Page 56 of It's Love I'm After

“Well, alright now. When you left here this morning, you were my baby. Now I don’t know who this is. Thank you, sweetie.” Chaniya gushes when Caleb hands her a bouquet of flowers.

“I’m a big boy, Mommy. Papa G said all beautiful ladies should know it.” Caleb smiles.

My heart is hammering in my chest to see if Chaniya is about to be cool or come out of the bag after hearing what Caleb just called me.

“Papa G?” Chaniya’s forehead wrinkles, but her eyes are on Caleb, causing my hands to perspire slightly.

Jesus, please!

“Mhm. He’s cool. He teaches me stuff. He taught me how to make his special pancakes. He buys me stuff. He takes me places. I don’t want to be like my friend Jonas anymore. Can Papa G please be my dad, Mommy?” Caleb pleads.

For the first time since Chaniya opened the front door for us, her eyes moved from Caleb to me. Within her penetrating gaze, I see a mix of emotions and reservations that push me to speak.

“I’ve claimed him, too, if that makes you feel better. I didn’t pressure or provoke him or provide the name he’s been calling me since a few hours ago. We can discuss it in detail after we put him to bed tonight. For now, can me and Caleb continue with our dinner plans?”

Wordlessly and with misty eyes, Chaniya nods, stepping onto the porch. Taking Chaniya’s keys, I quickly lock the front door before Caleb and I each take one of her hands, guiding her off the porch and to my SUV.

“Wait, Mommy. Let me get it,” Caleb tells Chaniya when she’s about to touch the door handle.

“Oh. I’m sorry, baby.”

Smiling wide, I watch Caleb open the passenger door, allowing Chaniya to enter. Chaniya turns toward us after she fastens her seat belt, with her eyes watery, giving us a nod. Stepping forward, I lean in to kiss her cheek before backing up to close her door. Then I high-five Caleb.

“Good job, C. Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Alright, Papa G. Let’s go.” Opening his door, Caleb hops into his booster seat, secures his seat belt, and gives the same nod his mother did before I shut the door and walk to my side.

Through deep, satisfying breaths, my lungs expand to their fullest when I enter and see the glowing expression of love shining within Chaniya’s eyes.

“I love you,” Chaniya says lowly.

“Trust me, . . . I love y’all more.”

24

CHANIYA

“Don’t do it, Miss Celie. Don’t do it,” Isis jokes.

“Tuh. Do it. I’ve been working on your bail money if she wants to show her ass.” Riele interjects.

Laughing, I cover my mouth so I don’t draw attention to myself, messing around with my best friends.

“You know what? I’m tripping, and you’re right again, Riele. Crucify the ho if she loses her mind in that nice establishment. I mean, it won’t be the first time,” Isis adds.

Seeing a familiar face being escorted by the hostess toward my table, I cut off my laughter and address Isis and Riele.

“She’s here. I gotta go,” I tell them.

“Call us afterward,” Isis demands.

“Right. If we don’t hear from your ass in two hours, I’m strapping this baby to my chest and coming that way,” Riele adds.

“Okay. Later.” Disconnecting the call, I plaster on a smile while standing to greet my guest. “Good evening, Mom.”

“Hello, Chaniya,” she returns stiffly.

Oh, here we go. Not wanting to deal with the rejection or bullshit, I had Nana call Mom requesting that she meet me at It’s Good and Moody for dinner tonight. Thanks to Germayne,I didn’t need a reservation. However, his best friend, Jarrod, has Mom and me toward the back of the restaurant, just in case things go left. Germayne had been the one to suggest the location because of his connection to the owner. Instead of being at work or home with Caleb, he’s in the back, shooting the breeze with Jarrod until I’m done. Caleb is with Nana for the night so that I can protect him from overhearing anything negative when I share the highlights with Germayne or my friends.

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