Chapter 8 #2
Steel’s mouth was reckless. He would literally say some of the filthiest, outright craziest shit to me, but I think it made me crazy as well because I loved it.
I just didn’t like when he slipped up and talked crazy to me in front of the kids.
With us filming our reality show, he was often fighting for his life, trying to keep his words PG with me, while we were filming.
Speaking of filming, we had the night off from filming tonight. I never wanted to overwhelm myself with it, and some events in my life, I wanted it to be personal, without the camera crew there, and tonight just happened to be one of those nights.
“Aight. I’ll just say what I gotta say to you when you get home then. Damn. What time you think you going to be home?” he asked, and I laughed again.
“Baby, I don’t know. I haven’t even got there yet,” I responded.
“Aight. You look beautiful though baby. Enjoy yourself. Where Brook at?” he wanted to know, and I turned the phone, so that he could see Brooklyn, and she smiled, while waving at him.
It warmed my heart to hear Steel let Brooklyn know how pretty she was. Little things like that were just a constant reminder to me that I picked right. I picked the right man for me.
Brooklyn had the worst father in the world.
Wop was literally the worst and because of his actions, that man would spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Rhythm.
Brooklyn didn’t have any contact with her dad.
He never called her from prison, and I hope that he continued to do that because he was linked to too much trauma in her life.
Although she didn’t have a father in her life, she had Steel, and I loved the way that he loved her, and was there for her in any way that she needed him.
I eventually wrapped up my call with Steel, and Brooklyn and I talked the entire way to the restaurant.
The girls wouldn’t tell me the name of the restaurant that we were going to tonight.
They wanted it to be a surprise. When we pulled up, and I saw that it was a restaurant that I was telling Karina about a couple of months ago, letting her know that it was on my bucket list, I smiled because I had people in my life that really listened to me when I spoke.
It was called Casadona Miami. They specialized in Italian food, and it had waterfront views, which was right up my alley.
Our driver came around, assisting me with getting out of the truck, and he assisted Brooklyn as well. I thanked him, and he let me know that he was going to park and wait for us.
The moment we walked inside, it’s as if the hostess knew that I was the woman of the hour because she quickly smiled, and had Brooklyn and I follow her, so that she could lead me to my family, and friends.
She took us out back, by the water, where there was a long, rectangular table, with all the women in my life sitting down, and they were so happy, standing up to hug me, carrying on as if I haven’t just seen most of them this week.
“Toni, you look so beautiful girl!” Shawntae, one of my best friends started it off, getting to me first.
I squeezed my girl, letting her know how good she looked as well, and I went around the table, getting hugs, accepting the compliments, and pouring them right back into the ladies.
I found myself getting a little choked up because God had really blessed me with a good group of women in my life.
The way my mom and grandma hugged me, and held onto me, telling me how happy they were for me, you could tell how genuine it was.
The way the women in Steel’s life, like his mom, grandma, and god mother held onto me, thanking me for coming into Steel’s life, and being for him what he needed, was enough to send me into tears, but I held back, not wanting to ruin my makeup.
My girls, my aunt, even Alecia, who I haven’t known for longer than two years, were all here, pouring into me, and I couldn’t be happier.
The women had me sit at the head of the table.
Now that I was here, we had a couple of waitresses come around, so that they could start taking drink orders.
Keep in mind, that I was sitting at a table filled with boss women.
The women in my life ran businesses, or they worked high salary careers, so when drink orders were put in, expensive bottles of wine were being ordered, without flinching about the cost, or even asking for that matter how much the bottle was in the first place.
Little things like that made me smile, especially seeing that we were all black women.
Once all the drinks and appetizers were put in, Karina, my cousin, who was sitting right next to me cleared her throat, as she held a piece of paper in her hands.
Karina was my maid of honor. It was only right.
This was my blood cousin. We’ve been through a lot in life together.
She was the closest thing that I had to a sister right now on the outside, as Temperance finished serving her time.
She’s been super involved in my wedding, stepping in wherever I needed her, and years from now, I’ll never forget the way she’s been here for me, helping me in preparation for this wedding.
“Okay ladies, I don’t want to just sit here, and be bored, playing on our phones and stuff, so I decided that I would draft up a couple of games for the wife to be.
Nothing too crazy though. The first game that I have is called ‘How well do you know your man’.
I have the questions and answers in my phone from a conversation that I had with Steel a couple of days ago.
You ready to play?” Karina asked me, and I was super competitive, never wanting to lose, or be wrong in anything, so I was ready.
“Oh baby, you can’t ask me nothing about that man that I don’t know. Let’s go,” I replied, and when I said that, the women started clapping, and saying things like, ‘I know that’s right’ or ‘I love it’. I breathed for that man, so I was confidant in not getting anything wrong.
“Okay. We going to see. I’m going to start off light. What size shoe does your man wear?” she asked, and I laughed because that was the easiest question in the world.
“In U.S. sizes, he’s a 10 ⒈／⒉, but if we’re talking European sizes, then he’s usually a 44,” I said, and the table erupted in laughter at my antics. I had Steel’s mom, grandmother, and his god mother cracking up.
“You see, you starting off too cocky. Let me get one from the bottom, so that I can make it a little harder for you. What’s the first and last name of Steel’s primary physician?” she asked and I laughed at her thinking that question was supposed to be hard for me.
With all the cockiness in the world, I smiled and folded my arms before me on the table.
“Primary physician is Dr. Marcus Byrd. His wife is a professor at the same university as me. We took a few Pilates classes together a couple of years ago. Hmmm, let’s see…
his dentist is Dr. Alana Rodriguez. Back in his boxing days, he had a couple of problems with his knee, so his orthopedic specialist is Dr. Raymond Marshall.
He specifically works on his left knee, and not the right.
I can keep going if you want me to boo,” I finished, and again, I had the women screaming.
You cannot ask me shit about my man and expect me not to know.
“If ya’ll need to know anything about my cousin, you must know that she is very competitive, and her ass hates being wrong.
Also, when she loves someone, she’s deeply involved, and that’s always been something about her that I truly admire.
Back to the game though. Let’s see something because I want to see you get at least one wrong.
Zayne’s in first grade. Name all his teachers,” she went on to say, and I looked at her as if she was crazy, thinking that that question was supposed to be hard for me.
“Karina, these questions are too easy. I should have put some money on the line if I knew that this is the way you were coming. Main teacher is Mrs. Rudolph. That’s my girl.
Steel and I made sure to get her something really nice this past Christmas.
P. E coach is coach Richardson. I had to get on him a couple of times throughout the school year about a situation that he mishandled with Zayne, and I didn’t like it.
Music teacher is Ms. Chin. Technology is Ms. Smith.
That’s my girl too. Never had any problems out of her,” I finished, getting laughs again from the table.
Karina had to have read off fifteen more questions to me, and I answered each question swiftly, and confidently. The ideal person might not know the answers to these questions, but I’ve always been a partner that has paid attention, and I’m involved when it comes to the person that I love.
“In all seriousness though Toni, I truly thank you for coming into my son’s life,” Steel’s mother said to me, with a smile on her face, and misty eyes.
I could already tell that her words were getting ready to choke me up, and that she wasn’t finished with what she was saying, so I sat back, giving her the floor, allowing her to finish.
“Not to bring up Sapphire, but when he lost her, I just knew that I’d lost my son.
I thought I would never get Zion back at a hundred percent.
You came into his life, and you completely changed him for the better.
His smile came back. There was once a time when I felt like he was angry at the world.
You made him happy again. Not just my son, but my grandson too.
God, Zayne loves you. He comes to my house, and he tells me these things.
The other night when he came over, I had him say his prayers, and girl, you were a part of that prayer.
He continues to thank God for allowing you to be a part of his life.
Right here, in front of everyone, I just want to let you know that I love you and thank you for all that you do for my boys,” her voice cracked, and a tear fell from both our eyes at the same time.
She got me, and a few other women at the table to shed a couple of tears. I let my mother-in-law know that I loved her just as much, and we immediately stopped it right there, not wanting to turn this into a crying fest.
I had so much fun with these beautiful women tonight.
We played the games that Karina packed, ate good food, sipped some of the best drinks, and we even danced.
I was tipsy as hell, and I’ve been sending messages to my man all night, letting him know that pussy was on the table as soon as I walked through the door, so telling him to make sure that Zayne was tucked away in his bed already.
Brooklyn already told me that she was going to go home with Karina, so I could go home, and have all the fun that I wanted with Steel tonight, without having to wonder if Brooklyn could hear me.