I sat silent in the passenger seat as Larry drove to my dads house. After I had explained everything to Kyra and Mo, they both sided with Larry, pushing me to talk to him. And so here I was, on the way to my fathers house.
“Babe,” Larry called to me, gently squeezing my hand. “I’ll be right here with you.”
I hadn’t realized that we were now parked in the driveway of my dad’s house. A wave of emotions washed over me in that moment. I was angry, hurt, and honestly nervous. “Ok,” I breathed out. “Let’s go.”
We got out and headed to the front door. To my surprise, my dad opened the door and greeted us before I could even put my key up to the door. My heart began racing, and I could feel my arm pits begin to perspire, my nerves were getting the best of me.
I could see the hope in his eyes as he stared at me. “Come on in,” he stepped aside to let Larry and I in. “We can head into the living room. Jeffrey will bring us something to drink.”
Shortly after we sat, Jeffrey entered with a glass of red wine and two glasses of what I assumed to be bourbon. I guess he had already assumed Larry would be with me. “It’s your favorite,” he smiled as I took my glass. I nodded my thanks and took a hefty gulp of it.
Larry sat with his arm draped on the the back of the couch behind me, while his other hand cradled his bourbon. His vibe was relaxed, very relaxed, and I was envious.
I sighed and looked up to the heavens, saying a silent prayer for help. “How did we even get here?” I watched his face slightly contort with my random question. “Me growing to not be fond of you,” I watched him cringe. “I can’t say that I hate you, but your actions as of late have definitely driven me close to it.”
He nodded before sitting his glass down. “And I’m sorry. That’s not something I want my daughter to feel, especially towards me.”
“See here’s the thing. You just apologized to me not too long ago, and that time it was to cover up your demons and I’m not here for that. No more cover ups. I want truth and explanations. Then, we can talk apologies.”
He sighed and sat his glass down on the coffee table before speaking. “I just wanted you to be happy.” I shifted in my seat and was ready to fire a response but he held his hand up, “I’m giving you explanations Danielle.” He said firmly. I bit the inside of my cheek out of frustration to keep quiet. “I pushed Julian on you because I saw me, the current me, in him. And as your father, like all other fathers, we want someone who is like us to be with their daughter, especially if we’re successful. And he had come to me a little over a month before you had Larry in your life to get back in my good graces essentially.”
I scoffed at his words and rolled my eyes, causing Larry to rub my thigh, whispering for me to relax.
My father continued to speak. “And when Larry came into the picture, I didn’t see that. I just saw up and coming, which like I told him when we spoke, he reminded me of the younger me that had dreams of where I was able to make it in my life. I saw the me that, despite how much she would say it’s ok, I saw the me that basically forced your mom into putting her dreams on layaway. And I didn’t want that to happen to you. You’re already well off into your career and are growing into something even more amazing and I just,” he huffed. “I didn’t want you to be driven crazy like how I did with your mom.”
“But, that’s your problem. You keep trying to change things in mine and Mo’s life because of your fears.”
“And I’m glad you two are so determined to not live by my standards, or else you wouldn’t be as happy as you are.” He shook his head. “The more I tried to get in between the two of you,” he pointed at Larry and I. “The closer you two became. So that’s when I,” he paused and clenched his bourbon. Sighing he started again. “That’s when Julian and I planned a more intrusive way to separate you two.”
Now it was Larry’s turn to scoff causing my dad’s attention to go to him. I watched Larry raise his glass to his lips to keep himself from speaking.
My dad continued after a flash of remorse showed in his eyes. “But it wasn’t until he had moved in with you, Monique got engaged, the dinner at your place…that chain of events made it click,” he snapped his fingers. “You are your own woman. You’ve grown to be an amazing, strong willed woman just like your mother. Such a giving and loving heart like hers and you’re genuinely happy with Larry. No one could come in between your mother and I, I mean her sisters didn’t care for me too much and neither did your grandfather but they saw her happiness and allowed her to just live her life. And so I had come to that moment of realization the day I popped up at your office and apologized.”
There was a silence between us. It wasn’t an uncomfortable one, but it was happening. I allowed his words to replay in my mind as they soaked in.
“I was just done with trying to meet your standards. I thought that making you happy was what I needed to do, especially after losing mom. You were all we had left,” I shook my head fighting tears. “So being the perfect daughter to keep you in better spirits was what I felt was best to help you through. But then you met and married Laura and you became more controlling. And thank God I went to college shortly after, but poor Monique had to deal with it. She rebelled,” I laughed to myself. “But she had to deal with your ways. And I thought I had gotten away from you, but your influence infiltrated my life in so many ways that I didn’t see then. School, Julian, my career path. That’s not to say I’m not happy with what I’m doing, because I am. I mean I have my own company and offices and I made sure to have a career in what I love to do, marketing. But I started and continued with a lot of things because of you and I wasn’t completely happy until I took complete charge of my life.”
“And you should definitely have complete control of it. But as for Laura and I, that’s just our dynamic. That’s how we work.”
I scoffed, “yea cause that would never fly with mom.”
He gave a half smile and shrugged before taking a sip from his glass. “And obviously you and your sister have taken after her.”
I smirked and rolled my eyes. “And you hate it. You feel like having money means you should be in control, which is the problem with a lot of men today,” I shook my head.
“So my problem is wanting to be in control of things?”
“I know it. You know it. Hell, Larry knows it! Again, that is why you married Laura. She’s the docile housewife who doesn’t care to do any actual work to have her own things and rather have a man take care of her. And that’s what makes you feel powerful.” He sat with a clenched jaw as I continued to tell him about himself. “You wanna be in control of the women in your life, making them feel like the absolutely need you and have to depend on you. But not me. Not Monique. And damn sure not our mother.”
He stared at me as he emptied the contents of his glass. “Jeffrey,” he called out. “I need another please.” Soon Jeffrey entered with a decanter of bourbon to refill his glass. He turned to Larry to refill his, but Larry refused causing Jeffrey to exit the room.
“Did that make you feel powerful too?” I sassed.
“Ok I get it,” he huffed out.
“Do you? Do you really?” I could feel Larry’s hand rub my back in efforts to calm me.
“I do Danielle. That’s why I’ve apologized. That’s why I’ve made amends with Monique. That’s why we’re here right now having this conversation. I was reminded that I’m the only father you have and I need to not have my daughters resenting or hating me the rest of my life nor yours. It’s not healthy. And plus your mother would have my head on a stick right now if she could,” he chuckled making me let out a light laugh. “So again. I apologize for what I’ve done, I know me apologizing doesn’t erase it, but it’s me acknowledging that what I did was wrong, taking full responsibility and promising to not do it again. And I know I must work to gain your trust and be back on your good side, and I’m willing to do that.”
I nodded before speaking. “Well, you can start by ridding of Julian.”
“I’ll talk to him. He, of all people, owes an apology-“
“I don’t want to see him,” I cut him off. “He’s dead to me.”
“Danielle come on,” my dad almost begged.
“No dad. I’m serious. I don’t want anything to do with him. I wish him the best in whatever he does with his life, which does not include me.”
He looked to Larry, who gave a shrug and held his hands up to stay out of it. “I’m with her on this one honestly Mr. Morris.”
My dad laughed and shook his head. “Ohh you two. Fine. X’ing him out now. Ok?”
“Thank you,” I gave a bratty grin.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from meeting with my dad. I can say, however, that I do feel better.
“Earth to Dani,” Monique snapped her fingers bringing me out of my thoughts. Her, her best friend Jessica and I were currently going over last minute details for her bridal shower. With the wedding coming in 3 weeks, everything felt stressful, but thankfully that conversation was the least of my worries. “Where’s your head sissy?”
“Sorry. I was just. I don’t know. Still kinda stuck on my conversation with dad,” I shrugged.
“I thought everything was good,” Jessica looked at me with a curiously raised eyebrow.
“It is. I guess I’m just hoping that everything will remain calm. This is our dad we’re talking about,” I laughed a little.
“You damn right. Tricks up his sleeve for days,” Mo joined in. “I’m just glad we’re all on one accord finally.”
“Right! But anyways back to your big day!” I shrieked. “I can’t believe it’s basically here.”
“I know. I can’t wait to see you float down the aisle girl,” Jessica swooned. “I know I’m gonna be crying.”
“Girl you?!” I laughed. “My babies growing up and getting married. We gone be crying together.”
“Why Dani acting like she not about to be wifed up next?” Jessica snickered to Mo making me bite back a smile before rolling my eyes.
“She stay trying to deny it. But we all know she’s next,” Mo said matter-of-factly.
As of on queue, Larry entered the house carrying his gym bag. “He must’ve known we were talking about him,” Jessica laughed.
“Hey babe,” he said bending down kissing me on my lips. “Hey Mo. Hey Jessica,” he smiled. “What wedding stuff y’all working on?”
“Stuff for the bridal shower,” Mo answered.
“Oh perfect. I wanted to go over some last minute things for your food too. But I’ll let y’all finish. I’m gonna go put my stuff in the laundry. I’ll be in her office though if you need me.”
“Babe you can talk about it now if you want, we’re pretty much done.”
“Nah it’s ok. Plus I’d rather just have Mo make the final decisions on her own, without outside influences,” he eyed Jess and I playfully.
“Oh whatever, punk.” I shoved him away.
“Love you!” He laughed as he caught his balance as he headed to the laundry room.
“Y’all cute or whatever,” Jessica cackled.
“He play too much,” I grinned.
“And you love it and him!” Mo responded laughing.
“You damn right,” I laughed.
“Yea man, everything is good now. It’s one big happy family.” I laughed talking to Lau on my way home from the gym.
“Would you look at that. Everybody getting on track with their dads,” he sarcastically laughed. He still wasn’t that forgiving of our dad. I actually ended up being the more forgiving one crazily enough.
“I’m chilling. Just playing with my son.” I could hear the babbles of my nephew in the background.
“Bro, don’t hold the grudge. Just let it go man.”
“Larry? Is this you? I can’t believe my ears,” Lau laughed. “The stubborn one is given me advice to let shit go. My how the tables have turned.”
“Look all I’m saying is, we got other things to worry about other than holding a grudge with him. We got a whole ass little sister man!”
“Technically she’s a half,” he laughed loudly.
“You’re an idiot.” I laughed with him.
“Nah. But yea I guess you’re right,” he sighed. “Speaking of which, we gotta plan when to go down there to see her and meet her officially.”
“Well she did invite us to her graduation.”
“Yea but I don’t know if I’d be able to stand the sight of Nathaniel.”
I huffed out a breath, “Lau.”
“What? I’m just saying.” I stayed silent in response. “Oh my god,” he huffed out a laugh. “Fine. Fiiiiine. First week of June. Let’s go down.”
“Aye! Don’t be tainting my nephew with ya foul mouth!”
“Oh shut the hell up,” he laughed. “So we taking the ladies too or what?”
“Well yea, I figure Lauren and Dani should meet too since I plan on having her in my life forever.”
“My brother is really in love!” He yelped. “Wait. When you gone pop the question?!”
“I don’t know. I got pops blessing so shit honestly, popping the question is the easy part.”
“Shit. You right,” he laughed. “You did hit Mark about rings right?”
“Yea, I already had several calls and emails with him.”
“Look at you! My bro is becoming a man. Uncle Larry is about to give you an auntie man,” he spoke on a baby voice.”
“Oh gosh. Alright man, I’m pulling into the driveway. I’ll hit you back. Kiss my nephew for me.”
Once I got in the house, Dani, Monique and her best friend Jessica were all in the living room with a bunch of shit around them on the floor. I gave Dani a kiss and said my hellos before inquiring what they were working on. Once Mo said what they were doing I had the perfect plan.
“I wanted to go over some last minute things for your food too. But I’ll let y’all finish. I’m gonna go put my stuff in the laundry. I’ll be in her office though if you need me.”
“Babe you can talk about it now if you want, we’re pretty much done,” Dani spoke up.
“Nah it’s ok. Plus I’d rather just have Mo make the final decisions on her own, without outside influences,” I eyed Jess and Dani playfully. I honestly just needed to talk to Monique, but by herself.
“Oh whatever, punk.” she shoved me away.
“Love you!” I laughed walking out of the living room.
I sat in Dani’s home office clicking away at my emails looking for the links I sent to myself earlier this week. A knock made me pull up all the random food tabs I had up just in case it was Dani, but Mo entered.
“What up bro?” She grinned. “I am prepared to hear bad news. So lay it on me. Gently please.”
I chuckled. “There’s no bad news. Everything is good.”
“Thank the lordt! Ok so what’s going-.”
Dani opened the door cutting Mo off. “I knoowwwww you just wanted to talk to her, but I’m about to go pick up some of the stuff we need for the bridal shower games.” She walked over to me and I was thanking God I still had the food tabs up. “And I didn’t want you to come out and I’d be gone. So I came in-.”
“To be nosey,” Mo cut her off laughing making me laugh.
“Honestly, just a little bit,” she shrugged. “And to give my man a kiss,” she taunted Mo before pecking me on my lips.
“Ok go run your errands, nosey.” I smacked her on the butt before she got too far from me.
She playfully pouted. “Y’all lucky I love y’all. Text me if y’all need anything while I’m out,” she said before walking out of her office.
“Ok so,” I brought up my emails in an incognito window and stalled talking about the food for Mo’s bridal shower until I heard the garage door opening. “I lied. Everything is fine and in place for the food. I don’t have anything to go over for that,” I rushed out in one breath. “However,” I turned the screen showing Mo images of two rings. Her eyes widened.
“Larry. Are you….is this….niggaaaaa!” Her inability to form an actual sentence made me laugh. “Sorry. I promise I’m not stupid. Ok let me try this again.” She paused. “You about to propose to my sister?!” She yelped.
I grinned. “Yea that’s the plan.”
“That’s the part I don’t know. Also, I don’t know which of these rings either. So I need your help in multiple ways.”
“Oh bro. I got you!” She slid over next to me. “This is the one off top. Both of these are beautiful though. How the hell you get this far without me?!”
I laughed and shrugged. “I know my girl,” I grinned.
“Clearly. But you called me in for the best part though.” She sat there in her thoughts for a second until a lightbulb went off. “I have the perfect idea!”
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