"Alexa, play Luther Vandross." The eldest Freeman smiles as he trims his nose hairs in the mirror, preparing for his date night. Although Robert was well off into his seventies, he still self-identifies as The Mack or, as Riley says, 'a old nigga with hoes.'
"Excuse me, miss, what's your name…can I come-can I take you out tonight," Robert sings along as Luther pours from his speaker. Turning off his trimmers, he goes to grab his outfit for tonight. A pair of gray plaid slacks, a brown collared sweater, and a matching brown wool newsboy cap. He checks the time and quickly gets dressed. He's supposed to pick up Ms. Ebony Brown in about thirty minutes.
Looking in the mirror, he remembers all it took to convince the woman to take a second chance on him. It took him being able to communicate better, and to be honest, at his big age, it was difficult to admit that his past communication habits in relationships were not the best. And although he finds it trying and difficult to implement new changes, he's trying. They have been going steady for a few months now, and he intends on keeping it that way.
The elder gives a few sprays and dabs of his favorite cologne and brushes his hair. Suddenly, there was a loud booming sound drowning out Freddie Jackson's voice on 'You Are My Lady' with more bass than normal, shaking the things on his dresser.
Robert sighs and grabs his coat and cane, turning off the light as he makes his way down the hall, the bass getting louder and louder. He stops outside Riley's door, and before busting through the door and surprising the young boy, he just walks inside. Robert sees that Riley doesn't even acknowledge his grandad because he can't even hear him over the music playing from his speakers.
" -Booming wants some more nigga!"
Robert unplugs the large speakers, and Riley finally turns around in his desk chair, an insult on his lips before finally seeing who it is.
"Boy, what the hell is wrong with you? Turn this got damn music down! Humph, interrupting Freddie Jackson."
"Sorry, Grandad. Hey, where you going all swagged out?"
"Well, yo Grandaddy is going on a date."
"Damn, grandad, again? You got mad, hoes."
"Aye, watch ya mouth, boy. Yo Grandaddy is just a P.I.M.P."
"That's what I'm talking about, Grandad!" Riley cheers. "We don't love these hoes."
Robert laughs, albeit uncomfortably, as he rubs the back of his neck. He doesn't want to admit to being very interested in Ms. Ebony Brown. Again. And she wasn't a hoe. He's dated someone who was considered to be a hoe, but he is more than thankful that was over.
He doesn't know what even happened to Cristal. For a long time after she was gone, Robert still wondered what it was about her that attracted him.
"Huey! Huey!" Robert calls out in the hallway even though he is a few meters away from Huey's bedroom door.
"What, Grandad?"
"What?" Robert repeats, mocking Huey's previous tone. "If you don't come out here and hear what I have to say."
Huey treads inside Riley's room, his former bedroom, and leans against the wall.
"I'm going out tonight, and you already know the drill. Don't mess up my house. Don't order nothing on TV, and don't get nobody pregnant."
The boys groan and complain in embarrassment at their Grandad's words. However, Robert just doubles down, adding, "Use a rubber. I don't need no little children running 'round here." The elder shakes his head, completely serious. "Uh Uh, no, sir."
"We got it, Grandad," Huey says, hoping to end his grandfather's spiel.
"Why you gotta say it, though," Riley mumbles.
"Because it's my roof. While you live up under it, you will abide by my rules. Now, I'll be home late, so don't wait up. And you," Robert points at Riley, "Keep that music down; I don't need Ruckus sniffin' his way over here tonight."
And with that, Robert leaves the two boys staring at each other.
"Nigga you gay," Riley says, matter of factly.
"Bye, honey pie, call me when you get there." Tom raises an apprehensive eyebrow at the big red ribbon on the front of the car. Nevertheless, he waves goodbye to Jazmine as she gets inside Cindy's matte black G-Wagon, ensuring he sees her buckle up before the two girls take off down the street.
Tom shakes his head in good humor and goes back inside. He checks for the time before deciding to finish up work, make a few calls, and do some paperwork to pass the time.
A few hours pass before Tom decides to call it a night and turns out his light in his office. While looking at the time, he stretches his neck and shoulders and relaxes in his chair. He rechecks the time—11:44 pm.
Tom is many things. He's an attorney, a husband, a father, a brother, and a son. He's also a peaceful man, a loving man, a lover, not a fighter; he believes in justice in the battle against dark and light. However, he is still a man first.
He's a man with urges, wants, and needs, and sometimes what he wants and needs intertwine. It rears confusion within him. He knows that he needs his wife, not just because she's his wife, not even because he loves her.
He does love Sarah, but he would be naive not to admit that it benefits him to have a woman so beautiful and intelligent as Sarah on his arm. In this world of money, politics, and people of vast interests, it's a persuasion tactic to talk to the right people and get in the right rooms.
It costs to be able to sit in his large home office at night in his big expensive family home. He did not get here by being just a prosecutor.
He needs his beautiful, intelligent wife to be here for their daughter, to give her wisdom and teach her things he simply cannot. He needs her to keep up appearances for the sake of Jazmine's development and security, just as he does for his career. For their home and personal life.
What he wants doesn't align with this notion. He doesn't want Sarah here. It isn't just because she doesn't want to be here. He's felt this for years. Was he wrong not to want her?
Once again, he has needs that go against what he knows to be right and true.
Picking up his phone, he dials a familiar number.
The phone picks up after a few rings.
"Hello," A female answered. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Tom doesn't say anything for a moment. He just wants to hold the phone against his ear and listen to breathe. "I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Jesus, you scared me."
"Why?"
"Because you said you never wanted to talk to me again."
"I know, but I…I missed you. God, you drive me crazy. Y-you make me feel crazy."
"Why, baby? You want to come over and talk about it."
Flashbacks of the woman lying on Tom's chest, her melodic voice, and luscious lips kissing him, and the last time they had sex filter through his mind, and he makes the ultimate decision to stay put. He fears that if he leaves, he may never return to this house, to Sarah.
He would never abandon his daughter; he would take her with him. He knows the woman on the phone well enough to know that she will love Jazmine as much as she loves him.
"You know, I can't do that."
"You can't, or you won't?"
Tom stands up and looks out of the bay window in his office. "Both. My marriage…I need to give it another shot. Not for me, but for-"
"Jazmine."
It's silent again on the phone, but it isn't awkward. And Tom remembers the thumping of her heartbeat against his own.
"I miss you too, you know. And I can't be mad at you for wanting to keep your house together. My daddy did that."
"Did he?"
"Yeah, he stepped out on my mama, but they stayed married."
"Did he tell her?"
"No."
"How did you find out?"
"I saw him."
"Lucky girl," Tom says with a chuckle. "Good bargaining chip."
"No. I always felt that it made him love me less. I will always be a reminder of him not keeping his promise to my mama. Nobody wants any reminder that they done something wrong. He couldn't wait for me to leave home. He could finally breathe better. Exhale."
"Does it hurt?" Tom clears his throat before clarifying, "Does it still hurt."
"Not so much that he cheated on my mom; a man is going to be a man, my nana used to say. He sows some good seeds, and the rest get lost in his change pocket."
"But the rest?"
"The rest I don't know nothing about. I don't know if he still doesn't love me. I just know how it felt, how it affected me. I have to go soon, but I know that I love you. I've loved you since we first met. I just didn't know it yet."
"I love you too, Georgia.