Page 103 of Rude Boss 2

Chapter 23

Essex

Five Days Later

“Hey there, son,” my father saysas I step into his home. This is my first time being here since mom passed, and it’s only at this moment I realize how awful that is.

I haven’t spoken to him since the wedding and neither of us mentioned mom or our heated phone conversation.

I say, “Hey, Dad. I haven’t been over here in a while.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“It’s not the same with mom not being here.”

“Yeah, I’ve been dealing with it every day, son. They say it gets easier with time, but I don’t see anything getting easier so far.”

Losing her was devastating for him in ways I’m not able to comprehend. While marriage is supposed to be fifty-fifty, every man knows the woman does ninety percent of the heavy lifting. She cooks, cleans, takes care of the kids – she’s a nurse, a nurturer, a counselor, a cheerleader – she’s the glue that holds a family together. As much as I disagreed with her, she was all those things.

I sit on the sofa and place the takeout bag I brought on the table. “If you haven’t eaten, I brought some dinner.”

“What you got in there?” he asks, taking the tray out of the bag.

“It’s chicken and mashed potatoes—some of your favorites.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” he says and starts eating right away. “It’s good, but it ain’t better than your mama’s cooking.”

“You’ll never find food better than mom’s,” I say. “You know I can hire a housekeeper and a cook for you.”

“Yeah, I don’t want all of that.”

“Why not? It will help you out a great deal. You’ve never been much of a cook.”

“I haven’t, but I don’t need somebody coming up in here trying to take your mother’s place. Can’t nobody take her place.”

“Dad, I can assure you that’s not what I’m trying to do.”

“Either way, I don’t want it. I’ll get by.”

He’s stubborn when it comes to matters as such so, I let it go.

He eats more, then says, “Don’t know if I told you, but the wedding was real nice.”

“Thanks.”

“How was the honeymoon?”

I sigh and close my eyes, briefly reflecting on how perfect the honeymoon was for us and how far Quintessa and I have drifted away from marital bliss in such a short timeframe.

I look up at my father and say, “The honeymoon was out of this world. It felt like a dream.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why are you sitting up in here looking the way you’re looking?”

“I—” I drop my head and say, “I just need some advice.”

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