Monica came up to me, moving her head from side to side so her hair could swing. “Uh, no, ma’am. Pantene is not for me. I’m a Dark & Lovely kind of gal. You should try it, but since your hair is always bouncing and behaving, I doubt that you will.”
Monica swiped the back of my hair, trying to mess it up. I held up my spatula in defense. “Girl, you’d better back up before I cut you. You know I will hurt you for putting your hands on me.”
Monica picked up a Jimmy Dean sausage and put it into her mouth. “You’ve been around Roc for too long. Put that darn spatula down and get back to flipping those pancakes before they burn.”
“Don’t blame that shit on me,” Roc said, coming into the kitchen with white silk pajama pants on. They hung low on his waist and he was without a shirt. Yes, Monica was drooling, but she quickly closed her mouth and pretended to be occupied with setting the table.
Roc came up to me, kissed my cheek, and grabbed a sausage as well. “As I was saying . . . Dez was gangsta before I met her, so don’t go blamin’ me for bein’ a bad influence.”
“You got that right,” Monica said. “I was just trying to make an excuse for her.”
I threw my hand back at Monica and hoped she wouldn’t get started on stories about our younger days. “Baby, why are you up so early? We won’t be finished for at least another forty-five minutes.”
Roc folded his arms while leaning against the counter next to me. “All I could smell was IHOP and I knew somethin’ good was cookin’. Besides, I didn’t feel that warm body next to mine and I couldn’t get comfortable.”
“I know how that is,” I said, giving him a kiss.
“I’m gon’ take a shower and put on some clothes. Hopefully breakfast will be ready when I get back. If not,” he said, picking up another sausage, “you in trouble.”
“I’ll be sure to take my time. But if you and Monica keep eating up all of the sausage, I’m going to be standing here until noon, cooking.”
Roc swayed his hand across my ass and squeezed it. “Umph, umph, umph,” he said. “If only you knew what you do to me, especially in the mornin’.”
He left the kitchen, shaking his head. Monica couldn’t wait to add her two cents. “If you would like for me to finish up while you go get you a shot or two, I will be more than happy to take over.”
I laughed at Monica trying to take the spatula from my hand. I bumped her with my hips, telling her to move aside. “Would you move, please? I’ve already had enough shots and don’t need another one right now.”
Monica leaned her backside against the counter, biting her nail and looking in the direction of my bedroom. “I don’t see how you do it, Dee. I would be in that room, right now, wearing him out! Girl, Roc is so handsome, and he really missed his calling as a model. That Polo guy better watch out! He’d better hope Mr. Roc never comes for his job.”
We laughed and I couldn’t agree more. “I told him the same thing, but he let a good opportunity pass him by.”
“How are things going with Chassidy? Has she gotten any more bites from any modeling agencies?”
“Not in a while. I haven’t had any recent pictures of her taken, but I’m going to soon, especially since the holidays are coming up. I’m going to make sure I take plenty of pictures.”
“Good idea.”
Monica helped me with breakfast and we were all done by 7:35 A.M. I woke up Chassidy and Li’l Roc, getting them both ready for breakfast. Roc had showered, but had lain across the bed and gone back to sleep. I figured he needed all of the rest he could get, especially since we had plans to go to his cousin’s wedding at three. Latrel was going to watch Chassidy, and Roc was taking Li’l Roc to his grandmother’s house. We had arranged to stay at a hotel for the night, only because the reception was there as well.
The doorbell rang and Latrel had gone to get it. Everyone was all seated at the table, with the exception of Roc. Sherri came in, looking very classy in her nicely fitted stretch jeans, stilettos, and silk shirt. Her hair was cut short and her makeup was on like a work of art. Latrel still didn’t seem excited about her, as I had hoped, and in no way did I understand why. She was so polite, and had come in with a yellow flower and card in her hand.
“Good morning, Ms. Jenkins,” she said, giving me a hug. “Thank you so much for inviting me over, and these are for you.”
“Aww, that was so sweet of you,” I said, hugging her back. She spoke to everyone around the table and I got up to get a vase for my flower. Latrel helped Sherri with her chair, and everyone was waiting on me to bless the food.
“Would you hurry it up?” Monica said. “These pancakes are stacked so high and they’re about to fall over. Me and Li’l Roc hungry, shoot!”
Monica was sitting next to Li’l Roc and he laughed at her while kicking his feet underneath the table. Monica picked up her fork and started hitting it on the table, chanting, “Hurry.” He did the same thing and so did Chassidy. Everyone laughed, and as soon as I put my flower into a vase, I blessed the food and we started to eat.
The kitchen was rather noisy, as everyone was talking and the television was on in the background. Li’l Roc and Chassidy liked to watch the cartoons, so they were tuned in. Monica was asking Sherri all kinds of questions, but she was sharp with her answers and truly impressed the heck out of me. I wasn’t trying to jump the gun or anything, but I could really see someone like her as my daughter-in-law. Up until now I wasn’t so sure, but her presence truly lit up the room. I noticed Latrel’s demeanor too, and I could tell he was starting to let his guard down as well. He had mentioned another girl at school who he was dating, but hopefully he’d begin to see the light.
“So, Sherri,” Monica said, cutting into her pancakes. “What do you think of our president? Obama is wonderful, isn’t he?”
Sherri shrugged. “He’s okay. He’s kind of growing the deficit too fast for me and I hope he will manage to get all of this spending under control. Besides, I didn’t vote for him. I voted for John McCain.”
Monica damn near choked on her food and she kicked me underneath the table. “John McCain? You’re a Republican?”
All of us had stopped eating, waiting for Sherri to answer. Now, I had nothing against Republicans, but we were all very progressive Democrats. “Yes, I’m a Republican, but if we don’t come up with a decent candidate in 2012 to defeat Obama, I’m not sure if I’ll be voting at all.”
I was trying hard to hold my peace, but some political talk was hard to ignore. This time I kicked Monica underneath the table and I could see steam coming from her ears. Latrel spoke up before either of us did.
“Time to change the subject,” he suggested. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but no one can ignore or deny Obama’s efforts to get this country back on track. We didn’t get to this point overnight and he can’t fix all of our problems overnight. Anyone expecting him to can, frankly, and no offense to Republicans, Sherri, but they can go to hell.”
Monica smiled, but I held mine in. Latrel said exactly what I would have said, but I didn’t want Sherri to feel uncomfortable because she had different views. I did change the subject, and when we started talking about reality TV shows, that had all of us cracking up. Even Latrel.
“I don’t see how y’all watch that stuff,” he said. “Most of it is fake and it is all for the ratings. The more outrageous those people are, the more people watch.”
“That’s the purpose,” Monica said. “But them Kardashian sisters be working me. I be like . . . go somewhere and sit down, even though I can’t get enough of them!”
We laughed, all agreeing again.
Breakfast lasted for about two hours, and Monica stayed in the kitchen with me to clean up. Everyone else was downstairs in the basement and the loud music was causing the floor to vibrate. I had gone in the bedroom to check on Roc, but he was still asleep. We’d had a long night, so I closed the door so he could get some rest.
“Latrel needs to turn that music down,” I griped, making my w
ay back into the kitchen. Monica was putting the dishes in the dishwasher and had already made progress on the messy kitchen.
“It is rather loud, and Miss Republican probably down there shielding her ears from the lyrics.”
I hit Monica with a towel. “Be nice. Republican or not, she’s still a nice young lady. She has a good family background, and the young lady is going to school to be a doctor. Thus far, she’s the best thing Latrel has brought into this house, and I’m not going to complain.”
“Well, I wonder if she’s using any of that money Obama made available for college students, or if she’s using those healthcare benefits that were extended to kids still in college under their parents’ insurance plans.”
“You got a point, okay? But let it go, Monica.” I laughed. “Girl, let it go! I feel you, and I know none of it makes sense.”
Unfortunately, Monica kept it going, this time putting her hand on her hip. “And then . . . she had the nerve to come in here with that flower, sucking up to you with a cheesy card. I wanted to throw up, and she blew it with me right then and there.”
I covered my mouth and couldn’t believe how upset Monica was about Sherri. When Roc came into the kitchen, she finally changed the subject.
“Did you get enough rest?” Monica asked. “I hope so, and I got you a full plate of pancakes, maple sausage, grits, cheese eggs, and biscuits right there on the table.”
“Thanks,” Roc said, smiling and taking a seat at the table. He now had on a pair of shorts and a white wife beater so Monica was able to contain herself a little better. She and I kept cleaning the kitchen, talking here and there as Roc ate his food. I didn’t hear his cell phone ring, but his Bluetooth lit up, meaning that he had a call. I continued to talk to Monica while listening to him raise his voice at someone who was asking for money.
“It’s the day of the gotdamn weddin’ and those fools still beggin’? As much money as I’ve given up, this should have been my weddin’. You tell his ass I ain’t got it. Fuck that. Niggas need to get they shit together.” Roc paused, trying to eat his food and talk at the same time. All of the cursing was working me, but I had gotten used to it. “Look, I’m just a groomsman. Holla at the best man, or call Ronnie and ask him for it. I will predict that you’ll be wastin’ your time and he gon’ say the same damn thing. A weddin’ can go on without flowers.”
Roc ended the call and Monica and I left the kitchen, leaving him at peace. We sat in the hearth room that was attached to the kitchen.
I wiped across my forehead, sitting on the sofa. “I am soooo tired. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through this day. I at least need to get in one or two hours of sleep before the wedding.”
Monica looked at her watch. “It’s almost noon, and you don’t have much time. I’m glad you found something nice to wear and I love the dress you picked out.”
“I like it too, and I was a little bit worried because these hips of mine always get me in trouble. I’ve lost a few pounds, but if I start moving in the other direction, I’m going to have to have my clothes special made. With my waistline being smaller, it’s hard to find clothes that fit me the right way.”
“Yeah, that’s a shame, too, because you do have a very nice shape. I know you may disagree, but you’re blessed that everything is proportioned in the right places.”
I’d heard that many, many times before; that’s why I rarely complained about my weight. Roc seemed happy with it and that was a good thing. I watched as he put his plate in the sink, stretching his arms. Right after, Latrel, Sherri, and the kids came upstairs, and when Latrel put Chassidy down, she and Li’l Roc came over to me. I hugged them both, but couldn’t help noticing Sherri staring at Roc and him staring at her. Latrel introduced the two of them and they both gave fake smiles. Li’l Roc got Roc’s attention when he went over to him and tapped his leg.
“Daddy, what time am I going over to my granny’s house?” he asked.
“In a li’l bit.” Roc reached in his pocket and gave Li’l Roc his phone. “Call her to make sure she’ll be at home.”
Li’l Roc took the phone and went into another room to call her. Latrel and Roc kicked up a conversation, but Sherri couldn’t keep her eyes off Roc. I couldn’t keep my eyes off them, and Monica’s eyes were on me.
“Yeah, like Prudential, she wants a piece of the Roc,” Monica whispered. “She’s got the hots for him, and how disrespectful for her to stand there looking at him like that.”
“So I guess she’s not allowed to look at a nice-looking man when she sees one, huh? Please give that young lady a break.”
Monica sat back with her lips pursed and legs crossed. Sherri headed our way, informing me that she was about to leave.
“Thank you so much for inviting me over, Ms. Jenkins,” she said, hugging me again. I stood up and thanked her for coming.
“You are welcome to come back anytime. Usually, Latrel comes home every other weekend, and I hope the two of you keep in touch.”
She had her fingers crossed. “He did ask me to go on another date with him next week, so we’ll see.” She giggled, and after she told Monica and Roc good-bye, Latrel walked her to the door.
Time was moving fast, so Monica was on her way out and Latrel had offered to take Li’l Roc to his grandmother’s house. He and Chassidy were going to see Reggie, and then he had plans to take her to the movies. I gave away plenty of kisses and hugs before sending everyone out of the door with a good-bye. I went into my bedroom, falling back on my comfortable bed and wanting to stay there. Roc climbed on top of me, pecking my neck.
“Mmmm,” he mumbled. “I am so glad that everybody is gone. We still got a li’l time to shake somethin’ up in here before we go, don’t we?”
“Unfortunately not. As tired as I am, I would just lie here like a dead duck and let you do all of the work.”
“That sounds like a plan to me, and just bein’ inside of your pussy excites the hell out of me.”
I slightly pushed Roc’s chest back so I could look into his eyes. “Tonight, okay? You have all night to do whatever you wish, but please let me get at least an hour of sleep in before we go.”
“That hour is going to make you more tired, but go for it. I’ll let you get some rest and wake you up around one-thirty so you can get ready.”
“Thanks, snookums.”
Roc eased his way off of me and stood up. “Don’t start that shit. You haven’t called me that in a long time. That only means you want somethin’ from me.”
I laughed, as he was so right. I turned sideways, holding my head up with my hand. “I didn’t want anything, but I did want to ask you something.”
“What’s up?” he asked, folding his arms in front of him.
“Did you know Sherri? I mean, there was just something about the way you looked at her and she looked at you.”
Roc hesitated, then bent over on the bed to come face to face with me. “Remember that lie you told me about Greg? I’m not gon’ do you like you did me, but, yes, I do know Sherri.”
My stomach tightened, and I was almost afraid to ask how, but what the hell? “Do you mind telling me how you know her?”
Roc tapped the side of his temple with his finger. “Well, let’s see. A few years back, I met her at a party and we got to know each other.”
“As in sexually? She told Latrel she was a virgin, but I guess that was a lie.”
“Ay, that’s how women do it. Big lie. I owned and boned it several times, and she wasn’t no virgin when I hit it, either.”
Yes, I was starting to frown, even though this was before my time. “Why did the two of you stop seeing each other?”
“It was just a fuck thing and fuck things don’t last for long. She wanted more, but I wasn’t givin’ more. She stopped callin’ me and the rest is history.”
“Truthfully, was it before or after you met me?”
“I don’t always remember timelines, baby, but it was at least a year, maybe two before then. What difference do
es it make? Ain’t nothin’ poppin’ with me and that chick.”
I reached over to my phone on the nightstand, dialing Latrel’s cell phone number. He answered right away.
“When is your next date with Sherri?”
“I told her next week, Mama, but I don’t know—”
“Cancel it.”
“What?” he laughed. “What did she do now? I guess Monica got through to you, huh?”
“No, she didn’t. I jus’ . . . I just don’t think she would be good for you, that’s all.”
“Mama, now you know I don’t like you getting in my business like this. And just because she’s a Republican, it doesn’t mean she’s a bad person. Don’t be like that, and you have always taught me not to judge people, even though you tend to do it a lot.”
“I know, but forgive me. It’s not because she’s a Republican, it’s because she was intimate with Roc before. Didn’t she tell you she was a virgin? I don’t want you to involve yourself with a woman who lies to you.”
Roc was standing in front of me, shaking his head. “Ain’t that about nothin’,” he said. “You know you be killin’ me.”
I smiled at him and put my finger over my lip, asking him to be quiet.
“I can see why that would concern you,” Latrel said. “But it doesn’t concern me, especially if it happened a long time ago. Either way, the only reason I took Sherri out on those dates was because of you. She was decent, but in no way is she my type. I will soon show you my type, and I have been dating her for the past eight months. The only reason that I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want to hear your comments about who I should or shouldn’t be dating. Good-bye, Mama, and have a good time at the wedding.”
I quickly sat up on the bed. “Eight months? Why didn’t you say anything? Is she black, white . . . what? I hope she’s . . . Well, you already know what I’m going to say, and make sure she is not a Republican. Please.”
“I’m hanging up, Mama. I don’t like to talk while I’m driving and if you want to put your precious cargo at risk of having an accident—”
Full Figured 3: Carl Weber Presents Page 8