Chapter 2
“Okay, buddy, tell me what you think comes next?” I looked over at my son five-year Melo who stood next to me on the stepping stool. His little monogrammed chef’s hat and matching apron were adorable. A smear of flour rested on his soft, full cheeks.
“Hmm,” Melo tapped his chin with his index finger in thought as he stared at the ingredients on the marble island.
I chuckled in amusement, reaching over and brushing the flour off his cheek with my thumb.
Melo finally smiled, his deep dimples sinking into his cheeks. He picked up the small glass bowl of fresh blueberries. “We fold in the berries?” he asked hopefully.
“Ding-Ding-Ding.” I grinned widely in confirmation. I brought the wooden spoon in my hand up to my mouth. “Good job, buddy. Judges, tell him what’s he won?” I mimicked a game show host, extending the spoon to my little sister, Angel, who stood across from us.
She jumped right in; fake announcers voice on as she leaned into the spoon. “It looks like our young contestant has won an all-expense paid trip to Chuck-E-Cheese with his favorite auntie and all the pizza he can eat.”
Melo giggled and clapped his hands enthusiastically. “You’re my only Auntie, silly!”
“Am I?” she rounded the island, scooping him up and raining kisses across his face while he squealed with laughter. “I better be!”
I chuckled, taking the berries from my son and dumping them in the pancake batter. Angel placed him back on his stool.
“Can I really go, Daddy?” Melo looked up at me with big, hopeful eyes. “And eat pizza?”
I cringed slightly. I never let my son eat junk food, preferring to cook 99% of our meals from scratch. But I was making an exception this one time. Angel was taking him to the birthday party for her goddaughter, and I couldn’t deny my son the opportunity to pig out on pizza, cake, and ice cream.
“Of course, buddy," I smiled. "All the pizza you can eat. Just gotta brush your teeth extra good tonight. Can you do that?”
Melo nodded his head quickly. “Yep. I’ll brush for four whole minutes.” He held up four small fingers.
I bent my head, dropping a kiss on the top of his head. “That’s my boy,” I held out the spoon to him. “You wanna stir?”
“Yep!” Melo took the spoon and grabbed the bowl just like I taught him. He began to stir the batter slowly and carefully.
I beckoned my sister over towards me, keeping a close eye on my son as we stepped out of his hearing distance. I leaned in. “No more than two slices, Angel," I warned. "One slice of cake and absolutely no pop.”
Angel snorted a laugh. “Yeah, okay,” she replied sarcastically. “You think I’m taking my nephew to his first birthday party and denying him a chance to pig out. Absolutely not,” she rolled her eyes.
I exhaled, “Angel—”
“You gotta relax, big bro,” she cut me off, tapping my shoulder. “This will be your first night alone in forever. Your first night outside, in years. Enjoy yourself. I got this. Hopefully, you get some pussy while you're out.”
My mouth dropped in mock horror. “Do you kiss your mama with that potty mouth?”
“I do. And you need to kiss something with yours,” she shot back with a grin.
I shook my head. “Chill. You not that grown.”
She leaned in closer, whisper-taunting, “I am…and guess what?”
I didn't even wanna know but I raised a brow waiting.
“Pussy. Pussy. Pussy,” she chanted laughing at my discomfort. She patted my chest before turning back to my son. “You’re doing so good, baby,” she complimented, walking over.
I watched them, shaking my head but unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. Melo was still stirring the batter with intense focus, tongue poking from the corner of his mouth the same way I still did when I was focused.
I walked back over, leaned down, and adjusted his grip on the spoon. “Slow and steady—don’t slosh it, Chef.”
Melo nodded seriously. “I got it, Daddy.”
“I know you do.” I patted his back and reached to preheat the griddle, the faint hiss of butter hitting hot metal filling the silence. Mornings like this—flour in the air, laughter still echoing through the house; this was the kind of peace I never took for granted.
Behind me, Melo hummed to himself, completely off-key. I chuckled. “That your new cooking song?”
“It’s our pancake song,” he said proudly. “We gotta sing it every time. Pancake, pancake, in the pan. Me and Daddy are the pancake man,” he sang.
I grinned, adding the first pancake to the griddle. “That’s a good song, son. Guess it’s tradition now.” I finished breakfast and we feasted on blueberry pancakes, bacon, and cheesy scrambled eggs.
“Alright, Honeybun,” Angel announced standing up, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “We have to run a few errands before the party. How about we get you dressed and head out?”
“Okay!” Melo jumped up.
“Hold on now…” I looked between the two of them. “Nobody’s gonna help me clean?”
“Uhhh…” Melo said looking at Angel who was checking her imaginary watch.
“Yeah…we’re gonna be late, big bro. But you got this.” She clapped my shoulder before scooping up my son.
I shook my head, because her non cooking ass was always over here eating my food, but never wanting to clean. She was lucky I loved her and she was an amazing auntie. “No more blueberry pancakes for you!” I called after her.
“I prefer French Toast anyway!” she replied as they headed to Melo’s room.
I smirked, finishing the last few bites before wiping my mouth. My phone rang next to me and my best friend's face lit up the screen. “Boogie downtown. What’s the word?” I answered.
Bryan better known as Boogie, chuckled. “What good, Rem? What you doing?”
“Just finished breakfast with son-son and lil’ sis. About to clean up and then head to the restaurant.”
“Cool. You know why I’m calling, right?” Boogie asked.
I smirked. “I have an idea.”
“Calling to make sure your flaky ass ain’t flaking on us again.”
I stroked my beard in amusement leaning back against the kitchen counter as sunlight spilled through the blinds. “I’m still in. No last ditch cop out this time.”
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking ‘bout!” Boogie exclaimed unable to hide his enthusiasm, making me laugh.
I shook my head, already picturing him pacing around probably grinning like a fool.
I knew he was geeked about me stepping my toe back in the world socially.
When I lost my wife Kendrix to cancer four years ago, I went into a deep depression.
For a minute there, no one was sure if I would ever be able to come out of it.
Honestly—I wasn't sure either.
There were so many days the house felt too quiet and empty.
There were days when getting out of bed felt like dragging a body that wasn’t mine.
Heavy moments where it felt like I just wanted to join my love in the afterlife.
But over the last two years, and with weekly therapy, I had been slowly and painstakingly finding my way back to life.
My son was getting older and he needed his father whole and present.
Melo was my light at the end of the tunnel.
My whole reason for waking up and grinding each day.
Even on the mornings when grief sat heavy on my chest making it hard to breathe, all it took was his small voice calling for me to push through.
Kendrix wouldn’t want me rolling over and giving up on life.
She was always full of love, light, and energy.
I saw those same qualities in our son. So…
I clawed my way out of the darkness. And now—slowly—I was feeling like my old self again.
The man that Kendrix fell in love with. The man that my son and my family needed.
I released a slow breath, dragging a hand over my face before pushing off the counter. “I'm actually looking forward to it to be honest.”
“You should be bruh, ‘cause tonight is ‘bout to be a movie,” Boogie said. “I’m talking ‘bout bottles, blunts and big booty bitches all night,”
I shook my head laughing. Sometimes he had a one-track mind. "Here you go. I’m not on that. I just wanna have a night out with my boys. Nothing more.”
“Fuck that,” Boogie scoffed. “We getting you some ass tonight. Or at least some head. Something nigga. A hand job would suffice.”
I went quiet, my gaze drifting toward the hallway. There hadn’t been another woman since Kendrix, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to give my body to another woman just yet. It's weird, but I would feel like I was cheating on her. Crossing a line I wasn't sure I had permission to cross.
The silence on the phone let Boogie know that maybe he went too far. “Aye—my bad Rem. I ain’t mean nothing by it. You know I wouldn’t force that on you. I’m just fucking around," he replied empathetically. “We’re all just glad you’re coming out. That’s the most important part of the night.”
I let out another slow breath, rolling my shoulders. “Yeah…yeah. I know, fam. You good. I don’t feel a way. It has been a while,” I agreed.
“Whatever you comfortable with,” he added before pivoting. “So, check it…pre-game at my house. Then we heading to the club. Everything is covered, all we need is your presence and your energy tonight. Cool?”
I glanced around my living room—the toys tucked in the corner, the folded laundry on the couch, the quiet life I had built to keep myself grounded. Tonight felt like stepping outside of that safety net. “Cool,” I agreed.
“Bet. I’ll hit you up later, bruh. Hug my godson for me.”
“Will do. Later, bruh.”
We ended the call. I sat there for a minute absorbing the conversation and reflecting. My eyes wondered over to the framed wedding picture of me and Kendrix on the wall. I stood and slowly walked over to the image, taking it in.
Warm memories of that day filled me. I remembered feeling like I would burst with love when she walked down the aisle.
She looked so beautiful. My hands had been sweating, heart racing, but the second our eyes met…
everything else faded. I had never seen a woman so beautiful—so perfect and graceful.
The love radiated off her almond skin making her glow. I felt like I won the lottery that day.
My fingers brushed lightly against the frame, tracing the outline of her smile.
A wave of sadness washed over me. I swallowed down the rising knot in my throat.
“I miss you, my love,” I whispered to her face.
“But I know you would want me to move on. With your permission, baby…I pray you put a woman in my life who is perfect for me and Melo. And when she comes…don’t let me scared.
Open my heart, Dri. Let me be able to love again.
” I kissed two fingers and pressed them to her face. “I love you forever, baby.”
For a minute I just stood there, staring at the picture. Then from down the hall—
“Daddyyyy!” Melo’s voice cut through the heaviness.
I exhaled, stepping back from the picture. “Coming, lil’ man,” I called back, my voice steadier now. One last glance at Kendrix, then I turned and walked toward the sound of my son.