Page 19

THREE

I held the door open, welcoming Nadia inside of our parent’s home.

“They got to you, too?”

“Dad and his threats–” she huffed, “They sounded serious so I thought I’d come.”

With a shake of my head, I closed the door and followed her down the hall.

“I’m not with this shit. I could be at home resting my bones. I have an away game in two days.”

“Which is exactly why they chose today. They know your schedule better than you.”

Being that my parents were part of my staff, that was no surprise. My mother was my nutritionist and my father made all the brand deals with his eyes closed. His slick mouth was good for something.

“Unfortunately.”

“Sac!” My mother exclaimed. “Nadia. Good, you’re both here.”

“It only took three fucking hours. Neither of them were doing shit. Just holding us up.”

“We’re here, old man, so pipe down and let’s roll. I have to get back to the crib.”

“And sit on your ass. Go shoot some hoops or something. You missed twenty-four percent of your shots last night. That’s six percent more than the game against the Hawks. Instead of sitting on your ass… get in the gym.”

He turned around on the stool and waited for me to respond. If I did, we’d be all night. So, instead, I wrapped my arms around my mother.

“What’s up, lady?”

“Nothing. Here– take this.”

The large wicker basket was immediately transferred to my hands. It was full of simple things, but it was designed so elegantly. Ribbons, bows, and fabric worked together to elevate the simplicity of the gifts inside.

Wine.

Journal.

Robe.

Chocolate.

Two books.

Visa gift card.

Homemade cookies.

Brownies.

Ink pens .

“Nadia– take one of these.”

“Champagne… and wine?” Nadia asked, taking the wine.

“You never know what a girl is into until you ask. I haven’t had the chance to, so we’re bringing both.”

“That’s true.”

“Elio– come on, darling.”

“Come on and do what? Stand around? I’ve been ready to go for the last thirty minutes. When y’all start walking towards the door, I’ll know you for real. Until then, let me sit here in peace.”

“You wouldn’t know peace if it slapped you across the face,” I told him, using one of his favorite lines.

“Peace won’t know peace either if it came across my face. It’ll have to change its name after I’m done with it. And, that’s fa sho.”

Chuckling at his nonsense, I started toward the door. It was the only way to get the old man out of his seat. As expected, his long legs shuffled after hitting the floor. He wasn’t too far behind Nadia, our mother, and me.

The four of us exited the seven bedroom home I’d purchased them after signing to the Vultures. It was my first large purchase and the first promise I made good on once I made it to the league. They’d been in the hills of Mt. Clarke for nearly five years now. Both loved every minute of it.

With my father at the wheel, we piled onto the six passenger golf cart. Because homes had so much distance between them, it was the source of transportation when visiting neighbors. Everyone around us had carts.

We exited my parent’s gates and headed left.

I observed as Nadia retied the bow around the bottle of wine she held.

Long, slim fingers worked together to get the job done.

Nadia was three years older than me and had recently finished her residency.

She was a pediatric cardiologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon more specifically.

Her work was just as precious as she was. The precision of the bow once she’d finished was evident of her standard. Perfection . She aimed for it in everything she did because, most times, lives depended on it. The lives of young children who deserved to live long healthy lives.

By the time I finished admiring her handy work and the arch of her smile, we’d made it to our destination. Finally, she’d noticed she was being watched. She shook her head and squinted her big brown eyes.

“Weirdo.”

I wasn’t weird at all. I was proud. Nadia was as gifted as she was beautiful.

I couldn’t wait until the day she bumped into someone who wasn’t after her sanity.

I was ready to see that smile of hers more often.

She’d spent her entire adulthood chasing her medical dreams. Now that she was right where she wanted to be, I prayed love found her.

A good love. A worthy love. A lasting love.

“Whatever,” I whispered as the wheels on the cart stopped at the gate.

My mother leaned over and pressed the red button linked to the home’s security system. As her hand rested on her lap again, the gates began to part. The wheels began to turn again, but stopped when the separation of the gates halted after only parting a full foot.

Black loafers appeared before black slacks and suit jackets followed. With his hand on his hip, a young, anxious security guard approached the cart. The tilt of my father’s head revealed his thoughts, although he didn’t release them.

“Look at ‘em. This is the quietest I’ve ever seen his ass,” I whispered to Nadia.

“That won’t last long. We both know he’s analyzing everything. The moment he has collected all the data he needs, he will strike.”

“Can I help you?”

“Yes,” my mother spoke up, clearing her throat. “We’re here to welcome our new neighbor. We live just down the road. Technically, next door. We’d like to introduce ourselves. This is my daughter, Nadia. My son, Saint. And, my husband, Elio.”

My father nodded, still silent and observant.

“And that–” he tipped his head toward the basket in my hand.

“A gift,” I informed him, pushing it forward because I knew his curiosity would lead him to the wicker. His job would require a full inspection of the items inside.

He rounded the cart as another security guard of a similar stature appeared from behind the gate.

“Everything all good out here?” He asked, nearing the front of the cart.

“It should be,” I responded before his partner had the opportunity.

The one inspecting the contents of the gift basket paused to look up at me. Through squinted eyes, he gazed.

“No home court advantage over here, homie,” he warned. “Everybody gets the same treatment.”

“Which I’d assume. Otherwise, what’s the point of your occupation, right?”

With a nod, he agreed.

“Yeah, everything good.”

“So–” my mother cleared her throat, “We’re good to go inside?”

“One second,” the one closest to us demanded.

He turned slightly, pressing the button on the headset that was concealed rather well.

“Balle–” he said and then paused.

“Balle.”

After a few seconds, he continued.

“Neighbors from next door want to say hello. Are you accepting visitors at the moment?”

There was another pause.

“No guests inside. Those are the ru– I understa– Yes.”

Sighing, he waited for the person he was speaking to, to finish.

“Got it.”

His hands fell by his side as he took another good look at the cart.

“You’re welcome to step inside of the gate, but this stays out here.”

Wordlessly, I stepped off the cart. The dynamic shifted instantly.

I towered over both men, yet their energy remained the same.

I respected it. Respected them. As a man in the spotlight, I understood how important and how dangerous their jobs were.

Each day they put their lives on the line for the sake of saving someone else’s.

“Noted,” my father said, finally finding his voice.

Had he spoken earlier, we’d never make it inside. I’d be on my way home and my mother would be marking how many days she’d give him the silent treatment in her calendar. She didn’t argue. She hardly fussed. But, she could keep quiet for weeks at a time.

It drove my father wild. He was a talker. It was part of his personality. Having my mother ignore everything he said and not respond to a single line stressed him to the max. By the time she was ready to talk, he didn’t have anything else to say. It never failed.

The gate parted, allowing us to move forward.

Behind the white fence was pure bliss. Colorful flowers surrounded the multi-family home.

A bridge connected it to an in-law suite at the edge of the property.

Reflective of the home it was built beside, the suite was twice the size of the average home in Clarke.

Black SUVs lined the driveway. There were three in total. A Rolls Royce. An Escalade. And, a matte black G Wagon.

“Whatever the hell they do, I’m trying to do too,” my father claimed, admiring the home and surrounding elements.

“Hell they do anyway?” He asked to no one in particular.

“She–” security clarified.

“She?” Nadia questioned.

“She wakes up. She lives. She breathes. That’s her only responsibility on earth.”

The first guard we’d encountered explained.

“She has plans, so please make this introduction quick. Do not attempt to enter her home or– well, let’s just not do that.”

“Got it,” my father assured him.

He was still in awe of the home as we made it to the front door. His mouth had slackened. His eyes were wandering. At the door was the last place he wanted to be. He’d rather walk the property, and quite honestly, I’d rather join him.

My mother dragging us along each time a new neighbor moved in was a pain in my ass, but if I declined, I wouldn’t hear her sweet voice for a month. I couldn’t risk it. That would break something inside of me that only she could mend.

Without another word, both men stepped off the porch. They parted ways, making their way toward the fence. When they were out of ear range, they both stopped and collapsed their hands in front of them.

The locks on the door turned, signaling the opening of the door. However, my eyes were still on the men out in the yard. Curiosity furrowed my brows. I’d been around countless security guards in the last five years. These men were different.

“Hello–” I could hear the smile in my mother’s tone without seeing her beautiful face.