Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
All eight pizzas, six orders of wings, and five salads have been demolished and we are still in shock about Shuga owning this beautiful cabin, especially her sons.
I’m in awe and impressed. Family really means everything to her and the purchase of this for her family is true Black woman magic. She’s such an inspiration.
“I love your family,” I tell Shiro as I trace my fingers across his fresh haircut. We’re in the room he claimed on this first level. Like the rest of the cabin, it’s beautiful. The theme is rustic with a luxury flare. Browns, beiges, and golds provide a warmth to the large room.
“They love you too, baby.”
“I know. I can feel it. Everything is so warm and inviting, the way y’all love and support one another, and Shuga… She is so amazing, and not just this house. Look how she is with Alami. She accepts her and treats her like she’s her own.”
“That’s ’cause we all share fucked up Asali. He was at least there for us. He really wasn’t with Thursday, and once Shuga found out about her, he abandoned her altogether, him and her own mother. But she’s ours now and Shuga accepts her because she’s our sister,” he says.
“But it’s more than that. A stranger would think she was Alami’s mother. Not many women could accept and treat her like Shuga’s does. Hell, I don’t know if I could,” I admit. “You’re so lucky to have a mom like her. I wish I did.”
His large frame shifts then he raises on his elbows to face me. “Are you sure you don’t want to call and see if she—”
“If she, what? It’s been years and obviously, nothing has changed.”
“I know, baby, but tomorrow’s Thanksgiving and your birthday is Monday. I don’t want you to be sad.”
This time, I sit up and inch toward him. After throwing my arms around his neck, I speak from my heart that he owns.
“Nothing in me is sad. I’m spending Thanksgiving with the man I love and adore and his beautiful family. Then tomorrow,” I say and kiss his lips. “That same sexy man is taking me to Hawaii for my birthday.”
“But if things could be fixed with your mother, would you want that?”
“Yeah. I would. I love her but I love me too. I’ve done all I can and put my feelings out there more times than I can count.
It’s on her this time. I can’t anymore,” I say, then grab his face to change the subject.
After kissing him again, more lovingly and slower this time, I add, “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because of you.
I don’t want to think about anyone else. Can we do that?”
“We can do whatever you want. It’s your weekend.”
“Good. That’s why I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. I just want you to have everything you deserve.”
“I have it, all of it, thanks to you. As for my momma and her daughter, I can’t dwell on that and let it ruin my happiness,” I tell him, repeating what I’ve been telling myself since that day at my mom’s.
Kym hurt me, broke our relationship, and I will never forgive her.
My momma refuses to see my side and I can’t make her.
The more I try, the more I end up hurt. So why put myself through that?
“If you’re happy, baby, I’m happy.”
Light knocks at the door cause us both to look in that direction. “Auntie. Auntie,” Niya calls out.
“It’s not locked,” Shiro says as he climbs off the bed. As he walks toward the door, Niya walks in right past him then jumps on the bed.
“You got a big bed,” she says. “I got on the elevator to come here.”
“You like that elevator,” Shiro says when he joins us on the bed.
“I like it a lot. Imma ask Daddy to get us one.”
“Good luck with that.” Shiro smirks. “And why you in here bothering us?” he teases.
“’Cause my mommie told me to come get Auntie. We got a lot to cook tonight,” she says.
“Are you going to help us cook?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m making all the masa. I know how to do that good. Nana taught me a long time ago when I was little,” she says and I smile. “Imma teach Alami tonight too.”
“You need to teach your Auntie Kyrah too. She needs help,” Shiro says and I nudge him with my elbow.
“Don’t get hurt,” I warn playfully.
“I’ll teach you too,” Niya says.
“Thank you,” he says all extra to her. “She needs help.”
“Boy,” I utter. “Well, tell your mommie I’ll be out in a few minutes. I need to change and get comfortable like you. I love these jammies,” I say, complimenting her cute fall-themed pajamas.
“Mommie got some too.”
“And she didn’t buy me a set? I’m going to get her,” I say and Niya laughs.
She eases off the bed and rushes to the door. “I’ll tell her you coming,” she says.
“Thank you, cutie,” I respond before she walks out.
As soon as the door closes, he climbs on top of me and forces me back on the bed. “A few minutes? I need more than that,” he says with a sexy smirk.
“No you don’t. You’re not about to have Shuga mad at me and you. You have turkeys to smoke,” I counter.
“That’s Ace and Quintus. I have fish and I don’t cook those until tomorrow. I just have to score and season them tonight. That takes thirty minutes.”
“Well, I’m supposed to be in the kitchen helping.”
He shakes his head then lowers it toward my body. After lifting my shirt, he kisses my stomach.
“And how are you going to help? We’re not having lasagna, baby,” he says and I playfully hit his chest.
“I can cook Zongo now. Don’t forget,” I remind him. “And I can chop some veggies really good. Don’t do me like that.”
His tongue dips into my belly button then he kisses the zipper on my jeans. “Go chop your veggies, we can finish this later.”
“Um, no. We are not having sex in this house with all of your family here and Shuga on the same floor. Boy, that’s a hard no.”
“We’ll see,” he says, then climbs off me.
“We won’t see,” I insist as I slide off the bed. He must be crazy.
After pulling me into him, he kisses the side of my neck then whispers, “I’m not lying next to you in this bed and not touching you. I’m eating, licking, and fucking you tonight.”
Lawd, help me.
He pats my ass then releases me. I damn near run into the bathroom and take a quick shower.
About fifteen minutes later, I’m in my brown pajamas and walking out of the room.
When I enter the kitchen, I see him on the wraparound porch with his brothers.
There are two large grills and plenty of seating out there.
In the oversized kitchen, the ladies and one of the twins appear hard at work.
Reya is grinding spices. Shuga, Niya, and Alami are rolling balls of dough.
As I get closer, I see Alami’s friend, Tameka and the twin aren’t really doing anything but flirting.
I notice the absence of Sade and Twon’s girlfriend.
“Are we just cooking or are we cooking and drinking?” I ask.
“Both. I ordered stuff for the sangria. You can make it. I love a good drink when I’m cooking with my family. Let me show you where the main bar is,” Shuga says.
After wiping her hands on her apron, she removes it, lays it on the large island, then walks toward me and I follow her.
Around the corner is a nook with two large windows, a wicker chair with cushions between the windows, and a bar with a sink, mini fridge, wine chiller, glass door cabinets with coffee mugs, wine glasses, flutes, and shot glasses.
The granite countertop is filled with liquor, a coffee and espresso machine, and the ingredients for sangria.
“I love this,” I comment.
“Me too. It’s one of my favorite spots here. I enjoyed my coffee right here this morning.”
“You’ve been here since this morning?”
“Chile, I got here last night but don’t tell Shiro. The boys would die if they knew I was here all alone.”
“It’s really beautiful here. You… you did that,” I say, unable to articulate my words. The thought of her buying this still has me in awe.
“I’ve been saving for this. I knew once my paintings started making money I was going to save it for something big, tangible, and great for my family. This is that.”
“It’s that and then some. Alex always says the only way for Black people to truly make it and compete in this world is by securing land, property, and investments for generations.”
“I’ve heard it too,” she says, then winks. “I’ve been around you girls for a minute now. I listen and pay attention. I’ve also hired Alex.”
“You surprise me all the time,” I admit with a smile.
“Keeping y’all guessing keeps me young.”
“It’s that why you’ve kept the details from that night a secret?” I ask because she hasn’t revealed any details about her dating event at the resort. When either Reya and I ask, she merely says it was nice and interesting.
“Exactly why,” she says before leaving me in the bar. “Oh and can you make the princess one with the sparkling apple juice in the fridge? I promised her a drink too.”
“You know I got her.”
When she walks off, I grab the juice from the fridge and check the drawers for a knife and squeezer.
After slicing oranges and apples, I place most of them in the large glass pitcher, add some apple slices in the wine glasses for Niya and Reya, then put the rest in a bowl.
After I fill their glass with the apple juice, I add Pinot Grigio, orange liqueur, and sugar to the pitcher.
Then I top Niya and Reya’s glasses and the pitcher with ginger ale.
With the pitcher and Niya’s glass in hand, I return to the kitchen. After placing them on the island, I grab Alami for help with the rest of the stuff and to talk. Between pledging and studying, she looks a little tired and I just want to check on her.
“You doing okay?” I ask as soon as we’re near the bar.
“I’m tired,” she admits with a smile. “I was so glad we got a break for this. I need to get ready for,” she begins, then whispers “The Experience. Do you know when it is?”
“If I did, you know I can’t tell you. Just hang in there and rest this weekend. You’re almost at the finish line.”
“I am. I want DAZ so bad, ever since my fifth-grade teacher,” she admits and I smile.
“It was my guidance counselor in high school. Purple and white were all over her office.”
“I’m going to ask Mireya to pin me if I make it.”