Page 33 of A Toxic Redemption

"Yeah, I guess you were pretty good this past year." I chuckled as my mother and I watched him run wild. "You have a lot of cool stuff here."

"Told you I good!" He tore open yet another gaming tablet. "That's mine?" He pointed to a mini trampoline and ball pit in the corner of the room. I frowned slightly because it wasn't here yesterday, and I know I didn't buy it.

"Who bought that, mama?" I asked her as we watched KJ jump enthusiastically. "As dramatic as you are about him falling and hurting himself, I know you didn't."

"Well, excuse me for not wanting him to fall on his head and turn out like you." She stuck her nose in the air and swatted my arm. "Your little girlfriend bought the ball pit, and your father purchased the damn trampoline."

Her mentioning my father caused me to stiffen. I haven't talked to that nigga since the day at his office, and I haven't hadthe desire to speak to him again. I heard the shit he was spewing, and to me it was some Grade-A bullshit.

"Why is that nigga coming through here anyway, mama?" I sighed as I sat on the couch and continued to watch KJ run wild. "You've been keeping in touch with that nigga?"

"Not that it's any of your business," she tightened her robed and glared at me, "but I have been in touch with him if you must know. I know it seems crazy, but—"

"Crazy?" I chuckled, although there wasn't a damn thing funny. "You being friendly with a nigga that said to hell with you and your newborn son is beyond crazy. It's stupid as a—"

"Don't you dare say it!" She pointed in my face and gritted through clenched teeth. "I am grown, Khalil, and if I want to forgive that man for a mistake, that's on me."

"A mistake?" I stood from the couch and stepped to her. "Mama, he left us out here struggling for years, and you want to act as if that shit never happened? He abandoned his family."

How she was so understanding was beyond me, but I can't just up and forgive that nigga. From my father to my brother, all of them could go to hell.

"Khalil..." My mother stepped to me and placed her hand on my cheek. "Baby, I know it doesn't seem right to forgive someone who seemingly wronged the ones he claimed to love. I'm not asking you guys to plan camping trips and go fishing. I'm not asking you to attend sporting events and do all the things that fathers and sons do. I'm asking you to be the type of role model that your son needs in his life."

"What type is that? A man who lets niggas do him wrong and not make them stand on the shit they've done to him?"

Whap!

"Ouch, mama." I rubbed the back of my head. "Those little hands hurt."

"Stop all that damn cussing in my house, boy." She frowned. "And to answer your question, I want you to show your son that real men make mistakes, but they own up to them. They stand on business, and they right their wrongs." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. "Clean this mess up." She waved her hands around the living room. "We're having dinner here today."

"Who iswe?" I asked at her retreating back. "Mama!"

Before I could follow her and ask her what she meant, there was an incoming call to my cell. Looking at the screen, I couldn't help but smile.

"What's up, baby?"

"Baby?" Luck asked as she giggled into the phone. "You must have thought this was somebody else?"

"Nah." I sat on the floor beside KJ and watched as he played with his train track set. "I knew exactly who this was. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you." I smirked as I heard the smile in her voice. "I didn't want anything. I just wanted to tell you, Ms. Khalise, and KJ to enjoy your day."

Instead of answering, I pressed the FaceTime button and waited until her pretty face came into view. Once it appeared on the screen, my breath was caught in my chest. Her face was fresh, her curls were piled high on her head, and she was the prettiest I've ever seen. The oversized t-shirt she wore had me envious that it wasn't me swallowing her body whole.

"Damn," I mumbled before I could stop myself. Oh well, she was fine as fuck.

"What?" she asked as she frowned. "I know I look a little rough, but I just got up not too long ago—"

"You're perfect." I tucked my lipped between my teeth. I glanced over at my son, who was still playing before I broughtmy attention back to her. "Lift your shirt for me so I can say good morning to my friend. I wanna kiss her through the phone."

"Boy!" she screeched as she fell back laughing. "Anyway," she simpered as she calmed down, "where is my baby? Did he like his gift?"

"Dada, that Debin?" KJ shot his head in my direction before scooting over to me. "Hey, Debin! Santa came!"

"Oh my gosh, did he?" she asked wide-eyed as she sat up and gave him her attention. "Do you have a lot? Can I see?"

The little nigga grabbed my phone as if it were his and ran around the entire living room and showed her all the things he had received. It was a sight to see KJ talk to her as if they were the best of friends.

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