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I study James Jr. and Melz, who are both entertaining separate realities. She is being a faithful woman who is nurturing and loving to her family, while James Jr. lives his life with the freedom of a boy fresh out of high school. Is this what Mom wants for me? James Jr. plays enough games with Melz to start his own jumbo gym business while she quietly stands by him, ‘holding him down’. Well, bless her patient heart. I’m not signing up for that kind of treatment.
Micah, my twin brother, has more of Dad’s spirit in his pinkie finger than his namesake has in his whole body. The only difference between Micah and Dad is that Dad was a blue collar worker, and Micah is a college-educated clinician. Micah received his masters in clinical psychology, while my masters is in project management. He has his own private office, and I work for Clark University’s sports department. Micah and I are both single, but Mom isn’t on Micah as hard as she’s on me about getting married. He still feels the pressure to get married and live up to my father’s name since James Jr. obviously is failing at it miserably.
Then, there is Jacobi, the baby boy. At twenty-two-years-old, he lives at home with Mom, and he’s still trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. His current girlfriend, Tanisha, sits beside him five months pregnant with a two-year-old in a booster seat, so it looks like he’s trying to follow James Jr.’s footsteps. What an example. I constantly talk to Jacobi about providing for his family and leaving the video games alone. I’m not sure if I’m getting through to him.
With the grandchildren James Jr. and Jacobi are producing, Mom has her hands full with grandkids. Yet, she tells me all the time she wants her daughter to have kids so she can babysit as much as she wants, as if I’m going to be handing off my child to her at will.
I’m pulled from my thoughts by the snap of a picture, signaling that Keith and Rena are making their way to our table. They pause to smile as the photographer snaps another moment they will have in their memory book forever. Rena gazes into Keith’s eyes, and they kiss with his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tight. It’s not one of those ‘okay stop kissing me when the pictures are done’ kisses. He continues to hold her as if he’s unable to let her go when the cameraman moves on to taking pictures of everyone sitting at the table. I crack a smile when Keith finally lets Rena go and she has to catch her balance. The photographer catches my big smile right there in the moment. He’s good. Had I known he was standing there, I would have posed for the picture.
Aunt Carla touches my arm to get my attention.
“Astalia, how do you like your new job? Are you still getting accustomed to being in Atlanta?”
“Yes, I’m still learning the staff here, but the coaches are nice,” I get out before Keith and Rena approach the table, thanking us for coming.
Mom stands up to give Rena a big hug. She holds her tightly for a long while. “Congratulations, Rena. I’m so happy for you,” she says. “You are the prettiest bride I have ever seen.”
Rena blushes. “Thanks, auntie.”
“I’ve been telling her that all day,” Keith chimes in.
“You are gorgeous, Rena. I taught you something,” I say, standing to hug Rena after Mom.
She laughs and hits my arm. “Thank you, Stalia. We need to catch up as soon as I get back from my honeymoon. You know, with our annual Christmas shopping spree,” she says close to my ear.
“We will.” I nod and smile.
Keith hugs everyone at the table, stopping to hug his new mother-in-law extra-long. “Is everything okay, ladies? Are you comfortable?” he asks Aunt Carla.
“Yes, everything is lovely,” Aunt Carla says, and everyone at the table nods in agreement.
Rena deserves the classic type of love Mom is always talking about, and Keith is the prototype for what a husband should be—handsome, chivalrous, and hardworking. I hope God didn’t break the mold with him.
“Where is your boyfriend today? This would have been a nice event for him to attend,” Mom hints. “You guys have been together four months, and I still haven’t seen him.”
I cringe at the thought that she’s been counting the days me and my phantom boyfriend have been together. I have given descriptive details about this man. I told her he was a handsome college professor, and I would give her more details about him when we get really serious. But as far as she knows, he’s clean-cut, dark-skinned, muscular, and dresses to the nines. He also opens doors, cooks, and wrecks lives in the bedroom. I haven’t shared the bedroom wrecking part with her, but I figure since I’m building my own man, I might as well make him prolific.
“It’s not time yet, Mom.”
“Well, I’m not taking any more excuses. Invite him to Christmas dinner and bring him over to meet me.”
“I— I don’t know if…he’s—avail…”
“Bring him, Stalia. I’m not going to bite him, and neither are your brothers. Stop acting like we’re going to do something to embarrass you. We are your family. Bring the man home for Christmas!”
“It’s not that, Mom. It’s just that...” I don’t have anyone to bring home, I want to tell her, but now is not the time to come clean.
“What is it then?”
“Nothing. I’ll bring him,” I relent, my mouth running on autopilot and my heart beating out of my chest. Why in the hell did I just tell her I’m bringing him home as if I even know who he is? My chest tightens so much after that admission, I can’t breathe. I start coughing and reaching for my water glass.
“Are you okay, Stalia?” Mom and Aunt Carla ask together. The worried looks on their faces scare me even more.
No, I am not okay. Mom is going to kill me when she finds out the truth. My aunt rubs my back as my mother stares at me suspiciously.
“Did you choke on something?” Mom asks.
Only my words.
