by D. A. Young
“Then Mister, you either have a strong will or are looking for a nice place to retire and hang your balls up,” Tonya said seriously, shaking her head as she went back to stirring a pot of black-eyed peas.
It occurred to Casey that he should shut her down until he realized something. Mentally, he rewound back to entering the yard until he reached the kitchen. Twenty-six. He turned to look at Sidra and wasn’t surprised to see her patiently waiting for him to catch up. He couldn’t help himself as he blurted out, “What the hell did y’all do to all the men?”
Chapter Ten
When Casey was a young boy, he had the biggest crush on Wonder Woman and dreamed of marrying her and living on Paradise Island, surrounded by beautiful women. His brothers and friends had laughed at him for wishing for something like that. Casey now had the last laugh because as he looked around, Granny Evie’s house really was a Paradise Island filled with beautiful women. Sunday dinner at the Barton house was truly the craziest thing he’d ever experienced, aside from falling in love with the wack-a-doo sitting at the end of the table.
There was not an ugly one among them— child, teenager, or woman. The Barton women were the epitome of Black Girl Magic. Their beauty ranged from cute to stunning, and their complexions from golden to dark chocolate. Their hair was a broad spectrum of textures and lengths from teeny weeny afros to twist-outs to Goddess braids to long and straight or short and wavy. All of the adult women were gainfully employed, smart, and charming. So, why did none of them have men??? It wasn’t like a woman needed a man to complete or validate her, but when he’d opened his mouth and stuck his foot in it by asking where all the men were, the women’s expressions had ranged the gamut from amused to sad, to angry and pissed, but not one of them had actually answered him.
Instead, they’d crowded around him, oohing and aahing as if he were a stray puppy until fed up, Granny Evie finally said, “Now, y’all leave him alone! Sidra, why don’t you and your nice young man set the tables.”
“Yes, Granny,” Sidra said in the most respectful tone Casey had ever heard come out of her ordinarily smart-ass mouth as she went to do her grandmother’s bidding while he followed along behind her to the large dining room.
“That was quite impressive. I don’t think I ever want to leave this house,” Casey said in amazement, and Sidra gave him a murderous glare.
“I’d watch it if I were you. You’re on my turf now, and with some assistance from my family, I can make you disappear”, she hissed. He laughed and it was the grating confident laugh of a man who knows how charming he is and her family couldn’t resist him, which annoyed her even more. They reached a large china cabinet, and Casey accepted the dinnerware Sidra handed him while she retrieved a case filled with polished silverware.
“So, are you gonna tell me what the deal is?” he whispered. “I’ve never seen so many pretty women in all shapes, sizes, and complexions. I feel confident in sayin’ there’s no way a man could come into this house and not find his perfect woman. Or a harem! He could have a date every day of the week if he mixed and matched-”
“Did you take a ‘slow as fuck’ pill this morning? This isn’t a ‘build the perfect chick’ workshop, Casey,” Sidra rolled her eyes at him. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Will everyone fit in here?” he dubiously questioned as he followed her pattern of setting the massive oak table.
“No; the kids and teenagers will eat in the kitchen. It gets a little rowdy between the grownups. Don’t say I never warned you. We are an un-medicated bunch,” Sidra said cheerfully. “And we don’t play nice once you get us going or if we’ve had a few drinks.”
“That makes me feel so warm, fuzzy and secure that I think I’ll take 911 off my speed dial and put my bullet proof vest back in the car,” Casey joked as he stood back to admire his handiwork. “Damn, I’m good! I just set seven settings in under a minute. So…how long does it normally take Tanya to start in on you?”
Sidra looked up in surprise. “How did you know that?”
“Because I do,” he said noncommittally.
“I don’t really blame her too much for feeling a certain way about me,” Sidra admitted softly as she stared down at the table and fidgeted with the silverware. “When I was growing up, I used to try and sidetrack everyone from my mom’s emotional state by showing out. I’m sure I was a big pain in the ass to my cousins with my dramatic antics.”
“I bet it was pretty exhausting,” Casey agreed coming up behind her to drop a kiss on the back of her neck. “But your mama is now grown and so are you. So how about we work on mendin’ some fences tonight?”
Sidra tilted her head back, and their lips met softly as Casey pulled her towards him, and she angled her head for more of him. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she parted them so he could slide in. Her hand reached back to cup his face as she fervently sought more of him. Casey closed his eyes at the taste of her. Sidra was an intoxicating blend of strength, wildness, and vulnerability that he was hopelessly addicted to. His tongue swept in to access her sweetness, and he pressed himself closer to her as his hand slid from her stomach up towards her breast—
Giggles interrupted from behind them, and they slowly broke apart to find the group of little girls from the front yard standing in the doorway. Sidra smoothed her hair and hid her smile as Casey smiled and winked at them as he went back to setting the table.
They took off laughing, and one of them called back, “Ooooooh I’m telling!”
“Great; now I’m gonna be on dishwashing duty, jerk,” Sidra mumbled good-naturedly.
“Well, that’s what you get for temptin’ a man and makin’ him lose his head,” Casey replied cheerfully. “I meant what I said about tonight, Sid.”
“Case, you don’t know everything about-” she said, and Casey held his hand up.
“Then make me understand. Stop stallin’ and make me understand,” he demanded sharply. I am here in this house, surrounded by all these good-lookin’ women but not a man in sight. Is that by choice or not?”
“You’ll see,” she said simply, and Casey stared at her in confusion. “The last man that was here was Tonya’s fiancé. They dated for four years before she finally brought him home for Thanksgiving. By the next week, he’d dumped her. Me, personally, I always thought she could do better, but she’s been especially bitter since it happened. He told her how to dress, what to wear, and who to see. Sampson was an asshole in my opinion.”
“Well, there’s one in every relationship,” Casey shrugged it off and went back to setting the table and then noticed Sidra wasn’t following suit. He raised an eyebrow at her inquisitively and she pursed her lips in annoyance.
“Oh really? Well, who’s the asshole in ours?” she asked sweetly.
“You’re joking right?” Casey questioned with surprise. “You really have to ask?”
Casey looked her up and down and laughed so hard and long that Sidra mouthed ‘fuck off’ to him.
***
After the table was finally set and the children situated, the women started to bring in dishes and platters of food. Casey’s mouth watered at the sight of ham, black-eyed peas, hot water corn bread, rice, garden salad, and fried catfish. “Dear God, I have truly died and gone to heaven.”
Granny Evie cackled while her daughters and nieces preened as she took his offered arm and allowed him to escort her to one end of the table. “I like a man who appreciates good food. It shows how well he’ll love his woman. You, come sit next to me.”
Sidra sat at the other end of the table between her Aunt Pat and her Aunt Wanda who said grace. Afterward, everyone started filling their plates as they chatted with one another. All conversation stopped when Sidra and Casey got up and exchanged half-filled plates. Everyone watched as they exchanged thank you’s and then went back to their seats and continued to fill their plates. It was something so mundane and ordinary, that they thought nothing of it as Granny Evie looked on in approval.
It was
silent as everyone enjoyed the food when suddenly Tonya cleared her throat noisily. All eyes were on her as she turned to address Casey. “Did you know that Sidra was the captain of her volleyball team all four years of high school? She made the dean’s list every quarter for her outstanding GPA. Oh, and Sidra also saved a drowning child at the YMCA when the lifeguard went to the bathroom without telling anyone.”
Sidra was frozen in place as she listened to her older cousin brag about her. Thanks to Sidra’s antics, they’d never been close, but she could see that her family wanted her and Casey to work out and was on her side for once.
Before Casey could respond, Gwen chimed in, “I remember when my big wheel was stolen by Scooter Wade, the neighborhood bully, and he wouldn’t give it back. Sidra took her whiffle bat down the street and showed him what time it really was! She’s always been real hood-I mean fearless like that.”
Aunt Bonita volunteered proudly, “During the summer, she used to pass out cold water bottles to the homeless. And at Christmas, she always gave more than half of what she received to the children at the hospital. My niece has a big heart.”
“And don’t forget that she can change a car tire in under two minutes,” Aunt Jessica added. ‘She’s also very resourceful and thinks of the most creative ways to kill someone. She even has a cookie recipe with needles in it!”
“Aunty!” Everyone protested, and Jessica slapped her hand over her mouth as Casey shook with silent laughter.
“And you ladies were doing so well. Now that, I did know. Everything else is just icing on the cake,” Casey teased as he winked at his blushing girlfriend. Everyone resumed talking, and he was pleased to see Sidra and Tonya engaging with one another as dinner progressed.
“You love my grandbaby, Casey Sullivan?” Evie inquired quietly as she watched her family with loving eyes.
“With my entire heart, ma’am,” Casey responded readily, and Evie nodded her head slowly. Taking that as a positive sign, he pressed on, “What would you say if I told you I came to ask for her hand in marriage?”
The older woman smiled faintly. “I would say that you definitely have my blessing. I’ve never seen my girl so happy. She’s a hard egg to crack. Growing up, she had some…challenges, but her heart is a good one. I’ll be honest with you, she’s normally very leery of relationships with men due to her past exposure to them, so she might try you, but hang in there. I’ll definitely say a prayer for the two of you.”
“Actually, you can do a little more than that,” Casey said gently as he took her frail hand in his bigger one and looked into her wise brown eyes. “You can have faith, believe in our love, and stick around for a very long time to watch your grandbaby get married and pop out four great-grands for you to spoil silly.” Casey mixed his diced ham into his black-eyed peas and put a forkful in his mouth. The beans had heat to them, and he eagerly scooped up another forkful as Evie watched with pleasure. “Scotch Bonnet pepper?”
“Yes, sir,” she beamed with pride. “It’s the only way to do it.”
They smiled at each other and continued to eat. Five minutes passed before Evie whispered with glee. “Four great-grand babies? You really think she’ll go for that?”
Casey blinked and smiled at her slowly. Evie blushed, bringing her hand to her heated cheek as she pfffted him. The gall of this whippersnapper and those dreamy eyes of his! But he sure was a cutie...
“She won’t really have a choice, ma’am,” he said politely, and they shared a conspiratorial laugh as everyone else wondered what was so funny.
***
“I like your young man, Sidra. He’s very good to you,” Evie remarked as she and Sidra put the china and silverware away. The rest of her family was on the back porch enjoying her granny’s strawberry shortcake and hanging onto Casey’s every word. It was almost sickening watching them hover around him like vultures over a carcass. The dinner had been an enjoyable success and ended with Sidra and her cousins making tentative plans to get together next month. Casey had already committed them to one family dinner a month, but they would have to see how the rest of the night went first…
“He’s a keeper for sure, Granny” Sidra assured her and waited to see if she would reveal what she and Casey had giggled about at dinner.
“Does he know about your past? Or how ‘extra’ you can get?” Evie teased.
“Yes, ma’am, he does, and loves my little bit of ‘extra’ too,” Sidra joked, causing Evie to pinch her cheek and laugh. “We’re on our way to go see Mom when we leave.”
“I love all my kids, grands, and great-grands, but you, my dear, have always held a special place in my heart,” Evie said affectionately. “I prayed you would find forgiveness in your parents, a bright future, and a good, strong man to share it all with. Two out of three ain’t bad, Sidra dear. Let me know if you need me to smooth things over with your mama.”
“Thank you, Granny, but it’ll be fine,” Sidra reassured as she crossed her fingers behind her back and wished she were as confident as she sounded.
“I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle and say I do,” Evie declared, slipping an arm around her much taller granddaughter as they went to join the others. “How many little ones can I expect?”
“One is my limit! I’m not a baby factory, Granny. Why are you laughing, Granny?” Sidra questioned as Evie fell out laughing hysterically. “Granny! Answer me, please! What’s so funny?!”
***
Soon after, Casey and Sidra were saying their goodbyes, and there was even talk of dinner again in two weeks, to which he gladly accepted on their behalf. They were just leaving when a shadow moved from the side of the house. Casey stiffened as a massive, red-nosed pit bull trotted towards them with its tongue lolling out. Sidra didn’t seem to notice his stillness as she bent down to pet the friendly dog. “Hi, Mabel-baby! There’s a good girl! How’s Granny Evie’s baby?”
The dog wagged its stubbed tail, and Sidra laughed as she attempted to lick her face. “Boo, this is Mabel. Granny’s had her since she was practically a newborn.”
“I’ll be in the car, Sid,’ Casey said abruptly and then after giving Mabel a cautionary glance, he slowly walked out of the fenced in yard.
Inside of the car, he pulled the seat back and attempted to take slow, deep breaths as he started sweating profusely. The passenger door opened, and Sidra got inside and rubbed his back, concern lacing her voice as she attempted to comfort him. “Tell me what’s wrong, babe. How can I help you?”
Casey could hear the anxiousness in her voice and struggled to reassure her as he placed a clammy hand on her knee and patted it. “I’m good, darlin’. I’m just not too fond of…certain dogs.”
Sidra gently wiped his damp face with a tissue, making a tsking noise. “Mabel is an absolute sweetheart. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Sure, she wouldn’t,” Casey muttered as he sat up and started the car.
Chapter Eleven
Sidra’s directions brought them to a large nondescript warehouse. Although the lights weren’t on, the parking lot was packed, and there was a line wrapped around the block. There was a heavy presence of undercover security patrolling the block. Heavily- muscled women wearing black berets, short sleeve black tee-shirts, camouflage pants, and serious expressions looked like they wouldn’t hesitate to put two slugs in a fool’s ass for just breathing on them. Casey had to admit the sight was quite unnerving. Sidra directed him to an underground parking garage, and after Sidra waved at them, they were allowed in.
They got out of the car, and Casey looked around uneasily. He walked over to his passenger side of the car, intending to go into his glove compartment, but Sidra placed her hand on his arm to restrain him. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Case. But just remember YOU wanted to know about my family. I’ve shown you the parent who treated me wrong. Now, I’m going to show you the parent who supposedly has their shit ‘together’. I want to tell you that her bark is worse than her bite, but I’d be lying. Are y
ou still with me?”
Casey pushed Sidra up against the car and gripped her waist tightly, “Until the end of time, Sid.” His mouth plundered hers, and she melted under the pleasurable onslaught of his kiss, drawing on his tongue. “Try and keep me away, love.”
Weak-kneed, she led the way up the stairs and to the back entrance. Casey sensed the disapproval of the female guard who allowed them access, but he was unconcerned as long as they kept their hands to themselves and didn’t disrespect his woman. Finally, they reached the top level of stairs, and Sidra led him to an empty balcony that was sealed off with boxes. They moved the heavy boxes to the side and squeezed in to view the darkened stage below. All around them, Casey could hear the buzz of the unseen crowd. Suddenly, bright white arena lights came on, and certain parts of Beyoncé’s “Formation” song began to play over and over. The crowd went wild.
