11. Koi Adora Morgan
Every step that brought me closer to my parents’ home decreased my lung capacity.
By the time we made it to the front door, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Taking notice of my nervousness, Han’some bent down to place a kiss on my cheek.
Off the contact alone, I was able to exhale and even smile a little.
“It’s going to be fine, baby. Just relax,” he assured me.
When the house was ready for us to move in, I finally found the courage to tell them about my elopement to Han’some, and they did not handle the news well.
My mother almost had a heart attack when she saw me packing my things into boxes and my father nearly went hoarse from yelling at me.
I had never made them so upset that they didn’t talk to me for almost a month.
I only agreed to bring Han’some over for them to meet today because they had finally calmed down enough for me to make the proper introductions.
I hated not talking to them, but it was the consequence of my actions after all, and I knew with space that they would finally come around to the idea of me being a married woman.
After a nod and straightening my spine, he rang the doorbell, and we waited. I heard someone yell from the other side of the door, “Who is it?”
I rolled my eyes, becoming instantly annoyed. “Marni, stop playing, and open the door!”
I could hear her laughing seconds before she snatched it open with a wide smile. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the newlyweds,” she teased with a playful voice.
I turned my attention to Han’some, who sported a friendly grin. “This is my cousin Marni.”
She extended a hand to him. “Gotta say I didn’t believe her when she said she’s been secretly working for you until that post you made with all the pictures.”
Han’some glanced down at me, and I saw joy swirling in his brown irises. “Oh yeah, she’s the reason I have hella women on my body to this day,” he joked, earning him a scowl.
I popped him on the arm. “Not too much, because I don’t like to share,” I warned because the last thing I wanted to think about were all the women pining after him.
Marni used a hand to cover her mouth. “Oop, you better be careful. She bites for real.”
I lunged at her, and she took off running with a laugh.
Han’some closed the front door, then followed us toward the living room, where my parents were with Merci and Kel.
They all turned to look at us when we entered the room, and I immediately began to gag.
It smelled terrible in there. I had to take a look at my surroundings to be sure I was in the right place.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kel asked me with a raised brow.
I turned to Han’some, wondering if he smelled what I did, and he was trying his best to remain stoic. I looked back at my family, and they all sat there as if nothing was wrong. “What died?” I finally asked. “Please tell me that’s not the food.”
“I mean, I passed a little gas, but that was all,” my mama said barely above a whisper.
My eyes nearly bulged out of my head. “Are you sure it was just a little?”
“What are you trying to say?”
I tucked my lips to refrain from asking if she’d shitted on herself, out of respect.
Marni was beside me snickering, because she took nothing seriously.
I tried to gather myself so I could make introductions, but I was embarrassed by how bad it smelled.
I considered coming back and doing this another day because my eyes were beginning to tear up.
“Nothing. This is my husband, Han’some Valentine.” I rushed to speak and make introductions. “Han’some, this is my mother, Lily; my father, Mykel Sr.; my brother, Mykel Jr. or Kel; and my other cousin, Merci.”
Han’some’s voice was so shaky when he spoke because he was trying his best not to inhale. “Hello, it’s nice to meet everyone.”
They all stood to shake his hand. “Are you okay, son? You look like you’re about to pass out.” My father spoke to him with those glasses resting on the tip of his nose.
Han’some tucked his lips and nodded because, I swear, the smell got worse when they all moved. Unable to hold it in anymore, I finally blurted, “What is that smell? He’s being polite and won’t ask, but it smells so bad in here I’m about to be sick.”
Suddenly, they all began to snicker, and Kel pulled a bottle of fart spray from behind his back.
I tackled him to the couch and began punching him everywhere I could.
“Don’t you ever spray that stuff again. Why would you do that when we have company?
” Unable to take it anymore, I raced toward the backyard.
I inhaled the fresh air so deeply I began to choke. I noticed everyone filing out behind me, laughing as if something was funny. “How were y’all keeping a straight face?” I asked once my nostrils were no longer insulted by that foul smell.
My family all laughed until they had tears in their eyes. “That was so damn funny. That boy was about to pass out from holding his breath,” Kel noted jovially.
Han’some shook his head with a laugh of his own. I walked up beside him to take his hand in mine. “I didn’t want to say anything offensive,” he admitted after a while. “Y’all got me good.”
“That was payback for eloping behind our backs,” Kel finally said, stoking the fire that was already burning.
I kicked him in the shin, and he headed over to the grill while my cousins went to turn on music. I walked closer to my parents, hand-in-hand with Han’some. “So, how long have you known our baby girl?” my mother asked him, getting right down to business.
“For the last six years. We actually met back in college,” he shared with them.
Marni came walking over with a pitcher of lemonade.
Leaning down by my ear, she whispered, “Don’t worry.
I made a spiked one too.” She wiggled her brows, forcing me to slap a hand over my mouth to stifle my laugh.
She turned her attention to my parents. “One time, Koi got in trouble for texting him at the dinner table.”
I tapped her on the ass with a groan. Why would she say that? I could feel the heat of Han’some’s eyes before I even turned to look at him. He had the cutest expression on his face. This man was going to think I was always in love with him or always secretly wanted him.
“That is a long time. When did you know she was the one?” my father questioned. “Because I’ll be honest, we had no clue she was even dating, so to pop out married concerns us.”
His eyes drifted from my father down to me.
“I think I have always known she was the one. The first time I saw her, I remember thinking she was so fly. From the moment she came into my life, she treated me like family, and I don’t have many people in my life who do that.
Most people only see what they can get from me, but Adora was never like that. ”
“Do you have any family in the area?” my mother asked, tiptoeing into his personal business.
He shook his head. “Just Adora and my three-year-old daughter, Nyari Skye. My father passed when I was young, and my mother left me in the care of my paternal grandmother to marry a new man. She has a new family now, so we haven’t been in contact in a long time.
My grandmother passed a few years after I met Koi, and she’s been taking care of me ever since.
” He turned toward my parents before he continued.
“I never thought she would give a man like me a chance, because I am not perfect, but since she has, I am doing my best to be the kind of man worthy of her.”
Hearing him say that really brought tears to my eyes.
My mother leaned across the table and reached a hand out to him.
He accepted it, and she patted the top of his hand.
“Mykel Sr. comes from a similar background. We met in church when he was at his lowest. Even still, I saw his value. I’m sure Koi feels the same way about you.
You don’t have to be perfect, but your love should be. ”
He nodded his head slowly. “I understand, ma’am.”
She smiled and turned toward us all. “Consider us your family now too. If you love our daughter the way we do, then we welcome you with open arms.”
Right then, I didn’t know why I was so nervous for him to meet my parents. Maybe it was his background and rough demeanor, but they were never the type to judge easily. Of course, they would give him a chance to prove himself.
Han’some leaned toward me with a grin. “You hear that? I’m a part of the family now.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist to hug him tightly.
“Yes, you are. You will never be alone again,” I assured him.
He placed the sweetest kiss on my third eye, and I heard God say that all was well.
I sank into that ease for the rest of the evening, because I believed my bond with Han’some would only get better from here.