“It’s how I met her.”
Nicky looked surprised. “Oh really? And she’s Okay with that?” Tommy nodded giggling like a little boy being asked about his girlfriend. “So, I take it she’s the one?” she asked pointedly.
Tommy thought about her question. Was Donnie the one? His behavior as of lately pointed to yes. But when he looked at Nicky standing there in the kitchen looking as delicious as the icing she was licking off of her fingers while informing him how sexually deprived she was, old feelings resurfaced and he smiled.
“What’s so funny?” Nicky asked.
“Nothing. It’s just that you’re accusing me of having a thing for redbones, and…here I am in the mood for some chocolate love.” Tommy said licking his full lips. LL Cool J style.
Nicky came over and hugged him while grinding her pelvis against his crotch causing his nature to rise. Tommy wondered what the hell he was doing when he felt his arms circle her waist and squeeze her tightly. Her shoulders slumped and she let out a sigh as his large hands traveled down to her firm ass and squeezed. Nicky pulled away and gently caressed his face then planted a wet kiss on his lips and looked at him with a hungry look in her big brown eyes. Both were close to the point of knocking everything off the table and doing it right there.
Bug-Out suddenly stuck his head in the door. “Yo Aunt Carla wanna know how long it takes to light the…candles-Oh snap!” Both Tommy and Nicky jumped back, busted. Bug-Out’s thin face outlined a sly grin. “I’ll-um tell ‘em you need a couple minutes more.” He winked and closed the door behind him.
Tommy and Nicky stood before each other feeling as awkward as their first date.
“Um, you know what?-I’ma uh, finish lighting these candles!” Tommy stuttered.
“Yes, you do that.” Nicky said smiling uncomfortably and put some distance between them.
Tommy felt stupid. What was he thinking? He wanted to know. And what if his mother or worse Donnie had walked into the kitchen? What then? Only moments ago, he assured his girlfriend that she had nothing to fear and here he was standing beside his ex-wife with a huge boner.
“We’d um better take the cake out now.” Nicky said.
“Give me a minute.” Tommy said as he thought about baseball and anything else to lower his boner.
Out in the living room Carla rounded up everyone as Smitty got his oversized video camera ready. Tommy walked out of the kitchen with Nicky carrying Tee-Tee’s cake and placed it before her as the family sang along with Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday to You’. Tee-Tee shut her eyes and mouthed her wish then blew out her candles. Everyone applauded then presented her with her gifts.
Tee-tee made out like a bandit. She received a pair of Kerbangers, a large Black Barbie styling head, an E-Z bake oven, a talking Teddy Ruxpin, a Monchhichi, Lite Brite, an Etch-A-Sketch, a big bag filled with her favorite candy and birthday cards stuffed with money. Her father gave her an engraved charm bracelet. She squealed with joy, when she tore open the African American Cabbage Patch doll her mother eventually found at the last minute. Nicky gave her a collection of picture books to help strengthen her reading skills and Donnie gave her a beautiful handmade African Princess doll with long braids dressed in a dashiki she found in a quaint little store in Harlem and Tee-Tee loved both. With all the attention heaped upon her the birthday girl was very gracious.
Tommy knew that no one was going to give his sister the kind of gift that a young lady her age should receive and took it upon himself. He proudly presented her with a flyy denim jacket with leather sleeves that had her name and portrait beautifully spray painted on the back. He had it made by Dapper Dan, the legendary Harlem clothier who created one-of-a-kind gangster chic garments. His client list included everyone from the young capitalists rich from the crack trade to famous entertainers and sports figures. It was also where Tommy got a lot of his custom made stylish outfits as well. Out of all her gifts Tee-Tee loved it the most. When she slipped into it and modeled it for everyone Tommy knew he made the right decision and he felt good when he saw her almost behaving like a normal young lady with a clothes fetish.
As it started to get late people began to head out and Tommy’s parents asked him to walk them outside. He told Donnie he would be right back and left her chatting with Laquita and playing with AJ. Thanks to Gabby’s inability to keep a secret he already knew that they were planning a trip to New Orleans, and keeping his word, he planned to act surprised. He figured they’d invite him along since the four of them had never did anything together as a family when he was a kid.
The winter air was sharp and Tommy wished he had have worn a hat. They got to his mother’s minivan and he and his father loaded Tee-Tee’s gifts inside. Tee-Tee thanked her brother again for her jacket then got inside and rummaged through her stash until she found her Cabbage Patch doll. Tommy sighed. For a brief moment he hoped she would remain an adult.
“So you’ve noticed by now that your father and I are working on getting back together.” Carla said suddenly.
“Yeah, I thought something was going on.” Tommy said.
“Well we did not want to say anything to you until we were sure it would work. But for the past week that I’ve been staying with your mother and sister it has been pure bliss.” Smitty said.
“A week?” Tommy said shocked. He knew they were speaking but he had no idea about this. “So that’s why you kept Tee-Tee from me. Afraid she would blab.”
Smitty and Carla looked at each other with love in their eyes. “Like your father said. We just wanted to make sure it would work.” Carla said.
“And we are.” Smitty added.
Tommy nodded. “Yeah, well I guess better late than never.”
“Speaking of which. So, your mother and I were thinking. Back when we got married we never really had an official honeymoon, because we were officially broke. So, we decided to do something spontaneous and go to New Orleans to renew our vows.” Smitty said. When his son didn’t respond he and Carla traded worried looks. “Everything OK son?”
“Yeah,” Tommy nodded. “But I’m not gonna lie, it’s a lot to take in. I mean for as long as I can remember, the two of you have been at each other’s throats with my sister and me stuck in the middle. And now you’re all lovey-dovey. It’s weird.”
“We figured you’d be happy to finally see us getting along.” Carla said.
“And I am. It’s just gonna take some getting used to. Lemme ask you something, you happy Ma?”
Carla looked at the father of her children like a smitten teenager and nodded. “I am.”
“That’s all I need to know. So, this trip. When and for how long?”
“Only for a week and we’d leave this Sunday.”
“That is spontaneous. And it doesn’t give me much time but I guess I can move some things around. Donnie can stop by to check on my dog. So yeah, cool. I can meet you down there by the middle of the week.” Tommy reasoned.
“Son you’re not invited,” Smitty said flatly.
Tommy felt like a needle scratching a record. “Ouch. Don’t want a third wheel huh? Got it. Although with Tee-Tee you kinda’ will have one.” He joked.
Smitty and Carla looked at each other nervously then at their son. “Tatiana’s not invited either.” Carla replied.
“Huh?” Tommy looked confused at his parents. “Sooo, who’s going to watch her?”
“Son we really need your help in order for this to work out. And you know nobody can handle or tend to her needs like us…Or you.” Smitty explained.
Tommy was slack-jawed and slowly turned to Tee-Tee as she poured a pack of Pop-rocks onto her tongue and giggled as they snap, crackled and popped in her mouth. He felt light headed and turned to his parents with a worried look.
“But…” Tommy said.
“Now I know it is a huge responsibility but I don’t trust anyone else. Besides I figured you’d want to spend some time with your sister. You hardly see her as it is.�
� Carla said.
“But…” Tommy said.
Smitty put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Son I know it is a big inconvenience on your life but it’s only a week and it would give your mother and me an opportunity to make up for a lot of time we weren’t together. So what do you say?”
“But…”
Carla turned to Smitty with a sad look. “Maybe we are rushing things. I mean you’re closing up your bar and I’m taking off from work, when I think about it we may be going a bit too fast.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Smitty said sounding disappointed.
Tommy watched his parents put on a brave front. It was obvious that they were really looking forward to spending some time alone together. What was he thinking about? There was no way they could have brought Tee-Tee along if they were going to recapture what they once had before she was born. Before he was born. Even though they were not together they gave him a far better childhood than a lot of kids that grew up in two parent households. Alonzo Junior was proof of that! If they were just now beginning to get along, who was he to prevent that? Watching Tee-Tee for a week would not be so bad. He looked over at her as she picked her nose and wiped it on her new jacket then swallowed hard and uttered the words he couldn’t take back. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure?” Carla asked excitedly.
“Yeah sure why not? It’ll be fun, in fact let me tell her,” He said and rapped on Tee-Tee’s window and she rolled it down. “Hey brat, Mommy-O and Pop are going away on a trip next week so how’s about you come stay with me while they’re gone?”
Tee-Tee lit up like the Rockefeller Christmas tree. “Yaaaaay!”
Tommy turned back to his parents. “It’s official. Now you have to go.”
Carla hugged her son. “Thank you honey. Wait a minute. What about your job?”
Smitty cleared his throat. “No fret my pet. When he came to see me the other night at the club our son informed me how he’s so tight with his boss he makes his own hours. Ain’t that right son?”
“Sure Pop. I make my own hours.” Tommy smiled shaking his head.
Carla detected there was something behind those coded looks but was too happy about her trip to ask. “Great, then I have to go home and pack. I have a million things to do between now and Sunday. Honey are you coming with me?” she asked Smitty.
“No, you go on back to the house Sweetness. I want to hang out with my son a little more. I’ll get a ride.” Smitty said.
“Okay Tommy. I’ll see you on Sunday and thank you again.”
“My pleasure Ma.” Tommy said.
Carla kissed her son and husband then got in her minivan and pulled off leaving Tommy and his father standing on the sidewalk. After she was gone Tommy cut an eye at his father with a chuckle, “Sweetness?”
“She’s my weakness.” He smiled unapologetically.
“Damn Pop, Mom’s got you smiling like a blind singer.” Tommy teased swaying like Stevie Wonder.
“Where are you parked wise guy?” Smitty asked. Tommy motioned to his Jeep Cherokee up the block and they walked to it. Inside Tommy put on the heat and found an oldies station his father would like.
“So where we headed.” Tommy asked.
“I’ll get one of the fellas to drop me off. I wanted to talk to you right quick.”
“Okay what’s on your mind?”
Smitty pulled a silver flask out of his coat pocket and two plastic cups then poured some brandy out and handed one to Tommy. “Here’s to the Strong men, may we live each day like our last and live each night like our first.” he said and brought his cup to his son’s.
“I’ll drink to that,” Tommy said then took a sip, smacked his lips and enjoyed the moment. This was what it was all about. Building with his father over drinks and bridging the gap between them. “So Pop, what’s the deal? You’ve got to tell me, how in the hell did you pull this off with Ma. Cause it’s tripping me out.” He admitted.
Smitty chuckled and rubbed his chin. “I know you’re expecting some wild story but to be honest, I just got to thinking about how upset your mom has been with me for all these years. Only speaking to me when necessary and when possible sending messages through you. I felt it was time to make amends. So I took your advice.”
“What advice?”
“When you said if she won’t listen to me then I should write her a letter.”
“You didn’t?”
“Look I know you weren’t serious when you said it. But I figured, what have I got to lose? So that night after I closed up the club, I poured myself a drink and wrote her a long letter apologizing for all the shit I put her through. You know; taking her for granted, not being there for her, everything and mailed it to her. I guess she was ready to put the past, in the past and move on too because after she read it she called me and said, that’s all I ever wanted to hear. Then in a bold move I asked her out to dinner. I took her to City Island and sitting across from her I took a deep breath and started off by saying, ‘I don’t know if the word sorry means anything coming from me but it’s something I feel every day for what I did. I was young and stupid and I am sorry. She agreed it had been a long time and she accepted my apology and afterwards we went back to her apartment and had a long talk. We realized that we never stopped loving each other. Then one thing lead to another. Feelings were rekindled. A bottle of wine. Some Marvin Gaye, and the next thing you know we were-”
“I get the idea Pop. And for the record, no matter how old a guy gets, he never wants to picture the image of his parents doing-the vertical limbo.” Tommy said with a frown.
“Point taken.” Smitty smiled.
“So that was your secret weapon? Saying sorry?” Tommy asked stunned. The way his mother seemed to despise his father he figured it would take at least a diamond tennis bracelet to get her to even meet with him. Then on second thought his mother could not be bought. “So you mean to tell me that if you had just admitted you messed up, the two of you could have been chilling a long time ago.”
“No I doubt that. I think some time needed to pass.”
“To this day I still don’t know the full story of what went down with you two. All I remember is you and Ma yelling and that’s when you…” he paused and continued. “Then me and Tee-Tee moving in with Nana and eventually our own place. I remember Ma crying a lot too.” Tommy’s voice cracked and he looked his father directly in the eyes. “I was a little kid. I ain’t need to see that”
“I know. Back then I was a different person. A selfish person. The way I saw it, as long as I gave your mother money and my kids had a roof over their heads and food on the table then I was living up to my part of the bargain. I didn’t understand what family life and nurturing was all about. I was young with my own successful nightclub. All I wanted to do was have a good time. I loved you kids and your mother, I just wasn’t ready for being a committed husband and parent. I felt like I was trapped. So I did anything but be a man.” Smitty paused for a minute as the old memories he had pushed to the back of his mind resurfaced. He hoped after he explained to his son what happened that he would not hate him. “The first time your mother caught me messing around you were pretty young and your sister was a baby. I had hired this girl Brenda, to bartend and started sleeping with her. Your mother busted us and made me fire her and promise I would never do it again. Call it women’s intuition, but a month later your mother sensed something wasn’t right so one day she followed me.”
“And were you still cheating?” Tommy asked.
Smitty couldn’t answer and looked away, “We argued. I lost my cool…and hit her. I looked down and there you were standing there, shocked.” Tommy winced and emptied his cup recalling the memory he’d put out of his mind like it was happening all over again. “Most women would’ve had my ass locked up. And I would have deserved it. But not your mother. She had too much integrity and class for all that and instead said to hell with me took her kids and went on with her life.
Enrolled in college. Got her Masters. Started teaching. Got a life. Even started dating. In fact, whatever happened to that guy your mother was seeing for a while? I think he was an electrician.”
“Who Lonnie?” Tommy chuckled at the mention of his name. “Homeboy made a big mistake and tried to put Ma in her place, boss her around. It was the first time I ever saw a grown man cry.”
Smitty chuckled to himself. “I tell ya’ son, I pray this trip works.”
Tommy nodded in agreement, “Yeah, about that. I need to say something. Now Pop you know I love and respect you even if you’ve made mistakes when I was growing up.”
“Uh oh, I feel a but coming on.” Smitty said and poured himself another drink.
“That’s because there is one.” Tommy informed his dad, “But that’s my mother. The woman who gave birth to me. Raised me and my sister practically on her own. Was there for us when you weren’t. I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you hurt her again-it’s you and me.” He turned his head so as not to see his father’s expression but meant it none the less.
Smitty faced his son. A small part of him felt insulted but a greater part felt proud. He nodded understanding fully. “I respect that son and from the bottom of my heart all I have is love for you mother. I really want this to work between us.”
“Well okay then.” Tommy said and shook his father’s hand.
“You know I apologized to your mother, but I never apologized to you.”
“It’s all good.” Tommy dismissed it.
“No, it’s not. I’m sorry son. I’m sorry for hurting your mother. I’m sorry for hurting you and your sister. I’m sorry for everything. Can you forgive me?”
Tommy sighed and stared at his father’s outstretched hand. Then after a moment he shook his hand and embraced him. Smitty caught a tear with his thumb and smiled proudly at the man his boy had become. “That’s my boy. So tell me, what’s the story with you and this new girl?”
“I don’t know. Everything was going great. Then she had to go and complicate things by throwing feelings into the game. I mean shit, the only feelings we were supposed to share was when we busted a nut together.”
Havoc and Mayhem Page 23