Page 54 of Mimosa

Mims’s heart dropped to his stomach and ached there. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s old and stubborn, so he hadn’t been to a doctor in years. It’s cancer, honey. And it’s too late to do anything about it.”

Mims felt the tears welling long before they blurred his vision, but he swiped at them, placing the old tattered shield around his heart. “Well, I’m sorry. But…he wants nothing to do with me, Nadia.”

“Maybe that can change now. People tend to forget old grievances when they’re…well, when they’re sick like this.”

It was altogether possible that Mims knew their father better than his sister did. “On his deathbed, he’d spit on me, Nadia. I was his great disappointment in life. Death won’t change that.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do though. I don’t know what you want me to do with this information, Nadia. Listen, I’m glad you told me, but…”

She reached out and set her hand over Mims’s. “Please, just think about it. Please.”

That was the least he could do for the one family member that had any love for him. “Sure. I’ll think about it. Give mom a kiss for me.”

He didn’t run from the table, but that was because of sheer will. Hippy called after him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t until he got to his room and slammed the door shut then collapsed on his bed, face first.

Crying with his entire soul, he sobbed into that blanket, wetting it with big streaks while his hands curled into fists filled with the blanket.

When he’d worn himself out by crying, he saw up on his bed and texted Sonny.

I know you’re busy with things, but I found out something terrible today. If you can text me or call me tonight, I’d really like that. If not, I understand.

The second after he sent it, his friends converged into the room, and he found himself crying all over again. They each hugged him and each asked what happened. He couldn’t voice it, so Hippy admitted to overhearing them, and Nadia spoke to him after Mims had left.

“His pops, he’s dying.”

Murphy and Eazy pushed the others from Mims and Eazy took his hand, pulling him from the bed. “Dinner. Come on.”

The whole group made it to Eazy and Murphy’s place and they gathered around the island, Murphy handing him a glass of whiskey. “That’ll fix you up.”

“You say that for everything, Paps.”

“Have I been wrong yet?”

Mims gave him a ghost of a smile before sipping the whiskey.

Hippy said, “Nadia wasn’t completely hopeful you’d come around and to be fair to her, she doesn’t blame you. She’s still fighting with your parents over things.”

“I know. She’s not…”

Abs hugged on him and said, “I’ll go see him and tell him a few things.”

“No, Abs. I don’t think I can see him, but I’m not him. I don’t have to be mean.”

“Not a mean bone in Mims’s body,” Eazy said. “But, Mims, you need to think about it. Seriously think. Not about him, this isn’t about him,” he said as he cut onions. “It’s about you, and how you will feel five years from now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Honey, guilt is a terrible thing to live with. If you think for a second that not seeing him before he dies will leave you a lot of guilt, then go just for your own peace of mind.”

Mims nodded and admitted, “I’ve thought about that. I already feel guilty for not seeing them so long.”

Hippy spat, “He’s not worth your guilt.”

“I’m never seeing my father again, if I can help it,” Cosmo said. “But…I don’t know, you had a different relationship with yours. I can’t tell you what to do. None of us can.”

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