Page 39 of The Millionaire Mortician
I nodded in agreement.
“Leh we go and get some doubles quick then,” he suggested as he grabbed luggage from each of us and rolled it to his car.
We pulled up to a vendor close to the airport. The stand smelled like heaven had come down to earth. Doubles was not only one of Trinidad’s most famous street foods, but it was good as fuck. It was two soft, hot pieces of bara bread stuffed with chickpeas, sweet chutney, and other toppings of your choice, and pepper sauce if you were brave. The shit was messy and hot, and it would usually drip down your hand if not eaten carefully.
We ordered one to eat on the spot. That first bite made me close my eyes as I took in the spicy, sweet, and tangy taste all at once.
“Yeah,” Mav exclaimed with his mouth half full, “this is what I’ve been missing.” He bobbed his head up and down as if he were listening to music.
We stood there and ate two more doubles each, washing them down with a bottle of cream Solo. With our bellies nice and full for the moment, we hit the road toward D’Abadie, where our family was from.
The drive was familiar in ways that pulled at me. I looked up at the hills in the distance as I observed the new and old housesside by side. Some were popping out at me with bright ass colors no one would dare paint their house in Brooklyn. For a minute, I thought we were driving down Sesame Street Lane.
By the time we turned down the old road toward our family’s house, my chest got tight as memories came flashing back out of nowhere. After two decades, some things looked the same, while there were many new houses and changes in the placement of establishments.
When we pulled up to the house and drove in, I felt like it was just yesterday we were kids running wild in that yard. The same mango tree stood tall, heavy with fruit. The coconut trees were still swaying lazily. Even the five-finger tree was still standing tall, reminding me that it was my favorite fruit to pick. The house looked aged with the paint peeling, and the roof looking tired. I told myself right then I’d change that. Auntie Patrice deserved better. As a matter of fact, all of our family did. I felt I had the means to help, so why not?
Before we could even fully step out of the car, our family poured out, rushing us. We saw aunts, uncles, and cousins. Some faces we remembered, while some voices hit me like lullabies from when we were young. The younger ones we didn’t know got introduced quickly. There were kids peeking up at us like we were bigger than life itself. I couldn’t lie. I felt the love, and I knew Maverick did too because he kept cheesing from ear to ear.
The entire day belonged to them. They had us moving everywhere from the river, malls, and to cousins’ houses, even little rum shops where old men nodded at us like they knew who we were. They treated us like celebrities. Whispers followed us while handshakes lingered after people found out who our parents were, and respect was given without question.
Mav soaked it all up, laughing more than I’d seen him laugh in months. I, on the other hand, didn’t smile much, but on theinside, I did the entire time. That land, our family, and the energy we received filled me with something I didn’t know was empty — unconditional love.
By the timethe sun dipped low, we were tired as hell, but alive. Sitting on the gallery of the old house, we felt the cool breeze blowing. It was peaceful. That’s when I realized just how long it’d been since we had come back. After everything that happened with my parents, my grandmother packed us up and sent us to America. We already had our visas from traveling with my mother and father, so when we arrived to stay with one of our aunts, she adopted us, and we automatically became US citizens. My granny felt it was the best move for Maverick and me. The only thing was, I just wished she were still there and alive for us to see her and thank her in person for her decision.
I looked over at Mav, who was halfway through a Stag beer, grinning like a kid again. “This shit here is relaxing, bro. We should’ve come back sooner,” he stated.
I nodded slowly. “Yeah,” I agreed, “way sooner.”
“Allyuh ready tuh buss it tuh de hotel?” Stephon came out of the house and asked.
“Facts. I’m tired as fuck. Y’all got niggas feeling like we old,” Mav jumped up and exclaimed.
“I mean, Allyuh close tuh forty inno,” Stephon retorted with sarcasm.
“Nigga, you lucky your family.” Mav pointed at him, making us all laugh.
We said goodnight to the rest of the family at the house until the next day. Shortly after, we climbed in the car and were on our way to our hotel near the airport. We decided to stay at the Holiday Inn since it was the closest one to the house. We weren’t worried about staying in luxury or any of that shit.
When we arrived at the hotel, check-in was quick and easy. We went up to our suite with Stephon’s help, although we really didn’t need it. As we settled in, not long after, Stephon mentioned wanting to talk.
He cleared his throat. “Ah nuh even go waste allyuh time. Ah need yah help.”
I folded my arms as I leaned against the dresser while keeping my face blank. “Help with what?” I quizzed.
He rubbed his chin, looked around again before speaking. “Tings rell change here, cuz. De streets hotter, and weight movin’ different. Meh supply cut short since prices are sky high. Ah know wah allyuh into back in New York. Ah know de kind of reach you got.” His eyes locked on mine with determination. “We could build somethin’, buh ah need allyuh tuh be de bridge.”
Mav chuckled, shaking his head. “Bridge to what?”
“To the connect,” Stephan answered without hesitation. “Ah know allyuh touching Venezuela work. It all makes sense. From dey tuh here is ah simple route. It even safer than allyuh importing it up dey. Buh ah cyah pull it off alone.”
His words hung heavy around us. It was a lot to consider.
I eyed him closely while my mind was moving quickly. He wasn’t wrong about anything he stated. Trinidad was a prime location for movement. There were islands all around, and then there were a lot of beaches and wide open ports. Business-wise, it would’ve been smart, but family or not, trust wasn’t something I gave out easily.
“You talking like this shit is casual,” I slowly stated. “Because once we mix family with business, ain’t no turning back.”
Stephon’s jaw tightened. “Bro, family already in de ting wedda yuh want dem tuh be or not. Ah radda it be wit you dan wit men ah cyah trust.”
