Page 60 of Steel

“When did you do this?” I asked, looking around.

“A few months ago. I was working through my grief and decided to take on a project.”

“It looks good.”

“This was Donna’s room growing up,” she said softly. “I thought it would make her closer to him . . . Maybe her spirit would cover him.”

I pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sure she will.”

She sighed heavily. “I just wanted a little piece of her for him. I know she’s always with me.”

“She is, Ma. I know she’s happy you have him for the weekend. She’s up there watching over both of you.”

“I know.” She pulled away and kissed my cheek. “Now go on. Get outta here and let Grandma do what grandmas do.”

I chuckled. “I’m gone. Be a good boy, Fat Man.”

I gave my son several kisses before leaving the room. I could hear her showing him around, and it made my heart smile. He was going to be okay, and so was she.

“Where’s my nephew?”Smoke asked, passing me the blunt.

We were in his man cave, kicking it. These days, we usually met up over here since he had all these damn kids. Juri barely liked to let him out of her sight. When we first got here and came in the room, she was outside banging on the door, yelling “Daddy!” until he opened it. She had the nerve to point at the door and say “No” like, nigga, don’t lock me out.

He let her chill with us for a little bit before she was satisfied enough to leave us be. It was always funny to see the two of theminteract. She wasn’t his blood daughter, but I swear she acted like that nigga and was just as mean as him.

“With Donna’s mom,” I answered.

“Word?”

“She asked to keep him for the weekend. You know we’ve been waiting on her to come around.”

“How’s she holding up?” Deuce asked.

“Decent. Of course she’s still grieving. I mean, it’s only been about eight months now.”

Maceo shook his head. “I’d be no fucking good, man. Losing my baby? That would fuck me up.” He looked over at me. “How areyou? We haven’t really talked about it much. Is she the reason you crashed out the other night? You been spaced out for a lil’ minute now.”

“Nah, Donna ain’t the reason. I’m dealing with my shit with her. I miss that girl, bruh. Donna was a real one. One of the only females I was ever genuine friends with. I had mad love and respect for her.”

“I could have sworn you were in love,” Quaid commented. “Watching you with her, . . . I thought y’all changed your minds.”

I chuckled. “Nah. She was adamant she didn’t want a relationship with my ass, and I let her have that. But she gave me Fat Man. That made us different in the way we handled each other.”

Maceo chuckled. “I’m not speaking ill of the dearly departed, but you were handling more than that big ol’ ass on her.”

I smirked. “Just say you ain’t built to handle a BBW, my nigga.”

“I’ve fucked a plush pal or two in my day. I had to get up outta that though. A nigga was trying to be a ho, and I was ready to marry that pussy.”

Deuce shook his head. “You ignant as fuck.” He turned to me. “When you planning on actually getting back out there, Steel? Imean, you let all of us beat you to the altar, my nigga. You were supposed to be the first of us to get married, ’til you got your damn heart broken.”

My smile shifted. “I don’t know, man.”

“At least get you some ass,” Smoke said, taking a sip of his beer. “No need to be heartbroken and backed up.”

Quaid palmed his face. “Y’all give horrible advice sometimes. Let the man grieve and focus his energy on KJ.”

Smoke frowned. “Shut the fuck up, Urkel. Just ’cause you were used to having blue balls before you met my sister?—”