He nodded over to his wife, and I resonated with his statement wholeheartedly. Lyric was my heart, and I would do anything to protect her, even if she didn’t think she needed protection.
“Baby, did you get my pound cake?” Ciyani asked, linking her arm with Justice’s. He smirked as he looked down at her in admiration.
“Hell naw. You were too busy running your mouth, and I ate it. It was good as hell too.”
The frown etched across her face made me laugh, because she was truly disgusted with his admission.
“Justice, you better say ‘sike’ right now, or it’s gonna be a real uncomfortable night for you on the couch. I’m not playing.”
Her arms were folded with her lips poking out. At that moment, she reminded me of Lyric’s spoiled ass.
“Damn, you’re gonna make me sleep on the couch over some cake? Weren’t you the one saying you couldn’t wait for us to get home so you could sit on my face?”
“And nothing has changed. I still want my pussy eaten the same way you devoured my cake, but then you gotta go,” she spoke with finality.
“You’re cold-blooded, wifey. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t eat your funky ass pound cake. You’re crazy if you thought I was gonna sleep on that uncomfortable ass couch, and without some pussy too? Yeah, that was never gonna happen.” Justice shrugged, dangling the bag in her face.
Her eyes lit up immediately once she realized the cake was in his hands.
“Yeah, East. Tell your granny her pound cake is already causing issues in folks’ households. This shit is crazy.”
“I was just kidding, baby. I would never make you sleep on the couch,” Ciyani replied, although her eyes were on her dessert.
“I can’t even judge you, girl. I was the same way when I had my first slice. It was worse because I was pregnant and overly sensitive. East ate my last slice of cake, and I cried so hard, he begged his granny to make another one the next day. I don’t play when it comes to Granny Nessa’s food or her desserts,” Lyric shared.
I laughed even though she told no lies. After that incident, I made sure to bring her home some cake whenever Granny decided to bake.
We continued to talk, and the ladies exchanged information. After we said our goodbyes to them, Lyric and I went back into the restaurant, greeting more customers as they dined. When I first started the process of opening a restaurant, I never mentioned it to Lyric. It wasn’t because I thought she wouldn’t support me, but it was mainly because I was used to making moves alone.
I never had a woman in my life I could share my dreams and ideas with, so I usually kept those things to myself. When Lyric expressed how it made her feel to be left out, I realized I had someone in my life who cared. She wanted to be a part of my wins as well as my losses, and I was thankful.
She walked around the room looking like a goddess as she checked on the guests and encouraged the staff. Her laughter was infectious as she showed her natural personality. A few people asked to take a picture with her, and that was when I realized how influential she was. At first, I didn’t fully understand social media and the following she acquired, but it was clear her online presence was impactful for others.
A few women thanked her for her transparency when dealing with topics about motherhood and finding balance in life. I smiled with pride in my heart as she encouraged other mothers not to lose the essence of who they were. It made me realize how wrong I had been for judging her. Lyric was growing into her own person, and she was figuring out what worked best for her. Every day, she showed up one hundred percent for our little family, and I was proud of her.
By the end of the night, I was exhausted from talking to so many people and taking pictures. I was a street nigga at my core, so I was still adjusting to this side of things. Making connectionsand networking were a necessary evil, so I put my best foot forward.
“Well, well, well. It was nice of you to invite me to your little opening.”
I froze the moment I heard her voice. It had been years since the two of us had been in the same room together, but I would never forget her voice.
When I turned to face my mother, it was almost impossible to hide the glare on my face. There, Enoka stood dressed like an ’80s hoe. Her tight cheetah-print leggings were two sizes too small, and the red tube top screamed for attention along with all the flashy jewelry. When my eyes landed on her face, I saw myself staring back at me with hazel eyes, bright red lipstick, and long black hair, which I was sure she purchased from the local swap meet.
“What are you doing here, Enoka?” I spoke in an even tone since there were plenty of guests within earshot.
“Well, isn’t it obvious? Everyone has been talking about this new restaurant and lounge spot that is being opened by a fine, paid, young black man. Imagine my surprise when I find out it’s my son.” She fussed, as if she had the right.
“And you thought it was a good idea for you to show up to my place of business when you’ve been absent for most of my life?” I questioned, trying to make sure I wasn’t tripping. It was then I felt a hand on my shoulder and instantly knew who was behind Enoka’s presence.
When I turned to face my granny, she wore a guilty expression on her face. She knew how I felt about my mother, so I wasn’t sure why she thought this was a good idea.
“Why don’t we take this conversation to your office?” Granny suggested.
I flexed my jaw, knowing I was going to regret this conversation. Instead of giving her a verbal confirmation, Iheaded toward my office. I didn’t have to say anything because I knew Lyric wasn’t too far behind.
I allowed all of the women to step into the office before shutting the door behind us. As soon as I turned around, Granny started rambling.
“I know you might be a little upset, and I’ll take full responsibility for it. I was so excited about the restaurant that I told everyone who would listen. I thought maybe this would be a good steppingstone to bring us all together as a family.”
