I’ve felt my way about her through the years, but I was praying she would grow up or become the old Zoe. I never wished this on you two,” Mama declared.
“It’s all good, Ma.”
“Are you okay, Figlio?” Papà asked.
“I wasn’t at first, but I am now,” I lied.
I was not okay about terminating my marriage, but I knew that Muffin wasn’t going to stop screwing around.
So it was either kill her and them niggas or divorce her.
I’d had a few back and forth battles with myself about what to do when I finally decided I couldn’t avoid putting off filing for divorce any longer.
“Well, we’re here for you whatever you need, Ash. You know this, right?” Nicole asked, reaching out and grabbing my hand.
“I know, Sis. Thanks.”
“Including whupping her ass . . . Excuse me, Mama,” Elonica stated.
“That part,” Corinna stated, pointing at Elonica.
“I’m right there. Say when, and I say wham,” Nicole added.
“Nah. We’re not doing that. She’s still family,” I declared.
“She ain’t no family of mine. The way she’s been acting out these last few years, uh-uh,” Corinna argued.
“What brought the divorce on, though, Figlio?” Papà asked.
I didn’t want to say anything, but I hadn’t made a career out of lying to my parents, and I already lied and claimed that I was okay.
“She’s been messing around for the last few years.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?” Corinna popped up off the couch.
“Sit your feisty ass down,” Giorgio declared.
“No, that’s my brother. All these years he’s been nothing but faithful to her long neck ass, and this is how she repays him? No, sir.”
“Baby, calm down,” Jason added, tugging on his wife’s hand.