Chapter 16
“Make sure you get me right,” I said as Jakobi wiped the shaving cream from my head.
He chuckled. “Unc, you act like you ain’t bald. Ain’t much to get right.”
Renay snickered in the background as she sanitized the rest of his tools.
“Did I ask you all that?” I snapped.
“I’m just saying. You acting like I have a lot to work with. Even if I did, you know I got this shit. Who you getting fly for?”
“You in my business.”
“Like you don’t be in mine!”
“Right,” Renay agreed. “You’re nosy, just like your kids.”
“Not too much on us. Your sister is married to my son, and you’re married to my nephew. You nosy as fuck too.”
“You know what? You’re right. I’m not even gonna argue with you there. Y’all need anything before I go start dinner?”
“We’re good, baby. Don’t forget Petra is coming to eat with us.”
She smiled. “I haven’t forgotten. I can’t wait to see her.”
She crossed the room and kissed Jakobi on the lips before skipping happily out of the room. He smiled as he watched her leave.
“How are you feeling about finally becoming a father?” I asked.
“I scared as fuck, Unc, but I’m ready to meet my baby girl.”
With Renay having a hysterectomy, she wasn’t able to carry their daughter.
They’d considered IVF but Jakobi refused to put her through the emotional and mental toll it could take on her with trying to retrieve eggs.
Finally, they decided on a surrogate. After searching two years for the perfect one, they met Petra.
At this point, she was a professional surrogate with this being the fourth baby she carried for a couple. She was very knowledgeable and competent in prenatal care as a pediatric nurse herself. Of course, Jaeda had done a thorough background check on her to ensure she was on the up and up.
Everything came back good, so they moved forward with having her inseminated. A few weeks later, she called saying she was pregnant. Now here she was seven months later, carrying a healthy baby girl.
“Y’all started shopping yet?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Unc, I’m not gonna lie, I got her room ready. I know Grams said it’s bad luck, but we were excited. I made sure she came over to pray and bless the space when we were done. I’m just ready to hold my baby.”
I chuckled. “I been there, nephew.”
“Yeah, six, might as well say seven damn times.”
“Fuck you. My point is, ain’t no love like the love between a father and his kids. I know you’re gonna be a great father to this little girl. She’s probably spoiled already.”
He grinned. “No lie, I already have her first necklace and bracelet made too. Nae said she can’t have it ‘til she’s like three though. Why my baby can’t stunt on them?”
“Because she’s a baby, Kobi,” Renay said walking back into the room with a bottle of water for both of us even though we said we didn’t need anything.
“See what I mean by nosy?” I said, taking the bottle. “We said we were good, Nae. You over here eavesdropping and shit.””
“Take the damn water before I make my husband fuck up this beard since you bald as hell. Don’t talk back to me about my southern hospitality.”
“Okay, damn!” I took the water as she shoved it into my hand. “Happy?”
Jakobi grinned as she walked away. “Damn I love her.”
“You’re in danger, son.”
“I love it here. Now be still before I really fuck yo’ shit up. Whoever you getting snazzy for will have a good laugh.”
“Just hurry the hell up.”
We shared a laugh as he went back to lining my beard and eyebrows up.
Before I left, he gave my head a nice shining.
I tossed him a few bills before heading out.
Renay was in the kitchen jamming and cooking, so I went to say goodbye.
She walked me to the door and as soon as it opened, there stood Romi and Smoke, preparing to enter.
“Where are my babies?” I asked looking around them.
Smoke frowned. “Damn, Pops. You can’t even speak? It’s always the kids first like I ain’t one of yours.”
I kissed my teeth and turned to kiss my daughter in-law. “Hey, baby girl. Where are they?”
“With Ms. Allison for the weekend,” she said, grinning.
“They do have other grandparents, Senior,” Smoke said. “You can’t hog them.”
“Nigga, shut up,” I said, mushing his big ass. “You always worried about me and my grandkids. That’s why you and your brothers ain’t welcomed at my house when I have them.”
“You ain’t doing me no disservice, old man. I will drop them off and take my ass back home since you want them so bad.”
Renay shook her head. “Y’all make me laugh. Romi, come on in here and help me finish dinner. Kobi is in the back, Smoke. Senior, go on and get outta here. I know you have something to get ready for with your slick old ass.”
Smoke looked at me with a raised brow. “Where you going?”
“About my business. Bye.”
I darted down the steps and hopped on my golf cart before cranking up and heading back to my house.
I still had a few hours until my date with Steph, so I decided to roll one, smoke, and take me a nap.
Before I did that, I had to make sure everything was in place for tonight.
It was essentially our first date again, and I needed everything to be perfect.
Night fell and I was preparing to leave my house. I decided on a classic, all black five-piece tuxedo set paired with a gold chain and my favorite gold Rolex. I spritzed on my favorite cologne and stood back, looking in the mirror.
“Don’t you look handsome?”
I looked back to see Salima standing in the doorway with a smile. I wasn’t safe from my kids or their spouses in my own home. Everybody just walked in like they were right. She pushed off from the doorway and came to hug me and kiss my cheek.
“You should really lock your doors, Daddy.”
“Anybody that runs up in here that ain’t supposed to be here will meet their heavenly father, baby girl.”
She giggled as she adjusted my tie. “You can never be too careful. I could have very well been my husband.”
“Which is why I made sure Jaeda and Quaid called a meeting to tell them about this new mission around this time.
“Oh, you’re slick! I see you. Mama Steph must be worth the headache for you.”
“She’s worth that and so much more.”
“I’m happy for you both. My girl has been smiling so much lately. I know that’s because of you.” She held up a finger. “And I’m grown enough to not need details, sir. Have a good time, but don’t have too much fun.”
“I’m gonna have as much fun as I want because I can’t get Steph pregnant.”
She shook her head. “Well, I need pictures. The girls and I need to talk about it. Speaking of which, I feel so bad knowing what’s going on and Romi is the only one in the sister circle that doesn’t know.”
“She’s right there with Renay, Dinah, and Kaylynn. They can cry to each other about it. Jaeda and Mia would have been in the dark if I hadn’t confessed and Sharina wouldn’t know if she hadn’t walked her nosy ass in on us kissing.”
“I get why you’re keeping things under wraps, but then again, I don’t. But whatever. Pose for this picture handsome.”
I rolled my eyes but posed for her.
She kissed my cheek. “Have fun and I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
She left the room, and I could hear her taking the stairs. A few seconds later the front door opened and closed. My phone vibrated and when I picked it up, I had to shake my damn head. This girl had created a group chat with me, her, Shar, Jaeda, and Mia and named it The Secret Society.
The first text was the picture she just took.
Salima: Look at my father in-law looking casket sharp.
Sharina: That man clean though! I see you Big Daddy Stan!
Jaeda: You look so handsome, Daddy!
Mia: Big Stanley! Who he think he is?
Sharina: Pressure! Flexer!
Me: I can’t stand none of y’all, except Jaeda.
Mia: Fuck her, since that’s your favorite child.
Jaeda: You said it, not me, so fuck you too. Keep it up and my husband and I are gonna drain both yours and Titan’s accounts.
Shar: LMAO! Not intellectual warfare. Senior, do something.
Me: Y’all can raise all the hell you want tonight. I don’t care. I have to go see a woman about a cat.
Jaeda: Daddy, please! That’s nasty.
Me: Goodnight. I love y’all and I will send a picture of Steph.
I didn’t bother to read their responses as I tucked my phone into my pocket.
I headed downstairs and grabbed my keys.
After grabbing the flowers I’d gotten from the kitchen, I headed into my garage.
Tonight, I decided on a car I rarely ever drove, my Bentley Continental GT.
I pulled off the covering and she sat there, glistening under the lighting.
Unlocking the doors, I climbed in and cranked up, causing the engine to purr as it came to life.
I pressed the button to open the garage and once there was enough space I backed out and started down the hill.
I shot Steph a text to let her know I was on the way, then put on some music and vibed the entire drive.
Twenty minutes later, I was coming to a stop in front of her house.
Grabbing the flowers, I climbed out of the car and strolled up to the front door to knock.
About a minute went by before the front door opened.
My mouth watered at the sight before me.
Steph stood there in a red off the shoulder dress. It was asymmetrical, stopped below her knee, and had a split up the right side. Her face was flawless and makeup free. Her salt and pepper tresses were feather curled to perfection, and she smelled heavenly.
“My love,” I said, reaching for her hand. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Stanley.” She did a slight twirl. “And it’s your favorite color.”
“Baby, every color you wear is my favorite color.”
She blushed as I pulled her into my arms for a hug. Briefly, I inhaled her scent and kissed her neck before pulling back.
“These are for you,” I said handing over the dozen white roses.”
“Thank, you, baby.” She pecked my lips as she took the flowers. “Let me put them in some water and we can head out.”
I waited in the doorway while she did that. As I turned to survey the neighborhood, I saw a familiar face walking down the street. It was Johnny. He smiled big as he approached my car.
“Dang, Mr. D! That’s a nice whip! That thing clean!”
“Thank you, Johnny.” He trotted up the steps to greet me. “You staying out of trouble?”
“Yes sir. You know I graduate this year. I’m gonna miss Ms. Stephanie when I go off to college. You gotta make sure she’s straight. Get one of these kids to cut her grass.”
“I got you, son. Don’t worry, she’ll be in good hands.”
“Good. You know how I feel about that lady.”
“I know you love her.”
“I do. She’s been the neighborhood auntie for as long as I can remember. I love her to death.”
“Awww! I love you too, Johnny.”
Steph appeared and Johnny’s eyes widened.
“Ms. Stephanie! Where yo’ clothes at?”
“Boy, don’t start your shit!” she warned him, closing the door.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying! You look beautiful, but where your clothes? Deuce ain’t gon’ like this.”
“Johnny, if you mention a word of this to my son, I know somebody that will leave that little car of yours stripped down and on cinder blocks.”
He gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
He shook his head. “That’s cold. I thought we were better than that. It be yo’ own people. Y’all have a good night.”
I bite back a laugh as he trotted down the stairs and made a left toward his house.
“Not you have a great value version of Deuce around the corner,” I said.
“Shut up, Stanley. Come on here.”
She looped her arm through mine, and I lead her down the front steps to my car.
“Oooo! You pulled out the grown man car on me tonight,” she said, trailing her fingers over the custom pearl paint job.
“You deserve my best tonight, love.”
“I hear you.”
I opened the door and helped her into the buttery soft seats before closing the door. I pray this date went without a hitch. It would the first of many for us, but I really wanted this one to go well.