16 #2
She sometimes offered catering for private parties but, again, that depended on if she felt like cooking or not.
Now, she rented space in the lot next to the bar for whoever wanted to grill and sell plates.
A few times, she would let food trucks set up in the area since she was on the second line route.
Dot was about her money and she knew how to make a dollar.
“Bitch, I know what I’m doing. Oxtail is a Jamaican dish and it’s supposed to be spicy.”
“I know but you still want people to enjoy it.”
“This is for the family and I’ve never had any complaints. I won’t put no more spice in it though. Poppa won’t eat it if it’s too hot.”
Dot’s father loved her cooking. He and her mother were the only reasons why she ever cooked at all.
It was her father’s eightieth birthday and they were having a small family gathering to celebrate.
“Hank just came back with the fish and Boobie just put the drinks on ice. What else needs to be done?” Clover asked when she walked into the kitchen. Kardi was on the trampoline that Dot had in her yard for her great-grandkids and she went to bring her some water.
“Put some fish fry in a bowl for me, Clo. I hope Hank got enough fish. Poppa will probably eat that more than anything else.”
Dot knew how much her father loved fish.
He was old school though, so he didn’t just eat anything.
He didn’t do all that frozen and farmed raised mess.
His fish had to be fresh, which was why Hank to drive almost an hour way to get it.
“He might have too much. He got a big ice chest full.” Clover got to work, preparing everything that Dot needed to season and fry the fish.
“What’s up, y’all? Where you want me to put this cake?” Fonzo asked when he and Amina entered the kitchen.
Dot wiped her hands on the apron that she had on and peeked inside of the huge box that he was carrying. “It looks even better than the picture I showed the bakery. Sit it on the table in the dining room. It’s cool in there, so it won’t melt.”
“Hey, everybody. Can I help with anything?” Amina offered.
“No, baby, just sit down and relax. We got it.” Dot smiled while giving her a hug.
“I know you lying! Not how you got me in here working like a slave.” Clover looked at Dot and frowned.
“Shut up, Clover, and cut up those other bell peppers.”
“Man, I just cut up eight peppers for your pasta,” Clover continued to fuss while getting the cutting board and knife. Amina laughed as she watched her stomp around the kitchen and mumble under her breath.
“My wife is here as a guest. Stop acting like you don’t know how shit go, Clover,” Fonzo spoke up.
“You shut up too and go help Dash get the grill and boiling pot started.”
“Damn man, I just got here. Where that nigga Monty at?”
Amina really fell out when her husband started mumbling under his breath just like Clover was doing. They both knew better than to speak their thoughts out loud.
“No, seriously though. Nobody has seen him since y’all reception last weekend,” Clover noted.
“As long as he’s calling and texting like normal, I’m not worried,” Dot replied.
That part was true, and Monty still called and texted like he normally did. He even took some time off from work, but Hank didn’t mind. He couldn’t remember the last time that Monty missed work, if ever. He was kinda acting out of character but none of them knew why.
“I would have been thinking that big basketball coach looking bitch did something to my baby if not.” Diva had been so happy that Caprice hadn’t been around lately. Their gatherings had been much more enjoyable without her presence.
“Monty is okay. What about you, Fonzo? I thought you and Amina were gonna take a little trip somewhere after y’all got married.” Dot changed the subject to something more pleasant.
“We are. He wanted to ask my doctor if it was okay first. He said that I’m good until I’m between thirty-six and thirty-eight weeks,” Amina answered on her husband’s behalf.
“Girl, I could have told you that. Y’all first-time parents are soft as hell. Dash and Clover was the same way.” Diva shook her head but she understood. She was the same way with her first, but Dot and her grandmother got her right.
“We had to be sure, but I’m ready to go now. I wish everybody could come with us. Me and Fonzo are too boring by ourselves.” Amina frowned.
“You and Dash need to come with us, sis. Y’all know me and my wife don’t turn up when we’re alone,” Fonzo laughed.
“Where y’all going?” Clover asked. She was definitely in need of a good vacation. She was sure that Irie and Diva could hold down the daycare until she returned.
“We haven’t even figured that out yet. Hopefully, we can do a resort or something that doesn’t require a lot of walking.”
“Y’all should have been planned something. It’s gonna cost a grip unless y’all plan something for a later date,” Diva said.
“Maybe not, my parents have a good travel agent. She might be able to help out. I’m sure she won’t mind.” Amina pulled out her phone to text her mother.
“Hol’ up, I can see Fonzo leaving for his honeymoon, but Dash better stay his ass right here and help my husband work. Y’all know Hank don’t know nothing about all that contract and back end talk.”
Diva looked at Clover as she spoke. She knew that if she wanted to go, there would be no stopping Dash.
“And you already know that Monty will wanna go if both of his brothers are going,” Dot pointed out.
“Yay, we’re gonna have so much fun,” Amina squealed and clapped her hands excitedly.
“Yay, my ass. Y’all got me fucked up if y’all think my husband is gonna be busting his ass while y’all go with Fonzo on his honeymoon. What kind of shit is that anyway? Nobody should be going nowhere but the newlyweds.”
“Diva please, Hank is a grown ass man. He don’t need you speaking up for him. Go outside and make sure all the warmers are turned on for when we bring the food out.”
Dot was expecting all of her brothers so she made sure she had more than enough food.
They ate a lot and they always wanted food to go.
Diva and Fonzo went outside to do as they were told. Once Clover was done helping in the kitchen, she went outside to join them. Everything was going well, and Dot was happy for that.
After a while, they were able to relax and wait for their guests to arrive.
Monty was the first to arrive holding Iva’s hand like he used to when they were together.
Not only that but they wore matching shoes and shirts.
Their bottoms were the same colors too, but Iva had on shorts while Monty wore jeans.
Clover and Dash looked at each other and back at them.
“I told you, Boobie! You owe me a stack! I’m so happy that y’all are back together!”
Clover jumped up and yelled as she pulled her best friend into a hug.
She told Dash that she’d barely been talking to Iva since Fonzo’s wedding and it was no coincidence that Monty was moving weird too.
She told Dash that she believed they had linked again, but he disagreed.
They made a thousand dollar bet and it was time for him to pay up.
“I know that’s right, Iva. My girl went got her man back.” Diva was all smiles.
“No, ma’am, he came got me,” Iva corrected.
“That part, bestie! I need all the tea, bitch.” Clover pulled Iva down into the chair next to hers.
“I’m happy for you, bro.” Fonzo stepped up and gave him a manly hug. He and his brothers talked a lot and being back with Iva was all that he wanted. He seemed happy, and that’s all he ever wanted for both his brothers.
“Yeah, I’m happy for you too, but you should have been here hours ago. Nigga want to show up after all the work is done. And your sneaky ass cost me a stack,” Dash fussed but he was only joking. The smile on Monty’s face was genuine and he hadn’t seen that in a while.
“Nah, bruh, I wasn’t on no sneaky shit. We just needed some time alone to figure some shit out. But, aye, Clo, it’s on sight when I see your hating, messy ass cousins again. I don’t hit women but exceptions can be made.” Monty frowned.
Dot was the only one who knew what was up, and she was elated. That was yet another promise that Monty had kept. Iva made him happy, and she loved to see it.
“What happened?”