Page 54 of Senior

“I did stop by the house. You were with the boys and the kids were with your father, so I went to see them.”

His frown deepened. “Uh huh. So, you spent the day with Senior?”

“I spent the day with the kids. Your father just so happened to be there. I mean, it’s his house.”

“Ma, please don’t make me have to put my hands on that man.”

“Like I told you before, if you ever put your hands on your father, you are gonna see a side of me you have never seen before, and I mean that. I play about a lot of things, but you disrespecting that man like that is something I’m not going for. Not now, not ever. You hear me?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. Yeah, I hear you loud and clear.”

He sat there quietly for a moment while I sipped my coffee. There was a silent stare off between us. I could tell he was stewing in anger, but even as arrogant and abrasive as my son could be, he knew how far to push it with me.

“You just gonna sit here and look at me?” I asked, setting the coffee mug down.

“Nah, I’ma head out.”

He stood from the stool and walked over to me. He peered down at me, then kissed my cheek.

“You know I love you, don’t you?” he asked.

“I know, Deuce. Nobody loves me as much as you do.”

“So, you should know I only want the best for you.”

I smirked. “Now who is the parent here?”

“I’m serious, Stephanie. I love Pops. On God, I do. But I watched you shed too many tears over him. It wasn’t even that he was a bad nigga. You just deserve a man that gets it right the first time. Aaron wasn’t perfect, but I can say for certain he never made you question wanting to be with him. Senior did that too many times and I don’t wanna see you like that again.”

I sighed. “Your father has changed, Deuce. I don’t have to be with him to see that.”

“Changed or not, he ain’t good enough for you and that’s just that. I’ma holla at you later, Ma.”

He kissed my forehead and left the kitchen. A few seconds later, I heard the front door open and close. I rested my head in my hands and heaved a heavy sigh. This was going to be harder than I expected.

Did I expect to fall back into familiar spaces with my son’s father? No. But I also didn’t expect to end up a widow a few years after finally getting married either. That was the hardest time of my life, and I had the most genuine support from the first man I’d ever loved.

This time was different from the affair. That affair just happened. We ran into each other a little hole in the wall. I was there enjoying my night and he stopped in to get food. Maddie was away on a mission, so he decided to join me. Drinks were flowing. The music was vibe. One minute we were dancing and the next we were stumbling through my front door and losing our clothes all the way to my bedroom.

It was a poor judgement call that went on for way longer than it should have.

My heart was the deciding factor this time. As hard as I tried to fight it, the parts of Senior that I fell in love with were shining brightly during the most difficult time of my life. He’d cared for me mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically when I lost my husband.

I remember the first time I called him because I didn’t feel like I could burden anybody else. Every person I knew to call had kids or a spouse, and I couldn’t bring myself to bother them. It was three weeks after the funeral. The loneliness settled in with the grief and I was a mess. It was two in the morning. I hadn’t eaten all day, I had stomach cramps, I couldn’t stop crying and I just need someone to sit with me. I rolled over in bed and picked up my phone. My fingers moved on their own as they went to Senior’s contact.

He answered on the third ring.

“Steph? You okay?”

I sniffled. “I’m sorry to call you so late. I just… I don’t wanna be alone right now.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Okay.”

I sat in the middle of my bed with my knees to my chest, crying my eyes out. That’s the same spot he found me in. I heard his footsteps approaching my door, then the door opening. I looked up to find him standing there with a worried look on his face.

“Steph…” his whispered, slowly walking over to me.