Page 10 of His Noble Heart

“Sounds good.”

We embraced before parting ways. Before heading home, I called my mother to see if she was home.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Ma. I was calling to see if you were home.”

“No, but I’m headed that way.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you there.”

My parents didn’t live near me, but on the other side of town. The grocery store I preferred was near their house, and I decided I’d stop there before heading home for the evening.

About fifteen minutes later, I stopped in front of my childhood home. My mother was checking the mail as I parked and waited for me to get out.

“To what do I owe this visit?” she asked after we exchanged hugs and kisses.

“Ma, don’t act like I never come to visit.”

“You come less and less as you get older, but that’s fine. What’ve you been up to?”

I smacked my lips before responding. “We had a mandatory PD today. It was a waste of time, as most of them are.”

I followed her inside, closing the door behind me because she had the air conditioner on.

“I’m sure somebody got something out of it.”

“I doubt it. How was your day?”

My mother had been a very successful art buyer for many years and had recently transitioned into the role of art dealer. She specialized in African American art and thoroughly enjoyed her chosen career path.

“It was good. A little slower than I prefer, but not bad. Are you having dinner with us?”

“What time will Daddy be home?”

“The usual time. He?—”

“Who is that nigga watching the house in that car across the street?” my brother, Shyne, questioned as he entered the kitchen, startling us.

“Well, hello to you too, Son.”

“My bad, Ma.”

He hugged her and kissed her cheek before doing the same to me.

“What are you talking about?” Ma asked him.

“There’s a man in a car parked across the street. Him and his car don’t belong to the neighborhood unless there are new neighbors you didn’t mention.”

“I don’t think we got any new neighbors. Let me go look.”

The three of us headed to the front door, which Shyne had left open. Just as we stepped onto the porch, a car that looked eerily similar to Kenai’s screeched away.

“I didn’t get a good look at it, but by the way he drove away, he must’ve realized he was in the wrong place,” Ma said.

Although I had no idea if Kenai lived near my parents, I highly doubted he’d be sitting in front of their house. I decided not to mention anything to my brother because he would be ready to call the cavalry.

“Keep an eye out and let me or Jacob know if you see him lurking again,” Shyne said.