Chapter 16
A fter dinner with my parents, Jayla and Mama made their way outside in the sun like the goddesses they were.
Their fingers were interlocked, legs up and ankles crossed, as they rocked in the hammock while the sun set.
While Jayla hummed and sang certain parts of various songs, Mama whistled an accompanied tune.
I had no visual of what heaven on earth could look like until I saw the two most important women in my life together and in such a state of peace.
I made my way back in the house, deciding not to disturb them. It was my plan to go out and tell Jayla to let me know when she was ready to go, but she looked like that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.
Pops and Kenya were down in the basement, so I made my way to Pops’ mancave. As soon as I sat down, Pops motioned toward his box of cigars. After pouring myself a shot of cognac, I reached for a cigar.
“I’m only drinking this because I’m with you,” I told Pops. “You know I only drink tequila now. This shit gon’ give me a headache.”
Pops chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I ordered a few bottles of that black owned tequila you sent me from Jax , but it was too late for them to deliver it today. It’ll be here the next time you come over.”
“Aight, cool.”
“How are things going with you and JJ?” Kenya asked after taking a puff of his cigar. “I mean clearly it’s going well since she’s here but . . . is this . . . y’all really locked in?”
“Yeah,” I answered with no hesitation. “That’s my wife.”
“That ring is ready whenever you’re ready for it,” Pops reminded me.
He was referring to his mother’s ring that would go to whichever one of his sons got married first. I think we all knew I’d be first, because Kenya was just as disinterested in being with one woman now as he was ten years ago.
“I’ll go ahead and get that up off you,” I decided. “I’m going to get her a second ring for the wedding, but I definitely want to use Grandma’s as her engagement ring.”
“My boy.” Pops beamed as he leaned forward and patted my shoulder before squeezing it. “I’m glad you finally went after what and who you wanted. Your mother and I knew all along Jayla would be our daughter-in-law. She just picked the wrong brother first.”
We all laughed.
“Aye, if she wouldn’t have met me, she wouldn’t have met him. I deserve credit for that,” Kenya acknowledged.
“I will give you that,” I replied. “Had it not been for you, I don’t know how, when, or if I would have met her. For that, I’ll always be grateful to you, bruh.”
Lifting my glass of cognac, I tilted it in his direction.
We toasted before we took a sip. Conversation shifted, and before I knew it, we’d been down there talking shit and joking for an hour.
I went up to check on Jayla, and she’d fallen asleep on the couch.
Her head was in Mama’s lap. Mama’s eyes were closed as she ran her fingers through Jayla’s hair and sang under her breath.
I took a picture and quietly made my way back downstairs.
That was going to be the first picture in our new scrapbook.
That Weekend
“Miss Anderson, I’m sleepy,” Miley whined, rubbing her eyes.
We’d had an eventful afternoon at the beach, then we took the kids inside The Splash , which was a pool and small indoor water park at the beach.
They had a hot tub, water slides, and sprinklers along with the pool.
Between the heat and the exertion from hours in the pool and water slides, her being tired didn’t surprise me.
In fact, I was surprised she’d lasted as long as she had.
“I know, munchkin,” Jayla said as she picked her up. “We’re going to get something to eat then take you back home, okay?”
“Can I stay with you tonight? Pleeeeaaasseee?”
With a warm smile, Jayla melted when Miley laid her head on her shoulder. “I’ll ask your grandma. If she says yes, of course you can.”
“Yay!” That seemed to give Miley a little energy.
“You have fun, big man?” I asked Mateo as we walked the boardwalk with no real destination in mind.
“Yeah, today was the best.”
“What do you want to eat?” I checked, palming the top of his head like it was a ball.
“Can we get burgers and fries? Or pizza?”
“We can get both,” I granted since they were right next door to each other in the food court. Besides, I could take the rest of the pizza home for leftovers later.
“Cool!” he cheered, pounding his fist in the air and racing toward the food court. I kept my eyes on him but let him do his thing.
While I ordered everything, Jayla sat at the table with the kids and reached out to Pearl.
Today was crazy. When we started dating, it never registered to me that we’d have dates like this.
Dates with kids that weren’t even ours, though they’d ransomed so much of the love in our hearts.
I wouldn’t trade today for anything in the world.
Though I loved spending alone time with my pooh, today was a different kind of special.
A different kind of fulfillment. I didn’t take it lightly, and I made sure to thank God for the opportunity to be present in the kids’ lives.
When I made it back to the table, Jayla told me that Pearl said we could keep the kids overnight, which didn’t surprise me.
Sonny still hadn’t come home, and just being honest, I didn’t think he ever would.
He’d been gone long enough for me to question how much vacation time he actually had from his job.
I searched for him on Facebook to see if his profile would lend me more information on his time away.
While I couldn’t see where he was at, he’d made a few posts of him doing recreational activities in different places.
It seemed like he’d been telling the truth about needing time for himself to rest. All I could do was pray it healed enough of his heart for him to be more active in his kids’ lives when he came back.
If he wasn’t, they’d want for nothing with me and Jayla around, and no one would ever change that.
“She said they can stay all weekend, so we need to get them some clothes,” Jayla informed me.
“Aight cool. We can stop by the mall. If you want, you and Miley can stay in the car since she’s sleepy. Just give me her sizes and me and Tae will pick some things out.”
“We gon’ have you fly, little sis,” Mateo assured her, pinching her cheek and making her giggle.
“Okay, but no boy stuff! I want pink and yellow and dresses and maybe one pair of shorts,” she demanded in the cutest little voice.
“We got you,” I told her with a quiet laugh.
Once they were in their own world, I told Jayla I’d be at her place as long as they were there.
We came up with small meals we could cook daily so they wouldn’t have to eat the same thing, which was something they mentioned about Pearl.
Pearl was an old school Southern woman. She made a feast on Saturdays that she ate off and fed the kids all week, then she’d make something new the next weekend.
Me and Jayla loved cooking, especially together, so it was nothing for us to come up with two different options for breakfast and dinner.
We usually had salad, soup, or sandwiches for lunch, or smoothies.
Our order numbers were called almost at the same time, so while I grabbed the burgers and fries, Jayla got the pizza.
We feasted and talked about what we wanted to do for the rest of the summer before heading to the mall.
Mateo and I got them everything they’d need for the weekend, and a few extra outfits for the next time they were with us, then we headed out.
“Mr. Mathis,” Mateo said as we neared the car.
“Wassup?”
“Are you staying with us?”
“Yeah. Is that cool with you?”
He smiled. “Yes, sir. I like having you around.”
That made me smile. “I like having you around too, son. You’re a pretty cool kid.”
“Thanks. Um . . . You think I can join your gaming club at school next year?”
“Of course. The only requirement is that you keep your grades up. Anything less than a C will not be tolerated,” I informed him.
The gaming club at the school was my pride and joy.
It allowed me to connect with the kids on a recreational level that made it easier for them to come to me when they were having problems or needed advice or help.
“Think you can handle that?” I challenged.
“Yes, sir. I won’t get anything lower than a B. You know I made the honor roll all year before I fell off. Next year, I’m going for principal’s list.”
Pride surged through my core at his declaration. “And you know what, whatever you want and work toward, you’ll receive. I’ll make sure we make that happen. Congratulations in advance, big man. I’m proud of you.”
We bumped fists before putting the bags in the trunk. A wide grin kept the corners of my mouth lifted as I got in the car. I looked back at the kids—Miley sleeping peacefully and Mateo getting comfortable in his seat. Jayla—eyes lowered as a content smile teased her face.
They weren’t ours, but they were.
Maybe not by blood but by something that meant more.
Choice.
We chose these kids, and we were a family, and I thanked God for that.