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Touching his chest, Mr. Domino shook his head as he waved his hand and smiled.
“No, son.”
The sadness in his eyes touched parts of me that I didn’t know existed.
“You sure, old man?”
“Yeah.” Nodding, he lowered his head as grief thickened in his chest.
“Well, I do.” Lawe cleared his throat, standing up.
“Baby, let’s not do this. Don’t get your ass up there embarrassing me,” Kleu warned, bringing humor to the room again.
The couple was unintentionally hilarious.
“I got this. Do I look like an embarrassing nigga, Kleu? Fuck I look like, baby? A clown or some shit.”
“Depends on the day.”
“Oh, really? What’s that supposed to mean?”
He tuned us out, lending his attention to the woman standing beside him that I’d grown fond of. They were a perfect match. She matched his energy, though I didn’t think that was even possible.
“Man, you gon’ talk your sh—your stuff or sit down?” Mercer shrugged.
“I’ma sit down because my girl think I’m a clown ass nigga and I need to hear about this shit. Move on to the next person. Come back ’round to me.”
“No one else has anything to say,” Makai informed him.
“Well, forget it. I’ll say something at the wedding. Kleu, what that supposed to mean?”
He scooted his chair closer to hers as she tried her hardest not to laugh in his face.
“Boy, we can talk about it tomorrow.”
“Nah, we talking tonight.”
“Well, I would like to share a few words.” My mother cleared her throat, standing to her feet.
“Hi, Mom.” My cheeks flushed.
The empty seat beside her that Milo had reserved for my father made my stomach turn. However, the fact that my future husband was still holding space for him warmed my heart. My father was alive and well and couldn’t show up for me. Milo’s was buried many, many years ago and I’d bet my last dollar that he’d be in attendance if he was still living. As disheartening as it was, I didn’t let the thoughts linger.
“Hi, baby,” she responded, projecting her voice. “On behalf of Nature’s father and I, I’d like to officially welcome Milo to the family, although I feel like he’s been a part of us since you two were teens.”
Everyone agreed at once.
“Strangely, I’ve never worried about Nature, how her life would go, or who she would grow old with. The answer was always so clear to me. Every year, like clockwork, I accepted gifts on Nature’s birthday, some Christmas Eves, and whenever she accomplished something big, like opening her own practice.
“One thing Milo wouldn’t allow was for Nature to forget him. Every chance he got, he tried reminding her how much he was thinking of her and how special her day still was to him. Admittedly, I felt like I was in a love story that was never-ending, just waiting for the day that I turned the page and the couple were kissing and making up. Hearing that Mason was baking and who’d fathered him felt like that moment for me.
“And since, it’s been bliss watching this story and the starring characters evolve. Tonight, we celebrate such a beautiful love story and I’m so happy that it is Milo and Nature’s. I couldn’t wish for a better partner for my daughter. I have no doubt that you two will move mountains together. Congratulations, baby.”
I love you,I mouthed.
I love you, too,she mouthed.
The chatter quickly began again. I felt Milo’s head against my shoulder. Intoxication might’ve played a role in his actions, but I doubted it was the case. Milo was mindful of his drinking, knowing that he was the designated driver tonight.
