Braxton
While we wait for the two women to return, I look at Hatchet and see a goofy grin on his face. “What’s the look for, man?” I ask him. He contributed nothing to the conversation yet is acting like the cat who caught the proverbial canary.
“Ah, just thinking that life is looking pretty good right about now,” he replies. “You done with that?” he asks, motioning to my coffee cup.
Now I’m feeling as if I’ve dropped into a parallel universe. Hatchet is a lot of things but domestic? Not in this lifetime, despite Mom’s constant ‘badgering’ at the clubhouse. “Yeah, man, thanks.”
“No, thank you. You managed to move that delectable DJ a helluva lot closer so I can see where it’ll go.”
“Does this mean you no longer want a long-haul run?”
“Nope, don’t want it...not even close.”
“Don’t fuck that up, man. She’s not your usual bang and go and if you mess that up, you might screw things up between me and Cara,” I warn him.
In the middle of rinsing out the cups and putting them in the dishwasher, he throws back his head and laughs, making me want to throat punch him. Only, should I do that to someone who is one of my best friends? Something to think about I suppose.
The girls enter the room with the kids following in their wake. “Morning, buddy,” I say to Luca.
“Mornin’, Mr. Braxton, Momma says Ralynn and I has to get our shoes on because you’re taking us to looks at anothers apartsment.”
“Sure am, buddy, seems DJ and Ralynn will be moving into an apartment of their own.”
“Possibly!” DJ shouts out. “Let’s not get their hopes up in case it doesn’t work out,” she says to me sternly. Yeah right, as if I’m not going to do everything in my power to make sure she stays here...not just for Cara, but for Hatchet as well.
“It will work out, trust me,” I tell her.
“Yesss!” Luca screams out, punching his fist in the air. Seems I’ve made someone else’s day as well. Looks like he’ll have two little girls to watch out for instead of just my girl.
We head to my apartment so I can get the master key I have to the unit I have in mind for DJ. She will be close to me and Cara instead of on the other side of the lot. It’s the only one I have left that’s close by. It’s a three bedroom, but I think it will work out well for her. I’m envisioning her using the spare bedroom for an office. Every writer needs their own space to create their masterpieces. Man, it must be hard to put yourself out there like that. I don’t think I’d personally be brave enough to do it myself. The criticism alone would be enough for me to hunt down the asshole and pummel their face until they retracted any hurtful words. Yeah—nope, I couldn’t do it...no way, no how.
As I open my front door I’m met with a bundle of energy—my daughter. “Hey, baby girl,” I say as I pick her up and give her a kiss to the top of her head and snuggle her to me for a hug.
“Hi Daddy, I misseded you.”
“You did huh, I wasn’t gone long.”
“Longs enough,” she huffs out at me causing me to laugh at her statement. My little girl is having some separation anxiety from me being on the road for so long. I hold her closer, not looking forward to the day I won’t be able to do this anymore and she will care less how long I’m gone for. It breaks my heart to even think about that day.
“I got an idea,” I tell her. “I’m taking DJ and Ralynn to look at an apartment, you wanna come with us?”
“You betcha,” she says wiggling to be let down.
“Hurry up, everyone is waiting out in the hallway on us,” I shout at her retreating back.
“Two shakes,” she yells back. Where she comes up with the stuff that leaves her mouth sometimes stuns me to the point of silence. I mean, what is there to say to that? Not even two minutes later she’s running down the hall in mismatched clothes with flip-flops in her hands.
“Did you even brush your hair?”
“No times. Let’s go, Daddy.” No time? I would’ve made time for it. Before I can say anything she’s ripping open the front door and making her way to where Luca and Ralynn are standing next to Hatchet. “Uncles Hatch!” she screams out and launches herself in the air into his open arms. She takes a few years off my life every time she does this with one of the brothers. She just expects them to catch her, never checking first to see if their hands are otherwise occupied. One day one of them won’t catch her and my fear is that she will be physically hurt.
“Always check before you jump up expecting someone to magically catch you Lily! You just scared ten-years of your dad’s life little girl.”
“Sorries, Daddy,” she says hanging her head down.
“You’re not in trouble, you just scared me baby girl.” She reluctantly climbs down Hatchet’s body and goes over to her friends. Her dejected look is making me feel like a real jackass, but I have to make sure she thinks about her safety first—always. Anything happens to that little girl and my world would be shattered beyond repair. As my heartbeat slows back to an acceptable rate, I start walking towards the unit. I can hear the kids chatting away behind me when a hand grabs mine and fingers intertwine with mine, and I instantly calm. She does that for me, centers me and makes me feel ready to take on the world.
“You did the right thing you know? If we don’t call them out on their actions nobody else will, it’s our job as parents to sometimes be the bad guy, even if it isn’t our intention to do so. No one will ever love or look out for our kids like we will. Don’t be so hard on yourself, Braxton, in five minutes or so she’ll forget that the incident even took place. Kids are resilient you know?”
“I know, it still breaks my heart to know I’m the one that put that look on her face though.”
“Trust me, if anyone understands that feeling well it's me. Ever since Luca’s dad died, I’ve had a hard time with the discipline. I feel like I somehow owe him to be easier on him. In my head and heart though, I know if I do that he won’t ever learn. We have to stand firm with our kids and show them the errors of their ways. It’s how they grow and learn.”
“You’re right, logically I know that here,” I say pointing to my head. “But in here,” I point to my chest, “I feel like I owe her something more, with her not having a mother and all.” I stop talking as we step in front of the door, using my key I open it up and step back allowing everyone to enter before I do. This particular unit had been planned for my family, only when we needed to move in it wasn’t ready so I moved into one that was as close to a floor-plan as the one I designed for us. When you walk in, this one is more of an opened up apartment. You walk straight into the living room, the kitchen is to the left, and the first bedroom is directly to the right. You walk down the hallway and there is another door, it connects to a bathroom which is in Jack and Jill style connecting the two bedrooms. Next door on the right is the second bedroom, further down directly at the end of the walkway is the master bedroom. It’s huge and has a walk in bathroom that contains a spa tub, along with a stand-up shower with a bench. I had designed it big enough for my large frame to fit in.
After everyone does a walk through I ask, “Well, what do you think? Will this work for you and Ralynn?” I’m hoping that DJ has fallen in love with it.
“Braxton, this place is breathtaking, are you sure I shouldn’t be paying for such luxurious accommodations?”
“No, it’s a perk of your job, you won’t get paid as much as you would at another management position because your rent and utilities are included with the job title you will be carrying.”
“Wow, this is the best job perk anyone could receive, I am still feeling guilty about how excited I am. I accept your job offer and the apartment if you’re completely sure.”
“I’m positive, I need people behind me that I trust.”
“But I don’t understand, you don’t know me, how is it you’re willing to trust me so easily?”
“Call it a gut instinct. I know it’s Sunday and all, but Hatchet and I really need to get to the shop. We’re behind in orders and paperwork. If you are ready, I will get keys to you and you can fill out the necessary paperwork in the morning.”
“Is this really happening?” she asks out loud.
“Sure is, darlin’,” Hatchet tells her. “Congratulations, we’ll talk about getting your belongings moved down here and getting you set up.” As he wraps that up we each grab a kid and head out the door.