' My boyfriend. '
' What does your boyfriend do ? '
' He's a cattle rustler. '
' Is this a bad joke ? Do I need to call the authorities ? '
Cattle rustling accounts for a huge percentage of the endless beef Wakanda has with Niganda.
' There's no need for that. We just having problems. '
' Stemming from what ? '
Erik shrugs. He's not about to give his new shrink full details about his life. Let her google like the rest of the civilians. Three sentences is progress.
' Same time tomorrow. '
Erik is going through a lot. Nanny just vanished. He thinks that she is on a forced vacation. The Tumi incedent has produced the domino effect for everyone involved. He's hurt, the Isley brothers stays on repeat every evening. He's visibly not present at meetings, dinner, at home. He thinks about going to look for her.
T'challa tries to sneak one in late at night and he gets checked.
' What are you doing? This bakery is closed. '
' Still ? '
Erik is still mad about nanny.
He has no one to talk to now. No outlet. He's alone again. He misses her like crazy. She's been scrubbed clean out of his life. He can't find her anywhere. Zero social media presence. He draws portraits of her to cope.
The weekend comes by. There are rumors of Nakia's new baby arrival. Shuri and Erik plan to stop by shortly to celebrate the new baby. He picks up Shuri at her apartment. Shuri loves to take jabs at Erik. First it was the video of him walking into the front door drunk on vacation now it's the amiri draws.
' I keep catching strays. '
' I'm good at hiding my dirt. '
' Last time after the baby shower. You were trying to tell me something ? '
' There was nothing I could do. You know the way you are. '
' Hard headed . '
' I know you miss her. '
' Miss who ? '
Erik gets a wild epiphany. So that's why they are here ? Shuri is sneaky. Did he put her up to this? No more free rides. Erik is about to stop this car and make lil cousin walk. He was just starting to get over it.
Shuri notices Erik's sharp mood change. She changes the subject.
' How is single life treating you ? '
' Who said I was single ? '
' He took you back ? '
' I can't tell. All I know is I had to do a lot of shit. '
' Like ? '
' Apologize to all the aunties. See a shrink. Media day clown work. Bugging my beads. Social media restrictions. '
' To hell and back. '
' You don't know what I been through. '
' I'm glad I'm not in a relationship. '
' One day your Boyfriend is asking you to explain why you close the door when you take a whizz. '
' Eh-eh, I don't want blood pressure. '
They are just on time. This baby is supposed to be some weeks now or something similar to what Shuri said.
They are taken to a room to sanitize and change into a scrub. Erik remembered, no strong fragrances, beard or long nails.This place is strangely silent. They are led to the baby nursery.
Nakia is having a nap. The nanny is with the baby. The room is all blue. A baby boy. Shuri and Erik share a weird look. This baby is light, it don't look like T'challa or Nakia. Today is not about messiness. It's about the baby..
' Do you want to hold him ? ' the nanny offers.
' Please no. ' Shuri quickly declines
' Why not. ' Erik accepts
' Have a seat over here. ' she points him to the rocking chair by the nursery.
She scoops him up carefully and places him in Erik's arms. Shuri pulls up a chair beside him.
' Lil Man is so cute. Light skin mafia. ' the baby coos in response.
' That's what's up. ' The baby curls his tiny fist around Erik's finger.
' What's the babies name ? ' he asks the Nanny.
' Sumaku. '
' Magnet ? Ooo wee. The baby got hands. Good luck with that. ' the baby chuckles.
' You heard that ? '
' I think Tumi can be a good battle rapper. ' Erik fist bumps Shuri.
' Took the words right out of my mouth. '
Shuri watches Erik fawn over the baby. Press his lil fist to his lips.
' Look at this gorgeous hair. ' he kisses his cheek. The baby seems to love all of the attention.
Erik watches as he gets a diaper change by the baby's nanny.
' I hope to be able to do that in the near future. '
' We appreciate all the help we can get. '
The nanny shows Erik how to give him a bottle and burp him.
' Eeew ! He ruined your shirt. ' Shuri remarks as some milk comes back up.
' How can somebody get mad at this ? ' he wipes the milk at the corners of his mouth.
' When Lil Su turns 16 I'll buy him his first beer. '
' The bar is in hell. '
' I hope T'challa is going to bring him around him like every week. '
' You just can't get enough. '
' No. The baby smells like vanilla, sugar and love. '
The baby falls asleep in Erik's arms.
Nakia has been watching through the CCTV as Erik fawns over her new born baby. That's supposed to be her. She can not explain why she has no attachment to the baby. No maternal instinct. Erik has made everything worse by coming here.
Someone silently picks him up and places him in the nursery. Erik and Shuri are a little surprised. They didn't see Nakia her walk into the room.
' I'm going to have to ask you to leave. '
Shuri and Erik are in the parking lot, they get into the car and begin the drive home.
' Did that just happen ? '
' Maybe she is just tired. '
' Like no hi or how are you. '
' You know how new mommies are. '
' It's not like anyone came to see her baby since the news broke ? '
' What news ? '
' The baby is not T'challa's. '
' How do I not know this ? '
' T'challa didn't tell you ? '
Erik feels foolish.
' After the news broke nobody was feeling her. But now I'm like how is she going to turn away the only person who showed up ? '
' Maybe she needs time.
Erik gets home at 1900 hrs drops off Shuri and pulls into his driveway. He takes a short shower and gets into bed. Watches a short clip of lil man and uncle Erik's first day together.
T'challa got some of Shuri's clips at Nakia's.
' One day your going to be giving proud papa vibes. '
' Yeah. Today made me miss my pops. ' he feels T arm squeeze his shoulder.
' What was he like ? '
He describes his childhood as T lays on his chest.
