Page 36 of Through Treacherous Weather
“Well, you have my number. Hit me up, so we can set everything up. Thank you for the lip gloss. Bye cutie number one and cutie number two,” she smiled at the kids. Star was still acting shy.
Fatima planned to go to her father’s house anyway, so it would be the perfect time to talk to him about using the pool. When she arrived, a pretty, classy looking black woman was walking out of the house. Her Maserati was parked behind Natalie’s G wagon, and Fatima wondered who she was. When Wise walked the woman to the door, he saw Fatima arriving and waited at the door for her.
“Hey, daddy. Who was that?”
“Wisdom’s teacher. She comes by twice a week and after a few months we’re going to transition him over to school. He was diagnosed with Autism.” Most of the family suspected it, but Wise nor Natalie had never confirmed it.
Fatima’s head bobbed. “I know he’s going to do so good with her. He’s already super smart. If he gets any smarter, he’ll be going to Harvard by the time he’s five.”
Wise laughed. “I damn sure believe it.”
“Where’s Natalie?”
“Laying on the couch watching TV. She’s been having some cramping. Not necessarily strong contractions, but baby boy will probably be here in the next day or two. Soon as mama got abreak from Sage, she’s about to be over here on duty again with Intellect.” Natalie decided on naming their last son Intellect, and Wise was with it.
“There are so many kids around here, I’m going to have to start making them wear name tags,” she giggled. “But speaking of kids. I kind of told Esco that he could bring his kids by Saturday and that GiGi would give them swimming lessons.”
Wise’s brows lifted as he studied his daughter. “Esco’s kids?” he repeated slowly. “How many kids does Esco have?”
“Two. One that he just found out about. His baby mama literally hid the pregnancy from him and left her with another man to raise, and he reached out to Esco. They did a paternity test, and she’s his.”
“Got damn. Is her name Simone?”
Fatima laughed. “No. She’s on drugs. The kids are probably better off with their fathers. I just hate that Grey had to go through that.”
Wise’s brows dipped. “Grey? Grey that works for Truce?” Fatima nodded. “Damn. Small ass world. Esco is good people. I don’t mind if he uses the pool, but why are you in such a pool offering mood? You like him or something?”
Fatima’s eyes rolled upward. “I’m not talking to you about who I like, but before your brain starts working overtime, not once while he was working for you did he try me. He didn’t even look at me twice.”
“And that made you feel some kind of way?”
“Daddy, what?” Fatima’s jaw slacked. “I was with him almost every day for more than a week. It’s not even like we had long deep conversations, but we were still around one another. I’m just letting you know that he was professional and super respectful. Okay?”
“Ummhmmm,” Wise knew better. “I would have never had him in your home with that much access to you if I didn’t thinkhighly of him. Esco’s a good person. And if you did like him, and he liked you back, I’d approve.”
“Even though he has two kids, and he’s not a king pin, trust fund baby, rapper, athlete, or some other insanely rich person.”
“You already know how I get down. If you start dealing with him on a serious level, I’ll have him so booked he’ll have to hire more employees. If he’s not rich, he would be.”
“You are such an awesome father. You know that?”
“Yeah, I mostly hear it after I buy a house, a car, a few Birkin bags. Just last night Nata”
“You know what. Don’t even worry about it,” Fatima walked off making her father laugh.
She refused to get her hopes up when it came to Esco. There were no ulterior motives when it came to her offering to pay for swim lessons for his daughters. She knew the importance of kids having present fathers, and she was very impressed with Esco. It wasn’t hard to tell that he was a great father. And she knew the pool would make his daughters happy, so why not? She was crushing on him, but Fatima wasn’t pressed. If he didn’t try to pursue her for whatever reason, she’d be fine with it.
Just earlier, a guy had asked for her number at the gym. He was cute, but there was something about him that she couldn’t put her finger on that made her decline. Getting a man was never a problem. It was getting a man worth having that was a challenge.
Chapter Sixteen
Trinity’s jawslacked as Fatima filled her in on what was going on with Grey and Esco. When Fatima stopped talking, Trinity slouched down in her seat. “I feel like a complete and utter idiot. The way I acted when I saw him.” She palmed her face and shook her head simultaneously. “I’m sure he hates me. I deserve to be single. I do. Find a good man, and I act a fool on his ass.”
“I’m with you when you’re right,” Winter chimed in making Trinity snatch her hand off her face.
“You get engaged and start thinking you’re really an adult.”
“I am an adult,” Winter giggled. “Just apologize to him. All women have acted a little crazy sometimes. Let him cool off and then apologize. I’m sure he’ll forgive you.”
