Page 20 of It's Love I'm After

My hand hovers over the gear shift when Caleb asks his question because I wasn’t aware that a woman has been cuttinghis hair. I always assumed that Kenyatta was taking him to another guy. Yet, I never asked either, so this is news to me, causing me to probe a little further.

“Why don’t you like the lady anymore?”

“When cousin Kenyatta is around, she’s really nice, but then she stops talking to me when he leaves the room. I also want a boy to cut my hair because I don’t want to be called baby during the cut.”

Shaking my head, I put the gear in drive and head out of the driveway, even more satisfied with my decision.

“I hear you, big boy. Mommy got it from here.”

“You’re the bestest Mommy ever.” Caleb gushes when we’re leaving the barber shop he’ll now be coming to on a weekly basis.

Ricardo Majors is Caleb’s new barber, and after seeing his detailing and precision cut of Caleb’s hair, I’m happy to let him be the person responsible for keeping Caleb together. Ricardo has a small shop inside one of the salon lofts, and I stumbled on him after talking to one of the clients at work.

“I want some ice cream,” Caleb demands.

“First off, bestest isn’t a word. Second, that’s not how we ask for things we want, is it?”

“Sorry. Can I please have some ice cream? I was good for Mr. Ricardo, like you told me.”

Kid logic will never be something adults can question or comment on because they often have no rhyme or reason for the things they say.

“I guess. However, you have to eat all your lunch first. Where do you want to go?”

*zzt, zzt*

Tapping my earpiece, I answer the incoming call without checking to see who's calling. “Hello.”

“This is me making sure you know how invaluable your position in my life is.” Germayne’s voice flows through the gadget, instantly making me smile.

“Seeing how we just confirmed your upgraded status, your effort is duly noted, Mr. Malone. Thank you,” I say, giggling, before remembering that Caleb is with me and getting myself together.

“I’m on the early shift today, so I’m on break and thinking about you. What you got going on?”

“Oh. I just finished getting my son’s haircut. Now, we’re headed to get some lunch.”

“How old is your son? I assumed you had a baby.”

No wonder Germayne had gone silent on me after telling him about Caleb. I understand how complicated it could be to learn the woman you’re interested in has a baby. I also understand how sticky and complex of a situation Germayne might assume me to have.

“He’s five, and although he’s out of the infant stage, he’s still my baby.”

“Mommy!” Caleb interjects before Germayne has a chance to react.

“What? You are my baby,” I tell Caleb.

Smiling, I hit the unlock button on my car before waiting for Caleb to get in and sit in his booster seat before securing his safety belt.

“I can respect little man for not wanting you to keep him in that phase. Don’t be stunting his growth.” Germayne’shumorous delivery has me rolling my eyes while smiling wider. “I’ll let you get to mommy mode. Enjoy your time with little man. Call me if you’re able to this evening.”

“My mommy was talking to some man, Nana. She was smiling and everything,” Caleb tells Nana, who’s eating up the information while sipping from whatever is in her coffee mug.

Edna O’Neal doesn’t drink coffee, so I know it has to be tea or something she doesn’t want Caleb to see. After running around with Caleb earlier, we stopped by Nana’s house to spend some time with her. All was going well until Caleb decided to share my business with his great-grandmother.

“Oh, you don’t say. What’s his name?”’ Nana probes.

“I don’t know, but she was talking fast, and I couldn’t hear everything.” Caleb shrugs before eating the grapes Nana gave him.

“Next time, pay closer attention. Nana wants to know everything. Okay?”

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