“Yeah, not for me, for Duane.”
Danessa narrowed her eyes. “I thought he had a place?”
“He does but it’s a shoe box. And he wants two bedrooms so my niece has her own space when she visits.” Danessa jaw tightened like she was trying to stop herself from speaking her mind. “What Danessa?”
“I think it’s great you wanting to provide your brother with a place but …”
“But what?”
“When does it end Aldridge? Are you expected to finance everyone else’s life for all of eternity?”
“Duane’s had some hard breaks.”
“And that’s not your doing.”
I leaned back into the booth. “So I’m not supposed to look after my family?”
“I didn’t say that. I just know you. You’ve been taking care of your family since high school. You’re a giver and people tend to take advantage of that.”
“By people you mean my family?”
Her lips stretched into a straight line. “Taking care of your mother, I totally understand, paying for Tootie to go to college. Acceptable. But Duane is a grown ass man with a child of his own?—”
“A grown ass man with a criminal record. It’s not like he can apply at a bank and get a nine to five.”
“But why does that become your responsibility?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I wasn’t the kind of man who left my family high and dry when they needed me. I had the funds to provide and as long as I could they would never be without.
“I’ve seen this play out several times. A talented athlete signs a multi-million-dollar contract and then everyone comes knocking with their hands out. It may seem like a lot of money right now, but shit goes fast when you have four mortgages, utilities, several car payments, and yearly taxes.”
“Since when did you become an accountant?”
“I work with people looking to buy homes. I’m well versed on the desirable debt to income ratio needed to achieve that.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fully plugged in when it comes to my expenses.”
“Tootie, is what, sixteen? And she’s smart so she’ll probably get into an Ivy League school. That’s tuition, boarding, books, and fees. She’ll need a car depending on which school she attends. That shit adds up.”
“It does. But I’ve been saving for years for that inevitability. You do remember I majored in business finance for a reason, right?”
“I just want you to be good. I see how hard you work, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that. But it sounds like you have it completely under control, so I’ll fall all the way back.” She reached for her glass, draining it.
“Danessa—”
“I’m going to go to the ladies room.” She didn’t meet my eyes, and she didn’t wait for me to stand before rushing away from the table. Her stance was nothing new. When we were in college she voiced her concerns about the amount of money I was sending to my folks. It pissed me off then and it pisses me off now. My mother worked long hours to feed and clothe us. Sometimes there wasn’t enough to go around for five hungry bellies, and she’d go without. She deserved the world, and I intended to give it to her to show my appreciation.
This wasn’t me just blindly spending money. I tracked everything, wrote off what I could. My parents weren’t in amansion, I’d purchased a five-bedroom home in the suburbs just like my mom always dreamed of. I knew Danessa’s objections were coming from a genuine place. She wasn’t saying this because she wanted me to spend that money on her, she wanted me to think long term.
When Danessa returned it was obvious her bathroom break hadn’t helped to thaw the chill that was developing.
“Listen, I appreciate your concern. You have always had my back and my best interest as a priority, but my brother needs a proper place to live, and I can provide it and for that I’m grateful.”
“The last thing I meant to do was make a big deal out of this. I’m sorry. I’ll find realtors based in Philly for you.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t receive her words lightly. But there were obligations I couldn’t escape, and I was never going to be the guy who forgot where I came from and who supported me along the way just because my bank account has a ton of zeros attached. I grew up struggling and once I made my first million, I vowed to never go back. As a Black athlete, shit as the first person to go to college in my family I was expected to reach back and help pull others up.
