Chapter 7
MADDIE
Our ride to Mobile was spent listening to music and trading glances.
Heir’s text was still in my head. She was right that this was no one’s business.
However, I was married into this family.
I didn’t know where Duval’s brothers were on their healing journey and throwing Baltimore in their face wasn’t smart.
While I wanted things with him to move slowly, the feeling that this was anything but slow was heavy.
Before I knew it, we were on property that rivaled Bell Estates in every way. Through the clearing of trees lining the long, paved road, a large Mediterranean style home sat in the distance. I was accustomed to beautiful homes, but this one was magnificent.
Baltimore parked the truck in the driveway behind a few other luxury vehicles and cut the engine. He got out, then came to open my door. Once I stood on the cobblestone driveway, I noticed something peculiar.
This place feels like home.
That was impossible. My home was at Bell Estates.
“Come on, baby,” Baltimore called out to me. He had Genesis in his arms, and had his hand held out for me. I took it and let him lead me inside the house.
A few hours later, I was stuffed off waffles, bacon, eggs, grits, fruit, and orange juice.
Brunch with Baltimore’s family was light, fun, and hilarious as hell.
Baltimore and Dayton were like teenagers getting on their mother’s last nerve with their shenanigans.
I didn’t mind their banter. It was easily infectious and entertaining to say the least.
I hadn’t seen Genesis in nearly twenty minutes. Dayton’s oldest daughter, Destiny, had him in the living room with the other children. He hadn’t cried a lick, and I wasn’t mad about that.
Baltimore kissed my forehead and left me at the dining room table with his mother while he and the fellows retreated to the den to catch up on sports. Alone with Mrs. Cooley, I wasn’t the least concerned. Since I’d known her, she’d shown me nothing that would cause me to dislike her.
She peered across the table at me and said, “I’m glad you’re finally getting to know Baltimore. He’s waited so long for you.”
“He waited for a married woman?” I questioned skeptically. “That’s insane and a little taboo, don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” she replied. “However, a man knows. Half the time it’s us letting a no-good man stand in the way of our destiny.”
I smiled and asked, “You’re not concerned about my age, or the fact that I can never give him his own biological children?”
She smirked and shrugged. Her wise eyes twinkled with mirth.
“So, you’ve had a hysterectomy?” Her eyebrows lifted in question.
I shook my head. “No… It’s just… I’m turning forty-eight this summer.”
“And?”
“And… Forty-eight is…”
“A number.”
“But—”
“You tellin’ me you know what God’s plans are?”
My eyebrows crashed together. “No, ma’am.”
“Alright, then. That settles that.” She giggled. “You’re concerned about your age.”
“I’m not—"
“You are, my dear,” she interjected. “And it’s fine; I get it.”
It figured Mrs. Cooley was one of those mothers. She was too caring not to gently pry information out of me. I wasn’t used to this. I knew how to be a supportive, loving mother, and it was because I wanted that for myself.
She sighed whimsically and said, “When Dejuan came to work for me, it was all I could do to ignore his ass. I did everything short of calling the police on him.” She giggled and so did I. I didn’t know her and her husband’s story, so she had my rapt attention.
“That man sent me flowers nearly every week. I’d go to my car to find trinkets waiting on the passenger seat. He did all this knowing I had a man. He did all this knowing I was older than him.”
My eyes widened.
“Yep,” she confirmed. “At the time, I was faithful to my fiancé. I did everything right. And you know what?”
“What?” I was like a kid waiting for the juicy details.
“He cheated on me. The night before our wedding.”
“Oh, wow,” I responded, disappointed.
“That disrespectful ho had the nerve to interrupt our rehearsal dinner. I left out of there, and the first place I ran to was Dejuan’s house.”
“What did he say?” I was hanging on her every word.
“Before or after he gave me the best head of my life?”
My mouth hit the floor, then I screamed with laughter. “Mrs. Cooley!” I hissed while shaking my head. “Scandalous!”
She chuckled but wasn’t the least bit ashamed. “That’s my man, child. Everything I thought I wanted out of my ex wasn’t anything near what I received with the man who will love me to my grave.”
“That’s so beautiful,” I said.
“Don’t you want a beautiful story, Maddie?”
I nodded. “I do.”
“Then leave doubt buried with that no-good ass nigga who’s no longer keeping you from your destiny.”
Smiling, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve been married to Dejuan for forty-one years.
The consistency he had then, he still has now.
Was I a little afraid he’d lose interest in me at some point?
Of course. Does he continue to show me that marrying him and having his kids was divine?
Yes, he does. Every time he looks at me, I’m still that same woman he wooed all those years ago.
We’ve just aged. And that’s okay. That’s a blessing. ”
Hearing her speak so highly of her husband was what I wanted to feel for a man. I wanted to speak about him and have listeners feel the love I spoke of. Mrs. Cooley’s words weren’t just for show. Mr. Cooley exuded every word she spoke of him.
“Thank you for telling me this, Mrs. Cooley.”
“Of course, dear. Can’t have you breaking my son’s heart. He’s his father’s son in more ways than one.” She shook her head and laughed. “That’s another story for another day.”
Baltimore entered the dining room carrying Genesis against his chest. Genesis looked worn out and, with a bottle in his mouth, was about to be fast asleep.
“Mind if I interrupt?” Baltimore asked.
“Of course, not,” his mother answered. “I’ll go put Genesis down for you.”
Baltimore handed his mother Genesis, then reached for my hand. “I gotta show you something,” he said.
He led me through the large mansion and into a library that looked like centuries worth of literature, keepsakes, and history were in there.
“This place is phenomenal,” I gushed.
“Everything you need to know about the Cooley family is in this room.”
He walked me from corner to corner, showing me black and white pictures of his family, the houses they’d lived in over the generations, and the many accomplishments each of the family members had amassed.
I knew that Baltimore’s family owned their own real estate firm, but looking at all these photographs made me feel like they were much more.
Listening to him explain different times of his life by just glancing at one picture was entertaining.
I found myself laughing so hard at him and some of the things he and Dayton did.
He took me to another case holding a ton of baseball memorabilia.
Seeing his face and name plastered on the cards, posters, and magazines, I gasped.
Amused, he said, “That was me in another lifetime.”
“Wait… These are all your trophies?” There had to be over a dozen, including national championship titles ranging from T-ball to collegiate level baseball.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“What the hell are you doing being a security guard?” I fussed.
He chuckled and pulled me close. Peering down at me, his eyes softened, and he pushed a few strands of my hair behind my ear. My skin tingled from his touch.
“I followed my heart, baby. I’ve followed it for sixteen years, and it’s never steered me wrong.”
“Baltimore… I… Why the hell would you wait for me? Why the hell would you give all that up?”
“It’s quite simple. Baseball didn’t need me. You did.”
This foreign ass feeling viciously seized my chest.
Shit.
This was what falling in love really felt like.
A few days later, I found my mother sitting on the patio.
She was alone and staring up at the early morning sky.
I thought to go out and talk to her. She’d been here for weeks, and in that time, I hadn’t once seen her talk to my father.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t talked to my father either.
Which wasn’t unusual. My father was always busy.
I’d call him today, just to see if he answered. My mother’s mood wasn’t anything different than it had been my entire life, but I was certain something was up. Before I got my sisters in a tizzy, I’d keep a watch out on my mother and see if she opened up to me.
Right now, I wasn’t up for it. I had contractors coming to give me an estimate on the flooring.
Renovations had begun on my house, so I was in a great mood this morning.
Then, there was the fact that for the past couple of weeks, Baltimore and I spent our nights transitioning our late-night conversations from the patio to over the phone.
Falling asleep to his voice had become an addiction.
I was hooked on it so badly that I never missed a night talking to him.
Days later, it was Baltimore’s encouragement that gave me the resolve to stand before the judge holding Genesis with my head held high.
It was Baltimore’s voice I heard telling me to breathe through whatever anxiety I felt.
It was his presence that reminded me I wasn’t alone. Heir, Genesis, and I weren’t alone.