"Baby, my daddy wants us to come over today." I said. This would be the first time he met him, and I knew it wouldn't be on a good note. He nodded his head and smiled.
"That's cool. I been wanting to meet him anyway." He said. Little did he know what he was getting himself into.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I took a deep breath before using my key, and walking inside the familiar house. I smelled the aroma of fried chicken and other delectables as Carter and I followed the smell to the kitchen. I saw Trudy and my daddy's girlfriend, Brianna standing behind the long kitchen island, snapping peas. "Brianna, how are you?" I said, walking over to her, giving her a hug. Carter stood behind, looking a little uncomfortable. I turned to him pulling him closer to us. "This is my boyfriend Carter. Carter, this is my daddy's girlfriend Brianna, and this is Trudy, our housekeeper and my godmom."
Brianna dried her hands off on the apron tied around her waist, and Carter reached out his hand to her, which she immediately slapped away. "I only do hugs, especially when my stepdaughter brings someone special to meet us." She said, hugging him. He eagerly hugged her back and then Trudy. I looked at Brianna.
"So, where's daddy? He wanted me to come out here so he could talk to me." I said, nervously. She smiled and pointed to the backyard.
"He's outside, grilling some ribs. You guys go out there, and chat with him. We got it in here." I grabbed Carter's hand and we walked together outside to where my daddy had the grill set up. I walked over to him and hugged him, as he kissed my forehead.
"Hey, baby girl. What's new?" He asked gently. I narrowed my eyes and stole a glance at Carter. A new relationship, I wanted to say.
"Nothing much, just came to talk to you." I replied. Carter walked over to him, and offered his hand. Which my father didn't accept. Carter's hand slowly returned to his side, and his smile faded.
"I'm Carter, Mr. Jackson. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." He said politely. I sat down in one of the lawn chairs and waited to see what would happen.
My daddy went back to flipping over the racks of ribs. "I know who you are. Parker told me all about you," He said, looking at Carter with a rude look. "And what you do." He tossed in the pot. I cleared my throat as Carter sat down in the chair next to mines. He hung his head as my father just stared at him.
"I know what you heard about me must've put some horrible images in your mind. But i'm really a nice guy when you get to know me." He explained.
"I don't want to get to know you. Frankly, I don't want my daughter around you." He said.
"Dadd--" I said, but he cut me off.
"And you, little girl. I thought I taught you better than to be hanging around with some drug dealer off the street. Estás tratando de ser como tu madre (Are you trying to be like your mother)?" He asked in Spanish. I snapped my head at him and my expression quickly turned sour. Carter actually looked a little confused at what was going on.
"Por supuesto que no, papá. Pero yo soy una mujer culo crecido (Of course not, daddy. But I am a grown ass woman)." I said, smartly. He threw down the tongs he was using to flip the ribs and pointed his finger at me.
"You will not speak to me like this! Does this thug have you talking to me out the side of your neck?" He asked. Carter looked at us innocently and smiled.
"Daddy, no. I just feel that as a grown man, you should respect my decisions no matter what Parker told you about him." I said, feeling my temperature rise.
