Page 79 of A Trial of the Heart
“I will. You think I wanted to keep your children, or anything related to them from you? That’s not som—” I started, but my words were cut short as someone had called for the elevator, and the doors opened.
“You were going to say something?”
“It’s okay.” I smiled as we stepped off the elevator. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
I really didn’t want to be out of his presence, and I did have something more to say, but I had opened up enough. The door opening was my sign to let it all go.
“Take care of yourself. If you need me, call or text me anytime.” Rashad peered down at me.
“You do the same, and okay.” My voice was low before I turned and walked away. Since I couldn’t have Rashad the way I wanted, I had to appreciate him the way he and I would be from now on.
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
Rashad:
“What’s up, Pops,” I greeted, stepping into my parent’s place without knocking. No matter how old my brother and I got, we were always welcomed without invitation. My pops was sitting in the front room with ESPN on mute and his feet propped up in the recliner.
“What’s up, young one?” He greeted me with his normal greeting, barely peeling his eyes from the TV. Though it had been on mute, I knew my pops knew exactly what was taking place as the subtitles that displayed quickly on the TV gave the gist for the most part. Since I could remember, ESPN was his channel of choice and polishing his antique toy cars had been a thing for him. When he retired from the shipyard years ago, both became more of a thing than it was before.
“Where’s ya old lady?” I looked around, referring to my mother.
“It’s Wednesday,” was his comeback. He still didn’t look my way.
I chuckled. “Ahhh… okay.”
Wednesdays for my mother were dedicated toWin it Wednesdaydown at the local bingo hall. She wasn’t missing it no matter what was happening in life.
My mother being out of the house was actually a good thing since I’d come over to talk to my pops and get some advice I knew he’d give. Instead of coming right out and telling him I wanted to talk, I childishly looked his way occasionally hoping he’d catch the hint.
“I know I’m something nice to look at, but I know for a fact you didn’t waltz your ass over to my house to steal glances as if I’m somebody you’re crushing on.”
I chuckled, leaning back on the couch I’d recently sat on. Getting myself together, I scooted to the edge of the seat.
“You ready to be a grandfather?”
If I didn’t have his attention before, I surely had it now as he looked at me. His expression was one I wouldn’t forget.
“Whatchu mean?”
“That girl I was telling you about… she’s pregnant. Twins actually.”
“Keeping the pregnancy?”
“Seems like it.”
“Well, damn, Rashad, I told you go get her, not hang ya horse and get stuck for life.” He was so nonchalant in his response.
Once again, I couldn’t contain my laughter. “Pops, really?”
“Hell yeah, really,” he drawled. “Ya mother know about this?” he asked like I was a teenager and had broken some rules.
“Nah.”
“Well, ya know when she finds out, she’s going to be the happiest she has ever been.”
Since I was about twenty-five, my mother pressed my brother and I about making them grandparents before they were too old. She always said since she and my pops waited to havechildren, her parents nor his had the luxury of meeting us as they were deceased before we were born.
