Chapter 7 #2
Beautiful: That's fine. Is one better?
She was willing to compromise. That was a good sign:
One is perfect, love. What did you have in mind?
Beautiful: It's a surprise. Just come dressed down and bring comfortable shoes.
That was cryptic as hell, but I was definitely interested and more than a little excited.
Okay, beautiful. I'll be there.
Beautiful: Great. I'll send you the location. See you soon.
Can't wait, love.
I sat there with the phone in my hand and this goofy smile on my face. My eyes wandered over to the picture of Kendrix pregnant on my nightstand. I picked it up and stared at her glowing face. "Wish me luck, Dri." I kissed the photo and stood to check on Melo and get us ready to head out.
An hour later me and Melo were ready and headed to my parents.
I wasn't sure how dressed down Gianna wanted me to be, so I settled on a sleeveless white Nike tank top, some basketball shorts and Nike running shoes.
Just in case that was too comfortable I had a change of clothes in my bag as well as something a little more upscale. I was prepared for whatever.
Mama was already sitting on the porch waiting for us when we pulled up. As soon as I unbuckled my son and set him on his feet, his little legs went full sprint ahead towards the house. "Mee-Mee!" he hollered.
His over excitement caused him to trip, and before I could even react, my mama sprinted off the porch towards him. "Oh, my baby!" she hollered out scooping him off the ground. "You hurt, baby?"
I reached them quickly and looked into my son's eyes He wasn't crying but his eyes were glistening. "You okay, buddy? Let Daddy see."
He held out his little hands which he had skinned a little. Not much, but enough to probably sting.
"I'm sorry, son." I took his hands and kissed the palms. "This is why I tell you not to go taking off running. You gotta be careful, okay?"
"Sorry, Daddy," he sniffled.
My mother planted kisses all over his face until his sniffles turned to giggles. "Let's go inside so Mee-Mee can clean off your hands, baby." She looked at his jeans which now had a little dirt on them. "We're gonna change too."
He nodded. "Okay."
I followed them into the house and went to his room, which was my childhood room, to set his bag down. Going back downstairs, I spotted my Pops coming from the backyard. "What's up old man?" I smiled giving him a quick hug.
"How you doing, son?" he smiled.
"I'm alright. Melo fell outside so mama's probably gonna be watching him like a hawk today."
Pops smirked. "When isn't she hovering? That’s where you get it from."
I waved him off, but he was right. I knew I was a helicopter parent.
Pops looked me up and down, curiously. "You're a bit underdressed for work, son."
I scratched the back of my neck. "Actually…I'm not going to work yet." I paused stuck between wanting to share with him and wanting to keep it to myself just in case things didn’t work out. Ultimately, I decided to share. "I'm meeting someone. A woman."
Pops thick, dark brows shot up. "You don’t say? A woman?" he let out a slow breath. "This is…something."
I nodded. "I know."
He gestured his head for us to sit down. We did. Me on the couch, him on his favorite armchair. "What's her name?"
"Gianna."
His brows rose again. "That's the woman you mentioned in the video, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. She's…I don't know. Something about her sparked my interest."
Pops folded his leg across the other. "How are you feeling?"
I paused. "Nervous," I admitted. "Uncertain. But…I think it's time, Pops. Dri would want me to move on. She told me to before she died but I just—" I shook my head. "I wasn't sure if I would ever be ready."
"And now you are?" he asked quietly.
I looked into my father's eyes. "I am."
Pops studied me the way he always did when he was deciding how honest he was about to be. Finally, he nodded slowly. “Then I’m glad to hear that.”
I exhaled. “You sure?” I asked.
He leaned back in his chair, hands resting on the armrests. “Son… you’ve been carrying a lot for a long time.” His voice was calm but firm. “You loved your wife well. Nobody can ever question that.”
I nodded quietly.
“But loving someone who’s gone doesn't mean your life stops with them. Kendrix knew you probably better than anybody. And if she told you to move on… that was her trying to make sure you didn’t spend the rest of your life alone.”
I looked down at my hands. “I'm scared shitless to be honest, Pops,” I confessed.
“Of being alone?”
“No,” I said quietly. “Doing this wrong.”
His brow lifted. “Wrong how?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Melo.”
Pops nodded slowly. “That's understandable.”
I continued, “You know he’s my priority. I can’t just bring anybody around him. Whoever I get serious with… she gotta love him.”
He sat back again. “Of course. That’s a fair expectation.”
“But I don’t want to put that pressure on somebody either,” I added. “It’s a lot.”
Pops chuckled softly. “Son… you're thinking about stepmother dynamics, and you haven't even been on the first date yet.”
I laughed under my breath. “Yeah. I know.”
“That’s that Robinson brain working overtime.”
I nodded. “Probably.”
He leaned forward again, elbows on his knees. “Tell me something though—”
“What?”
“Do you like her?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yeah.” A smile tugged at his mouth. "Hell, I only met her twice and I named a dessert after her."
“Then go see where that goes," he replied easily. "And have fun. And even if it doesn’t end up going further than a few dates, at least you were brave enough to put yourself out there again.”
I nodded slowly.
“You deserve to be happy again, Remy.”
I swallowed, feeling that in my chest. “Thanks, Pops.”
Just then we heard Melo laughing upstairs and Mama's playful voice.
Pops shook his head with a grin. "You know when she finds out, she's gonna be picking out wedding venues."
I laughed. "I know. Let's keep this between us for now. If she asks, I'll tell her."
"Will do." He stood and clapped my shoulder. “Go on up and say good-bye. Don’t keep that woman waiting.”
I stood too. “You gonna interrogate her if this turns serious?”
He smiled calmly. “Oh absolutely. We all are.”
I laughed. “Figured.”
As I headed upstairs Pops called after me. “Hey, son.”
I turned. “Yeah?”
He nodded once. “Proud of you.”
I smiled. "Thanks, Pop."