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Josephine’s retreating figure catches my attention and I jog over to her. She’s staring at her phone with a frown. “Pixie, baby, what is it?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her. She holds her phone out to me. The name ‘Dad’ is displayed on the screen.
Well, shit just got interesting.
Josephine told me on day one she hasn’t spoken to her parents since she left California. The fact he’s reaching out to her now seems unusual.
“Did you, like, call up my dad and ask for his blessing, or some shit?” she asks, confused.
“Fuck that tradition! You’re a grown-ass woman who makes her own decisions. I don’t need his blessing. Plus, you were already mine to begin with. I don’t give a fuck if your parents don’t approve.”
To be honest, I never gave a thought to asking her father. In some ways Josephine and I are old school, but for the most part, we’re pretty progressive. I can’t help but feel maybe I should have reached out to her old man.
Josephine and I are about to get married and, regardless of the hurt feelings she is harboring toward her family, she would want them there on our wedding day. Maybe this would be a way to rebuilding the bridge between them.
I rub the back of my head in frustration. “Fuck. I should have asked your old man for his permission and blessing.”
“No, Maceo. You’re right when you say you don’t need their approval to marry me,” she firmly defends me.
But I’m not sure anymore. I don’t only want Josephine. I want everything that comes with her too, crazy ass family and all.
“No, it’s important.AbuelitaLuciawas very traditional. She would have demanded this. I mean, what if we have a kid someday? I would want their partner to ask me for my blessing and not whisk them away right out from under our noses,” I say, gnawing on the inside of my cheek.
My mind is made up—I’m going to have to correct this. I’ve still got all of Josephine’s contacts in my phone. Maybe I should call her parents later.
Wait, Josephine hasn’t spoken to them in a year. If I call them out of the blue and they have no clue who I am, it could set the two sides into another fight.Fuck!
Josephine snaps her fingers in my face. “Maceo, focus! My dad called me and I have no idea why.”
I shelve my trepidation for the moment. “Did he leave a message?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Maybe he butt-dialed you?” I suggest, scratching my five o’clock shadow.
Her phone vibrates in her hands with her dad’s number. “Fucking hell!” Josephine whimpers.
“Okay, um, answer it?” I ask, unsure. “Maybe it’s important.”
Josephine gulps and answers the phone. I quickly take it and put it on speaker. I’m a nosy bastard who wants to be involved in all things Josephine.
“Hi, dad,” she says with a tremble in her voice.
“Jo?” her father asks with disbelief.
“Yep. It’s me. Um, what do you need?” she asks, trying to keep her voice neutral.
Her dad shutters a sigh on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry. I’m a little shocked you answered.”
“Makes two of us,” she admits.
He laughs nervously. “It’s good to finally hear your voice.”
Josephine blinks away tears and swallows. “It’s good to hear yours too. Is everything okay at home? Are mom and you good? How’s Simone?” she asks in rapid succession.
“All is good here. Simone’s still traveling a lot for her job. Your mom is keeping busy at the school. I’ve been tinkering around the house. Put a new tile floor in the bathroom and kitchen, making your mom happy.”
“Oh, I bet she is. She always hated that yellow porcelain,” Josephine says, growing more comfortable.
Her dad snorts. “Oh, yeah, she sure did. Got sick of her complaining about it. I decided to finally do something. I’m retired and bored out of my mind. She wanted this fancy tile, all flowery and black and white, looks busy as hell on the floor, but she’s happy. Could have used your help installing it, seeing as you know all about this kind of stuff.”
