Page 11 of Senior

He chuckled. “For real, Steph. Your mental good?”

“Yes, Stanley.” I was quiet for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh. “I started menopause. I know, I know. It’s late as hell. I thought the same thing, but my doctor ensured me I was fine. Anyway, that’s why I haven’t been sleeping much and not feeling like myself.”

He paused. “You need anything?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m just adjusting. On the bright side, if I ever decide to date again, I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.”

We shared a small laugh.

“Can you imagine your dramatic ass son if you get pregnant at our age? He’s gonna do the most.”

I rolled my eyes. “The absolute most. He’d go to the extreme and we would end up childless parents because I’d kill him. He wasn’t happy about me dating in private so I know he would lose his shit if a baby was in the cards.”

I popped the cap on the beer and took a swig as Senior finished rolling the blunt. He lit it, took a pull, and passed it to me. I mimicked his actions, allowing the potent substance to marinate in my lungs.

“You know,” I said, relaxing into the chair. “I’ve been thinking about adopting or fostering a kid.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, I have the space and the time. Plus, I would appreciate the company. This house is beginning to feel too big for me. I got used to it being filled with love and laughter again. Now it’s just… it feels empty.”

I pulled my legs up and tucked my feet under me. It had been four years since I lost my husband to an aneurysm. The home that was once filled with laughter, slow dances in the living room or kitchen, and intimate moments felt cold at times. I missed Aaron, but I’d learned to celebrate his memory instead of mourning his loss. My husband was good to me. He loved me unconditionally and put me in my soft girl era, as my daughter in-law called it.

We had a few good years together before he was taken. These days, I tried to live life the way he would have wanted for me. He always told me that if his eyes closed before mine, he didn’t want me to wallow in my grief. He said I had to accomplish everything we’d put on our bucket list.

I’d done that.

Now it felt like there was nothing left to do.

“A kid?” Senior asked with a grin. “Not Ms. Your Son Was Enough thinking about taking on motherhood again.”

I pointed at him. “First of all, your son still needs parenting. Let’s just start there. How does he live on your compound and still call me for everything?”

“Because he’s a mama’s boy. You should have been popped the titty outta his mouth.”

I grabbed the pillow next to me and threw it at him. “Leave me and my overgrown baby alone.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “He might be receptive to a little sister, but a brother… he’s gonna torture the boy and call it an initiation. Remember how he used to do the boys before they were smart enough to know they were being played?”

Senior chuckled. “Oh, I remember. I had to threaten his ass too many times about trying to bully my kids. But let somebody else bully them and he was beating ass. Now they’re all like that. Smoke loves to fuck with Quaid but let somebody else say something about that lil’ nigga, and he’s ready to beat their ass.”

I shook my head. “I really helped you raise five kids. That’s crazy.”

“I guess that means I owe you if you adopt or foster. Hell, what’s one more?”

It was crazy as hell that we were having this conversation. Then again, was it really? Senior had always been my best friend and we would always be a part of each other’s lives, even with the kids being grown as hell. We were family, and I didn’t take that lightly.

I was sure people thought I was crazy to give a damn about that man. There were so many rumors about us as a family unit.

Senior has a harem of women.

He takes turns with us at the same time.

He’s a serial cheater.

He has project twins.

Now, Maceo and Smoke are nine months apart, but they shared the same mother. Yes, the kids were kinda close in age, but there was no cheating going on back then. Another woman had never been the reason he and I didn’t work out. Well aside from Maddie, but even then, we didn’t have a relationship for her to break up. We were just messing around. Back then, I cut my loses when I saw the looks passed between them. He cared for her. If he wanted to move on, who was I to hold him back, knowing I didn’t plan to give us another real chance?

Senior had this problem where if he fixated on something, he would slightly obsess over it in most cases. When I first met him, it was getting money. He thought that shit would impress me, and it never did. Even though I came from humble beginnings, I was never wowed by other people’s pockets. For what? It wasn’t my money.