Page 41 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings

“Cambrie… it’s cool.” Staten reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Take your time.” He gave me a gentle squeeze, and somehow it made me feel better.

“Okay. I’m going to find the doctor. I’ll be right back.” Smiling, I turned to go.

When I pulled into that parking lot tonight, I was expecting the worst, but somehow being able to talk to my daddy in the present was a gift I was so grateful for.

I located his doctor and told him what was going on, so we traveled from the nurse’s station to his room together.

Staten leaned against the wall outside of his room with his head down, skimming his phone.

“Friend of yours?” Dr. Adkins wondered.

“Yes. He’s just here for support.”

“Okay, let’s go talk to Mr. Rhodes.” Dr. Adkins pushed the door open to the room.

Daddy sat up in bed now, and he’d turned the TV on to the news. There was this distant glare in his eyes before they focused on me. Stomach tanking and chest tightening, I prepared myself for the worst. Had he really slipped off that fast?

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” I managed to choke.

“A whole year has passed. Donald Trump is president again. How the hell y’all let that happen?” he ranted, waving the remote at the screen.

“Oh my God.” Eyes rolling back in annoyance, there was no denying the relief that overshadowed it.

Both Staten and the doctor chuckled as we filled up the room. Staten secured the door and remained on post with his arms across his broad chest. I loved how he was just a natural protector. He barely knew me but had shone up during a time I really needed a crutch.

“Mr. Rhodes, I’m your doctor here. I just want to go over a few things. Now that you’re lucid, we have the time to discuss treatment and other options for you during your stay. My job is to always make you as comfortable as possible.”

“Right now, I’m hungry. Brie, I need some of your potato salad and that fire-roasted chicken you be making.” Daddy rubbed his stomach. “Doc, shit so tender it falls off the bone.”

“Well, Mr. Rhodes, that is one of the things I would like to talk to you about. We need a meal plan for you. We need to get your cholesterol down as well as focus on your hypertension. So we have a few things for you to look over and sign. Your other tests all came back with no abnormalities. I truly think we need to start you on a regimen for walks and cardio exercises then monitor your stats from there. We’ve adjusted your medication as well.

All of these things we want to incorporate into a regular schedule for you.

Cambrie, we can set you up with the app so that you can also monitor him when you aren’t here.

We want to make sure all of us are always on the same page. ”

“Thank you. I love that idea. What do you say, Daddy?”

“I say I need to know what this diet regimen is. I ain’t no damn rabbit,” he grumbled, side-eyeing Dr. Adkins.

“Can you stop giving hell for once!” I yelled.

“You talking to me like you don’t even know me,” he huffed, shaking his head.

“Lord.” This man was going to drive me insane! “Daddy, we’re doing this. Sign the paper so I don’t have to deal with this when you’re not present, please?”

“Ain’t some big inheritance waiting for you when I go, Brie, so I hope you ain’t banking on that.” Daddy snatched the pen from Dr. Adkins, and I threw my head back.

“Having you lucid right now is a gift and a curse. You are a pain in the ass either way.” I punched his arm playfully, and he jotted his signature on a couple of documents.

“Can I get out of this bed and go for a walk? Get to know the place before I don’t know it,” he half-joked.

“Absolutely,” Dr. Adkins agreed with a chuckle. “You can take him back to his room when you’re done. I’ll come see you tomorrow and check on you, Mr. Rhodes.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved over his shoulders and kicked the covers off his legs.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed where his slippers waited, he eased them in one at a time.

In just his sweats and a t-shirt, I saw that he had gained a bit of weight.

I was so worried about making sure he was comfortable and giving him what he wanted that I had let him slip.

I was a physical therapist and part nutritionist at times, so I made sure to eat right for the most part.

I had to be more mindful of him and his health from now on.

Staten opened the door for us, and I led my father into the hall with one arm looped through his.

“Thank you for staying, Staten. You damn sure didn’t have to put up with me or my father,” I acknowledged, falling in stride with him while we exited the facility into the cool evening air.

“Nah, he’s alright with me. I appreciate somebody that’s blunt,” he replied, sucking in some fresh air and shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweater jacket.

“He’s that if nothing else.”

“That’s where you get it from,” he pointed out.

“I am not that bad.” I bumped him playfully with my shoulder.

He chuckled before glancing at me as we continued into the parking lot toward our cars. I noticed he’d parked right beside mine.

“You was a savage with Rogue that first night you met him.”

“Your son was the savage,” I reminded him.

“True. You gave that shit right back though.”

We stopped at the back of my car, and he faced me.

“You good with driving back?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m a big girl.”

Staten studied me, sweeping me away with those coal orbs of his.

I sensed there was something else on his mind.

Heat spread over every inch of me as my heart threatened to escape my control.

With the cusp of his hand, he swiped his beard.

Tension brewed between us, the kind that crept up your spine and into your chest, sending a sea of butterflies swimming in your stomach.

Usually the kids were able to distract me from it, but in this moment, that wasn’t the case.

“I was at the door when you were talking to him… about your mother and her accident.”

“It was a long time ago, but sometimes it still feels pretty fresh when he’s in that state,” I whispered. “I’ve tried to let it go, but when he doesn’t remember, it just makes it that much harder.”

“So, she had an accident then an aneurysm?”

“She was driving home one night, and there was some kind of car chase nearby there was gunfire. She ended up getting hit by one of the cars, and then the aneurysm came,” I explained, watching his face turn somber.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

He held up his wrist and checked the time.

“How about we go grab something to eat on the way back?” he suggested.

“Are you sure? Have you checked on Sol with the Terror Squad?”

“She just text me. They’re good. She ordered dinner and they’re playing board games and watching movies. I met with the school today and got them enrolled. Official start date is Wednesday, which means I need to do school shopping tomorrow.”

“I am kind of starving.” I scrunched up my nose as my stomach growled.

“Follow me. I know a spot.”

He went to his car, and I got in mine. About thirty minutes later, we arrived outside of a small restaurant on the side of the highway.

Trail Bistro was in big bold letters on a sign in the parking lot, which was packed.

Staten pulled in, and I was right behind him.

I parked and my phone buzzed with a new text message from Plum.

Bestie: So what am I now, chopped liver? (sad face emoji)

Me: LOL. Been a day. Grabbing some food with Staten on the way home. I’ll call you when I get there.

Bestie: Staten? Home? (looking eyes emoji)

Me: BYE!

I reached for the handle to my door, but it was already being pulled open, and Staten waited on the other side.

“Thank you.” I smiled and got out while shoving my phone back into my purse draped across my chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here. I saw the sign on the drive though.”

We reached the door, and Staten reached to open it for me.

Immediately, fried chicken, greens, and other soul food aromas hit us in the face.

The tables were filled with people from all different age groups.

An older couple shared a booth while a group of four college age-looking students laughed and joked around.

In the middle there was a family of four who looked like they might have just been passing through on a road trip.

One of the kids was half sleep with her head down on the table, clutching a small, beat-up stuffed rabbit.

I decided immediately that today was going to be a cheat day since I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Taking care of an entire household for sure had its challenges.

Laundry had piled up, and we were working on getting the kids’ rooms organized.

The kitchen was only spotless after breakfast. Throughout the rest of the day, it was a cycle of cleaning as I prepped meals.

It had been nothing short of eventful since my arrival.

Although chaotic, I liked that him and the kids kept me busy.

An older woman in a pair of jeans, a peach-colored blouse, and a grease-stained apron around her waist greeted us with a smile. She was a little flustered as she dealt with customers on her way to us but stopped and caught her breath while bringing her hands together.

“Welcome to Trail Bistro! What can I do for you two tonight?”

“A booth please,” Staten requested.

“I just had one cleaned in the back. Come right with me.” She picked up two menus from the entrance counter where there were people seated.

The place was full of warm vibes as people chattered and laughed with each other while stuffing their faces.

“Here you are. These are your menus. Can I start you with something to drink and our famous house rolls and honey butter?”

“I’ll take a lemon water,” I requested.

“Give me two shots of that Marek reserve whiskey, a glass of iced tea… and those rolls,” Staten told her as we slid into the booth across from one another.