Page 33 of Make Me Remember

“Girl, you think you know me.”

We laughed and made our way out to the car. My man was waiting on us. That shit felt good as hell too.

“What’s up, baby?” Jacob asked as soon as he opened the door for me.

He helped me out and kissed my lips then allowed me to lead him around to the passenger side to open the door for LaTee. I’d told her to stay put when we got here. I wanted her to see what a real man was about. I knew Jacob would want to open her door and treat her like the princess she was.

“Hey. We’re both excited about this moment.”

He smiled at me, flashing that sexy ass bottom grill, then opened her door. She stared up at him, her eyes wide as he extended his hand to her. She put her hand in his, and he helped her from her seat. “Hey, LaTee. I’m so happy to finally meet you. You look just like your beautiful mother.”

LaTee smiled big as he closed her door. “Hi, Mister Jacob. It’s nice to meet you too.”

He continued to hold her hand and slid his other arm around my waist, leading us inside. He released me to open the door and lead LaTee inside. When she walked inside, her mouth opened. “Wow! This house is big! Is it yours?”

Jacob chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. You wanna look around?”

“Really? I can?”

“Absolutely!” he said while smiling at me.

He allowed her to lead the tour and ask all sorts of questions. On their way back to the front room where I was, she asked, “Why do you have such a big house if you’re the only one that lives here?”

She sat next to me, and he sat across from us. When his face turned serious, I knew he was about to go there and have me crying all over again. “I want a family one day. I knew I would need a big house so everybody would be comfortable.” He glanced at me, as if asking my permission to continue, and I nodded. “I want y’all to be my family.”

He grabbed her hand as she stared at him. I could see her emotions building. She was just like me… just like I was just like Mercedes. She damn near idolized me. That was why I was extremely careful about the things I said and did in front of her. Mercedes, not so much.

“Umm… you want us to live here?” she asked.

He smiled slightly. “Yeah. Whenever y’all are ready, I’m ready.”

Her skin turned red, and the minute I slid my arm around her, she started crying. She buried her face into me as I did my best to hold my emotions in. Jacob stared at me as he released her hand. His eyebrows were lifted, and he looked as if he were about to apologize. Before he could, LaTee lifted her head and grabbed his hand again.

I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and took deep breaths, desperately clinging to the small amount of restraint and calmness I had inside of me. When I looked back down and saw her kiss his hand, I could no longer contain my emotions. She was so trusting, just like I was as a kid.

“Does that mean you want to be my dad?” she asked through her tears.

Jacob’s skin turned completely red, and I could see the goosebumps that appeared on his arm. He pulled her from her seat and hugged her tightly as he stared at me, trying to keep his emotions at bay as well. LaTee was a beautiful, trusting soul, and I had to protect that innocence as much as I could. I knew she would be this way with Jacob, because I was extremely sensitive and vulnerable around him as well. He just pulled it out of me. She was no different.

When she pulled away from him, she stared into his eyes, awaiting an answer to her question. “I do, but only if that’s something you want, baby girl.”

She threw her arms around him again. God, help me. She was already attached to him and didn’t know a thing about him. As the tears fell from my eyes, Jacob pulled me into his arms with LaTee. “Y’all my girls… my queen and my princess.”

He kissed both our foreheads then asked, “Well, y’all ready to go eat? I’m sure my mama set it off at the diner.”

“Diner?” LaTee asked.

“Yeah. My mama and my aunt own a restaurant here. They’re cooks.”

“Oh! Will it be breakfast?”

“Yes, ma’am, and plenty of music and dancing. They opened about an hour ago, so let’s go join in on the fun. If you feel like there are too many people, just let me know, and we’ll take our food to go.”

LaTee smiled. Jacob would soon learn that our princess loved the limelight. There could never be too many people if she was the center of attention. Jacob smiled at me then stood and pulled me close. I laid my head against him as LaTee smiled. “Mama, y’all look good together.”

“I know we do! You gotta take a picture of us, LaTee. Here, use my phone,” Jacob said as LaTee laughed.

He unlocked it and handed it to her. When she snapped the picture, she stared at it and smiled big. “Mama, you look so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile this big.”

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