9. Cambrie #2
“Yes, he does. Daddy, this is Piaget and Rogue. They are two of Staten’s kids. They wanted to meet you, and I couldn’t say no. I hope you don’t mind.” I took in his neat room that carried the faint aroma of peppermint in the air.
His bed was made, and there was a section for sitting with a couch, two wingback chairs, and a TV mounted in the corner. Windows also surrounded the room, allowing a lot of natural light to flow inside beyond the blinds and curtains. I was glad he wasn’t all suffocated in here.
“Long as you brought enough food for everybody, I’m good,” he joked, bringing himself to his feet so we could embrace. Staten joined us and set the food on the table along with the plastic bag where I stocked up on plastic and paper supplies for us to eat.
“She wouldn’t even let me sample the chicken, OG.” Staten paused to shake hands with him, and Daddy chuckled.
“Well, I guess she knows better. My mouth been watering since yesterday. I had a small breakfast so I could save room for this.” Daddy rubbed his hands together.
“Daddy, why don’t you show Piaget and Rogue where the bathroom is so that you all can wash your hands. I’ll start setting up the food.”
“Come on, you two. I got a private bath, but I think somebody needs to introduce you to a few people around here. If you’re lucky, you can come up on some candy, cookies, and cash around here.”
“Point us in the right direction then, OG,” Rogue encouraged, falling in line with him through the open door.
Tittering, I shook my head and went to help Staten unload the food from the bags.
It was funny seeing him interact with the kids because I’d never seen him do that before.
I was an only child, for one, so there were no grandkids for him, and our family wasn’t tight like that for me to know or be familiar with little kids.
Somehow, it made him lighter on his feet, and his smile seemed a little bigger.
By the time they finished making rounds across the facility, Staten and I had made plates and were waiting for them to come join us around the coffee table.
“My nose led me all the way back. Smells delicious, baby girl.” Grabbing his plate, Daddy dropped down in his chair. After a brief prayer together, we all dug in.
“How come you never made this for us, Cam? It’s like you was holding out on us or sumn’,” Rogue complained.
“That boy sure don’t know how to beat around the bush, do he?” Daddy chuckled.
“Not even a little bit,” Staten and I voiced in unison before snickering together.
“What that mean?” Rogue asked, bringing his roasted chicken drum to his mouth.
“It means you speak your mind,” I told him.
“What’s wrong with that?” He frowned.
“Nothing, Roro. Eat your food. The world ain’t ready for you yet.”
“Oh, he gon’ give ’em a run for they money, that’s for sure.” Daddy brought a glass of iced tea to his lips that he’d brought back with him. “But he’s right about one thing . . . this dish right here is on point. Your mother would be proud.”
Just the mention of her had my smile wilting as my chest tightened. My father caught the sudden agony on my face and grabbed his napkin to wipe his mouth.
“Now don’t sit over there with that look on your face like that, Cambrie Rhodes. She loved you, she taught you, and you are every bit as nurturing and genuine as she was. Ain’t no need to be sad about it all the time.”
“I know,” I whispered, blinking back tears. “So, uh, what you been doing around here, besides watching TV?” I perked up, hoping to change the subject to something lighter.
“Well, got a few friends I play chess and checkers with, and they got Bingo every Friday. You know I like to gamble. I got all kind of wagers going on.”
“Daddy, don’t be losing all your money up in here. You still need that for other stuff.”
“Pssh, losing? Brie, act like you know who your father is.” Shaking his head, he scooped some potato salad onto a fork and shoved it in his mouth. “Now, what I want to talk about are Staten’s intentions with you.”
“Can we please not go there?” I grumbled, desperately not wanting to have this conversation like I was a child instead of a thirty-plus-year-old woman.
“Relax. This is a conversation for men,” Daddy noted, setting his half-eaten plate on the table.
“Seriously? This is not the ’50s.”
“Cam, chill, mama.” Staten rested a hand on my knee. “This is your father, and as your man, he has every right to ask what this is and where it’s going. I would do the same thing for my daughters.”
“See.” Daddy lifted both brows. “Now, what is this between the two of you?” He motioned with his hands between the two of us seated before clasping them together in front of him.
Something sparkled behind Staten’s eyes when they locked onto mine. The corner of his mouth curled into the smallest hint of a smile, and my stomach fluttered something vicious.
“Your daughter snatched a piece of my heart the minute I laid eyes on her. I know a lot of people get hung up on how long they’ve known somebody, but with us .
. . it’s like we’ve known each other forever already.
We just clicked, and she came into my home and knew exactly what my kids needed.
Better than I did. She could have been intimidated by my family, but she dove in headfirst, and our lives are better because of it. ”
“You giving her babies?” Daddy pried, picking up his plate again.
“Daddy!”
“I’m just asking. We know he ain’t shooting blanks, and you don’t have any kids. It’s just a matter of time.”
Staten tittered and cleared his throat before glancing my way. This was something we hadn’t talked about. Blushing, I lowered my head and cursed my father silently. This was one of the rare moments I wished he wasn’t lucid enough to be giving us the third degree.
“If she wants babies, I got her. If not, I know that she already considers mine hers. I’m with whatever she is. At first, I didn’t think I wanted any more kids, but seeing her with mine makes me want to put one in her. After she accepts my ring first.” Staten winked in my direction.
“Well, alright then. Just tell me when the wedding is.”
“You are a crazy old man.”
“Crazy and protective. Especially over my only child. Your mama would be happy for you. So don’t think about the past. It brought you here if nothing else.
When I saw him here with you that first night, I knew who he was, but I also saw how you reacted to him.
He meant something right then and there.
I decided I wouldn’t say anything because I want you to be happy, Brie.
It’s obvious him and these kids do that for you.
I take comfort in that. I know I won’t always be there for you, but I am grateful that you won’t be alone. ”
Involuntary tears struck my eyes. Looking into my father’s warm chestnut globes took me back in time.
I thanked God in this moment for him being present.
Hearing those words and having Staten next to me overwhelmed my heart.
For about an hour longer, we sat catching up, and thunder rumbled nearby.
I checked the time on my watch and saw that it was almost nine p.m. Piaget and Rogue were curled up on the couch together, dozing off, watching Everybody Hates Chris .
I put together some leftovers for Daddy to keep and put them in his minifridge for when he got hungry, and Staten nudged Piaget awake.
“Alright, Daddy. We are going to head out. Get some rest. I love you.” I knelt to kiss his cheek as he dozed in his chair, facing the TV with his head resting in his hand.
“Appreciate the meal, Brie. Love you too!”
“Los,” Staten stepped up and rested a hand against his shoulder. “Let the staff know if you need anything. Anytime, day or night. I took care of your recurring bills around here. I want you comfortable.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Daddy objected.
“No, you didn’t,” I chimed in sternly. “I pay his bills.”
“And I pay you, Cam. Don’t fight me on this, mama. He’s family, and we take care of each other. I don’t want neither one of you stressing about this. It’s done.” Staten put his foot down, and Daddy hiked a brow.
“I guess we can’t argue with that. Go home. Goodnight, grandkids!”
“Goodnight, Grandpa Los!” Rogue and Piaget waved and yawned simultaneously as Staten nudged them out the door.
I gave my father one last lingering look, eyes misting. It was hard to even say why; everything in this moment had me choked up.
“Now don’t you go questioning whether you deserve this or if it’s moving too fast, Cambrie Rhodes. When something is right, you just know . . . and that man and those kids are everything you ever needed.” My father nodded to the door.
Grinning, I knelt so that I could embrace him, giving him an extra squeeze because he’d brought a sense of comfort that I’d missed.
“They are, but I am also grateful for you. I hate that I have to leave you because I always fear one day I’m going to get that call saying you’re not you again.”
“Then try not to think about that. It’s out of both our control.
I tell you what, knowing that you are OK out here, loved, and taken care of .
. . it alleviates some of the stress. I’m also eating better, and the doctor got me signed up for water aerobics and a walking club.
I’ll be fine. Tired as hell, but I like this place better than the last, and I have no intentions of leaving you anytime soon. ” He reached out and pinched my cheek.