Page 46 of Steel
She huffed and turned to Dinah. “Auntie Dinah. I finished my homework. Can I go outside?”
Dinah frowned. “Nayelli. I understand you’re upset with your mother, but I’ve had about enough of this attitude with her. Show respect and answer her when she’s talking to you.”
Much to my surprise, Kerrion stepped in. “Your aunt is right. You can be upset, but always respect your mother. Even at my big age, I don’t disrespect my mama. She doesn’t play that. Apologize.”
Nayelli looked at me with sad eyes. “I’m sorry, Mom. I finished my homework. May I please go outside to play with Mr. K and KJ?”
I pursed my lips but nodded. Kerrion placed her on her feet and grabbed her hand.
“Lead the way.”
They brushed past us, and I stared after them.
“What the hell was that?” Dinah asked.
“Swahili.”
“Since when do you know Swahili?”
“He taught it to me in college. His grandmother is from Kenya.”
She shook her head. “Y’all were really locked in back then, huh?”
“Yeah, . . . we were.”
I headed back into the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. From where I stood, I could see the three of them on Nayelli’s jungle gym. She climbed to the top of the slide, and Kerrion placed KJ in her lap. She held on to him securely as she slid down, and all I saw were his little gums.
They were cute together. Perfect, even. As happy as she’d been, I felt so bad about keeping her a secret. I knew little girls needed their fathers. I needed mine. Evan Malone became my world when he married my mother. It took me a minute to warm up to him, but when I did, we were locked in for life. I was his baby girl. Even at my big age, I wasstillhis big baby.
After turning the cabbage down to cook, and seasoning my pork chops, I washed my hands and pulled out my phone to callmy father on FaceTime. He answered on the second ring with a smile on his face.
“Baby girl.”
“Hey, Daddy.”
Dinah came over and stuck her face in the camera. “Hey, Daddy! I miss you.”
He chuckled. “I miss you, too, my love.” His eyes studied my face. “What’s with that look? You okay?”
“I’m fine?—”
“She lying, Daddy,” Dinah said.
“Dinah!” I exclaimed.
“Don’t Dinah me. Tell him the truth.” I went to speak, but she didn’t give me a chance. “She ran into Nayelli’s father.”
My father frowned. “What? When?”
I sighed. “A few weeks ago.”
I gave him the story from beginning to end. While he wasn’t happy about the way Kerrion rolled up on me, he reminded me that this was the consequences of my actions coming back at me.
“You said he’s there now?”
“He is. They’re out back.”
“How are you feeling, baby girl?”
