Page 137 of Lau Ahi
The comment would’ve been funny if not for the man who made it having a voice that was almost as deep as mine. The outrage that threaded his tone made his words all the more hilarious.
I kept my face blank as I continued on with the fitting, despite knowing the news I’d sprung on my brothers was something they would all want me to elaborate on.
Too bad they weren’t going to get the satisfaction. At least not yet.
Since everyone had been in and out-of-town trying to make sure Asha and I were good, I decided that we might as well get the major decisions for the wedding out of the way. After Alec and I got done talking with my cousin, he dropped me off at home and just like he predicted Asha was pissed. But it wasn’t the blazing fury of anger that I expected from her. It was subtle. Especially since time was creeping up quicker than I thought it would. It was quiet. Unsettling with the way I could feel her silent disapproval of what I’d done. She’d tried to brush off how she was feeling but it was clear that she didn’t know how to channel her emotions. She asked how I was feeling and then left it at that. I just knew she was going to fly off the handle but it was more silent than usual, colder in the house. The warmth thathad grown between the two of us, even if there was still distance between us emotionally, was grating on my nerves. I wanted to address it but doing so would mean handling her emotions and mine when things were still…whatever the fuck they were. Alec and Hakeem had bonded over me being in denial so talking to either of them was moot. I’d already done the preliminary work for their tuxedos a few days ago and had to endure them talking shit for hours. I cut them out of this appointment because I wasn’t in the mood for a replay.
“The sleeves can still be monogrammed, right?”
I glanced down at the tailor our family had a working relationship with since I’d been in DC. He was vetted, trusted and most of all beholden to theConsortiumat large. We still wouldn’t speak on much with him around, but at least we knew he wasn’t going to sell us out to someone. The livelihood that he had fought so hard to keep had been in jeopardy because of the gentrification that kept trying to happen in Black D.C. neighborhoods. Pricing families and businesses out was what so many did. Instead of allowing every neighborhood to go into duress or sell because of the pressure, we as a collective purchased multiple blocks that we could get in their entirety. We kept the rent stable; they kept their businesses up and since they weren’t facing the increases that so many of their competitors were; they didn’t have to price gouge the residents in order to keep their heads above water. It was a win-win.
“Yes, Mr. Nakoa. It will be done as soon as you provide me with the bride’s initials.” We didn’t have our official seal as a couple done since we were now on the outs but I hoped it would be completed soon. It would be easy to send the file over when we had it completed. I hated people I liked rushing around because I wasn’t ready. Mr. Leon had been on it having the first mock-up of my tux already completed and surprised me with it for our first fitting today.
“That’s easy, they’re AA.” Jahmir gave him the information, smiling at my sentimentality but I had to correct him.
“No, they’re not.”
Mir looked up from where he was standing looking at silk pocket squares and exchanged a glance with Xerx. Their silent communication had me wanting to laugh but I kept it inside until Xerxes spoke up.
“I’m not sure if you remember zhe phone call, but your bride’s name is Asha Avery.” Xerxes’ eyes were narrowed like he thought I’d been ignoring this girl’s existence for the last seven months. He’d seen me at his wedding but I wasn’t sure what he was thinking was going on.
“And I’m telling you it’s not. Her initials are SAA. I don’t know what tradition dictates but if you can combine them somehow with mine on each sleeve with the N joining both of our names, I’d appreciate it.”
Leon, the man who could fit us all in on short notice to custom-make our tuxedos, nodded quickly. “My granddaughter does a lot with graphic design. She can come up with something that you’d like. I can send it over and then when I have your approval we can get it started.”
“Whatever I approve can you send over the raw file for it? I might want to put this on other things.” I hoped that I would be able to be on better footing with Asha so that we could present the united front that was necessary so people wouldn’t think they could fuck with us.
He nodded, his lightly wrinkled face turning up into a knowing smile. “That’ll be no problem.”
Looking in the mirror I was satisfied with how the tuxedo looked. “Send me the bill for her services and I’ll take care of it.”
“Oh, that won’t be—”
“Again, just send it.”
I tried to sound less gruff but it never happened. I didn’t want this man to think that just because I was paying for something his granddaughter didn’t deserve to get paid. I already appreciated him for what he was doing for us and I was going to add a hefty tip to the final bill as it was.
“If you’ll give me a moment I’ll step in the back and call her now.”
He was back to looking timid and I couldn’t have that when he was in charge of something so important. “‘Preciate it.”
“Bruh, you don’t know the girl’s damn name?” Jahmir looked confused and I didn’t pay him any attention as Mr. Leon walked away.
“I know her name.”
“Did you end up going with her sister? Sasha? Is that why we’re here? You’ve decided that you’re switching twins and now you’re geeked about it?” Yacouba looked ready to swing on my ass and I was wondering how the hell he came to that conclusion of all things.
These niggas really think I’m that heartless?
“No, Asha Avery is her English name. Her Eritrean name is Semira. You know how I feel about people who take on English versions of names. Cou you wouldn’t want somebody calling your assJacob, right? And Liam I know you don’t want somebody calling your Scottish assWilliam. I address her that way for formality’s sake, but those aren’t her initials.”
“Well, fook. Now I feel like an arse callin’ ‘er by that name. And for being annoyed by ‘er accent the entire time we were at Xerxes’ weddin’. I should’ve kenned be’er than to judge ‘er.” Liam looked remorseful but I knew it was because he wasn’t as friendly to her as he probably would’ve been. It was the accent that had thrown him off, a long-standing hatred that was apparently ingrained in the DNA he received from his father.
Ol’ sensitive ass.
“She is British.”
“True, but more like the same way yer American and Deuce is from the UK instead of bein’ just from Scotland.” He looked disgusted to even say the word UK and it made me want to laugh.
