Page 5 of About the Green

"Well, I tried to get him to reel it in." But she pulls a bag from around her back that has way more toys than my daughter needs. I'm sick of building shelves for all of the stuffies and toys that she's been accumulating. I don't mind that my daughter is spoiled by everyone around her, but at some point we've got to understand she only has so many hours in the day to play with these things, and maybe they should start putting money towards her college fund instead.

If her current obsession with space continues, she’ll need lots of it.

"Redd!” my daughter yells as she charges towards the large man, who scoops her up and flies her around like an airplane, or shall I say a spaceship. She's not that small of a kid, but the man is absolutely yoked, so it's no problem for him to lift her over his head and zoom her around the house.

My ex is glaring at him because she knows exactly why he was in prison. Though she doesn't find him unsafe, she still is wary, as she should be.

I respected her wishes in letting him have time since he had gotten out, away from my daughter, to make sure that he was good. That kind of experience can really change you.

But I think the dark-skinned woman in front of me had a large hand in keeping him as sane as he possibly could be. He's always been a little bit off his rocker to begin with.

I accept the toys and place them on the kitchen counter, and once my daughter is done giggling at her Uncle Redd’s antics, she sees the bag.

"What did you get me, Uncle?" she asks with stars twinkling in her eyes. Her recognition of the store’s logo on the bag evident.

He flies her over to the kitchen island, where he deposits her on top of the countertop. She crosses her legs and greedily digs into the bag, pulling out tissue paper and wrapping until she gets to the good part.

It's an action figure of one of her favorite women in the space series that she is a huge fan of.

My Gracie is obsessed with the stars and space, and ever since she found out that there are lots and lots of movies and TV shows all exploring those ideas, she has not stopped consuming this one particular series.

The woman with pink and purple streaked hair and a space suit stands proudly with some small creature over her shoulder. The squeals coming from Gracie are enough to let me know that he's been doing his research. "Papi, look at what Redd got me! Look at what Uncle got me! Isn't she so pretty?"

I look at the name on the outside of the box.

“Heena," I say.

"Yes! It's her! She is the coolest character. There is no one cooler than her, except maybe me, because I'm going to be just like her."

"You are," I agree.

She begins unboxing but it proves difficult between the tape and seals then hands the box to me, expecting me to open it. Redd snatches it first, pulling a knife from his back pocket to open the box.

Stephanie hangs close by, not getting too close to my daughter until Gracie hands one of the things from the box to her to hold, which basically means that she'll be held hostage here in whatever unfolds with the rest of the things that are coming out of the bag. A spaceship that the figurine can fit into and a shirt that has the same design as the one on the figure as well.

Gracie puts it over her T-shirt, not waiting for a special opportunity to wear it, needing to have it right now.

We might not be the most upstanding citizens, but I will say that nobody loves harder than people in this family. Dupont might be a business, but it's brought us close together. I don't have as much trust for some of the other people in this family. I know without a doubt that Redd is somebody who is honest to a fault about his intentions. He cares for his niece, calling her often, making sure she has everything she needs–as if I'm not already doing the same.

If Stephanie is not careful, she'll have about twelve children, as far as he's concerned. I think one's good enough for me. I don't need to be burdened with taking care of any more princesses.

Chapter 3

There are plenty of things I should be doing right now and most of them don’t include looking for a certain woman who is so very confused if she thinks I’m gonna let her get her way.

I know exactly what she’s trying to do. I’m not the one who needs the other for safety after all. She thought that the brief conversation we had after the family meeting had ended with her getting her way but I have a completely different viewpoint.

She will listen to what I have to say, not that there is no pressing business I have to attend to. The business being my personal life. I’m going to get her on the strict program I run, which is to say that I’m going to make sure she falls in line if it’s the last thing I do.

I’ve followed her a few times so I know where she’s likely to be at in town. There aren’t many options to be completely honest. My search is quick but finding her proves to be harder.

I only catch sight of her darting down an alley by chance when the stones from her tops catch the light and reflect. The shimmer that dances along the darkness is my tip off.

Where bright is, Nina surely is there too.

With my hoodie pulled tight around my face, I’m light on my feet as I follow her. I don’t know if she’s unaware or if she simply doesn’t care. I’m going to see this through to the end regardless.

Then, the safety light behind one of the restaurants illuminates with her skulking and she freezes and turns.