Nina & Dee

One

I ran my hand through my hair and set my black Givenchy purse down onto the cream marble island. The house was quiet. I was sure Dee hadn't made it home yet because the sound of buzzers and cheering didn't eco from the bedroom. I also didn't see his car in the parking garage.

Buzz Buzz.. Buzz Buzz..

I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone; Dee and I's picture flashed on the screen. He was smoking a blunt, something I didn't like for him to do and something he didn't start doing until his brothers started coming around more often. All four of them would stand outside on the small balcony that overlooked the busy city of New Orleans and smoke until they were high. I was sitting on his lap in the photo, my arms draped over his neck, and the side of my lush lips, ever so gently brushing against his cheek, and my dark blue eyes glared at the camera, almost as if to make it clear that he was mine and mine only. The possessiveness indicated in the photo and his smug grin and puff of smoke escaping from his lips showed how much he knew he was mine; how crazy and ridiculous it'd be for someone to think otherwise.

"Hey babe," I answered, turning to walk down the hallway towards the bedroom.

The walls were a soft blue, some a soft tan or silver, simply because the neutral tones were always peaceful to me. Pictures of Dee and I hung on the walls, pictures of his family, including group photos of us all, and pictures of Lucas and Caden. Motivational sayings also took their places on the walls because there was never a time to be down. Bible verses took the cake, accenting the walls perfectly with their simple glitters and majestic lettering.

"Hey mama, what do you feel like eating?"

I entered the bedroom, the black framed bed sitting parallel from the flat screen that was posted on the wall. Dee's PlayStation 4 sat under the television on top of a stand, awaiting his arrival for the next time they met. A full body mirror that I brought from my old house leaned in the corner, receiving a full view of the room, simply because I never found the time to hang it up so it typically held its place there. A dresser sat on each side of the bed, lamps on top, and of course, a small framed picture of us as well.

"Whatever you feel like babe, I don't really mind. I'm just going to take my shower real quick and relax. I'm so tired."

I headed toward the dresser that sat next to the far side of the bed, adjacent to the huge pained window that oversaw the entire city, something that Dee and I refused to cover with curtains.

I searched through the drawers for fresh lingerie and pajamas.

"Then I was thinking that maybe we could have dinner at home and watch a movie?"

I pulled out a pink silk spaghetti strapped gown that ended right at my mid thigh. Dee had bought me this for Valentine's Day earlier in the year and I only wore it occasionally. When he saw me in this, boy did he get.. interested. That's what I'll leave it at.

"Maybe Mary Mack's?"

I smiled to myself, thinking about how I haven't had soul food in a few months — since Christmas really. Dee's mom, Sanni, always cooked for the holidays, so his entire side of the family would go over there and we'd all chow down and have a good time. It felt good to actually have some kind of family that I could call my own. Once I met them all — his mom, brothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, they seemed to accept me quicker than I thought they would.

I remember the arguments Dee and I used to have about it. I wasn't used to meeting my significant other's parents, but he really wanted to bring me home to them.

His mother was the one that caught me off guard once and from then on, she's been the one I've began to call Ma. Her heart was pure and her soul was as fierce as ever. I loved that woman. Being around her just gave me that sense of mother's love that I knew I would never feel again my from own.