Page 23

GERMAYNE

C aleb and I have been enjoying our bonding day, making me the happiest man in the world. Today confirms that locking Chaniya down for life means I will inherit two of the best things this side of Heaven.

“Good job, C. Shoot again, big man,” I encourage.

“My arms are getting tired, Papa G. Can you please help me?”

My heart stops and air rushes in my ears while my eyes blink continuously at the new name Caleb has attached to me.

Jesus! This little boy is about to have me out here in this public place, shedding buckets of tears.

What is Cha-Cha gonna say when she hears him call me this?

Lord, please don’t let me fuck up with this woman.

I promise I didn’t coerce him into this.

How will I get Cha-Cha not to send me packing over this one?

“Papa G, are you okay?” Caleb questions, looking at me.

“Uh-um, yeah, I’m good. Why did you call me that, C?”

“Because you are. Now, can you help me?” Caleb gives me a duh expression while waiting for me to assist him with throwing the ball into the basket.

Shaking off my swirling thoughts and shock, I move to lift Caleb off his feet while running at full speed before giving him instructions again.

“Shoot it, C. We got this!”

Lord, please don’t let his mama kill or leave me over this.

“Ooh, you got a grandma too, Papa G. I knew you were cool. I got two grandmothers,” Caleb says excitedly when I pull into Grandma Jolene’s driveway.

I had no intention of coming by, but Grandma Jolene called, requesting me to change the batteries in her smoke detectors.

“Well, you’re cooler than I am because I only have one grandmother. Unbuckle your seat belt, and I’ll get your door. If we don’t get in here, she’s only gonna call me again, rushing me.”

Caleb giggles at hearing my statement while doing what I asked, and I exit the vehicle before opening the back door to let him out.

Chaniya had been adamant about putting the child lock on whenever Caleb rode with me, which I’m still adjusting to.

Caleb is the first kid I’ve entertained on this level.

I haven’t dated a lot of women with kids and I have never brought them to meet Grandma Jolene, so it’ll be interesting to see how Grandma Jolene responds to Caleb.

However, since she loves Chaniya, I’m sure Caleb will be in like Flynn.

“I hope your grandmother likes me.” Caleb runs his hands down his shirt, removing the nonexistent wrinkles once we climb on the porch.

“She will, and if not, I’ll put her in a headlock until she changes her mind. How’s that sound?”

Caleb’s hand covers his mouth, and his giggles cause my heart to skip a beat at the sound that matches the jovial expression in his bright eyes.

“You can’t do that. It’ll hurt her.” Caleb giggles.

“Okay. Fine, but if she’s mean, turn your head and leave the room. I got you.” Smirking, I insert my key into the front door, allowing Caleb to enter before me.

“Grandma Jolene! I’m here,” I shout after closing and securing the front door.

“We’re in the recreation room,” Grandma Jolene returns, causing my brows to wrinkle because there aren’t any other cars in the driveway but mine.

Interlocking Caleb’s hand with mine, I lead us back to the room where Grandma Jolene and her mystery guest are frolicking. If Jolene Malone has a man in here, Caleb might see someone get put in a headlock after all.

“Oh. Well, who do we have here?” Ma says with her eyes on Caleb, wearing a weary smile.

“Where is y’all car?” I ask.

Mom, Dad, and Grandma Jolene don’t acknowledge me as all of their gazes are on Caleb, who tightens his grip on my hand.

“It’s cool, C. This is my mom, Mrs. Adele. That’s my dad, Mr. Glynn. Last but not least is my grandma, Jolene,” I introduce with my eyes on Caleb, who looks at my family members before shifting his gaze to me.

“They look nice. Can I go hug them?” Caleb asks.

“Sure you can, pudding. Come on over here and give me some love.” Ma interjects.

“Son?” Dad’s voice adds, and I can hear the question within the unspoken question, which pushes me to provide a necessary response.

“This is Caleb. Chaniya is his mom,” I inform my parents and grandmother.

“Oh. Well, aren’t you just darling,” Grandma Jolene states when Caleb hugs her around the waist after leaving Mom.

A smile upturns my lips at seeing the warm welcome from my senior relatives, especially since I’m planning on making Chaniya and Caleb a part of our family.

“Ooh, you give hugs like my nana. I like you,” Caleb utters while holding onto Grandma Jolene.

Caleb’s statement reminds me of the tension between Nana and Grandma Jolene that has to be resolved before our families unite.

“Hey, little buddy. How’s it going?” Dad greets Caleb, giving him a five instead of a hug, yet the adoration in Dad’s eyes isn’t any less prominent than Ma or Grandma Jolene’s is.

“You’re big like my daddy.” Caleb’s eyes balloon at looking at Dad once he’s standing.

A goofier grin forms at hearing Caleb’s reference despite seeing the wrinkles in Dad’s forehead at the comparison.

“Who’s your dad, C?” I ask, although I already know what he’s going to confirm.

“You are, silly.” Caleb points to me before turning back to look at my dad before wrapping his little arms around Dad’s legs.

“Oh my,” Ma whispers.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Dad utters before bending to lift Caleb into his broad arms while returning the hug.

“Same charm as his mother. I’m in love,” Grandma Jolene utters.

“Why did you pull me out here? I want to finish baking cookies with Caleb,” Grandma Jolene protests.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this time with Caleb, but you and I have bigger fish to fry. Ma and Dad can spend time with Caleb until we’re done.”

“Boy. What fish are you talking about? I ain’t done nothing to your tail,” Grandma Jolene questions with her hands resting on both sides of her waist. The daggers she’s staring at me to match the tightness around her eyes should be intimidating, yet I’m anything but moved.

“This moment signifies more than cookie baking, and I need to get to the?—”

“Germayne Kadeem Malone, . . . get to the point or shut the hell up.” Grandma Jolene interjects.

“What’s the deal between you and Chaniya’s grandmother?”

Grandma Jolene rolls her eyes hard enough for them to get stuck in her head before blowing air and crossing her arms over her chest.

“I don’t want to?—”

“Too bad. Look, Grandma Jolene. Disrespecting you is the last thing I want to do, but allowing you to jeopardize my future isn’t a risk I’m going to take. Tell me what the beef is about, please.”

“You better mind your mann?—”

“I’m sorry, but can you please tell me what the issue is so I understand the situation better?”

“Fine. Back in high school, Edna and I were the best of friends. Everything changed when Car?—”

“Please tell me you and that woman aren’t beefing over a man. Please. If you’re about to?—”

“It is over a man because I didn’t know that Carter had been playing find that lollipop with Edna. I thought he was only interested in me, but she had him first,” Grandma Jolene concludes with a resting bitch face that has me shaking my head at this childish information.

“You mean to tell me that you and Nana are still beefing over a nigga that neither one of y’all asses are with today?” I chuckle lowly because this is the dumbest shit I’ve heard in a long time.

“Yep,” Grandma Jolene confirms, popping the p to enunciate her meaningless point.

“Not at the risk of my happiness, y’all won’t. Hold on.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial Nana’s number to end this bullshit beef.

Their old asses got me and my future fucked up.

“How’s my new grandson doing?” Nana greets when the call connects after the third ring.

“I’ll be better soon as we get some things ironed out. Can you come to—” I pause to give Grandma Jolene a pleading look before continuing. “Sorry, can you come to 1068 Usemar Drive? I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Is everything okay with Chaniya and Caleb?” Nana questions.

“Yes, ma’am. This is important, though,” I confirm.

“Alright, I’m on my way,” Nana says before disconnecting the call.

“Why the hell did you invite that prude to my house, Germayne?” Grandma Jolene asks.

“What y’all have going on ends before I leave here because I’m marrying Chaniya and adopting Caleb. That means family over everything, so y’all old asses are about to squash this shit.” With that, I return to the house to wait for Nana's arrival.

Feeling confident that the meeting will go well, I quickly text Chaniya.

Me: Hey Cha-Cha. Be ready at seven. Caleb and I are gonna pick you up for dinner.

“Okay, don’t forget. We’re going to walk mommy to my car and open the door for her.” I reiterate the instructions I had given Caleb before we got out.

“Okay. I won’t.” Caleb confirms just as the front door opens, and a smiling Chaniya comes into view.

“Well, alright now. When you left here this morning, you were my baby. Now I don’t know who this is. Thank you, sweetie.” Chaniya gushes when Caleb hands her a bouquet of flowers.

“I’m a big boy, Mommy. Papa G said all beautiful ladies should know it.” Caleb smiles.

My heart is hammering in my chest to see if Chaniya is about to be cool or come out of the bag after hearing what Caleb just called me.

“Papa G?” Chaniya’s forehead wrinkles, but her eyes are on Caleb, causing my hands to perspire slightly.

Jesus, please!

“Mhm. He’s cool. He teaches me stuff. He taught me how to make his special pancakes. He buys me stuff. He takes me places. I don’t want to be like my friend Jonas anymore. Can Papa G please be my dad, Mommy?” Caleb pleads.

For the first time since Chaniya opened the front door for us, her eyes moved from Caleb to me. Within her penetrating gaze, I see a mix of emotions and reservations that push me to speak.

“I’ve claimed him, too, if that makes you feel better. I didn’t pressure or provoke him or provide the name he’s been calling me since a few hours ago. We can discuss it in detail after we put him to bed tonight. For now, can me and Caleb continue with our dinner plans?”

Wordlessly and with misty eyes, Chaniya nods, stepping onto the porch. Taking Chaniya’s keys, I quickly lock the front door before Caleb and I each take one of her hands, guiding her off the porch and to my SUV.

“Wait, Mommy. Let me get it,” Caleb tells Chaniya when she’s about to touch the door handle.

“Oh. I’m sorry, baby.”

Smiling wide, I watch Caleb open the passenger door, allowing Chaniya to enter. Chaniya turns toward us after she fastens her seat belt, with her eyes watery, giving us a nod. Stepping forward, I lean in to kiss her cheek before backing up to close her door. Then I high-five Caleb.

“Good job, C. Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Alright, Papa G. Let’s go.” Opening his door, Caleb hops into his booster seat, secures his seat belt, and gives the same nod his mother did before I shut the door and walk to my side.

Through deep, satisfying breaths, my lungs expand to their fullest when I enter and see the glowing expression of love shining within Chaniya’s eyes.

“I love you,” Chaniya says lowly.

“Trust me, . . . I love y’all more.”