One Less Lonely Heart.

Promise

Five o'clock started to come fast and I was getting more nervous as the minutes passed by. Just be your normal self Kay. Don't over do it. No matter what I told myself to calm me down I was anxious as hell. This would be the first official time I ever really spent any quality time with this man. What would we talk about? What kind of questions would I have for him? More importantly, what kind of questions did he have for me? A vibration on my thigh snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked down to see who had texted me.
Pops: Hey Baby boy, I'm about 45 minutes away.
I texted back okay and let my mom know he was on the way.
When he arrived I was waiting by the door, little did he know,  to greet him and welcome him to the guest and partygoers in my home. He stepped out the car in a tan Ralph Lauren button down shirt, some black Levi Jeans and what appeared to be some fresh out the box white Air Force Ones. Damn, he can really dress. We got a lot in common already and we haven't even had a full conversation yet.
I met him at the car.
"Hey pops."
He reached out his arms and hugged me.
Still felt that same energy I felt years ago when he hugged me the first time. The sense of security washed over me. We broke the embrace.
"What's goin' on baby boy?"
"Nothin' much, just waiting to eat. You wanna come inside?"
"Yeah, gimme a second."
He turned around and said some words to his ride that I couldn't quite make out, then turned around and followed me in the house.
A few quaint introductions, some side eyes and a lot of obvious tension later, everybody decided to grab their plates to eat. What the hell was everybody's problem? Like they seen a ghost or somethin'. I tried to shrug off the knife cutting vibe in the kitchen and took my food outside. My father followed right behind me.
We sat in silence for a few minutes eating our meals.
"They don't like me very much do they, son?" He put his fork down and looked at me.
It was only right he'd pick up on the tension too. I couldn't help but to know he felt just as uncomfortable as I did.
"I don't know why they don't Pop. They look at you like your this evil villain or something."
"Maybe I am."
"What makes you say that?"
"I know I wasn't there for you your whole life."
This conversation.
"Your here now."
He stopped talking and looked at me. He cracked a smile. A smile me and him definitely resembled in each other.
"Your right baby boy, I am here. But what about them?"
"I don't know, I'm just gonna have to prove to them your not what they think you are."
"Think it'll work?"
"I honestly do, Pop. Don't worry, I got you."
He smiled at me again, put his plate down and gave me a side hug. It was one of the most heartfelt moments of my life. I was really outside with my daddy, eatin' fried chicken and macaroni & cheese laughing, not having a care in the world about what tomorrow might bring. Nothing else in the world seemed to matter when he was around.
We finished our food, and went out together for a walk around the neighborhood. I couldn't come up with anything to say so I waited until he was ready to spark something up.
"How old are you now son? Like 12?"
"I'm 13 Dad."
"Damn." He whispered to himself.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head.
"Nothin' son, daddy's okay."
With the look in his eyes and his head held down low I could tell something was wrong. I had a feeling he felt the guilt of the time lapse. Knowing what he did that day he left, I knew in my heart I couldn't be upset with him. As a man he did what he had to do.
"Okay."
He wrapped his arm around me as we walked along the side walk.
"So what you doin' tomorrow baby boy?"
"Nothing that I know of. Why what's up?"
"I just wanted you to come over, spend some time with me."
Quality time with my Dad? I wonder what he had planned for us.
"Awe pops, I'd love that. What you have planned?"
"I'll probably take you out to eat somewhere, go and pick up your brothers, and head to my crib."
BROTHERS? I had brothers? How many? What where their names? Was I the oldest? Youngest? So many things I never knew I had until he came along. Why had nobody told me about this?
"I know you have a bunch of dying questions which I'm sure your mother never even gave you the slightest heads up on but yes you have 3 brothers."
"Yeah nobody had let me know. I'm learning so much today."
"I'll catch you up on everything tomorrow, son. I promise."
"Okay, Dad."
We circled around the block one last time before heading back to my house. There his ride was already waiting for him. My Dad hugged me tight and told me he loved me.
"Aight son, hit me up soon as you wake up tomorrow." Before I could respond he hugged me again, kissed my forehead and slipped something into my pocket, hopped in the car and drove away. I watched the car until I couldn't see him any more. I went back in the house and started to cleanup the kitchen. After about 30 minutes I turned off the kitchen light and headed to my room for bed. I took off all my clothes 'til I realized my father did slip something in my pocket. Once I finally located the pants I just took off, I slid my hand in my pocket and pulled out the contents.
It was a necklace with the letter 'D' at the end of it alongside a 100 bill and a note.
"I know I haven't always been there for you my son, but I'm glad I'm in your life now. I should've tried harder in the past years, and I beat myself up for it all the time. Out of all my sons, your the only one that said yes when I asked. We have so much to teach other. I hope you can teach me to be a better father & I promise I won't let you down baby boy.
Daddy loves you."
- Picasso
I folded the note back up and stuck it in the back of my drawer for safe keeping. Did All of the other boys say no? Or were they forced to have a relationship with him? All of this was so confusing. But all I did know, he was here. And here to stay.