For a moment, he silently marveled at his son. Kenji was a mixed of both him and his mother. He shared her toffee brown skin and had her lips while he inherited Noble’s raven eyes and nose. Interrupting his appreciation for his son was their food. Kenji wasted no time, taking a big bite from his burger while Noble inspected his to ensure it was to his liking.
“Aye, don’t stuff your mouth, boy,” he warned Kenji.
The little one laughed before chewing his food. “Dad, do you think you can move back in with me and Mama?”
That question was like a shock to Noble’s body. He paused, trying to gauge how he would reply to his six-year-old who didn’t understand adults and their situations yet. Noble and Kenji’s mother had divorced when he was three years old. It was one of the few battles Noble had lost. His record had gone from undefeated to a loss so monumental that he was still dealing with the repercussions from it.
“So, you remember me living with you?”
Kenji nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“Well.” Noble paused. “I wished me and your mama could’ve worked out, G. Sometimes adults don’t get along and they move on…” His words trailed as the thought of his failure emerged. Living with the reality of disappointing his kid was a pill that Noble still hadn’t swallowed yet. More than anything, he yearned to give Kenji a two-parent household. However, their life hadn’t panned out the way he desired, and he was ultimately to blame for that. “I know you want me to move back but I can’t. Me and your mama not together anymore but I’ll always be here for you.”
“Dad,” he whined. “But I like when you live with us.”
“I know.” He reached over and swiped crumbs from the side of his mouth. “I wish I could change that, but I can’t. Now eat your food so I can take you home.”
Noble had to end the conversation for the sake of his own sanity. For an entire year, he had sat in the puddle he’d made with his divorce. He’d gotten dirty, was bruised, and ridiculed for the hard decisions he had to make. Divorce hadn’t been an option until it became apparent that it was the only alternative.
After they shared their meal, Noble and Kenji made the journey to his home.
“You gon’ miss me, G?” he asked him, pulling into the driveway.
“Yeah.” He grinned. “But I’m coming to your house this weekend.”
Noble placed the car in park. “Yeah, I got you this weekend. Come on.”
The two got out the truck and walked up the stairs. Noble looked at the home that was once his, noticing Daysha had placed a few more plants on the porch.
The door opened, and she appeared, wearing a smile on her face. “Is that Mama’s baby boy?”
Daysha kneeled down as Kenji ran into her arms, hugging her tightly while she showered him with sweet kisses. She stood up just as her smile evaporated. Witnessing the simper she wore with Kenji had been refreshing since Noble never got a smile from her. It had been that way for the last three years. Daysha couldn’t hide her disdain for him. It surfaced on her features every time he was in her presence.
“Tell your dad bye, Kenji.”
The only greeting Daysha graced him with was the cut of her eyes. There was never a hey or how are you doing? Just awkward vibes that Noble had to take because he was the antagonist in their story.
“Bye, Dad.”
“A’ight, I’ll see you Friday.”
“Oh, about that.” She pointed toward him. “Do you think I can keep him this weekend? I was gonna take him to Orlando so we can go to Disney World.”
“Disney World?” Kenji gushed. “Oooh, yeah!”
Despite his son’s glee, Noble had quickly become annoyed. This had been the second time this month that Daysha had restricted his weekend. One time was too much. He wasn’t going to allow her to do it for a second time.
“Aye, G, why don’t you go in the house while me and your mama talk?”
He quickly ran inside while Noble centered his gaze on her.
“You already took away one of my weekends, Daysha. You not about to do it again.”
She smacked her lips, sliding her hand on her hip. “Listen, me and my man planned to take our kids to Disney. This was planned months ago, and it literally slipped my mind, Noble. I forgot to tell you but I’m telling you now.”
Themy manact had gotten so old. Daysha wasn’t aware that Noble knewher mandidn’t exist. Never one to embarrass her, he allowed her to keep that narrative, knowing she was only doing it to extort jealousy from him.
“Well, plan a different weekend. I’m not giving up time with my son for you again. I was nice about it the first time, but that shit is played out. It ain’t fair to me or Kenji.”
