“And what for? To keep running away from my parents forever? To be this perfect little child who was always seen and never heard? I’m tired of that. I can’t promise it’ll be a great time but I can’t stay away.” Tiana picked up Tyson. “It’s time to give little man his bath and set him down for the night.”
“Did you want me to help?” Kieran offered.
“No, I got this. You rest and relax. I need some mother-son time with Tyson,” she smiled back,
“I’ll take care of you when I’m done.” She winked before she left.
Kieran began to clear off the plates and put food away. He knew Sunday’s dinner was going to be unforgettable. He just wondered how he was going to react to meeting the infamous Champagne Cris in person.
He would somehow find the urge to resist knocking the man out.
THIRTEEN
Christopher heard through the grapevine that his ex-wife had a new boyfriend. A new boyfriend she didn’t want to admit to in public. For weeks, he wondered what he looked like and already assumed everything about the guy.
He concluded Tiana’s boyfriend was probably a nerd and weighed a buck-fifty, soaking wet with two bricks. He was probably in the financial sector as well and didn’t know any slang and spoke proper English all the time. And knowing Barbara, Tiana’s new boyfriend was more than likely a Black man.
So when the mammoth, also known as Kieran, showed up to dinner, Christopher was scared shitless. Kieran was
huge.
His collared Polo barely fit his arms and the hard look on Kieran’s face suggested in no way, shape, or form should Christopher even
think
about fucking with him.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Kieran extended a hand to Christopher.
Christopher glanced down at Kieran’s hand and contemplated if he should shake it. He wasn’t too sure Kieran wouldn’t break his arm. “Nice to meet you, too, man,” he shook his hand. Kieran had a firm grip and Christopher quickly snatched his hand away and massaged it.
He turned his attention to Tiana. She was as beautiful as ever. She recently cut her hair and it was a short do. Way too short for his liking. When they got back together, he would insist she get a weave. “Tiana, darling.” He kissed her cheek.
Tiana remained still as fire flashed in her eyes. Christopher had some nerve pretending everything was cool and civil between them, especially after the mud-slinging party he invited her to during their divorce proceedings. She kept her cool. She didn’t want to be there, let alone make a scene. “Christopher,” she said it in a tone that gave no indication of her feelings one way or another.
Christopher pulled back and admired his ex. “You look absolutely beautiful, Tiana.”
“Thank you,” she forced a grin, “where are my parents?”
“Your dad is out picking up some liquor for us,” Christopher sniffed and rubbed his nose, “your mama is in the kitchen.”
“I’ll go see her,” Tiana headed towards the kitchen.
Christopher looked at Kieran before him. He was holding Tyson and it seemed the boy had a great deal of affection towards his caretaker. “Let’s rap for a moment, brah,” Christopher walked towards the outside porch. He opened a beer and offered it to Kieran, who politely declined.
“So, you’re Kayron, huh?” Christopher sipped his Bud Light.
“Keer-ren,” Kieran pronounced his name for the man. He didn’t mind the fact his three-year-old nephew had trouble pronouncing his name. He had an issue when a grown man was purposely butchering it.
“Yeah, I said that,” Christopher grabbed a cocktail shrimp and slurped on it, “how long have you been with Tiana?”
“A few months,” Kieran replied as he coddled Tyson.
“A few months, huh?” Christopher chewed the shrimp, smacking his lips together. “And what is it that you do?”
“I own a child care business,” Kieran studied Christopher. He had a goatee and was only a few shades darker than the white tee-shirt he was wearing. His brown hair was closely cropped to his head. He had an attitude that was half-swagger and half-crap. It was clear he had a Napoleon complex.
Christopher nodded. “That’s cool. I guess Tiana already told you what I do for a living?”
“I’ve heard,” Kieran tersely replied.
“Of course you have,” a slow smirk formed on the corner of Christopher’s lips, “I’m all over the radio.”
You
were
all over the radio.
Champagne Cris hadn’t had a hit in years and it was rumored he was close to being broke due to his lifestyle and extravagant spending. He was notoriously known to wear brand-new white tee shirts every day because he liked the “brand-new” feel. Kieran didn’t have to do too much thinking to know where Christopher’s intentions lay. He decided to get down to business. “Cris, what do you want from me?”
“I don’t want nuttin’, man,” he shrugged, “I don’t want a damn thing.”
Kieran tightened his lips and let out a small sigh. Christopher was wasting his time and playing him stupid. “So why are we talking?”
“I’m coming back,” Christopher took another swig of beer, “I’m coming back for my family.”
Kieran felt his jaw tightened as he held Tyson. There was no way in blue hell he was going to let that happen. “Does Tiana know this?”
“She’ll know soon enough,” Christopher had a smug smile, “I have backup to support me.”
Kieran quickly put two and two together. The dinner Barbara had requested was a ploy to get Tiana to come over with Tyson. Kieran could tell Barbara was being nice to him when he showed up at the front door. He ruined her plans. With him present, Tiana wasn’t going to reconcile with Christopher.
Kieran took a sip of apple juice to quiet his rising anger. Holding the infant was the only thing that was saving Christopher from getting his head knocked off. “Is that right?”
“That’s right, brah,” Christopher took another swig of beer, “don’t get comfortable now.”
“Quick question,” Kieran began, “you say you’ve come back for your family, right?”
“Yeah, and?” The beer gave Christopher imaginary muscles.
“So why is it that the entire time we’ve been talking, you never asked to hold your son?” Kieran questioned.
Christopher finished his beer and held out his hands. “Here. Give him to me.”
Kieran shook his head. “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be happening…”
****
“You’re my daughter’s new love interest,” Henry Morris stoically said.
“Yes,” Kieran focused on the screen ahead of him.
Henry nodded approvingly and didn’t say another word for a while. The men sat in silence as they watched the football game before them. Just when Kieran was about to break the ice and offer some conversation, Henry finally spoke again. “Just don’t hurt her.”
Kieran was startled by Henry’s sudden words. He thought the older gentleman was speaking to himself. “What?”
“Don’t hurt my baby girl,” Henry repeated. “She’s been through enough with that last joke of a husband. She doesn’t need any more bullshit.”
Tyson was bouncing on Kieran’s lap and making cooing sounds. “I won’t hurt her.”
“Good,” Henry nodded again. He finally looked over at Kieran and Tyson playing with each other. If Henry didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn Tyson was Kieran’s son. “He loves you.”
“I love him back,” Kieran laughed at Tyson, who smiled.
“I know what my wife is trying to do and I told her I wanted no part of it,” Henry began, “I just wanted to let you know where I stood. I didn’t care for Sparkling Bubbly, Alize, whatever he calls himself these days, when they were married and I certainly don’t care for him now he’s showing back up around the home and act like nothing ever happened.”
Kieran remained silent as Henry spoke to him. He thought it was particularly amusing Henry was giving him advice when he wasn’t known as husband of the year. He kept his thoughts private.
“But I can tell you love my daughter and you love her son, treating him like he’s your own.
That’s all I want,” Henry smiled, “and that’s all I want.”
It occurred to Kieran that Henry was from the old school of ‘Do as I say and not as I do.’ “As long as I’m with Tiana, I would always love and protect them both,” he stated, “I don’t need to go anywhere else.”
“Good,” Henry sipped on his lemonade.
Christopher soon joined the men in the family room, drinking what appeared to be his third beer already. “Y’all are way too quiet in here! It feels like a damn mortuary,” he plopped himself down on another sofa, “liven up a little! Sheesh!”
Henry’s eyes moved towards Christopher, then back at the TV screen. “Although I do wish
somebody
would go somewhere else.”
****
“No, everything is not okay,” Barbara huffed. “I specifically invited you, not your help, over for dinner tonight. Your nanny could have stayed at home.”
It felt like Barbara always found that one nerve of Tiana’s and just pounded on it. “Kieran is no longer just my nanny,” she calmly replied, “we’re also dating.”
“Fornicating with the help, huh?” Barbara’s words cut to Tiana. “I already knew that. He’s changed you. And you’re walking around here all jumpy, not prim and proper as a lady should.”
Barbara had a glance over Tiana’s choice of attire. “You’re wearing jeans and flip-flops. I’ll tell you one thing, you’re definitely getting a new nanny because that one isn’t working out.”
Tiana was used to her mother cutting her down, she brushed the insults aside. But when Barbara began to attack Kieran, it was a new ballgame and Tiana was ready to come out swinging. “You have that much dislike for Kieran that you can’t even call him by his name?”
Barbara got out the tea tray and desserts from the refrigerator. “Tyson needs both a mother and a father in his life,” Barbara replied.
“He has a mother and a father,” Tiana snapped back.
“A father for hire doesn’t count,” Barbara sternly suggested.
“I have given Christopher plenty of opportunity and reason to be a father to Tyson and he has refused each and every time.” Tiana hopelessly explained, “Christopher is more interested in my bank account than what Tyson’s favorite toy is. He has not been shy about his feelings.”
“You need to try harder,” Barbara suggested.
The revelation from Barbara was the beginning of a new relationship between herself and Tiana.
“I need to try harder? This is my fault now?”
“You know how Christopher is and you know how men are in general. We always have to carry the extra weight. It’s been like that for generations past and it will be like that for generations to come. You deal and move on.”
“I did move on,” Tiana replied, “I got divorced.”
“And speaking of which, if you dated that nice Black man I picked out for you, this would’ve never happened,” Barbara reasoned.
“Oh, so it’s both my fault that I got divorced because of my White cheating ex-husband?” Tiana tried to keep her temper under control but it was becoming increasingly difficult. “I know you’re not trying to say he cheated on me because he’s White?”
“It is bad enough being half of an interracial relationship, what do you think little Tyson is going to experience when he gets older? You have a curly-haired, fair-skinned child with light eyes, Tiana. Do you think the Black kids are going to accept him? Do you think the White kids are going to accept him? What do you think is going to happen with him?”
Tiana felt her jaw tightened and her nostrils flared. “I will teach my son his heritage so he’s not confused.”
“Oh, I don’t think Tyson will be confused,” Barbara got out the caramel cakes for dessert, “I think you’re the one confused.”
“I’m confused?” Tiana questioned. “How am I confused?”
“You’re acting so weird lately and I think it’s your nanny’s fault,” Barbara mentioned. “You have never been so mouthy and your hair? What is with your hair? You cut your hair
ridiculously short and curly, looking like a boy lost in the wilderness. I need to book Eva to fix that mess. You go with him to visit his family in the ghetto. I know what Staten Island is like and it’s not pretty. Furthermore, you should’ve stayed here and tried to fix your marriage. It would’ve been better for you than to travel across the country with some guy who’s not even on your level.”
That last comment sent Tiana over the edge. “Funny how I’m getting advice from someone who has an adulterous husband who doesn’t give two shits about his wife or his only daughter.
You’re the queen of keeping up appearances and you’re telling me I need to straighten up my act?”
“Now, you watch your mouth, young lady…”
“No, I’m not watching my mouth. I’ve been watching my mouth my entire life. I’ve been watching what I eat. I’ve been watching what I wear. I’ve been watching how I style my hair.
My whole damn life has been about pleasing you! Making you happy! You never asked me what I wanted. You never asked me what I thought. It’s always been about you and this fake-ass image. We’re not the Huxtables, Mother! Dad is not Cliff and you most certainly are not Claire!
I’m tired of being something I am not. I am tired of pleasing people who don’t care about how I feel. I’m tired of eating this bland and beige diet to stay trim. For fuck’s sake, I like salt!” Tiana let out a sigh of relief. “Kieran has been more of a father to Tyson for the past six months than Christopher ever has been. You know why Christopher has been coming around lately, mother?
It’s because he’s broke! He went through the divorce settlement already. He’s been nice and charming, hoping to score some money or a car out of it. You think Christopher cares about you?
How many times did he call you when we were married? How many times did he check up on you when we were divorcing? Did you ever wonder why you were the one watching Tyson and not him?
“And now, all of a sudden, when he’s broke and damn near destitute, he’s coming around like he’s the prodigal son and you honestly think he’s being truthful? That man wouldn’t know what the truth was if he found her on the stripper pole!” Tiana straightened her shirt out. “I’ve gotten more love from Kieran’s mother and she doesn’t know me from dirt! She didn’t criticize me, she didn’t tell me what I was doing wrong, but you know what she did instead? She gave me
encouragement
, something you never have!