Chapter 11
I closed my laptop and slid my chair back from the desk.
I’d spent the earlier part of the morning handling business, so my afternoon and evening would be free. Shirah hit me up about going to a block party hosted by the Black Thorns Motorcycle Club. I didn’t know much about them from being away so long, so I decided to look them up. Most people associated motorcycle clubs with gang activity and in many cases, that was the furthest thing from the truth.
They did fundraisers, food drives, back to school bashes, and they provided holiday dinners to families in need amongst other things. Their socials were filled with nothing but positive things. It was beautiful to see a group of men who probably were labeled as tyrants giving back to the community. I’d already written out my check in lieu of my support.
Benjamin and I had been making conversation all week through texts. We had a few FaceTime calls, which usually ended with me talking to Charlie at some point. As soon as she found out I was on the phone, she came sticking her little head in the camera to speak to me.
She was so adorably cute and sweet. I loved talking to her and was surprised that she could carry a conversation like an adult. Then again, no, I wasn’t because Benjamin didn’t talk to her like a typical child. She was so smart and vocal for her age, and I knew it was because of the way he spoke to her.
Just as I went to stand from the desk, my phone rang with a call from Ellis. It had been a week since he reached out to me and what a peaceful week it had been. I sighed as I answered the call.
“Ellis, didn’t I tell you I was going to block you if you called me again?”
“I know, I know. I was just calling to check on you. I promise, I won’t bring up anything you don’t want to hear.”
“I’m fine.”
“How was the class reunion?”
“Fine.”
“Are you enjoying the time with your family?”
“Yes.”
“How are your parents?”
“They’re fine, too.”
“You don’t have to be short with me, Willow.”
“I told you not to call me. You could have avoided me being short or anything else.”
He sighed. “I missed your voice. It’s not the same without you, baby. I’m trying hard to give you the space you asked for, but it’s a struggle for me, Willow. You think I would have asked you to marry me if I didn’t love you?”
“I know you love me, Ellis. It’s the version of me that you love that causes the problem. I don’t feel like I can be anything less than perfect with you and your family. I’m not a perfect person. I have flaws and I make mistakes just like everybody else. Sometimes, I don’t want to be prim and proper. Sometimes, I want to look busted and be comfortable in a stained shirt, sweatpants, and fuzzy slippers with a bonnet on my head.”
“I think you’re beautiful no matter what?—”
“That’s not the point. Your actions say otherwise. The things you allow to be said to me say otherwise. You don’t demand my respect, and you disrespect me by letting other people disrespect me. That includes your mother.”
I sighed heavily. I really wasn’t in the mood to hash this same conversation out with him again. Messing around with this man was going to put me in a bad mood, and I didn’t want to be in a positive setting with negative feelings.
“Look, Ellis. I have to go. I have somewhere to be. Do not call me again.”
I hung up, and this time I blocked him. I wasn’t going to spend my vacation going back and forth with a man I left for a reason. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I went into my closet to find something to wear. I’d originally packed enough clothes to stay about three weeks, but I was considering extending my stay. I’d purchased a one-way ticket, so it was up in the air. The more I was here, the more I was beginning to feel like the old Willow and I desperately needed to meet her again.
Finally, after sifting through my clothes, I settled on a white tube top that showed off a sliver of my stomach, a dark denim skirt that stopped mid-thigh, and a fresh pair of J’s. I pulled my silk press into a sleek top knot and added gold jewelry to accessorize. Hoop earrings and stacker necklaces, along with matching bracelets and a watch, completed the look. After a light beat of makeup that included my skin tint, mascara, and a little lip gloss, I looked myself over in the mirror.
It was giving 90’s fine, and I loved it.
After putting my essentials in my designer fanny, I secured it around my waist and headed downstairs. My parents were in the kitchen with my mother sipping her coffee while doing a crossword puzzle and my father reading the paper. I smiled at how they enjoyed the simple things and were still so content.
“Hey, parents,” I said, moving to hug and kiss them both.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, princess.”
My mother looked me up and down. “Don’t you look cute! What are you and Shirah getting into today?”
“The Black Thorns are having a block party fundraiser, so we’re going to support.”
“That’s nice. They always do things like this. Your father and I participate sometimes. It’s good to see young men doing something positive in the community.”
I nodded in agreement. “It is.”
My father looked up from his paper. “I’m sure you’ll see that young man, since he’s a part of it.”
“Daddy.”
He chuckled. “I’m just saying. I knew his face looked familiar. I didn’t put it together until you mentioned the motorcycle club.”
“You don’t have anything to say about that?” I asked, grabbing a bagel from the pastry display on the counter.
“Nothing besides wear a helmet if you get on one of those things… just not in that skirt.”
I looked down at my skirt. “What’s wrong with my skirt?”
“Nothing. I just remembered your mother in a skirt on the back of my motorcycle during our FreaknikNik days. I had to fight that night.”
My mother laughed. “Willard, please!”
“What happened?” I asked, taking a seat at the table.
“So, back when your father was in the motorcycle club, we used to go to FreakNik every year. You know what time it was. Short skirts, vulgar dancing… you know your mama could get down with the best of them,” she added with a giggle. “I was a bad mamma jama.”
I shook my head. “Oh my gosh, Mama.”
My father laughed. “She was. Still is.” He winked at her, making her blush.
“Anyway,” she continued. “One year, it was super hot outside, so naturally, I wanted to wear something cool. I had this cute little tennis skirt, and you couldn’t tell me nothing. I got on the back of that bike and we started riding. That wind had the skirt flapping and all my goods were out. We pulled up to this stoplight and a man in the car next to us whistled at me?—”
“Long story short,” my father said. “He didn’t whistle at anything else that day. I knocked out four of his teeth.”
“Daddy!” I exclaimed.
He shrugged. “Just make sure that Benjamin character doesn’t let anybody disrespect you. I don’t wanna have to see that young man.”
“Daddy, Benny isn’t my man?—”
“But, he’s a friend.” He reached out and cupped my chin. “Any man that doesn’t respect you as your friend doesn’t deserve to be anything more. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He went back to reading his paper. I sat there for a moment, munching on my bagel before speaking again.
“Sooo… I’m thinking about extending my stay.”
My mother smiled. “I’m all for having you around a little longer. I mean… I’d be happier if you moved back. Now, I won’t beg, but you know you can always come home.”
“I know, Ma.”
The thought had crossed my mind a time or two over the last couple of months. I knew I could stay here or with Shirah until I locked in on my own place. I’d built a life back in the city, but this… this was home. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to move back.
* * *
The block party was in full effect by the time me and Shirah made it to Thorn Parkway, aka The Parks. Several grills were going, and there was a DJ and a dance floor. Three bouncy houses were set up for the kids as well as face painting, snow cones, and ice cream stands. I saw a few people dressed up as popular kids TV characters, having dance battles with some of the kids. Some of the local shop owners set up booths offering hair cuts, braids, or a few other services.
There was a lot happening, but everyone seemed to be having a good time.
“Oooo, the niggas is out!” Shirah said, looking over her sunglasses.
“Girl, didn’t you just have Jordan at your place last week?”
“I did, but Jordan isn’t my man. I’m single and I can look. So can you. I mean, that’s unless you and Benny are trying to?—”
“Let me stop you there. Me and Benjamin are just friends.”
“Maybe, but Benny doesn’t let just anybody around his baby.”
I rolled my eyes. Since I told her about our impromptu meeting in the square, she was convinced that there was more going on between us than there was.
“That was a coincidence, Shirah.”
“He could have sat anywhere, but he sat with you. He let his baby girl fall asleep in your arms. Jordan said she told that man’s mama that you were his girlfriend.”
I laughed out loud. “What!”
“She sure did. She’s staked her claim on you.”
“I’m sure that’s just because she misses her mama and I’m another female.”
“Kids know good people, Willow. I know you were extremely nice to her.”
I was nice to Charlie. She was adorable, and I loved kids. I couldn’t help but take to her. Looking around the space, there was a shitload of kids out here. I wondered if they were somewhere in the mix.
“Looking for your little friends?” Shirah asked.
“Whatever, Shirah.”
Just as I turned my head, I saw Benjamin watching Charlie as she got her picture taken with one of the characters from Raya and the Last Dragon. I smiled, knowing he probably had that one set up just for her.
“Come on,” I said to Shirah.
She made kissing noises as she followed me over to where they were. I stood off to the side, waiting for them to finish. The moment Charlie caught sight of me, she squealed.
“Ms. Willow!”
She broke away from her father at the same time he turned to look at me. Charlie ran to me with open arms. I couldn’t help but smile as she fell into me. Picking her up, I spun her around, causing her to laugh.
“Hey, Charlie!” I said, kissing her cheek. “I missed your cute face.”
“I missed you, too. Hey, Ms. Shirah.”
“Hey, cutie pie. Don’t you look adorable today?”
“Thank you.” She turned back to Benjamin who was walking up to us. “See, Daddy. I told you Ms. Willow would be here.”
I smiled. “Awww! You were looking for me?”
Benjamin chuckled. “She said very dramatically that she felt it in her heart that you would show up.”
I laughed. “Well, here I am. I’m happy to see you.”
I placed her on her feet, and she immediately grabbed my hand. Looking up, I found Benjamin with a slight smile on his face.
“Y’all been out here long?” I asked.
“A while. We came to help set up, but somebody got green popsicle juice all over her shirt, so we had to go change.”
Charlie giggled. “It was so good, Ms. Willow.”
“I bet it was. Did you save me a popsicle?”
Charlie turned to her father. “Daddy, can we get Ms. Willow and Ms. Shirah a popsicle.”
He chuckled. “Who said I was spending my money on them?”
Shirah playfully waved him off. “Charlie, tell your daddy we don’t need his money. Big girls make their own money.”
“I’m a big girl,” Charlie said, matter of factly. “I got monies.”
Shirah snapped her fingers. “Period, pooh!”
“Period, pooh!” Charlie echoed.
“Nah, gimmie my baby,” Benjamin said, scooping her up. “You will not have her acting like your silly self.”
Shirah rolled her eyes and went into her crossbody. She pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to Charlie.
“Here you go, baby. Buy all the popsicles you want.”
Charlie gasped. “Thank you!”
She folded the money up and tucked it into her father’s shirt pocket. Benjamin shook his head.
“I hope y’all know baby girl is the finesse queen. She just got money out of Jordan last week.”
“He ate my snacks, Daddy!”
“Let me not get you started on that.”
He shifted her so that she was sitting on his shoulders, and I couldn’t help but notice the flex of his muscles. He was just so damn fine, and it didn’t help that I found him in daddy mode to be sexy as hell.
“Mmm hmm,” Shirah mumbled next to me. “I saw that.”
I playfully elbowed her. “Hush.”
“What are y’all headed to first?” Benjamin asked.
“Donations,” I answered, unzipping my bag, and pulling out my check. Shirah did the same.
“We appreciate your support,” Benjamin said. “Y’all know The Parks have been struggling since we were kids. The city isn’t doing anything about it, so the residents have to pick up the slack.”
“Did y’all get any sponsors?” I asked.
“Jordan donated a check for a hundred thousand. A few of his teammates donated ten thousand each. I have a couple of clients that made hefty donations, too.”
“That’s amazing. You’ll have to let me know when y’all start the process. I’d be happy to come back and help out.”
“You? Doing manual labor?”
I scoffed. “I’m good with my hands, sir.”
He smirked. “I bet you are.”
Beside me, Shirah let out an “Ooop! On that note, I think I’m gonna go find me some food. Give me your check, Willow.”
I rolled my eyes as I handed it over to her. She winked at me as she skipped her happy ass in the opposite direction, leaving me, Benjamin, and Charlie alone. I gave an awkward smile.
“So… you two wanna show me around?”
From her father’s shoulders, Charlie eagerly nodded and reached for my hand. I was happy to oblige her. Benjamin eyed me, shaking his head.
“What?” I asked.
“You imprinted on my baby. She can’t stop talking about you.”
“I mean, I happen to think I’m a lovable person, so that’s fair.”
“Yeah… yeah, you are. You’ve always been good people.”
We stared at each other for a moment, until Charlie tapped his forehead.
“Daddy, let’s go! I wanna show Ms. Willow the fun stuff.”
I giggled. “You heard my girl. Show me the fun stuff.”
Benjamin kissed his teeth. “Come on here, man.”
He started walking and I fell in step beside him. Since Shirah ditched me yet again, I guess I had to make do with the company I had. Somehow, that didn’t seem like such a bad thing.