I was seated in my basement sprawled out on the sofa. My phone rang. "Hello," I groaned as answering it.

"Hey, son." I gave my phone a strange look. I didn't recognize the number. "Pops, whose number is this?"

"I'm in the office. We have a new landline we're dealing with now. Everyone in the office has new numbers. You need to come in and set up yours." I sighed. "I'll be in later this afternoon. I have a meeting scheduled with the new account."

"Ok, I guess you better get to it. Don't forget to remind your friends about Sunday dinner. You know how your mother is." Dad reminded. I told him I would let them know. "I'll be in later Pops. Probably will catch you on your way out."

"Alright love you son, see you later." "I love you too pops." I said before he ended the call.

Phone rings again. Sigh. Hello." I answered with a little aggression. I absolutely hated hearing it ring.
"Aye, did I leave my charger at your house?" My boy Troy asked.

"I don't know. Where did you have it?" I questioned back. "I think I left it plugged in, in the basement."

"You mean to tell me, out of all your devices, you only have one charger?" I asked because I didn't feel like looking for it. "Man come on man, I'm in the area you see it or not?"

"Don't rush me." I looked around then saw it where he said it was. "Yeah it's here still plugged in."

"Aight I'm comin' through." My phone indicated I had yet another incoming call. You've got to be fucking kidding me. "I got a another call."

"Aight." He hung up. I clicked over "Hello."

"Hi," was all they said. It was another strange number I didn't recognize. "Who is this?"

I heard a little giggle, "Melanie, your assistant silly."

"Oh, I guess you have a new number too?" I sat back wondering why I'm just getting the memo. "Yes I forgot to notify you, of that change." She added.

"Anyway, I was just calling to remind you about your three o'clock scheduled for this afternoon." This new assistant stuff was already ruffling my feathers. "I'm aware. Is there anything else?" I asked, rushing her off my line.

"Nope, that's the only thing on the you have for today. I'll email the Birkham documents as well upon your arrival. You can review them from home." She suggested.

"I'm coming in before my meeting. So I can go over a few things with you regarding that account." I replied. "Keep those files with you. We'll go over them." The one thing that irritated me the most about having a new assistant was the fact that I had to explain everything over and over. I needed her to follow the training regarding emails, phone calls, and going over accounts. That'll only make things easier for both of us.

"Ok see you then Mr. Adams." She changed her tone when she said my name. Strike one.

"Yep." I ended the call. My new assistant was a handful. It was apparent she had a little crush on me. She's aesthetically pleasing. Just not someone I would be interested in, and it wasn't professional.

I've worked with my dad in his company since I graduated from College, which was not long. I'm an advertising sales executive.

It wasn't my dream job, working in sales —nepotism at its finest. If I ever had a kid I'd want to help them out as much as possible too. So kudos to pops.

I have hobbies and things I love to do so I didn't complain. My parents never wanted me to stress financially. They knew I was young and still finding myself. So I worked for him until I discovered my true calling.

Sunday dinner was a tradition Mama Laurie started. My mom would always help. She decided she wanted to keep the tradition going. So Sunday dinner was set to be at my parents house.

I went ahead and sent out a reminder to the squad. 

1:35 pm
Me: Aye, Sunday dinner don't forget. At my parents house same time three o'clock.

1:36 pm
Mina: Cool

1:38 pm

1:40 pm
Chance: I'm texting the wife right now.

2:00 pm
Mike: Cool, I told Rai. She's bringing Sienna and her friend Trey.

Well damn who is Trey. Hmm should I ask —I want to know. Fuck it.

2:07 pm
Me: Who's Trey?

2:10 pm
Mike: Siennas boyfriend. Why what's up?

2:12 pm
Me:  Just in case mama ask.

2:12 PM
Mike: Cool.

Let me get this clown his charger so I can head to this meeting.

                              ****

"Hey mama. You look beautiful." I kissed her cheek, side hugging her. "How are you my sweet baby boy? I didn't see you in church this morning. Everything ok?" She gave my face a once over.

"Everything's good, mama. I overslept. Been trying to secure Birkham. It's nagging at me. Time snuck away from me last night while I was strategizing. I have to do better. I did catch it Live stream and paid my tithes and offering online." She was satisfied with that. Her face relaxed.

"That was pretty clever how the pastor worked in Diana from Wonder Woman comparing her to Queen Esther." I brought it up so we could discuss—something we did every Sunday.

"He was so right, though. Both had a job to do for their people. It took making them see the bigger picture before they became brave enough to fulfill their purpose." She kept the conversation going.

"In the end neither one forgot where they came from. That was one of Laurie's favorite stories." I smiled reminiscing on the many occasions Mama Laurie and mama would go on like this. "Yeah, those were good times." She pointed out, raising her finger.

"Queen Esther needed to be told her mission in order to save her people though. That was the only difference. Diana was eager to save hers." Mama jumped back on the subject. I guess she wasn't finished making her point.

So I countered back. "She just needed to open her eyes and realize her position was beneficial for her people. It worked out, in the end, all the same."

"Don't get me all worked up in here Dri." She called me by my childhood nickname. "Aight, aight, aight, I'll stop." A smiled formed on both of our faces. We couldn't help but embrace each other once again.

"Ok baby boy. Go ahead in and see your father. He's down in the basement." She released me. "You sure you don't need any help?" I offered.

"Nope, I saw Raina today at church. She and Sienna will be here to help. I have everything covered." She smiled.

"Oh ok, alright." I said as I walked out heading to the basement.

"What up pops?" I asked, he was scrolling through his phone. "Hey Dri. I didn't even hear you come in."

"You good pops?" I asked and he said yeah. "Just trying to reorganize my phone. Your mother says I have too many apps."

"You add every app you hear about. You need to go through them." I agreed. He waved me off, and I plopped down beside him.

I hung out with my dad for a little bit. We played 2k. Everybody started making their way in. All of the guys hung out down in the basement. The ladies including Chance wife Rita was in the kitchen. I saw Mike kind of off to himself, seated at the bar. I forgot to ask him how'd it go with his sister. It's been a week.

"You good man? You ever got a chance to talk to your sister? I forgot to ask." I sat beside him.

"Yeah, I talked to her, but it ended horribly. Due to my stupidity." He said shaking his head. "You want to talk about it?"

He said he didn't really want to talk about it but he manage to speak on it a little. "I just brought up somethings I shouldn't have but the main thing is we did talk. So it wasn't too bad."

"That's a start. You can't expect overnight results." I stated, and he agreed. "True. Time will reveal."

Both us kind of just stared in the direction where everybody else was. They were laughing at something on TV.

"I invited Leah and KJ but she claimed she had something to do today." He said kind of bummed. "Maybe she really had something to do." I suggested.

"Nah, she do this when she get in her feelings. She start ignoring me and my dumbass will blow her phone up all day long, waiting for her to respond." He stressed.

"You know what she want. I don't know why y'all playing games. " I stated in a duh tone.

His chest deflated a little. "Yeah but we already talked about that. She said she understood. She also said she can't just up and change everything." I nodded my head, listening to him. "She want to get serious but she on some bullshit. I told her I'm not committing to no damn stripper, shaking her ass every night."

"See, that's why she's not here. I wouldn't come either. You have a way with words." I scoffed. "You didn't have to say it like that."

"I can put my foot in my mouth sometimes, but that ain't even the worst of it." He paused tugging at his beard. "We were arguing and it was getting heated. I kind of threw somethings in her face about her being KJ's mom and how this wasn't good enough for him. He deserved better than this. Sayings if she can't stop for herself at least do it for him. Then I was fussing about how this doesn't seem temporary. —What she gon' do when this shit fade? She been saying it's temporary since the day I found out she strip."

He blew out a breath. "I basically said too much, as usual." He added.

"Any time you mention kids you should know that's a sensitive topic." I couldn't imagine someone putting me down about how I raise my kid if I had one, especially when I'm trying. I know that shit hurt because at the end of the day, none of us are perfect.

"Oh don't I know it." He laughed bitterly as if that was the most ironic thing ever. "I will never mention kids ever again. I've truly learned my lesson. Ten times over." I didn't get it. But clearly, he was talking about more than just this with Leah. Hmm.

"Maybe she want to stay secure financially. I'm sure getting to this point wasn't easy. What may look disappointing to you could be one of her greatest accomplishments thus far. Being able to be independent without the help of KJs father." I added, trying to give perspective.

"You're right. It seems simple to me but I know it's not that way for her." I nodded agreeing with him.

"I just don't want her working there anymore, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that." He frustratedly unleashed. I get it. He had his reasons. "Maybe y'all can workout some sort of compromise." I recommended.

"What kind of compromise? —Hmm, Leah can you not bend your ass completely over in front of these dudes." He countered sarcastically.

I looked at him crazy. "No I mean just be open to the conversation and see what both of you come up with. You love her and she love you,— find a way."

He sat back, pondering away. "I'll talk to her."

"Good because this has been going on for too many years now. It's insanity. I understand you don't like change but damn." I laughed. He sucked his teeth. "Man whatever. I can do change. It just has to make sense."

"You have to be open for things to change. New change. Unfamiliar change. The type of change that just might make you uncomfortable. Didn't we just have a conversation about having faith and what not?" I reminded. He waved me off then changed the subject. Putting me in the hot seat. "Did you get up with that girl from the club?"

"No and I wish you would stop asking me about that. I promise you there's nothing there. She's not the one." I shook my head no.

"How you know? What happened to being open to change?" He mocked. It was my turn to brush him off because it was a no today, a no tomorrow and would be a no the next. It's wasn't happening. "I don't know her. And don't want to get to know her. Leah must've said something else to you about it."

"She said she was talking about your night together to all the girls at the club. She said she tried to get at you through social media and that was a bust. I guess she's looking for something different too." He just had to throw in that last part. It was still a no.

"She was cool, but not my type. I told her what it was before I left her place. I don't know why she still on it. We agreed to sex. Again she's not my type, long term."

Mike side eyed me. "A3 you don't even have a type. You been with all types of women." Damn, that kinda hurt. I guess this dude was making his rounds taking everybody out.

"I have a type and if she was my type she would've saw me again. Trust me she's not it." I curtly responded. He got me fucked up. Like all the way up. I shook my head, leaning away from him a bit. Talking about I don't have a type. I got a type.

My head went straight to thinking about Raina. If only things were different. I'd drop everything for her. I quickly brushed away that thought.

"I'll be happy when you finally get somebody to slow yo' ass down." Troy added coming over joining us.

I scoffed. "You're one to talk." I needed to get away from both of them—the audacity. And Mike needed to cut it out because he can't talk either.

"I was made for this. You're not cut out for my lifestyle." Troy confidently flicked his nose. "I'll hook you up with somebody, damn." He joked. My face grew stale. They laughed at the sight which eventually made me laugh too.

We continued talking a little longer, then joined everyone else. We kicked back and goofed around. My dad went upstairs to check on my mom. Sienna's boyfriend came in and chilled with us too.

"What up man I'm Adrian?" I reached out to him. "Trey." He nodded slapping hands with me. "Make yourself at home."

"Dinner's ready." Rita came in singing. Everybody including me rose to wash our hands and headed straight to the dining room table. I glanced at Raina taking her seat. She looked like she had been crying. Damn.

The ladies really cooked up a feast, we had; oxtail, cabbage, seared chicken breast, corn bread, and a whole bunch of other sides. Everything was perfect and smelled so good. We said the grace then dug in.

"Hey son, your assistant called. She couldn't get in touch with you. She said she needed to go over some things. I'm not sure what exactly." My dad spoke.

"I'll call her later. I'm sure it can wait." I didn't want to talk about anything work-related. But I guess he didn't get the hint because he insisted. "How's she working out? I know you hated losing Kate. It was unfortunate, but she had her own dreams."

"It's different because Kate was with the company for years. She helped me get adjusted. So everything was easy then. Melanie on the other hand she's still learning. I'm trying to be patient." I explained.

"It takes time son, but I'm sure she'll be ok. She seems nice." My dad conveniently inserted the last part. I brushed it off not sure why he brought her up anyway. I hoped he wasn't trying to play matchmaker.

"Somebody has an Anniversary coming up." My mom thankfully sang to Chance and Rita. They gushed at each other, smiling.

"Yep, three years married to this man." Rita interlocked her fingers with his. "Its been an awesome journey. We've traveled and created so many memories together." She cooed.

Chance stared into Rita's eyes with admiration. He leaned in and kissed her lips.

"That's beautiful." Sienna cooed.

"I remember those years. You're still young. Wait until you get to your twenty-fifth anniversary." My dad added, smiling at my mama. I hope I find what they have one day. Like I said to Chance, it's rare.

"Something to look forward to." Chance replied back.

"Mrs. Adams, you'll have to give me the recipe for this oxtail." Amina chimed in.

"For real." Troy agreed, and Mike nodded. It was good.

"Babe, you want you more? Sienna asked Trey. "You know I do. Yeah, I need that recipe too." Trey helped himself to seconds.

"An old family recipe. I have it written in my mother's cookbook. They're really simple to prepare." My mother stated.

Everybody kept the conversations going, but Raina's silence remained. I stole glances at her. She was on the brink of tears. Her seat across the table felt so far away.

"Excuse me. I need to hit the lady's room." Raina spoke softly smiling. She left out quickly. No anyone else picked up on her vibe. "Shoot I left my phone in the basement." I said quickly getting up. I sped off in her direction and knocked. She slowly opened the door.

"Uh— hi." She mumbled curiously. "You ok?" I asked, looking directly into her eyes.

"Y-Yeah." She stammered as new tears form in her eyes. "Come here." I stared down at her.

She stood closer to me. I wrapped my arms