Page 100 of Betrothed To Love

When she sniffles and lifts her head, I rub her back and ask, “Are you a little better?” She nods. “Good because I love you and you are my little angel. Don’t worry about what that little girl said.”

“He a boy, Jordan,” she utters.

“Then don’t worry about Jordan. He’s just being mean for no reason. I love you and you are my little girl. God put me, you, and your daddy together and he gave me you,” I say and she nods. “I told you I am your bonus mom and I meant that. You are my daughter and after Christmas, I’m bringing the biggest muffins I can find for Muffins with Mom and Jordan isn’t getting one,” I say and she blesses me with the biggest smile. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she says, still smiling. She wraps her arms around my neck again and we embrace.

Then I ease her onto the pavement to open the door. Once she’s inside and comfortable in her travel seat, I place her book bag next to her then get in. When I glance back at her, she’s still smiling and my heart warms. I did not give birth to her but she is mine in every way and I will fiercely protect her pure heart.

“Let’s pick up dinner and surprise your daddy. What do you want? You can pick,” I say and her face lights up. Because I already know her answer, I back out of the parking space and head to the Seafood Spot before she even answers.

“Legs. A lot of legs and some shrimps,” she says with a titter.

TWENTY-EIGHT

“I was hoping he would make this easy,” Shuga says, then sighs.

“You know he likes to be in control, even if he isn’t. Asali was wrong and he knows it. Not showing today was his power move, but trust me, it didn’t land. He doesn’t know me as a lawyer. If he doesn’t want to settle this amicably, we can take this to a judge,” I tell her.

In the hopes of settling their divorce quietly and quickly, I arranged an amicable meeting with Asali and his prepaid lawyer. I even agreed to meet on neutral grounds because I didn’t want to appear dominating in my office. Shuga and I arrived at the reserved conference room at the courthouse at ten till four and waited forty minutes. Asali nor his attorney showed and neither responded to our text and call attempts.

“I don’t want that. Hell, I didn’t want any of this.” After shaking her head, she adds, “He chose another life with another woman. Clearly, he didn’t want what we had, so why do this?” Her frustrated tone reveals she’s just venting, not expecting me to answer. Instead, I start packing up my things. Her phone rings as I pack.

“Asali,” she answers. “Where else would I be? But why aren’t you here?” After huffing out an exhausted breath, she says, “He’s my attorney. I’m not talking to you without him with me… No… I said no… Then I guess we will let the judge decide. That should be fun considering you are living with your mistress,” she says, then ends the call.

“So he’s not coming?” I confirm.

“He doesn’t want to talk about anything in front of you, his son. His pride, as always, is overshadowing everything. In his defense, you know the type of man he is,” she says.

“Man I thought he was,” I correct her. “As your son and lawyer, I don’t want you talking to him alone. I don’t trust that.”

Her eyes narrow and she snaps her neck back. “Asali can’t make me do anything I don’t want to,” she assures me with a hint of attitude. “Draw up the settlement. I’ll meet him and see if he will sign. If he does, this is all over. If he doesn’t, we let a judge decide. I just want this over so I can find my peace again and move on. Being stuck like this is torture. I loved that man for all of my adult life, it’s hard,” she admits.

“That’s why I don’t want you meeting with him by yourself,” I confess and she rolls her eyes.

“Let me be very clear, I love your father but I love myself more and I don’t want him anymore.” She places her cell into her handbag then stands. “Type up the settlement. He can keep the joint account, his truck, and even my car. It was a gift, and hell, I can get another one. He can even have the furniture in his reading room, but the house stays mine and he can’t touch anything connected to Nina Wright. His little girlfriend won’t benefit from my hard work.”

“I got it. Aven will have it ready Monday afternoon.”

“Good. I’ll let Asali know then. I don’t want this messing up Sunday dinner.”

“It won’t,” I tell her.

“Oh, it’s not canceled?” she asks in a weird ass tone.

“Nah. Did you cancel it? My wife is supposed to be cooking her steak pasta. We have six big ass sirloins in the freezer for dinner. Who canceled it?” I question, genuinely confused. No one mentioned a cancellation, not one of my brothers.

“I’m just asking. I heard there was a dinner with your sister soon. Just checking,” she says with a smirk and I just shake my head.

I scheduled a small barbecue at the crib for my brothers to meet Alami. They all agreed to come, even stubborn ass Tre. They also agreed to keep the shit a secret from Shuga until afterwards. I definitely planned to tell her, just after they had all officially met Alami.

So which one of them niggas snitched?

“Who told you?” I ask.

“Does it matter? You didn’t and it’s at your house.”

“I wanted them to meet her first and then I was going to tell you. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings or anything.”