Can't Raise A Man Special Scenes

How Good Are You At Numbers?

Terrell's POV

   Damn, damn, damn! After that phone sesh we just had, I literally can't contain myself. I couldn't focus on work or nothing. All I wanted was her. Candice never went out her way for me like Neeky did, plus never gave the notion that she was into that type of stuff. Who would've thought the sweet, angelic insurance agent that came to that door had a wild side? And to top it all off, she chose to share it so early in our relationship. She did say she was gonna make her breakup official with her babydaddy, but I'm not all the way sold. All night, she talked about him, during our lunch date, she talked about him. I mean, she been with him for ten straight years, plus they have a baby on the way. That's qualifies as a common law marriage. It's hard for her to accept that her first love doesn't mean her no bit of good, but because of what she did, I gotta seal my fate, and I know just how to do it.

Since I told Candice I wasn't coming back to the house anymore, Asia and Aniyah will be living with me at my moms and sisters. I get off today at six, so after I get my girls settled at my house, I'm headed Neeky's way. She think she had the upper hand earlier pullin that phone sex stunt out the blue on me, she thought wrong, and I'm not backing down. And besides, she's used to having Ol Boy sleeping next to her, so she'll appreciate my presence. I called Candice to let her know have their clothes packed up for the rest of the week, and Tuesday when I'm off, I'm gonna move all our shit out that house, except furniture. When I get there, I don't wanna talk, or listen to her sad ass reconciliation tactics, because when I said it's over, it's over. I gave her too many chances to straighten up and fly right, but she never budged. Now since you see I was serious when I said, I was gon leave your trifling ass, you wanna try and fix things. It don't work like that. Besides, I'm with Neeky now, and the way I'm drawn to her after just a short amount of time, I know for a fact she was put in my life.

   It's now seven thirty, and I'm just now walking in the house with my two angels, ready to get them settled for bed, so I can go play with my baby. I'm thinking to myself, my moms is probably sleeping since she's a nurse, and my youngest sister Elli is probably getting ready to go by her boyfriend, so my younger sister Tenisha, could watch my girls for a lil bit. The aroma of deliciously cooked soul food attacked my nostrils as I placed my truck keys down by the sofa. Whatever Mama cooked smells good and I'm bout to make me a plate, before I go get my other plate. Niyah kept asking for pizza, but I'm not about to order nothing to eat if there's food already cooked. My girls are mixed. They mama always tryna feed them pizza and hamburgers, and when I cook, I try to give them full meals, but the only way they're gonna get soul food, is when they're here.

   As soon as Niyah started crying, Moms hollered from the kitchen. I admire this lady to the depths of my soul. After my paw walked out on us, sure I took the man role of the house, but my moms really became Superwoman. She held down two jobs before getting her license for LPN, and still had a smile on her face. I guess it's true, when a weight is lifted up off your shoulders, you glow differently because my mother is the epitome of someone in their early twenties, when she's only forty-five years old. They ran to her leg, squeezing til they couldn't let go, and they didn't either.

  "I wish your dad told me you guys were staying the night," she smiled. "I would've made my babies they favorite baked macaroni."

   "They don't need all that, too spoiled rotten as it is," I said, apathetically. "Y'all keep babyfying them, they gon end up like they mammy."

    She returned that same gesture, with her arms folded and a raised eyebrow. "It's your job to raise them right," she began, "that's your daughters. But they are also my grandbabies, and it's my job and duty to spoil them rotten. I'll let you do your job, if you let me do mine." All I could do at that point was subtly roll my eyes, and make sure she don't see. "I cooked some neckbones, and mixed vegetables," she said sweetly. "When you fix Niyah her plate, shred some meat off the bone. She's old enough to have meat, instead of just gravy and rice."