Page 20 of Honey's Special Roux

Most people would be scared to meet their partner’s family, but Marquise would fit in perfectly. His authentic self would make them all love him. Plus, I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he tasted Granny’s gumbo with the special roux for the first time.

“Welcome to our home.”Mr. Hix greeted me at the front door. The smell of the savory seafood gumbo filled my nostrils the moment I stepped inside. My stomach growled with excitement.

After the savory smell released my senses, I took in the house’s interior.

Clean.

Warm.

Inviting.

There weren’t any gunshot holes in the walls, burn stains on the carpet, or the stench of crack pipes in the air. Their home was something out of a family sitcom, from the clean off-white walls to the wood floors. They even had family portraits lining the hallways.

I extended my hand out to shake. He held my hand in a firm shake, as if to assert his dominance over me, but I didn’t care about any of that. I’d been in rooms with men who’d killed people. Mr. Hix didn’t put any fear in my body. We were the same height, though he had about fifty to sixty pounds on me.

“I appreciate the invite. I haven’t had gumbo in forever.”

“We usually only have gumbo when the weather is cold, but my mother-in-law and daughter have been craving it for weeks now. I never complain about it because I’ll eat gumbo no matter the season.”

He led me into the dining room where Honey’s family sat and waited for me before they ate. The head of the table was empty, most likely where Mr. Hix would sit. To the left of that seat was Mrs. Hix, and next to her was Chamille. Chamille was on some type of gaming device, in her own world. On the other side of the table, Honey sat next to an empty seat, which I assumed was for me. On the opposite end was Miss Janie. She wasn’t a fan of me, but I hoped, after dinner, she’d loosen up a little. It wasn’t a secret she hated the lifestyle I lived.

They all greeted me with warm smiles, something I’d never experienced before. Most times when I walked into a room, I evoked fear or apprehension. Mothafuckas saw the tattoos and clothing choices and immediately assumed I was up to no good. Eighty percent of the time, their assumptions were right.

Another unfamiliar element in my upbringing was family dinners. The Kent household never scheduled family dinners. Shit, even with Aunt Dee and Uncle Cee, I just started eating at home in the last couple of weeks. Granted, I grabbed my plate and went to my room, but still.

“Thank y’all for inviting me to dinner.” I addressed everyone as a whole. I wasn’t the type of nigga to hug and shit, so I claimed my seat and waited to see what was next.

“You’re the first boy Honey has ever shown an interest in, so we wanted to sit down and see what kind of young man you are for ourselves.” Mr. Hix sat next to his wife as he spoke.

“We usually allow guests to bless the food, but I’ll lead us tonight,” Miss Janie explained as she lifted her hands for prayer.

Everyone bowed their heads as she blessed the food. Honey held my hand under the table. I gave her a reassuring squeeze and smiled at her when the prayer was done. I wasn’t sure the proper etiquette of kissing in someone’s home, so I refrained from tapping my lips against hers—even though she looked just as good as the meal in front of me.

“Do you prefer crackers or cornbread with your gumbo?” Mrs. Hix asked me.

“I’m cool with a pack of crackas, ma’am.”

She passed a pack to me.

“I helped make dinner tonight,” Honey commented proudly.

“She’s a natural in the kitchen and will be a chef one day. My grandbaby will be a famous chef who travels the world and brings that Southern flare to different countries,” Miss Janie prophesied.

“She’s told me about her love for cooking. All I can make is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and even then, it still be nasty sometimes.”

They laughed at my story.

“Honey has a really bright future. What do you plan to do after college?” Mr. Hix asked.

“I don’t got a plan for the future. Right now, each day I’m alive is a blessing in itself. There are some things I want to try out and see if it’s something I see myself doing long term, but for now, I’m just vibing.”

“Just vibing,” Miss Janie repeated.

“Everyone doesn’t have their life planned out to the T like me. He’ll figure it out. We don’t want the food to get cold while y’all are giving him the third degree.” Honey lifted her spoon and swirled it in her gumbo before scooping a generous amount into her mouth. She moaned happily as she continued to eat.

That was all the green light I needed to taste the gumbo finally. I placed a spoonful on a cracker and stuffed it in my mouth. My tastebuds started crip-walking with joy at the pleasant taste of the savory dish. I didn’t give a fuck what was being said until my bowl was completely empty. If they directed questions to me, I couldn’t hear them over the singing of my tastebuds. I sat back and licked my lips.

“Wow. I’ve never had something so tasty. I’d take the whole pot if y’all let me,” I joked.

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