Page 16 of His Aries Heiress
Cassydie offered him a small smile. “You’re right. You aren’t alone, but Tato, I still think God sent me to you to help you . . .”
“With what?”
Marcellus saw Cassydie beating around the bush and searching for the right words, and this time, he wanted to take the burden from her. She had set it up perfectly for him to swoop in with the hard truth.
“Tato, Pops ain’t make it, man. God sent Cassydie to us to help us grieve.” Marcellus’s face scrunched up. That wasn’t what he meant to say. He meant to say that God sent Cassydie toTatoto helpTatogrieve. When he glanced at her watery, red rimmed eyes, he knew his words rang true though. She was sent there for both of them. In what ways for him, he had yet to figure out, but she was no doubt there for him too.
“What?” Tato asked quietly. He was a smart kid, so Marcellus knew his brain was trying to process the words he just spoke. To help him along, he knew he needed to be more direct.
“Pops died last night, kid. He ain’t comin’ back.”
The car was silent for several long seconds before Tato shook his head. “No . . . God told me everything would be okay, Cell.”
Fat tears slipped out of Tato’s eyes, and Marcellus had to blink back his own. He grabbed Tato by the head and huggedhim tightly to his side. “It’s gon’ be aight, man. It is. God ain’t lie to you. When have I ever let you down?”
Tato didn’t respond. He simply sobbed into Marcellus’s side while Cassydie swiped her own tears and rubbed Tato’s back.
That was how they stayed the rest of the ride, and regret creeped in the closer they got to his house. He understood now why Cassydie suggested they wait. He wanted nothing more than to stay with Tato right now, but his impulsive behavior had led him astray. He was locked into this meeting, so he knew there was no way around it.
“We’re here, boss,” Goldie said sadly from the front seat.
Marcellus pried Tato from his side and looked into his son’s eyes. His heart broke into a million pieces as he saw the pain there. “Listen to me, Tato. Cassydie is going to go inside with you. I’ll be back real soon. You gon’ be aight without me?”
Tato sniffled. “You can’t stay?”
Marcellus shook his head with guilt tugging at him. “Nah, man, but I’ll be back soon. I can bring back some pizza.”
Tato shrugged. Not even his favorite food could cheer him up at that point. Marcellus wouldn’t give up though.
“Goldie, can you bring Tato inside? I need to holla at Cassydie for a second.”
Goldie nodded while Marcellus squeezed Tato’s shoulder. “Go put on some TV. Cassydie will be right in.”
Tato nodded and did his best to wipe his tears. Marcellus allowed him a moment to gather himself before he helped him out of the truck. He watched as Goldie took him into the house before he got back inside and closed the door.
“Thank you,” he muttered while maintaining eye contact with her.
Tears streamed down her face as she nodded. “No problem.” She looked away from him as she gathered her words. “I could tell that wasn’t easy for you.”
“It wasn’t for you either,” he noted. “I ain’t know all that stuff about yo’ people.”
She laughed bitterly. “How could you? We just met yesterday.”
He shrugged and let that statement marinate in the air for a moment before he spoke again. “I know we don’t know each other, but I think Tato got somethin’ right.”
“What’s that?”
“You was sent to us. I hope you’ll stick around a while. He gon’ need you.”
She thought about it for a second. “Are you going to need me too?” Fire danced in her eyes as she gazed at him, and his gut tightened. He didn’t know what it was about this woman, but she had him feeling shit he had never felt before. Under her gaze, he squirmed in his seat. “That’s what you said, ain’t it?”
A smile played on her lips, and he realized she was teasing him. His little comment earlier didn’t get by her. He had a feeling not much got by her.
“Yeah, I guess I did say that.” He grabbed the back of his neck. “What you say? You gon’ stay a while?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really have anywhere else to be. I just need to find a job.”
His response was so quick, he didn’t need to even think twice about it. “Look, I used to pay Nicole to look after Tato. After today, I think it’s best I cut ties with that situation. What do you say to taking over, and I can pay you to look after him?”
