Chapter Twenty-One
Quinton stood on his front porch and waved as his parents’ van pulled into the driveway. He sent up a quick prayer that they wouldn’t be too over-the-top with this meeting. He hurried down the steps and went to the passenger side to open the door for his mom.
She got out and immediately wrapped him up in a bear hug. “It’s my baby! Oh, it’s been too long since I’ve seen you. Let me take a look at you.” She leaned back to eye him. His mom was tall and thick with dark eyes that missed nothing. Her hair was styled in an intricate twist in the back with curls in the front and she wore a flower-printed flowy top with wide leg pants.
“I haven’t changed since the last time you saw me,” he said after pulling back.
His dad was already out of the car and heading toward him and his mom. “Yep, still ugly,” his dad said with a laugh. Willie Evans was shorter than his mom and Quinton. With a friendly face, dark skin and a joke always ready. He wore a light blue T-shirt and jeans belted tight.
Quinton only grinned and pointed. “Everyone says I look like you, so...”
His mom slapped down his hand. “Shut up. Both of you are my handsome men.”
“Hey, don’t forget me back here.” His sister’s voice came from the inside of the van. “Quinton’s ugly and looks like Dad, now open the door.”
Quinton moved and went to the sliding door that automatically opened. His sister grinned at him. She reminded him of his mom, with her sharp gaze and eager smile. She had their dad’s darker complexion and wore her natural hair in a short, stylish cut. “Lord, they forget all about me whenever they see you.”
“That’s not true,” his mom said, not sounding convincing.
His dad brought his sister’s wheelchair from the back of the van and Quinton helped Dawn get out. Once she was settled, she grabbed his hand.
“Where is she?” She eyed the house eagerly.
Three sets of eyes zeroed in on him. “She’s in the house. She came over with Halle, who made dinner.”
“Why did she cook?” his mom asked indignantly. “I was going to make your favorite. I got all the stuff in the back of the van.”
“Make it tomorrow. Tacos are Shania’s favorite. Halle thought it would make things easier if we have Shania’s favorite meal.”
“Tacos?” his dad said with a scowl. “Who eats tacos on Sunday? Tacos are for Tuesday. Pot roast or fried chicken is for Sunday.”
Quinton shook his head. “You can eat whatever you want on any day. Please, just let things go and be cool with tacos today.”
His dad nodded but grumbled. “I just like tacos on Tuesday.”
His mom pointed at the house. “Is she living here?”
Quinton frowned. “Who? Shania?”
“Well, both of them. Why is she cooking in your kitchen? Don’t tell me you two are hooking up or anything.”
“No, we’re not hooking up.” Not yet anyway. Quinton hoped that one day they would get to that point. “Why would you say that?”
“Because she’s in your kitchen. When a woman cooks in your kitchen that means she’s laying the foundation to be your wife,” his mom said as if that were the gospel truth.
Quinton frowned, not familiar with that saying. “Says who?”
“Everyone says that.” His mom spoke confidently.
Quinton looked at his sister, who usually gave him the same whatever look whenever their mom came up with some new superstition they’d never heard of. Instead of rolling her eyes, his sister gave him an interested look and eyebrow wiggle.
“Not you, too?”
“I’m just saying, it is odd that she’s cooking over here.” Dawn continued going along with his mom’s newfound saying.
Quinton swallowed his frustration. He loved his family, but they were exasperating. “She’s only cooking here because I’m hosting at my house. She was worried about her house not being easily accessible for you. That’s it.”
Dawn pressed a hand to her heart. “Aww, she was worried about me?”
“She’s a planner and doesn’t leave anything out.” He didn’t focus on the way his heart warmed at his sister’s appreciation. “Come on, let’s go in so you can meet Shania.”
They headed toward the house. When Quinton purchased the place, he’d installed a ramp that led up to the front door. Even if his sister didn’t visit him often, he wanted her to feel welcome in his home.
Worry still creased his mom’s face as they got closer to the door. “Well, if it’s just for that then I’ll let it slide. Just don’t start messing around with her.”
“Why would you say that?” Was everyone against him and Halle getting together?
“Because, she had a baby on her own and obviously didn’t want or need a man if she’s still single. Don’t go falling in love with someone who won’t love you back.”
“No one’s falling in love,” he said automatically. He was used to his mom trying to plan a wedding whenever he was remotely interested in any woman. For her to be against Halle, though, surprised him. He’d expect her to have already put him and Halle together.
“I’m just saying. Focus on my grandbaby and not the momma.”
They reached the front door before Quinton could say anything else. His mom rushed toward the kitchen.
“Where is my grandbaby?”
Quinton hurried behind her, and his dad and sister came up the rear. They entered the kitchen in a rush. Halle froze at the stove and turned to face them. Shania looked up from where she was cutting tomatoes at the island. Her eyes were wide as she looked at his family.
“Um...here?” she said, raising a hand.
His mom threw up her hands. “Oh my God, you look just like Quinton.” She hurried to Shania’s side and reached for her. Shania thankfully had time to put down the knife before his mom impaled herself on it as she pulled her into a huge bear hug. His mom squeezed Shania before pulling back and cupping her face. “Oh, look at you. You’re so beautiful. I knew you would be. And so tall. Oh my goodness, Willie, do you see how tall my grandbaby is?”
“I see,” his dad said, coming around to stand next to his wife. “She definitely got the height from our side.”
“Isn’t she pretty? And smart,” his mom continued. “Your dad told me you were smart, too. I knew you would be. Oh my goodness. Just look at her.”
Shania’s eyes remained wide as she watched them. A wobbly smile on her face as she looked at his mom and then his dad. “You think I’m pretty?”
“Of course you are,” his mom exclaimed. “Oh, listen to her. Doesn’t she sound smart?”
His dad nodded. “Sure does. But of course, she would be. We ain’t no dummies.”
Halle slid forward and gently pulled Shania back. “Hello, I’m Halle. It’s nice to meet you.”
His mom frowned at having Shania taken out of her reach. But thankfully she didn’t jerk her back. “You’re the mother?”
“I am. And I’m guessing you’re the grandparents.” She looked at Quinton and his sister. “And you’re the aunt?”
His sister beamed. “I am. Dawn Evans. It’s nice to meet you, too. Sorry for my parents. They’re Willie and Laura. They’ve wanted a grandkid for a long time. They’ll calm down soon enough.”
He met Halle’s eyes and suppressed a smile, because he could read her thoughts on her face. His parents calming down couldn’t come soon enough.
Quinton sat on his back porch with his sister. His backyard butted against a wooded area. He’d also purchased the lot behind him so that in a few years he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone moving in and ruining his view. His sister loved herbal tea and always brought her favorites with her, so he’d made a pot and brought it out back to drink with her. Even though he wasn’t a big tea drinker, he always enjoyed drinking tea with his sister. Their parents were upstairs getting the room ready.
“Do you think Mom is rewashing the sheets on the guest bed?” he asked.
His sister laughed. “Only if she didn’t pack her own sheets.”
He shook his head. “I don’t remember her being like this when we were younger.”
“That’s because we didn’t travel when we were younger. Plus, remember that stint she worked at the motel on the outskirts of town? Mom is convinced all hotels are dirty.”
“But my house isn’t a hotel.”
Dawn laughed. “She’s also convinced you’re a man who doesn’t know to change the sheets in the guest bedroom. She probably thinks they’ve been there since her last visit.”
“Give me some credit. I know to change the sheets.” He’d made a point of putting new sheets on the bed for her and his dad before they’d arrived. “She’s going to drive Halle crazy.”
“Probably so.” Dawn looked at him. “Does that bother you?”
“A little. I’m trying to convince Halle that I’m not trying to intrude on her life. I want this to be a smooth transition.”
Dawn grunted and took a sip of her tea. “Nothing about this is smooth. This entire situation is straight out of the headlines. I don’t know how you can blend your families without any bumps. Is she giving you a hard time? Have you found out if she’s a gold digger?”
He glared at his sister, but thankfully, the smile on her face let him know she wasn’t serious. “She isn’t a gold digger. She doesn’t want anything from me.”
“You sound like that bothers you.” His sister gasped and pointed. “You like her!”
He shook his head and poured more tea into his cup. “Stop.”
Dawn wagged her finger. “Yes, you do, I can tell by the way your nose it twitching. You like her.”
He rubbed his nose. “Shouldn’t I like her? We’ve got to figure out how to raise a kid together.”
“I’m not talking about liking her in general as a person. I’m talking about like liking her. You want to get with her. Does she want to get with you?”
Quinton knew she was attracted to him, but he didn’t think she wanted to be with him. “I don’t know. I think she does.”
“Why do you think so?”
He wasn’t about to tell her about the kiss. His sister would broadcast that to his parents before the night was over. “We vibe. That’s all. But she just broke up with the guy she liked. And Shania doesn’t want us together. She thinks it’ll be weird.”
“That’s because it’s new. She’s getting used to you being a family.” They were silent for a few seconds before Dawn said, “I like her. She did well with Mom and Dad today, and they can be a lot.”
Quinton thought about how Halle let his mom’s comments about not needing to cook anymore and his dad’s insistence that tacos are for Tuesday roll off her. Although his parents were much, he’d also noticed the way she’d smiled as they’d gushed over every accomplishment Shania had. They may have been their usually overbearing selves, but they’d been sincere in their delight with Shania, and Halle had noticed that.
“A part of me wants to pursue this thing with Halle,” he admitted. “I worry that I’m going to mess things up with Shania. She’s the most important thing right now.”
Dawn poked his elbow. “I hear a but?”
“But I was interested in Halle before this. I overheard her say something about not dating athletes and then she was with that English teacher, so I never approached her. Now I’ve got a chance, but it’ll piss off my kid. What am I supposed to do?”
“Damn if I know.” Dawn sighed and sipped her tea.
Quinton chuckled. “Thanks a lot.”
“I know, I’m no help. Again, your situation is awkward as fuck. I don’t know how you navigate.”
“I hear a but?” he countered.
“But you know me and you know I love love. I’m rooting for you and Halle to get together. Mom is worried that’s why she said not to do anything. She doesn’t want you to get hurt like you did with Catherine.”
Quinton scowled at the mention of his ex-girlfriend. “We broke up two years ago. I’m over her.”
He and Catherine had tried long distance and it hadn’t worked out. He’d been hurt about the breakup but not heartbroken.
“Still, Mom wants you to settle down.”
He stared down at the tea in his cup and admitted softly, “I can see myself with Halle.”
Dawn turned to study him. “Is that because you really want to see yourself with her, or because she’s a ready-made family?”
“Huh?”
“Huh!” his sister repeated with a grin. “Whenever you answer a question with that it’s because you don’t know the answer or you’re afraid to answer. You heard what I said. Figure that shit out first. Either you really want to be with Halle or you’re seeing a family because the kid you always wondered about appeared with a woman you’re attracted to. They’re right here, in the town you moved to. I say it’s fate, but I’m a realist enough to know that you don’t believe in fate. You believe in hard work and effort. So, put in the work and figure out if this is really fate that brought you together.”