Phone ringing.

"Hello." I answered.

"Hey son."

"Hey pops, who's number is this you're calling from?"

"I'm in the office, we have a new phone company we're dealing with now. Everyone in the office has new lines. You need to come in and set up the phones in your office."

"I'll be in later this afternoon, I have a meeting scheduled in a few with that new account." I sighed.

"Ok well I guess you better get to it. Don't forget to remind everybody about Sunday dinner, you know how your mother is."

"Yeah, well I'll be in later dad, probably will catch you on your way out."

"Alright love you, 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.

"Aye, did I leave my charger at your house?" My boy Troy asked.

"I don't know, where did you have it?"

"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?"

"Man come on man, I'm in the area you see it or not?"

"Don't rush me." I looked around in the basement. "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.

"Cool, let me go I got a another call."

"Aight." He hung up.

"Hello."

"Hi."

"Uh, who is this?"

"This is Melanie, your assistant silly." She giggled.

"Oh hey, so I guess you have a new number too?"

"Yes I forgot to notify you, of that change."

"Yep."

"Well I was just reminding you of your meeting you have at three."

"I'm aware, is there anything else?" I asked rushing her a little.

"No that's the only thing on the schedule for today, I'll have Birkhams emailed documents on your desk as well."

"I'm coming in the office today, so I can go over a few things with you regarding that account." I replied.

"Ok see you then Mr. Adams." She always changes her tone when she says my name.

"Yep." I said hanging up.

My new assistant is a handful, she has a little crush on me. She's cute just not really somebody I'm interested in, nor is it professional.

I've been working with my dad in this company since I graduated college, which is not long. It's not my dream job, working in sales. I'm an advertising sales executive, —nepotism at it's finest. If I ever had a kid I'd want to help them out as much as possible too. I have hobbies and things I love to do so I guess I can't complain. My parents just doesn't want me to stress financially. They're not the type to try to force me into anything. They know I'm young and still finding myself so why not work here until I find my purpose. I just might find my place in this business who knows.

Sunday dinner is a tradition Mama Laurie started, and my mom would always help her. This Sunday my mother decided she wanted to keep the tradition going. So we'll be having Sunday dinner at my parents house. I guess I better send out a reminder to the squad.

1:35pm

Mike, Mina, Troy, Chance: Aye, Sunday dinner don't forget. At my parents house same time three o'clock.

1:36pm

Mina: Cool

1:38pm

Troy: Got it and open the door.

1:40pm

Chance: Ok, I'm texting the wife right now.

2:00pm

Mike: Cool, I just told Rai, she's bringing Sienna and her friend Trey.

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

2:07pm

Me: Who's Trey?

2:10 pm

Mike: Siennas boyfriend, why what's up?

2:12pm

Me: Just in case mama ask.

2:12PM

Mike: Cool.

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

****

"Hey mama, you look beautiful." I said kissing her on her cheek

"Hey baby, how are you? I didn't see you in church this morning. Everything ok?"

"Everything's cool, I over slept. I've been trying to secure the Birkhams. Times been getting away from me. I have to do better. I did catch it Live stream and paid my tithes and offering online."

"That was pretty clever how the pastor worked in Diana from Wonder Woman comparing her to Queen Esther and her story."I added.

"I know, he was so right though. Both had a purpose. It took making them see the bigger picture and being brave enough to help others to fulfill their purpose." She agreed.

"Yep and in the end neither one forgot where they came from. That was one of mama Laurie's favorite stories." I smiled.

"Yeah, —although Queen Esther had to be told." She pointed out raise her finger.

"She just needed to open her eyes to realize her position she was in was beneficial for her own people." I retorted.

"Don't get me all worked up in here Dri." My mama called me by my childhood nickname.

"Aight ma I'll stop." I started smiling, while reaching over to give her a hug.

"Ok baby, well go ahead in and see your father. He's down in the basement."

"You sure you don't need any help?"

"Nope, I saw Raina today at church. Her and Sienna are coming to help me. So I have everything covered."

"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?"

"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 over. All the guys, hung out down here in the basement. The ladies including Chances wife Rita was in the kitchen. I saw Mike kind of off to himself sitting at the bar. I forgot to ask him how did it go with his sister. Its been a week.

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

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

"You want to talk about it?"

"I just brought up somethings I shouldn't have but the main thing is we did talk, so it wasn't too bad."

"Well that's a start, you can't expect change to happen over night."

"True, but I think we're going to be good though."

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."

"Nah, she do this when she get in her feelings. She starts ignoring me and I would just continue blowing her phone up."

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

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

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

"I know 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 isn't good for him. Sayings if she can't stop for herself at least do it for him. Then I was yelling saying how this doesn't seem temporary. —What are you gon' do when this shit fade?"

"I basically said too much, as usual." He added.

"Any time you mention kids period you should know that's a sensitive topic."

"Oh don't I know it." He laughed bitterly. I didn't really get the irony in that, but clearly that's what he was thinking. Hmm.

"Maybe she wants to stay secured financially. I'm pretty sure getting to this point wasn't easy for her. 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."

"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."

"Maybe y'all can workout some sort of compromise."

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

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

"I'll talk to her."

"Good because y'all been going at this same thing for way too many years now, it's insanity. I understand you don't like change but damn."

He sucked his teeth. "Man whatever, I can do change just has to make sense."

"Did you get up with that girl from the club?" He asked.

"No and I wish you would stop asking me about that, Leah say something else about it?"

"Nah she's just persistent, Leah said she was talking about your night together. She said she tried to get at you through social media."

"She was cool, but she's not really my type. I told her what it was before I left. I don't know why she still on it."

"A3 you don't even have a type, you been with all types of women."

"I have a type and if she was my type she probably would've seen me again. Trust me she ain't it." I shook my head. My thoughts went straight to Raina. If only things were different. I'd drop everything for her.

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

"You're one to talk." I scoffed.

"I was made for this, you're just not cut out for this lifestyle. —I'll hook you up with somebody, damn." Troy joked.

I gave him a stale look then we all laughed.

We continued chattin' it up a little longer then joined everybody else. We kicked back and goofed around. My dad went up stairs to check on my mom. Siennas boyfriend came in and chilled with us too.

"What up man I'm Adrian?" I reached my hand out to him.

"Trey." He nodded slapping hands with me.

"Make yourself at home."

"Hey guys dinner's ready." Rita came in singing.

Everybody including me got up to wash our hands then 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 got; oxtails, cabbage, seared chicken breast, corn bread, and a whole bunch of other sides. Everything is to perfection and smelling right. 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 somethings, not sure what exactly." My dad spoke.

"I'll call her later, I'm sure it can wait." Not wanting to talk about anything work related.

"How's she working out? I know you hated losing Kate. It was unfortunate, but she had her own dreams."

"Yeah it's different because with Kate she was with the company for years. She helped me get adjusted so everything was easy for her. Melanie on the other hand she's still learning and I'm trying to be patient."

"Yeah it takes time son, but I'm sure she'll be ok. She seems nice." My dad oddly replied. I'm going to brush that off not sure why he brought her up anyway. I hope he's not trying to play matchmaker.

"Somebody has an Anniversary coming up." My mom sung to Chance and Rita. They started smiling.

"Yep, three years married to this man." Rita said interlocking her fingers with Chances. "Its been an awesome journey, we've traveled and created so many memories together."

Chance stared in to 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. You just 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.

"Man that's something to look forward to." Chance replied back.

"Mrs. Adams you're going to have to give me the recipe for these oxtails." Amina chimed in.

"For real." Troy agreed and Mike nodded.

"Babe you want you more? Sienna asked Trey.

"You know I do, yeah Ima' need that recipe too." Trey added while looking for seconds.

"That's an old family recipe, I have it written in my mothers cookbook. They're real simple to prepare." My mother stated.

Everybody kept the conversations going, but Raina remained quiet. I glanced at her, she was on the brink of tears.

"Excuse me, I need to hit the ladies room." Raina spoke softly smiling. She left out quickly, I don't think anyone else picked up on her vibe.

"Shoot I left my phone in the basement." I said quickly getting up.

I went to the bathroom and knocked. She slowly opened the door.

"Uh— hey." She mumbled curiously.

"You ok?" I asked looking directly in her eyes.

"Y-Yeah." She stammered as tears really started to form in her eyes.

"Come here." I stared down at her.

She stood closer to me, I wrapped my arms tightly around her. She buried her head into my chest accepting my embrace, not wanting to let go.

"I'm here if you need me, if you need somebody to talk to, about anything. I'm here, I mean that." She nodded her head while still buried in my chest.

I really don't want to let her go either, I've never felt this type of energy toward any girl to be honest. I feel like I want to help her through whatever she's going through. If only things could be like this all the time. I squeezed her tighter.

"Um, —o-ok I will just go back. I came to check on you." Rainas friend Sienna came to the bathroom door stammering with her eyes wide and her mouth open, she quickly scurried off.

Shit, shit, shit.

"I guess we should get back out there." She whispered into my chest.

"Yeah I guess so." I sighed rubbing her back in a circular motion. I released her and she let out a sigh of her own. She walked out, I went to the basement to get my phone.

The rest of dinner I was focused on her. I hope she really took in what I said. I honestly don't want to care about why we can't be. If she'll let me, I really want to be there for her.

I'm about to do something really stupid. I took out one of my business cards from my wallet and held on to it until the end of dinner.

Everybody started leaving after eveerything was cleaned and back in place, so it was just my parents, myself, Raina and Mike left.

"Thank you both for dinner, everything was great. I'm starting to get sleepy already." Mike said while drying the last dish.

"No thanks needed you know you and your sister are family." My mama replied standing next to my pops at the island.

"Yes this was amazing, and I really appreciate you carrying on this tradition. It means so much." Raina added while hugging my mother.

"It's my pleasure dear." My mama stated while hugging her little bit longer.

"Well I guess we better get going." Mike yawned while stretching his arms.

I have to give her this card.

"I'm headed out too, I'll walk out with ya'." I looked over at Raina. Mike was headed toward the door. I hugged my parents goodnight.

I rushed to stop her, quickly handing her my card on our way out. She took it with a faint smile etched on her face. Our fingers touched, and a wave of electricity came over me sending tingles through me. I glanced at her before walking out, she trailed behind.