I traveled along the pathway to the far end of the compound. We passed by the tennis court, the three pools, the basketball court, and the golf course. Beyond the trees was my glass house.
“Wow! This is even better than your house in Grosse Pointe Woods. You built this?”
“Nah, this used to be my pops' crib. This is the house he built from the ground up. He left it to me when I graduated from high school. He was only able to build this house, the main house, and my Aunt Sarah’s house before he passed. I built the newer houses and compound amenities for the rest of my aunts and uncles.”
“You’re very talented. It’s truly admirable.”
I smirked. “Thank you, beautiful. Let’s get inside so we can call and check on my Chunks. Just so you know, I put a security detail on them while we’re away.”
“You think he knows where I am by now?”
“Possibly, but he won’t be able to get through to touch Chunks or any of your family members. Those guys you met are thorough. But enough about that. Let’s get inside.” I helped her off the cart, grabbed our luggage, and led us up the porch stairs. “I promise, Jela, y’all are safe with me.”
“You should have seen him, Tru. The boy was out there giving it to them boys. I swear… he’s the next MJ on them courts!” my Uncle Nell said, hyping his son.
We were all sitting in the living room watching Brayden’s game highlights after Grams pigged us out. Jela sat content next to me, while my cousin, Rihanna, showed her some of her dances on her phone. I was forgotten once they started talking about her passion.
Uncle Cornell was my pops' first brother. Then came my Aunt Sarah, followed by Uncle Vince, and last was Aunt Nora, the baby of the siblings. At one point, Uncle Cornell used to play for the Blacktop Rockets until he tore his ACL during the highlight of his career. After he knew he wouldn’t be able to play again, he started putting his three sons—Rhys, Silas, and Brayden—in sports. Only Brayden kept at it while the other two decided to get in on the family business and become builders.
“I can believe it. You def got handles, Bray.”
“Thanks, Cuz. I’m trying to make it to the big leagues, ya heard.”
“And you will. Just keep staying at it, and I promise… you’re going to get there. Just make sure you have my floor seat tickets handy, my guy.”
“You already know what it is, Cuz!” His smile reached his eyes.
“Allll right! You already know what time it is, Nephew!” Aunt Sarah sang, coming from the back with the Book of Stone’s Bible. My head dropped backward, and I chuckled. “Don’t look like that. We ain’t done this in a long time. Ever since your first girlfriend, what was her name… Nora?”
Aunt Nora said with her brows pinched together. “Shelly, I think. No. It was Shelby.”
“Shirley. Her name was Shirley,” I corrected.
“Yes! Shirley was her name. She was such a doll,” Grams said.
“Shirley?” Jela asked, trying to hold in her laugh.
I laughed for her. “Chill. Shirley was my first puppy love girlfriend in eighth grade. She probably would have been my wife if she didn’t move away.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Jela teased.
“I remember her. Thick, cornbread-fed, shawty,” Jules said with a smirk.
“Yup. I used to have a crush on her so bad,” Rhys added, laughing.
“You crush on any-damn-body, boy. Anyway, Jela… it’s tradition to share our family history with whoever any of us bring around the family. It’s been a while since Truce had someone special in his life. Since he brought you, I figured you must be special to him.”
I placed my hand on Jela’s knee as she smiled. Chuckling, I turned to my aunts. “I don’t know why y’all insist on embarrassing me but go on. Embarrass away.”
Aunt Sarah laughed and walked over as Rihanna stood, Allowing her to sit next to Jela and the journey began. I sipped my beer and tuned them out while talking to my Uncle Vince about his classic cars. The pictures and laughs continued for about thirty more minutes, then the home videos began. I shook my head and laughed. When my pops came on the video, the room literally went silent. It was crazy because no matter how many times we watched these videos, they still gave us a nostalgic feeling. I missed the hell out of him, and I knew my family did too.
“Tru! Come here, son!” he yelled across the courts for me. Jules and I were outside playing one-on-one basketball.
“Look at Jules' big head ass,” I said, watching him try to steal the ball from me. We all laughed and watched as I dropped the ball and went running toward my pops.
“Aww, how cute,” Jela said. “How old were you?”
“I think I was about eight.”
