Page 55 of Jaeda

“You not speaking to your old man?”

I turned to see my father behind me. I playfully rolled my eyes as I went into his open arms.

“I don’t know who is more dramatic, you or your spawns.”

He kissed my forehead. “I didn’t like the way you spoke to me yesterday.”

“I wasn’t speaking to just you. That went for everybody.”

“I ain’t everybody. I don’t care how grown you get, you are my baby, and I’ll always worry about you.”

“Daddy—”

“I don’t like this lil nigga, Jaeda.”

“You don’t know him.”

“I know he’s got you spending the night and shit. You ain’t gotta tell me, but I know some shit happened. You look different.”

I palmed my face. “Oh my God. Please, not this conversation.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “You really like him, don’t you?”

I crossed my arms and nodded. “I do. He gets me. Everything that makes me different from this family, he gets. I feel seen, Daddy.”

“I see you, baby.”

“You do. I won’t take that from you. You’ve made me the most comfortable in my skin and my abilities. Daddy, you’ve spared no expense to make sure I could flourish to my full potential. I’m forever grateful to you for that. But I’m not that same Jaeda. Y’all have to let me grow into a woman.”

He frowned deeply. “I don’t like that shit.”

I laughed. “Well, that’s not really up to you, sir. And it certainly isn’t up to your sons. You’re gonna be missing a few kids if they don’t get off my ass. You got that vasectomy. You can’t make any more. You better cherish those heathens.”

“Not too much on my boys. They are just protective of you like I taught them to be.”

“I think you overdid it.”

“Apparently not. They haven’t scared this nigga off yet.”

“Daddy!”

He chuckled. “A’ight. I’ll let up. For real this time.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“How about you invite him for dinner next Sunday?”

“Mom already told me to invite him to dinner with her and Hershel.”

“Too bad. She’s gonna have to share. I’m sure he can handle two dinners.”

“All of y’all at once is too much. He’s gotta meet you in doses.”

“If he can handle your brothers, surely he can handle the rest of us.”

“You want me to throw my man to the wolves?”

He clutched his chest like he was in pain. “Don’t say that shit.”

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