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“Yes. This beautiful… expensive… amazing house.”
“How do you feel about that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I love this house, but we are two hours away from my job and Kari’s school. She and I have a life back home. I’m not sure I want to pack up and leave my future in the hands of another man again. Kari is all for moving. She doesn’t even know he asked, but the first thing she asked was if we lived here now. She thinks it looks like a castle. Baby girl basically told me she needs an answer by today on whether we are gonna move in or not.”
She giggled. “She’s ready to be a real life princess.”
“He already gives her the princess treatment. We had to have a talk about him spoiling her so much. I would love for her to have her heart’s desires, but I don’t want her entitled. I wasn’t raised like that, and I won’t raise her like that. She’s gonna hear no sometimes and she’s gonna have to accept that.”
“I agree. What did he say?”
“He’s new to parenting and he’s open to learning.”
“Well, that’s a blessing.”
“It is… What do you think I should do?”
“Well, baby. You’ve followed your heart this far.”
“I followed my heart with Slim and look where it got me.”
“True. But you aren’t the same young and naive girl you were with Slim. You’ve grown and matured, not to mention, you have somebody else to live for now. I don’t see you staying where you’re mistreated again.”
She sat up and reached for my hands. When I gave them to her, she kissed them.
“I knew Ahmad loved you before he ever confessed it.”
“How?”
“I’ll tell you a secret. He calls me for weekly check-ins on you, per my request. Once, he asked me how he could be a better man for you. He asked me what you need that you will never ask for. A man that doesn’t love you will never go to those lengths to be better for you.”
Tears swelled in my eyes when she said that. I had no idea that he communicated with her that much.
“I don’t like how this whole thing started, but I can tell he’s trying to be everything you need. It may take a little while for your father to get on board, but as long as you and Kari are happy, healthy, and taken care of, I think he’ll be okay.”
“I just don’t want the two men I love to have a forever beef with each other. I still can’t believe that Daddy punched him.”
“Chile, me either. I just knew I lost my husband that day.”
“Right! Who knows? They might become best friends.”
“That’s a big might.”
We shared a laugh. I didn’t expect my father and Ahmad to be close, but if God found it in my favor, I wouldn’t be mad at that. I’d think about moving in. I had to weigh my options. If I left my job at the hospital, I could start my business. I could set my own hours and devote more time to my baby and my man all while still doing what I loved.
Kari loved her school, but the type of child she was, she could probably thrive anywhere. Knowing Ahmad, she’d be enrolled in the best institution around here. I didn’t just want that. Sure, I wanted her to have the best education, but I also wanted her somewhere with people that looked like her.
I wanted her with teachers that understood her culture and who she was as a little black girl. I didn’t want her surrounded by spoiled rich kids who threw tantrums because they couldn’t get the latest designer item or the most expensive electronic devices to one up the other kids. She never needed to feel forced to compete with anybody but herself.
It was a lot to take in and think about. I’d just have to pray on it and hope I made the right choice.
32
Ahmad
Lionel and I sat in my sunroom after leaving Kari to her devices. My heart swelled every time she voiced how much she loved her room. The changes I had been going through since meeting Nala and Makari made me realize just how much I was missing out on with being a hermit.
Now, as I sat here with this brooding man, I didn’t know if I wanted to ask his ass the question that I had been thinking about as of late. We hadn’t said much to each other since we played with Rabbit in her room, but I knew that we needed to have this man to man talk. No matter what he said, Nala and I would still be together. The day she put that magical pussy on me, I had been under her spell, and I wasn’t coming up off her any time soon. So homie needed to either accept it or stay the fuck from around me.
