I was done. I just wanted to be the man my wife could be proud of. Fuck the rest.
We stayed a little over an hour,and somehow I’d barely seen my father again. That alone made the night easier than I’d expected.
Cadence was asleep against my shoulder, one little heel missing while the other dangled from Skye’s hand. She’d eaten every chocolate-covered strawberry she could find and danced until she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
“Ma, you don’t have to walk us out. I got it.”
“Son, please.” She smiled at Cadence. “I’m not ready to part ways with my granddaughter.”
Skye smiled.
“Mrs. Sha...”
My mother looked at her.
“Dena.”
Skye laughed. “Dena...you’re welcome at our house anytime. We’d love to have you.”
My mother hugged Skye again.
“I told you, didn’t I?”
Skye nodded against her shoulder. “You did.”
“Now go on,” my mother said, waving us toward the door. “Before I start crying in this people’s foyer again.”
“We’ll do breakfast before y’all leave,” she called after us. “Or lunch.”
“You just don’t wanna let us go,” I laughed.
“I don’t.”
I’d never seen my mother this light. Leaving my father looked good on her, and I hated that she’d carried it alone. I had her now.
“Love you, Ma.”
“Love you too, son.”
My mother followed us all the way outside, waving until we reached the limo.
Kareem climbed out and came around to open Skye’s door. He stopped halfway there, catching sight of my mother still standing with her arms wrapped around herself against the evening chill.
“Evening, Miss Dena.”
My mother smiled, surprised, for half a second before warmth covered her face.
“Kareem. Look at you.”
He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Been a minute.”
“Too long.”
They smiled like they already knew something the rest of us didn’t.
Kareem opened Skye’s door and helped her in before circling around to the driver’s seat.