AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you,” Karlos responded reluctantly.
“Daddy, can we go over to the playground with the big kids?” Fee asked.
I looked toward the playground and saw my older nieces and nephews over there.
“Go ahead but be careful. You are going to eat when I come and get you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Skye said.
“We will,” Fee answered.
“Daddy, can we go with our cousins?” Katy asked.
“Go ahead,” Karlos said.
The girls ran out to the playground, hand in hand.
Los waited until the girls were out of earshot before, he said, “They must get their disposition from their mother.”
I decided not to respond and walked around him in search of Cam. The last thing I wanted to do was go back and forth with Los. He was the oldest of my mother’s second set of kids. I stayed away from him because every time we were around each other, he said something slick to piss me off. The last time we were around each other, he made me mad enough to punch him, so I did. I was too grown to be putting my hands on people, but Los knew how to push my buttons. Judging by his stupid remarks, I guess he hadn’t learned his lesson the last time.
I found Cam sitting with Los’ wife, Karleen.
“Hey brother in law,” Karleen stood to hug me.
“Hey, Karleen. How are you?”
Despite my disdain for her husband, I loved Karleen. She was like a breath of fresh air in this family and always tried to keep things fair.
“Good and pregnant,” she smiled while pointing to a little pudge in her shirt.
“Congrats, sister in law.”
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I was just talking to Cam. I said you must like her cause this family is a lot!”
“I do.” I winked at Cam. “And I agree, this family is a whole lot.”
“Hey, Morris.”
I turned hearing my mother’s voice. Her bronze, wrinkle-free skin glowed in the sunlight. Her long salt and pepper sister locks were up in a bun on the top of her head. She looked like she was getting younger with each passing year instead of older. After kicking drugs and getting her life together, she learned how to take care of her skin and her body. She could easily pass for a woman ten years her junior. She was a beautiful woman.
“Hello, Mother,” I said.
“I’m so glad you made it,” she smiled.
She didn’t move to hug me because we hadn’t gotten that far in our reconciliation. I hadn’t let her hug me in years.
“Yeah, happy birthday,” I responded.
“Thank you. This is the best birthday I’ve ever had seeing all of my kids and grandkids together in one place,” she said, looking around the park.
I turned and motioned towards Cam, “This is Cam, my girlfriend. Cam, this is my mother, Pearline.”
My mother’s eyes lit up as Cam stood. She smiled brightly as Cam spoke.
“Hi, Ms. Pearline. It’s very nice to meet you. Happy birthday,” Cam said and gave my mother the card she’d forced me to pick out. “This is from Morris and the girls.”
“Oh.” Mother covered her mouth with her hand. “Thank you.”
