One Less Lonely Heart.

Someone to Love Me

5 years later.

      It was Christmas time. I was 13 going on 14 in a few months to come. I always loved this time of the year. The feeling of love in the air, the thought of exchanging gifts to show ones care for another. It all made my heart warm. But, nothing could beat my Grandmama's holiday cookin'. When I tell y'all that lady could throw down, she'd be in the kitchen doin' the damn thing. Walk in the kitchen you'd see a beautiful brown fried juicy turkey, her famous potato salad, macaroni & cheese, collard greens, pasta salad, stuffing, cornbread, banana pudding & to top it all off a pretty ole' sock-it-to-me cake that was baking in the oven. It was times like this I cherished my Grandma the most. Just to see her do it all by herself and never complain about it? She was the real MVP in my book & I let her know it daily.
     I lived with my Grandma, through a rough custody battle that's what the courts decided was best. I never really noticed the difference, me and my brother was always here anyways. My mom normally came and spent the holidays with us. So the party didn't really began until she made it.
    All through the last couple of months my Grandma had been asking me what I wanted for Christmas. With my excellent status in my school education, I was always granted whatever I wanted. But this particular year, I didn't want anything. I mean, I did. But the only thing I wanted, wasn't something you could gift wrap and give to me. I wanted my father.
     It had been a whole 5 years since that fateful day in my old home of Chesterfield. Grandma had moved to a nice house in Charlottesville 2 years after that day. It was bittersweet to move, but I knew it was for the best. Seeing that gate only brought back sad memories. Some things are just better left behind you Kay. Least that's what I had told myself.
     My mom finally arrived around 5 and we began to get started for dinner. I started making the table til' I heard her phone vibrate. I didn't bother to look at the caller ID as I called her name.
"MA! YOUR PHONE IS RINGING."
"Thanks, Baby. I'm coming." She called back as she fled into the kitchen to catch the call before it hung up.
"Yes, I accept." Was all I heard my mother say before she looked at me and headed outside to take her phone call. I continued setting the table.
     Once I was done setting the table, about 20 minutes had passed. I yelled to the party-goers and relatives in the living room, "Hey y'all ready to eat?" All I heard we're the sounds of cushions lifting and the stomps of feet heading towards the kitchen. I'm guessing that's a yes. I chuckled to myself, I really do love this time of the year.
     Every one closed in and started making their plates. Some gathered at the dining table, some got trays and took their food into the living room. I noticed my mom hadn't came back into the house from her phone call yet. Hmmm, phone call must be important. She's never been outside this long, not talking on the phone.
Before I could exit the threshold leading into the living room, she ran into me and told me follow her outside.
She pulled out a cigarette and took a long pull.
"Ma, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's okay baby. Just gotta ask you something."
"Okay, shoot."
"Your dad is being released from jail tomorrow night and he called me asking could he have a relationship with his son. I told him, it's not up to me. It's up to you. I know you've always wondered why he wasn't around like he should have been. But you know I've never bashed your father. This is your opportunity to see for yourself what kind of man he is to you. Only if you want to take it."
Jail? Release? How long had he been there?
"I just have one question, Ma."
"Of course."
"How long has he been in?"
"5 years. He turned himself in the day he saw you at Ma old house."
Oh my god. How did she know about that?
"Woooooooow."
"I know it's a lot to take in baby, but like I said, the ball is in your court. It's either a yes or no. He said he'll be calling back to ask you directly. So when he does, I'll come find you."
She left me nothing else to say as she walked back in the house.
He wants a relationship with me? Why does he feel he needs permission from me? This is all so confusing. I hadn't seen the man in 5 years, I knew there was a reason why. I just never knew it'd be this. What did he do? Why he'd turn himself in? Some many questions and he was the only person who could answer them.
      It was well into the night when my mom finally handed me the phone telling me my Dad was on the line. My heart was skipping beats like it never had before.
"Son, are you there?"
Say something, Kay!
"Yeah, Dad. I'm here."
"I want a relationship with my son man, you gone grant me that wish? On Christmas?"
It was in fact Christmas Day. What a perfect day for all of this.