Page 23 of Amaze

“Bring her a hot dog,” Amaze told him.

“I can decide if I want to eat or not.”

“You sure can, but we will make sure you have the option.”

“Well, thank you, but I would prefer a burger with mayo, barbecue sauce, and sauerkraut. Maze, did you make sure we had coleslaw? I know Brandy made the potato salad. If you see some potato salad and coleslaw, get those, please. I’ve been wondering how they would taste mixed together.”

“What the hell?” Amaze mumbled, turning to me in slow motion.

“Mom, that sounds disgusting.” Anthony grimaced.

“You good, baby? You don’t have anything you need to tell me, do you?” Amaze asked me.

“Um, no,” I said, knowing that Amaze would see through the lie.

“Ant, take Mazie over there and get him a hot dog. I’ll fix your mom’s plate,” Amaze instructed.

“No, stay,” I said, chuckling under my breath as I reached down and picked up Mazie’s travel bag off the ground. “I have something that I wanted to tell you guys once we made it home, but as usual, you have ruined the surprise.

“What kind of surprise? Are you going to let me go to Europe?” Anthony asked a little too enthusiastically.

He had been begging me to let him launch a program where young adults rode motorcycles all over Europe. So far, he had a few people who were interested. Even Amaze was on board with the idea and had pledged to donate twenty-five thousand dollars to the cause. Ant was insistent that it wouldn’t mess up his future plans since the trip would be over summer break. He also claimed that it would also lead him to be more well rounded and cultured when he started college. I didn’t hate the idea; I just didn’t like the idea of him going without any adult supervision. On paper, he was eighteen years old, but in my heart, he was my baby.

“Not now, Ant. Don’t give me a headache while I’m trying to tell the two of you some good news.”

“What is it, Wesley?” Amaze questioned.

“I have something for you,” I said, passing each of them a box.

Amaze stared at me, looking confused, but Ant didn’t waste a second tearing into his box. When it was open, his brows knitted together in bewilderment.

“What is this, Ma?”

“It’s a shirt,” I enlightened him.

“My mind can’t process these words. What do you mean I’m about?—”

“Wait a minute, Ant. Let’s let your dad see what his shirt says.”

“What you got going on, Wesley Johnson?” Amaze asking, finally opening his box. “I’m… I’m about to have a daughter?”

“Yes, baby,” I said, just as big teardrops dropped onto my shirt.

“Ma, you need to stop having all of these kids. This shit is really sickening. You want people to know you’re still having sex?”

I burst out laughing through my tears when Amaze slapped him on the back of his head. “Boy, stop talking to my wife like that, and you know better than to curse in front of your mother.”

“His bigheaded ass doesn’t need to be cursing around anyone at all. You don’t have a big enough vocabulary to not have to use profanity? Maybe we need to cut down on some of these sports and get back to the books.”

“Ma, come on. Now you’re tripping. I just want you to hear what I’m saying. It’s almost time for you to be a grandma, and you’re still having sex.”

“Boy, shut the hell up.” Amaze shook his head.

“And I’m gon’ keep having sex because I’m grown as hell, and your daddy is fine as hell. Boy, you just make sure you know that there are things that come with having sex. I don’t plan on being a grandma no time soon.”

“You and Dad are living proof of that.” Anthony cackled. “Nah, for real though, I’m excited about being a big brother again. We need another girl around here. I didn’t think I would want a sibling. but when little Mazie Junior came around. I fell in love with him. Now that’s my guy.”

“I’m going to have a little girl?” Amaze asked again.

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