Page 21 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn

“What?” I was like a kid waiting for the juicy details.

“He cheated on me. The night before our wedding.”

“Oh, wow,” I responded, disappointed.

“That disrespectful ho had the nerve to interrupt our rehearsal dinner. I left out of there, and the first place I ran to was Dejuan’s house.”

“What did he say?” I was hanging on her every word.

“Before or after he gave me the best head of my life?”

My mouth hit the floor, then I screamed with laughter. “Mrs. Cooley!” I hissed while shaking my head. “Scandalous!”

She chuckled but wasn’t the least bit ashamed. “That’s my man, child. Everything I thought I wanted out of my ex wasn’t anything near what I received with the man who will love me to my grave.”

“That’s so beautiful,” I said.

“Don’t you want a beautiful story, Maddie?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“Then leave doubt buried with that no-good ass nigga who’s no longer keeping you from your destiny.”

Smiling, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve been married to Dejuan for forty-one years. The consistency he had then, he still has now. Was I a little afraid he’d lose interest in me at some point? Of course. Does he continue to show me that marrying him and having his kids was divine? Yes, he does. Every time he looks at me, I’m still that same woman he wooed all those years ago. We’ve just aged. And that’s okay. That’s a blessing.”

Hearing her speak so highly of her husband was what I wanted to feel for a man. I wanted to speak about him and have listeners feel the love I spoke of. Mrs. Cooley’s words weren’t just for show. Mr. Cooley exuded every word she spoke of him.

“Thank you for telling me this, Mrs. Cooley.”

“Of course, dear. Can’t have you breaking my son’s heart. He’s his father’s son in more ways than one.” She shook her head and laughed. “That’s another story for another day.”

Baltimore entered the dining room carrying Genesis against his chest. Genesis looked worn out and, with a bottle in his mouth, was about to be fast asleep.

“Mind if I interrupt?” Baltimore asked.

“Of course, not,” his mother answered. “I’ll go put Genesis down for you.”

Baltimore handed his mother Genesis, then reached for my hand. “I gotta show you something,” he said.

He led me through the large mansion and into a library that looked like centuries worth of literature, keepsakes, and history were in there.

“This place is phenomenal,” I gushed.

“Everything you need to know about the Cooley family is in this room.”

He walked me from corner to corner, showing me black and white pictures of his family, the houses they’d lived in over the generations, and the many accomplishments each of the family members had amassed. I knew that Baltimore’s family owned their own real estate firm, but looking at all these photographs made me feel like they were much more.

Listening to him explain different times of his life by just glancing at one picture was entertaining. I found myself laughing so hard at him and some of the things he and Dayton did. He took me to another case holding a ton of baseball memorabilia. Seeing his face and name plastered on the cards, posters, and magazines, I gasped.

Amused, he said, “That was me in another lifetime.”

“Wait… These are all your trophies?” There had to be over a dozen, including national championship titles ranging from T-ball to collegiate level baseball.

“Yes,” he confirmed.

“What the hell are you doing being a security guard?” I fussed.