Page 4 of Falling for Autumn
“Polo, you ain’t ’bout to kick the bucket on us, are you?” I asked.
“Make sure that you give me my fair share in the will if you are. I’ve worked very hard for you throughout the years, keeping your affairs in order,” Kember teased, making me smirk.
“I know you have, baby, and I’ll be sure to look out for all of y’all, but y’all niggas ain’t getting rid of me that easily,” Polo declared, causing us to laugh.
My father had been a big-time dope dealer and gun runner through the years. I had been involved in the drug business with him from the time I was fifteen until I hit thirty. I had spent some time in prison unrelated to that, but when I got out, I hit the streets again. Unfortunately, I also had to get a legitimate job to stay out of jail, but it didn’t put paper in my pocket, so I kept hustling on the side until I started my car shop. After that, I went completely legitimate. But I had to thank Polo for giving me ashot at doing what I did. If it hadn’t been for his dope and gun business, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Those were businesses that had started long before we were born, and it was something that continued long after we were born. However, he did have a few legitimate businesses, like some dry cleaners, mortuaries, and restaurants, and it was those businesses that my sister referenced.
“Then what’s going on, Polo?” I asked, knowing that it was something serious, and I wanted to get to the heart of the matter. I didn’t believe in wasting time but getting straight to the point on some things. I needed to get back to my auto shop and finish some exhaust work that I had started yesterday afternoon.
“I got news today that I thought you all needed to be privy to.”
“What’s that, Daddy?” Kember asked.
Polo pushed his plate away.
“Kevin and TJ are moving back to town.”
I stood, grabbed my plate, and dumped it.
“Okay, well, what do we uhm . . . how can we navigate this?” Kember asked.
“That’s a question that October needs to answer, darling.”
I set my plate in the sink. “That ain’t got shit to do with me.”
I grabbed my keys and phone off the counter, stormed out the back door, and hopped in my Porsche to clear my head.
“Hey, neighbor. Are you good?”
I looked over the wall and spotted Autumn waving her soda can at me.
“Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind, is all.”
She nodded. “Trust me, I know the feeling.”
“I should be asking are you good. The way you came home a couple of weekends ago, you had me worried.” I changed the subject because the last thing I wanted to think about was Kevin.
“I was heartbroken.”
“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking. I know sometimes girls don’t like talking about their shit, especially with other niggas.”
Sighing, she replied, “I don’t mind. I had just broken up with my boyfriend.”
“Damn. I would say I’m sorry, but I can’t. Whatever he did to break your heart, his ass deserved to get left behind. Too bad for him, though, because you’re a baddie, ma. He should’ve kept you under lock and key. All these niggas gon’ be chasing you down now.”
She smiled shyly, and her ginger-colored skin blushed a deep shade of red. “I doubt that.”
“Why?”
“Have you seen me?” She scoffed.
I frowned. “Autumn, hell yeah, I’ve seen you. You’re beautiful, you have that bright smile that lights up people’s world, and you’re kind and thoughtful toward your neighbors and the community. I’ve seen you out on multiple occasions volunteering at the events we have around here.”
“And I’m obese.”
“The fuck? What does that have to do with anything? Everyone wasn’t made to be in a size six, big baby. Hell, it’s niggas out here like me who love a BBW.”
