That Awkward Moment

Family Matters

When Bakari and Ebony arrived at his mothers estate, luxury vehicles aligned the driveway.   Ebony's heels clicked along the cobblestone driveway, as the two walked to the front door breaking the silence between the couple.  Bakari readjusts the bags of ice in his hand to open the front door with his key.  After unlocking the door, he lets her walk inside first before following Ebony inside.  He locks the door and looks around the front entry way to see if his mother was around. 

His other family members had arrived and were currently in the living room playing charades.  He smiles to himself, happy to be home and to see everyone here.  Kari walks to the kitchen to put the items from the store away. 

Donna was currently busy cooking and ordering the chefs around in the kitchen how to cook a southern Barbecue.  She was so in tune with her work, that she didn't even notice that the two were back from the store until Bakari grabbed her attention when he kissed her on her cheek.

"Ma you going to let them do your job or should they be paying you?" He jokes, making his way to the fridge.

A few of the other chefs snickered at his comment as they were working.

"Kari watch your mouth, I paid for these chefs to help out around the kitchen I can help if I want to." She claps-back at her son.

"Okay ma, it's your house." He shrugs.

"Mrs. Donna where do you want me to put the lighter?" Ebony asks, holding up the brand new lighter in her hand.

"Oh can you hand that to Mike please? He's out on the grill I think they needed to light the coal but was out of the lighter fluid." She says while chopping up some onions that would soon be grilled.

She then notices the beer that was put on top of the kitchen Island and looks at Bakari as if they didn't have enough beer already. "Really Kari? As if you needed anymore beer, fuck around if you want to that six pack is gonna turn into a no pack."

Bakari laughs at his moms comment, chastising him for his love of beer and alcohol. "Oh my God mom, it's just something to keep around the house and besides with the way Uncle Aaron and Bud drink, the beer you bought yesterday is probably already gone."

He then opens the fridge to put the beers inside of the already packed refrigerator and closes the door when he's done.  Ebony made her way back to the kitchen and was now leaning against the granite countertop, watching Bakari move around the kitchen.

"Let me introduce you to some of my family that's here, the ones you haven't met yet." Bakari walks over to where Ebony was and escorts her to where everyone else was in the living room. 

Bakari
The look on my family's face when I bought home Ebony was priceless.  Especially from my aunts.  My aunts Jennifer, Angela, and Lisa sizing her up the moment that I introduced her.  I could tell that Ebony was nervous but not afraid to meet the rest of my family.  Aunt Jennifer was more outspoken than the rest of her sisters.  She was loud and sometimes obnoxious until you put her in her place.  She was currently standing eye to eye with Ebony, with her hand on her chin, examining her as Ebony awaited for her to say something, anything to ease her anxious mind wondering if she was approved by his aunts or not.

"She's beautiful Bakari." She finally breaks the awkward silence in the room.

"You know, for a moment after I heard that you and Vanessa were divorcing I thought you had given up on Black Women. But this one, she's niceee, real nice.  Nice wide hips, thick thighs, beautiful mocha brown skin...and respectful, very respectful.  I like her, so far.  Don't give me a reason not to like you honey."

"Y-yes ma'am?" Ebony's eyebrows furrow confused in the way her tone described her feelings towards her.

"Jen don't scare the poor baby off she's not even apart of the family yet and you're already intimidating the poor girl." Mae nudged her sister to sit down somewhere.

"What I was just being honest?" Jennifer kisses her teeth aggravated with her younger sister.

"Sorry about that sweetie she's just over protective of her nephew."

"You damn right I am!" Jennifer blurted out. "Look at the boy, he's probably pulling bitches left and right and he brings one home I'm just trying to get a feel of her!" Jennifer says from her seat on the couch.

"Ignore her please," Angela shakes her head.

"No, no it's okay it really is I can understand why she's over protective of him.  He's a very attractive man and he's going through a divorce...I'm the first woman he's bought home since the divorce so everyone has the right to ask questions about who I am or what my intentions are.  Bakari and I are just friends, we both are just trying to get over our recent breakups, and we just need each other for emotional support." Ebony truthfully admits.

"So, you two not fucking?" Jennifer asks boldly.

"That's enough questions for right now, Ebony why don't you come meet some of my cousins." Bakari finally intervines when the questions were getting too personal. 

Ebony sighs in relief and follows me to meet the rest of my family.

———

For the rest of the day, Ebony engages with Bakari's family meeting his aunts and his cousins.  It was a small intimate family reunion with 25 people in the family mansion that shared the same last name as Bakari.  Tonight was the firework show that Mike and his brothers helped put on the family and distinguished guests were currently outside in the backyard watching the firework show. 

As Bakari watched the firework show, his eyes locked on Ebony who was enjoying the show with his younger brother and one year old niece who was currently in her arms. 

"Why don't you just tell her how you feel son?" Donna asks, breaking his train of thought, and rests her hand on her son's back.

"I don't want to rush things when it comes to Ebony.  She is such an amazing woman and honestly I don't know if I'm emotionally ready to be in a relationship yet.  I really loved Vanessa, I still do and it's taking me some time to get over because it was unexpected.  When I start a relationship with Ebony I want to give her all my love and right now I have none to give."

"Awe sweetie don't say that, Ebony is such a sweet girl. I really like her you should go to therapy to help with everything after the divorce is final.  She's not going to hurt you.  I see the way she looks at you and it's with love and admiration.  She genuinely cares about you, she's just waiting for you to feel the same way about her."

Bakari sighs, looking at her as he talked with his mom.  "I'm not ready yet ma' I'm just not ready and I don't want to bring Ebony into a relationship when I'm not completely emotionally invested in her. That's unhealthy and Ebony deserves better.  I've known from day one that she was different than anyone else.  She walks with confidence and she's not afraid to speak her mind.  She doesn't care if I'm rich or poor she's got her own.  Truth is I'm afraid to fall in love again.  The last time that I fell in love, Vanessa didn't love me the way that I loved her.  I'll be okay on my own ma' I'm just proceeding with caution because I don't want to mess things up.  I like the way things are right now."

"Son, life is about taking chances and you've been knocked down again, yeah.  But, Ebony is not Vanessa and you've got to stop comparing her to Van because she has done nothing to hurt you.  You've got to take a chance on what you want before it's too late.  Ebony's a beautiful girl and I have no doubt in my mind that if you wait too long to claim her someone else will claim her." Donna rubs her hand across her sons back.

"I've got to go pack up some of this food for our guests.  Just marinate what I said okay?" She reaches up to kiss him on his cheek, and leaves momentarily.

———
Filler chapter for That Awkward Moment I've had writer's block for the past week that's why there's been a delay ☹️

Plus for the aunts face claims I imagined Jennifer Lewis as aunt Jennifer, Angela as Angela Bassett & Lisa as Phylicia Rashad 💅🏾