Chapter 11 #2
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. There was nothing scandalous to report. We’re happy. Thank you.”
Once he signaled for the cameraman to stop recording, he said, “The pickings at the top must be slim if you’re dating a flight attendant.”
I gave him a one-sided smile. Jealous muthafucka. If he only knew. I had more money than Arlie probably did.
“What?” Arlie asked.
“Don’t worry about it, baby. Man, get the fuck on,” I said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see that going that way.”
“It’s cool. I expect it. Let them talk about shit they don’t know.
Unfortunately, someone is going to do more digging and find out who I’m connected to.
I don’t make it a habit of attending industry shit with my aunt and cousins, nor do I typically publicize who my parents are. I like flying under the radar.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m putting you in the spotlight.”
“You worth it.”
We continued eating, and once we were done, Arlie signed a couple of autographs.
I told her I would take her to the Botanical Gardens later, so we could enjoy each other in peace while still being out.
She seemed to be cool with that. What I didn’t tell her was that there would be a table set, close to the bayou, with a candlelit dinner waiting for us.
Robert Glasper would also be there, serenading us on his keyboard.
I wanted to cater to her before her flight to Baltimore tomorrow.
She wanted me to go to Baltimore with her, but I felt like I didn’t need to be involved in her business affairs.
Just because I knew Noah and my mama worked for him, didn’t mean I should take advantage of that.
I needed her to know that I was beyond secure in who I was.
I didn’t have to be everywhere she went when it pertained to her business.
Just as we were about to leave, my phone vibrated in my pocket. When I saw Cooper’s text, I chuckled and slowly shook my head. “My cousin is about to lose his mind because he saw us together on TV.”
She giggled. “Who are his parents?”
“You haven’t met her. My mama has two other sisters. Serita is his mom. Sharee is his older sister.”
I could see her wheels turning, but if she didn’t ask a question, I wouldn’t get into all that. Sometimes, I completely forgot that Uncle Shawn and Aunt Serita used to be married. Since she didn’t say anything, I changed the subject. “So, umm, you wanna go with me to meet my bio mom?”
She smiled. “I would love to, Graham. Are we going there today?”
“Yeah, before we go to the gardens. They are out of school today for whatever reason. Kimaji is going to meet us there. I figured this first time around each other shouldn’t be for a long period of time.
I feel like it would be awkward for me. If we have somewhere to be, that could be my excuse to leave and cut the visit short. ”
She smiled tightly and nodded. “I’m glad you’re doing this. Miss K is really cool. I think you’ll like her once you get to know her.”
“Well, let’s head that way.”
We walked to my car, and I opened the door for her.
After I closed it, I could see a man staring at me.
I wasn’t sure what that was about, but if he thought I had bitch in my blood, he thought wrong.
I got in my Maybach and programmed the address Kimaji had sent through text.
After taking a deep breath, I followed it to a house about thirty minutes from mine, near Katy.
I held Arlie’s hand all the way there, but the second I felt my nerves trying to get the best of me, I released it. I didn’t want her to feel it tremble.
Showing up without her knowing I was coming could be bad.
I should have told Kimaji to tell her I was coming.
Knowing her story made me soft toward her, but I failed to consider how I would feel in this emotionally heightened situation.
I glanced at Arlie to see her watching me. We were just sitting in the driveway.
Finally, I took a deep breath and got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side to help her out. I grabbed her hand, and she stood from her seat. She immediately pressed her body against mine and hugged me. “I promise you have nothing to be nervous about.”
I nodded and pulled away from her, grabbed her hand, and headed to the front door. Arlie rang the doorbell, and when it opened, Kimaji was standing there. I was thankful for that.
“Hey. Y’all come on in. She’s in the kitchen, cooking dinner.”
We walked inside, and I glanced around, surveying my surroundings.
The curtains were all open and so were the blinds.
There weren’t any lights on in the house since the sun was shining brightly today.
When Maj got to where the kitchen was, she held her hand up, halting us.
She went in and her mom asked, “Who was at the door?”
“Are you done cooking?”
“No, but I lowered the fire. Who’s here?”
“Arlie.”
“Okay. Let me stir this once more, and I’ll meet y’all in there.”
Kimaji came out and led us to the couch. Once we were seated, she smiled at me. “She’s gonna be emotional. She can be loud at times, so don’t let that startle you.”
I frowned at her. Being around Aunt Sonya had prepared me for all types of women. That woman could be hostile, loving, and funny all at the same time. “Girl, I’m not y’all age. I think y’all forget that,” I said in a low voice.
I didn’t want to alert her mom of my presence.
She rolled her eyes. It was like Kimaji and I had known one another forever.
We talked nearly every day, learning more and more about one another.
She liked my parents and was interested in learning as much from my dad as possible.
She was shocked that I didn’t follow in his footsteps.
I was better at science than math. I refused to tell her that we weren’t as close back then. I was a big ass mama’s boy.
“Hey, Arlie!” she said as she came down the hallway to where we were seated.
When she walked in, she had a big smile on her face. However, when her eyes met mine, her mouth opened. I stood from my seat as she looked to be hyperventilating. I walked over to her and grabbed her hand, caressing it between mine. “Breathe,” I said. “Slow deep breaths.”
She did as I said while staring into my eyes.
We were twinning for real. We had the same complexion, same eyes, same nose, and the same smile.
I was taller than her, so I must have gotten my height from my punk ass father.
When she’d gotten her breathing under control, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, Graham.”
“Hey.”
“Can I hug you?”
I extended my arms, and she fell into them, crying what had to be tears of joy.
I wrapped my arms around her and took a deep breath.
Consoling her wasn’t hard for me, but I didn’t feel the emotions she felt.
I didn’t know her. Kimaji joined us and gently caressed her back.
I could see that she was the nurturer. She’d done the same with Arlie at the funeral a couple of days ago.
When she pulled away, she said, “My baby. I can’t believe you’re here. What changed your mind?”
She led me to my seat and sat next to me, holding my hand. “My mama. She enlightened me on some things.”
I could see her swallow hard as Kimaji frowned. I knew Maj didn’t know the reason she’d given me up for adoption, so I said, “She said you checked on me all the time until your number was either disconnected or changed.”
“Yeah. By the time you were seven or so, it had gotten harder for me. I was going through a rough time emotionally, and talking to Sidney was making me want to drive to Beaumont to go get you. I knew that was gonna get me thrown in jail. Plus, I didn’t want to traumatize you that way.
I love you so much. There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t wanted to reach out.
Somehow, I convinced myself that my silence was best. I figured if you wanted to know who I was, you would reach out. ”
I lowered my head slightly, then looked back into her face. “I had no desire to know my birth parents. I didn’t know the details about why I was given up, so I figured I wouldn’t go searching for someone that didn’t want me. Then along came Kimaji.”
I chuckled, and Kimaji did too.
“I thank God for her and Arlie daily. Had it not been for her and Arlie’s sisterhood, you wouldn’t be sitting here.”
I gave her a tight smile.
“Will y’all be staying for dinner?”
“No, ma’am. Not this time. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself because I didn’t know what to expect, but I can come back later in the week. Arlie goes out of town tomorrow and won’t be back until Thursday.”
“Okay. Umm . . . Can I cook you an early birthday dinner?”
My eyebrows lifted, and I could feel my emotions trying to surface. I closed my eyes and nodded. “Yeah. Thanks. I umm . . .”
I stopped when I heard the tremble in my voice. She remembered my birthday. Of course she does. She’s my birth mother. Why wouldn’t she? She gently caressed my hand between hers as she watched me struggle.
“Graham, I could never forget the day I gave birth to a seven-pound-six-ounce-twenty-inch, chocolate baby boy. You were the cutest baby I had ever seen. Head full of black hair with the most beautiful smile, even then.” She looked away for a moment, then turned back to me.
“Leaving you with the lady at the state building has been the hardest thing I ever had to do. If I wanted you to have a fighting chance and not have to witness me struggle, I knew it was best. You deserve the best life has to offer. When I found out who had adopted you, I knew you would be in good hands.”
I frowned slightly. “How did you know? Money doesn’t equate to good hands.”
She shook her head. “Sidney and I went to middle and high school together. I know your mom, and she’s a good person, not to mention intelligent.”
My eyebrows had lifted. My mama didn’t tell me that part. I wondered why. “She didn’t tell me that.”
Her head lowered for a moment. “She didn’t tell you, because unfortunately, I was connected to her abuse as a kid.
I’ll let her explain it. She probably didn’t tell you, because she didn’t want me to clue you in on our history, not thinking that I would bring it up.
I hate I did now. It’s probably painful for her to talk about. ”
I nodded. Triggering my mama was the last thing I wanted to do, so I probably wouldn’t ask her about it either.