Page 37 of Certified To Handle You 2

Couture parked in front of the house, then looked over at me before reachin’ across the console and rubbin’ his hand over my thigh.

“You ready, baby?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I told him with a smile as I reached for my purse.

“A’ight, come on then.”

I grabbed my purse and climbed out with him, takin’ one last look at the house before Couture came around the car and reached for my hand. I slid my fingers through his and walked beside him toward the front door, feelin’ good about finally meetin’ the woman who raised the man I had grown to care so much about.

He came around to my side and placed his hand against the lower part of my back as we walked toward the house.

Couture knocked a couple times, and it wasn’t long before the door opened.

The woman on the other side was beautiful. She had smooth dark skin and a pretty face that still looked young, with high cheekbones and dark eyes that immediately reminded me of Couture. Her hair was pulled away from her face and fell past her shoulders, and even though she was dressed comfortable in her own house, she was still put together. She had on alil’ jewelry and just enough makeup to bring out her features without doin’ too much. The longer I looked at her, the more I could see Couture all through her face, especially around the eyes and in the shape of their smiles.

Her face lit up when she saw him, and Couture smiled before steppin’ forward and pullin’ her into a hug.

“Hey, Ma,” he greeted her, kissin’ her cheek while she wrapped her arms around him.

“Hey, baby. I’m glad y’all finally made it,” Ms. Emoree replied, holdin’ on to him for another second before they pulled apart.

Couture reached back for my hand and brought me closer to him. “Ma, this Sha’Nelle,” he introduced me, keepin’ his hand wrapped around mine. “Sha’Nelle, this my mama.”

I smiled as I stepped closer to her. “Hi, Ms. Emoree. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, baby,” she greeted me before pullin’ me into a hug. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hopefully all good things,” I replied with a soft laugh as I hugged her back.

“All good things,” she assured me, and when we pulled apart, the warmth in her smile made it easy for me to relax.

I glanced over at Couture, and he was already lookin’ at me with this lil’ smile on his face before his hand settled against my lower back again.

“Come on in,” Ms. Emoree told us, steppin’ aside.

“Thank you,” I replied before walkin’ inside with Couture right behind me.

I stepped inside behind Couture, and almost immediately I could smell food. Ms. Emoree had clearly been in the middle of gettin’ lunch together ‘cause there was groceries and bowls spread across the kitchen table, and that was where I saw Justice.

He was sittin’ in his wheelchair near the table, and as soon as Couture walked further into the room, his whole face changed. The biggest smile spread across his face.

“Aye, boy,” Couture greeted him, walkin’ straight over.

Justice started movin’ with excitement, and a happy sound came from him while his eyes stayed right on Couture. Some of his movements wasn’t completely smooth, and his hands rested a certain way ‘cause of the way his muscles affected him, but there wasn’t nothin’ sad about the boy sittin’ in front of me. He was cheesin’ so hard at his uncle that I couldn’t help smilin’ too.

Couture bent down and hugged him before kissin’ the side of his head.

“You miss me?”

Justice grinned even harder and made another sound.

“Yeah, I know you did.”

I watched the two of them for a second, and somethin’ about it warmed me right up.

Couture looked over his shoulder at me. “Come here, baby.”

I walked closer, and Justice’s eyes immediately came to me.