Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
McKay
I sat at the table listening to my mama, Mrs. Anna, and Burkeley’s aunties going on about Peanut and all the things I’d better prepare for with motherhood.
I hated to sound like this, but if it wasn’t for the nice ass spread of food on my plate, I would’ve gotten up a long time ago.
The mini chicken and waffles had me stuck to my seat, enjoying their conversation with each bite I took.
Every now and then, to make it seem like I was indeed paying attention, I added a nod for a little extra razzle dazzle to do the trick.
“Mmhmm… I hear y’all.”
I had just taken another bite.
“McKay Marie, who the hell is Peanut’s real daddy and don’t you dare try to lie to me.
” Chris’s voice boomed throughout the kitchen, which had me breaking from my blissful moment between me and my food.
It took a minute for his words to register.
Burkeley wasn’t far behind him though, immediately standing with his back to me, shielding me from our dads and Art.
“No disrespect, Mr. Chris, but it’s for fuck sure not going down like that.
We gon’ handle this like adults. You’re not going to come in here yelling at McKay either, especially when I’m sure we’ll agree that no stress will come to her nor my baby.
” His tone was heavy with anger at those two last words of his statement.
“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute now. What is all this mess y’all done brought up in the kitchen?” Mrs. Anna asked my dad, who I could see was still fuming as his nostrils flared.
Mr. Paul huffed as he wiped invisible sweat off his brow before taking a seat, offering a small smile.
“It looks like our children here cooked up a scheme of sorts. Apparently, they’ve been pretending to date and the baby isn’t Burkeley’s, but I’m thinking, and correct me if I’m wrong, it backfired.
You two fell for real, huh?” Paul looked only at me, and I nodded, wiping the first set of tears that welled up before they could even fall.
I heard the collective gasp from both of our mothers.
“That’s all fine and all, but McKay, that mouth better get to working and answer my question. Who is this muthafucka who made you a single mother?”
“She’s not a single mother, and like I said before, his bitch ass doesn’t matter. I’m here now and not going anywhere.” Burkeley spoke up before I could form the words myself.
“Like hell it doesn’t. Give me a name, baby girl. That’s all I need to fix this shit.” I shook my head.
My mind went back to that day when Harlan threatened to hurt me and Peanut. Protectively, my hands moved toward my bump, covering her.
“There isn’t nothing to fix because ain’t a fuck thing wrong. My baby has a father and will always have one.” Burkeley answered for me again.
“Mickey, y’all been lying this whole time?” That was my mama who’d taken a seat next to me while Mrs. Anna just stood nearby.
I nodded then shook my head, raising and dropping my shoulders, now unable to stop the tears.
All of this was confusing. I couldn’t even tell them when the lie started or stopped when it came to mine and Burkeley’s relationship.
That’s because the shit started blurry as hell, Mickey.
“I guess it wouldn’t be a real family function without a little drama.
Stop all this yelling, the whole family can hear y’all.
Chris, you heard the man, he’d got his family.
How they came to be doesn’t matter when love is present in their relationship.
” Mackie came trotting in, parting the few people standing in his way to get to me.
“Pops, you’re only acting like this because knowing Mickey, she probably told you before now. But it matters, whoever the first piece of shit is shouldn’t get away without taking care of his responsibilities,” my dad said.
“I’m still on the fact that you two lied about being in a relationship.
I’m so confused. When was it fake? And why would you two lie about that, knowing that she’s pregnant, BK.
How did y’all see this going? What about us, growing attachments and such?
I might not have been in the room when y’all came up with this mess, but I know this is your doing, BK, and dragging Mickey into this?
” Mrs. Anna asked, sounding truly confused as she cocked her head to the side.
“That’s the thing, it was never fake for real. Not even these two can separate the details of when the love growing was fake or real. I saw it on him the moment Mickey brought him to meet me. Now again, none of this matters anyway.”
“Daddy, how can you say that? We deserve to know the truth, especially about the father of the baby.” My mama now chiming into the conversation but not on my side had me gasping while breaking from her hold that no longer seemed comforting.
“The only truth y’all deserve is that I love your daughter and this baby. I’m the father. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m not about to sit up here and let y’all hound McKay for answers that ain’t none of y’all gotdamn business. Let’s go, M&M.”
My bottom lip quivered as I began to speak, placing my hand in his awaiting one as he helped me up.
“But, baby—” In the room full of people I lost the battle with keeping it together, but like he said and meant, Burkeley reminded me that I wasn’t in this by myself.
He grabbed me by the side of my face and kissed my lips so tenderly.
Stopping not only my tears but the unnecessary outside noise from our family, further reminding me that it was only us in our relationship.
“Ay, what did I tell you before, huh? You’re not in this alone nor will you ever be.
This is on me, M&M, all on me. I wanted you so gotdamn bad, baby.
I was prepared for this moment to come and I’ll shut any muthafucka down trying to wreck our shit.
Do you hear me?” I nodded as he placed his lips all over my face until he reached my mouth again.
“I wasn’t done eating?” He chuckled.
“We’re skipping straight to dessert this year.” And without another word, we left hand in hand.
I sat on the oversized chair in Johnni’s backyard with the fire blazing, nestled up in Berkeley’s arms. We came straight here after leaving his parents’ house and I was thankful Johnni had just pulled the bean pie out the oven.
She wasn’t Muslim and neither was Quincey, but their parents grew up in the religion and still carried a lot of their traditions.
And one of the many benefits was this damn pie.
I moaned in pleasure as I took another bite that Burkeley fed me.
“So now that everyone knows, what’s the plan?” Quincey asked.
“Continue on like we were. Ain’t shit changed honestly, beyond nosy people in our shit.”
“I mean, y’all knew this could, or would, happen. Secrets, no matter how harmless, seem to always come out. And is it really not their business if y’all included everyone in the arrangement?” Johnni asked.
“No. Because we had a plan that would’ve made the break up clean,” I said, now looking up at Burkeley as I continued. “Right, baby? You had us covered if this didn’t work out?”
He avoided my eyes as he looked around the backyard. Johnni smirked right along with Quincey before she gasped.
“Oh my gosh, BK. You had a plan, it just didn’t include breaking up, huh? Damn, now I owe not only Hollis money but this husband of mine too.” I was lost until Burkeley finally put his gaze back on me.
“I told you that man had it bad at the bonfire, Josie,” Quincey teased, making Johnni kiss her teeth while I sat there waiting on Burkeley to fill me in on this extra detail of the arrangement I’d gotten left out of.
“Baby, the only plan I had was to make you fall as deeply as I had already had and keep you with me forever. I kept telling you I wanted you. I meant from the first time I saw you in that parking garage and again in BJ’s that night crying over a fuck nigga who didn’t then, and still doesn’t deserve any claim to the baby you’re carrying.
M&M, you’ve been mine from the moment you showed up on my porch presenting me with the same arrangement you called me crazy about.
I knew I had a chance and damn sure wasn’t about to end a fucking thing but faking my love for you. ”
Burkeley put my hand on his chest, on his heart as it pumped strongly.
“You’re the only person besides our baby who has ever made it pump with life. Y’all are all I ever need to keep going, M&M. I love you, forever.”
“I love you too.”
We got quiet for a minute. still lost in us, until Johnni’s voice broke our moment.
“That’s nice and all, and I promise we love y’all, but dessert time is over. Me and my husband have plans, so you don’t have to go home…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re leaving,” I said, lifting off Burkeley so he could get us both up.