16. Temple
Butterflies swarmed in my belly as I stepped out of Solomon’s Ford truck. This would be the first time in my life that a man brought me home to meet his family. Being with Solomon, I found myself doing a lot of things I would never do.
With him, I didn’t mind. This man could get anything he wanted out of me because of how he made me feel.
Alive.
Desired.
Loved.
“I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. If you start to feel uncomfortable, let me know, and we’ll be out of here before you can blink.” I released the air in my lungs and nodded. “Come on. I got you. Always.”
Those six words gave me the confidence I needed to hold my head up high. I knew some church folks could be very judgmental, and since Solomon said it but didn’t say it in so many words, I was already prepared for them to judge me.
We walked up to the nice, modest home, and Solomon rang the doorbell. A few moments later, Mrs. Matthews opened the door with a soft smile on her face.
“Son.” She greeted him and wrapped her arms around him. If they didn’t share the same thick eyebrows and chin, I would have thought she were someone else, given her fair skin and light brown eyes.
“Hey, Ma.”
“Come on in.” She waved us inside as I held on to Solomon’s arm tightly.
She closed the door, and Solomon took his arm from my grasp and locked it around my waist.
Her eyes scanned me from head to toe. I chose to wear a green, sleeveless turtleneck Zac Posen bodycon dress with gold heels and gold accessories. It took me six outfit changes since I was so nervous, and I decided this one was meet-the-parents worthy.
Nonetheless, mama sized me up as if I had on a G-string and no bra.
Or maybe it was all in my head.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I know we talked over the phone, but your name is escaping me right now.”
“It’s Temple. Temple Newman.”
“Yes!” She giggled. “Forgive me, darling. Old people’s brain.” She held her hand out to me, and I took it.
“It’s okay. You have a lovely home, Mrs. Matthews.”
“You can call me Urina, sweetie. And thank you. I have my son to thank for the decor ideas. Come, come. Dinner is done. Dorian is bringing the biscuits from the oven now.”
“Let us wash up for dinner. We’ll join you shortly,” Solomon told her.
“Oh! Right. Okay. You know where the restroom is.” Solomon led me down the hall to the half bathroom. He allowed me to go in first, and I made haste in washing my hands. He then stepped in to do the same.
“Do I look okay?” I whispered to him.
“You look gorgeous, baby.”
“Really? Because your mom looked at me like I was half-naked.”
He chuckled lightly. “You’re fine, bae. You’re overthinking. But if you’re uncomfortable, we can le—”
“No, no. I’m fine and you’re right. I’m just overthinking and nervous.”
“You don’t have to be nervous, love. My people aren’t the threat you think they are.”
“Okay.”
He kissed my forehead. “You’re beautiful. Inside and out.”
I smiled as he took my hand and led me back to the dining room.
“Here they are,” the man I knew was Solomon’s father because they shared the same face, said as he stood from his seat and walked over to us. “Son. Thanks for coming.” They shook hands, then his father looked at me.
“And you must be Temple?”
“I am.” I smiled.
“It’s lovely to meet you, sweetie. Please, have a seat.”
Solomon pulled the chair out for me, then sat beside me once I was situated.
“Let’s bless the food, shall we?” his mother said. “Tempo, would you like to give the blessing?”
“Ma. Her name is Temple with an le not an O.”
“Oops. I’m so sorry.”
I smiled lightly. “It’s okay.” Now I knew I wasn’t tripping.
Mrs. Matthews was throwing shade. I knew she remembered my name.
We had a whole thirty-minute conversation on the phone when we were in Italy.
My name was simple and unique. You didn’t come across many people named Temple, so saying she forgot after Solomon, even confirmed over the phone before we left the house, was shady all in itself.
“Strike one,” Solomon mumbled. I patted his knee under the table to let him know not to stress about it. I was a stranger in their home, and their only son brought me to meet them. I’d probably feel a way about my only son bringing a girl home to meet me too.
“I can give the blessing. No worries,” I told them. I could tell she was feeling me out. She wanted to know if I knew the Lord.
Yeah, okay, Mrs. Urina. I see you, girl.
“Heavenly Father. Thank You for this meal that we have gathered here today to enjoy. Please let it be of nourishment to our bodies and feed our souls. We humbly ask that You bless the hands that prepared it and bless the less fortunate. We thank You, we praise You, in Your name we pray. Amen.”
“Amen,” they said simultaneously.
Solomon smiled and kissed my hand. “That was beautiful, baby.”
“It was light work,” I jested. Plates were being filled with pot roast, green beans, brown rice with gravy, and buttermilk biscuits.
“So, Temple. How did you and my son meet?” Mr. Dorian asked.
“The fundraiser at my old job.”
“Oh, yeah. The Autism Awareness Fundraiser.”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“Wow. You were only there for like ten minutes, Son. You move fast.” Mrs. Urina giggled.
“I had to. I couldn’t let her get away.”
“That’s right, Son.” Mr. Dorian chuckled and winked at him.
“You said old job? What do you do for work now?”
“I’m undecided right now. I want to open up my own center though. I noticed Detroit lacks centers and resources. They’re more so in the surrounding areas, so it makes it difficult for parents who live in Detroit to travel that far.”
Mrs. Urina’s head swayed a bit. “They usually provide transportation for that, though.”
“They do, but having a few in the city would be more beneficial to them.”
“That’s true. And how do you plan to fund this business endeavor?”
“What does that matter, Ma?”
“Sol, I’m only asking because I may be able to help her get grants or loans for funding.”
“No, you’re asking because you want to be nosy and make sure she’s not looking for me to do it.”
“That isn’t true. Do not put words in my mouth.”
“Hey. Not today. We just started eating. Son, I don’t think anything is wrong with your mother’s question. Whether she looks to you to fund it or not, it honestly doesn’t matter.”
“It matters, Pop. That’s strike two. I promise if you don’t stop, we’re leaving.”
Mrs. Urina dropped her fork, the sound making a loud clatter against the porcelain plate. “Are you kidding me? I’m trying to get to know the woman it seems you have chosen to bring home, and you’re accusing me of being impolite.”
“I never said you were impolite; I said you were nosy. Forgive me for having trust issues when it comes to me bringing a mate to meet you. It’s giving the same vibes as it did when I brought the last woman to meet you.”
“Baby, I’m not offended or feel a way about her asking me questions. It’s expected, coming from a parent. Relax, hun. Don’t be so hard on her.”
I could see his shoulders visibly relax.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Ma, but the questions you’re asking just sound a lot like before, and it’s triggering me.”
Mrs. Urina didn’t say anything as she picked up her fork and resumed eating.
“My Ma Lula would have popped you on the back of the head if she heard you talking to your mom like that.” I giggled to lighten the mood.
“It’s fine. I get it. I do tend to ask a lot of questions, but it’s only to get to know you. I admit when he brought the last girl home, I could tell she was only around for one thing. I can tell you’re different though.”
“I was raised by one of the best.” I beamed.
“Ma Lula. Is that your grandmother?” Mr. Dorian asked.
“She is.”
“Are your mom and dad good to you?”
“Um, my mom passed away after giving birth to me, and I never knew my father. I grew up in the foster care system until I was thirteen. That’s when my mother’s mother found me, and I’d been with her ever since.”
Mrs. Urina’s hand went over her heart. “Oh, how awful. I’m sorry to hear that, but it’s a good redemption story. At least your grandmother came for you.”
I nodded and smiled.
This woman is fake as press-on nails.
If there was one thing Ma Lula taught me, it was to have good discernment. Now I could see why Solomon didn’t like being around his parents, specifically his mother. She was—a lot. She wasn’t rude or anything, but her delivery and how fake she was told me that she didn’t really care for me.
If she knew that her son and I were already married, she’d probably pop a blood vessel in her brain.
I knew we should have just gone to the party.
Mr. Dorian cleared his throat. “It seems that she raised you right. Do you have any siblings?”
“I have two cousins that I call my sisters, but biologically, I’m an only child as far as I know.”
“Hey, we’re all family in God’s eyes,” Mr. Dorian said.
“That is true.” Mrs. Urina agreed. I noticed Solomon had been quiet. I didn’t like it, and just when I was about to call him away, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Mr. Dorian stood and headed out of the room.
“Sol, I’m sorry if I did anything to offend you. You too, Temple. I just want the best for my son.”
“I’m not offended, and I get it. I’d probably be the same way once we start having children.”
“Oh, you all plan to get married then?”
I was about to answer until Mr. Dorian returned with Shatina trailing behind him. When her eyes landed on me, they turned to slits, and I gave her the same fucking energy.
What the fuck is this bitch doing here?
Solomon frowned. “Ma, Pop. What is Shareece doing here?” Solomon asked the question I wanted to know.
“I was only stopping by to bring the cake your mom asked me to bring by,” Shakina said, still eyeing me.
“Oh, that’s nice. You can leave now.”
“Sol, don’t be rude,” Mrs. Urina said. “Shareece is like family.”
I frowned. Clearly this woman was a messy bird, but I wasn’t standing for it.
A low chuckle left Solomon as he wiped his mouth with the fancy cloth napkin and tossed it on his plate.
“You know what? I’m over this. I tried to make this work, but you refuse to change.”
“What are you talking about? You have been rude to me since you sat down at this table, and I have done nothing to you.”
“It’s crazy you think you haven’t. You talked to Temple no less than ten minutes before we arrived, yet you forget her name.
Not only that, you inquire about her finances because you are fishing for a reason not to like her.
Then you invite her here to bring you a cake I could have easily stopped by to get before we got here.
“Let’s just call a spade a spade, Urina.
You only love Shareece because she was the first girl I brought home that you actually liked because you couldn’t find a flaw.
What you don’t know is that she’s flaw as hell.
Broke my heart when I found her giving head in the back seat of Kevin Truman’s whip. That is why we broke up.”
“Wow. You want to air out my dirty laundry, but you are nothing but a hypocrite, Solomon,” Shakana said. I didn’t care what the fuck her name was because this was where she had me fucked up.
“Watch it, homegirl. That ain’t the road you want to go down.”
“Oh, be quiet, you dirty stripper!” she exclaimed, glaring at me. “Yeah, I looked you up and saw all your little dirty pics online. You’re the reason he’s being a hypocrite. Talking about he’s finding Jesus but was actually in the strip club finding you!”
“Stripper? Solomon Jacob Matthews, is this true?” Urina asked, appalled.
“Please don't ask me any more questions. Furthermore, I’m never a hypocrite. I know who I am. I don’t say one thing and do another, and I’m not perfect.
But what you won’t do is insult me or insult my wife because you’re being delusional and thinking I’ll take you back after almost twenty years of no communication or contact. You are out of your damn mind.”
“Wife?” Mr. and Mrs. Matthews said in unison.
“Yes. Wife. Temple and I are married and planning a big wedding for our family, but you won’t be getting an invitation from me.
Pop, you're more than welcome to come since you understand the assignment. As far as your wife, since she seems to love living in the past, she can go to Shareece’s wedding if she ever finds a man who actually wants her. ”
“Go to hell, Solomon!” Shalika yelled.
“You go first. Come on, baby. Let’s blow this joint, mamas.” He took my hand, and I stood, glad to get away from this awkward-ass family. We headed out of the dining room while his mother yelled for him to come back.
“Solomon!”
“Let him go, Urina. You can never leave well enough alone,” I heard Mr. Dorian say just as we walked out. I could hear Urina fussing at him as we walked out the door.
“I will never put this on you again. I really thought she’d changed.”
“It’s okay, babe. At least I know what you meant about them being nosy. I like your dad, though,” I told him while he opened the passenger door and helped me inside.
“He a’ight. Still iffy about him too.” He closed the door, then got inside and started the engine.
“I should go snatch that nappy wig off your little girlfriend while she coming for me.”
He chuckled. “I almost cussed. But forget her . . . She’s really baldheaded under that thing. God, forgive me.”
I laughed aloud just as he pulled from the curb.
The dinner didn't go well, but I hoped his other family was better than his parents. If not, I might just be fighting tonight.