“Besides, I know what my son likes,” she added proudly, sliding the plate in front of me.
A mountain of spaghetti first… then three pieces of fish… corn on the side… and a garlic bread tucked on the edge.
Mama took a seat. “You remember when you used tobegme to make this? You used to eat three bowls and still ask what was for dessert.”
I scoffed. “Beg? Ma, I used to act sick just so you’d cook my favorite.”
“Oh, really? Glad to know that.”
I grabbed my fork and dug in.
The first bite hit, and I shook my head slowly.
“Yeah… I miss this.”
This right here tastes like childhood.
Mama didn’t even touch her food; she just leaned back in her chair, watching me eat, smiling in that quiet way mothers do when they know their child made it back home safe. Every time I looked up, she was still staring… smiling.
“What?” I asked, with a smirk.
“Nothing. Just looking at my son.”
I shook my head and kept eating.
“So… you got a woman yet?” she asked, almost spoiling the moment.
I wiped my mouth slowly. “Here you go.”
“What? I’m just asking a question.”
“Well, to answer your question… no, Ma.”
“And is this by choice?”
“Yeah,” I simply answered.
She leaned back in her chair. “Damari, you’re thirty-three years old.”
“And?”
“And that means I should have grandkids… or at least one in the making.”
I tilted my head. “You want grandkids, or you want peace?”
“I want both!” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Actually… is there something you need to tell me? Is there more going on in that Mexican city than you’re saying?”
I paused mid-bite.
“I won’t judge, son,” she added. “But I gotta know why I’ve never seen you with a girl.”
I damn near choked. “Ma…” I coughed, grabbing my drink. “You trying to say a nigga gay?”
She shrugged, real casual. “Well, I’m just saying. You’re handsome, you got money, and yet no woman has ever popped up here with you. So, either you’re hiding somebody or you’re hidingsomething.”
“Well, I damn sho’ ain’t gay; that’s for damn sure. Just because I ain’t brought nobody around you don’t mean nothing. I deal with women… if you only knew how many.”
“Oh, do you now?”