Page 31 of Betrothed To Love

Now, I love my parents, have much respect for them both, but I’m a grown ass man at the end of the day. When something doesn’t sound right to me, I speak on it. I don’t bite my tongue for anybody, especially now when Asali’s words aren’t landing like I think he intends.

“I want to make sure I’m understanding you. Disadvantage? What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

After straightening his posture and propping his elbows on the table, he clasps his hands together then nods. “Look at Sade. She didn’t have shit before she got with Ace. Now I know she’s a good mother and wife and takes care of your brother and the twins, but if Ace goes to jail, she won’t have shit. She needs your brother more than he needs her,” he begins and I can’t believe this bullshit he’s saying.

I don’t even speak on Ace going to jail; that shit isn’t going to happen. I jump right on his dismissive summary of Sade.

“Sade runs the business with him. They’re partners,” I say.

“But it’s Ace’s business at the end of the day,” he counters.

“Where is this shit coming from? You’ve never shared this point of view before.”

“Because you weren’t married before. Dating doesn’t mean anything. Marriage is when it gets real. It’s forever, no matter what, so a man has to pick the right woman. You can’t have a wife that can up and leave anytime she wants. She has to need you and have an incentive to stay.”

What the fuck?

“The incentives are love and commitment.”

“And need. Hear what I say, son,” he says and I just shake my damn head. “Look at Shuga and me,” he continues but I stop him. He’s talking wild as hell and I need to excuse myself before he says something out of pocket about Shuga.

“Imma just chalk this conversation up to that brown liquor in your cup ’cause you on some crazy ass shit tonight, Asali,” I tell him, then stand. “I’m leaving.”

With a smug look, he nods then says, “Ina yini.”

“Good night,” I reply in English before walking off.

I make my rounds to the tables to say goodbye then head into the house to find Niya and Mireya. The minute I walk through the door, I almost bump into Ace.

“Damn! You in a rush?” he asks.

“Not really but yeah. My bad,” I apologize. “It’s just getting late. What time y’all leaving?” I ask, choosing not to mention Asali’s bullshit to Ace. He’s got enough going on with his case and he’s barely been home a few days.

“Now. Sade wants to stop by The Marketplace to pick up more shit for the twins. She acts like it’s their first year in school,” he says with a smile. Out of all my nephews, they are the only two who decided to go to college. He’s proud of his sons for doing something he didn’t.

“Stop by the office Tuesday and we can discuss what’s next.”

“Ain’t you supposed to be on a honeymoon?”

“She’s got a lot going on with the campaign,” I embellish. There’s a lot of shit Mireya and I obviously didn’t think through. I’m going to fix the ring soon though.

“Don’t let the election or my case fuck this up for you. She’s a good look for you and Niya seems to like her already. Keep her around. Shit, I was tired of being the only married brother,” he says with a smile before hugging me. “Tuesday,” he utters, then walks onto the patio.

Still shaking my head at Asali’s fucked up words, I enter the kitchen and find Shuga hugging Mireya and Niya sitting at the kitchenette with her bookbag on the table in front of her.

“Y’all ready?” I ask.

“Yes,” Niya says.

“I’m not,” Shuga says with a pout. Then she looks at Mireya. “I’m serious about helping with the dinner. I can do all the cooking.”

“We definitely need your help,” Mireya says and Shuga’s whole face lights up. “But I can’t have you cooking. We’re talking about fifty people. That’s too much. We’ll find someone to cater. I just need you to show up looking pretty. I’m thinking formal.”

“How about black tie? I never get to dress up and Asali looks good in a suit,” Shuga says.

“And so does his son,” Mireya adds, then glances at me.

“All my men do. I’ll just call you and we can talk,” Shuga says, to my surprise.