Page 38 of Haze
Devyn shook her hand. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
And it was. Haze’s mom seemed warm and motherly, much like her own mom. She also seemed like the type who didn’t play around at all. That must have been where Haze got it from.
“Please, come in.” Charlene gestured toward the front door.
“I’ll grab all of Hazel’s things. Mama, order Hazel one of everything I bring up into this house so I ain’t gotta do this shit again,” Haze said.
“Shit!” Hazel squealed.
“Aye, man, why she only ever pick up on the bad words?” Haze asked in frustration. He had been trying desperately to clean up his swearing over the past few weeks, but he hadn’t made much progress, which meant Hazel was now cursing up a storm.
“Boy, you got my sweet grandbaby swearing? I should beat you. What’s wrong with you?” Charlene fussed as she carried Hazel inside.
Kyomi and Devyn giggled as they followed her while Haze grumbled all the way to the car.
Inside, Devyn felt like she had stepped into a cozy home. The space was clean but felt lived in, and it smelled like freshly baked cookies—like what a grandmother’s house should look and smell like. Her heart smiled for Hazel.
Devyn followed the two women to the living room.
“Please, sit,” Charlene said.
Devyn perched on the end of the couch. Kyomi sat next to her, and Charlene and Hazel sat in a recliner across from them. All eyes seemed to land on Devyn after a moment of silence, and Devyn shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Let me be the first to say that it’s water under the bridge, Devyn. As a mother, I understand why you made the decision you made. It doesn’t mean I think it was the right decision, but I understand.” Charlene’s voice was stern but kind. It brought tears to Devyn’s eyes. She didn’t feel like she deserved that kind of understanding or forgiveness.
“I, for one, just want to be a part of my niece’s life. I hope this will be the start of a friendship,” Kyomi said hopefully.
Devyn nodded and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Finally, she said, “I don’t plan to keep Hazel from you guys. And for the record, I am sorry for the decision I made. How me and Haze met . . . it wasn’t easy for me. None of it was, but he’s stepped up and showed me how wrong I was. I promise you don’t have to worry about having a relationship with Hazel. I welcome it.”
“Good.” Charlene smiled as she bounced Hazel on her lap.
“Tell us more about yourself,” Kyomi said, excitement dancing in her eyes as she grabbed Devyn’s hand.
Affection swirled in her heart for Charlene and Kyomi. As she opened her mouth to respond, Haze cut in from behind her.
“She can’t give you her life story today, Ky. We’re on a tight schedule.”
Kyomi pouted, and Devyn spent the next several minutes giving them her parents’ numbers and going over Hazel’s schedule, likes, and dislikes. Tears formed in her eyes when it was time to say goodbye. The only thing that made it easier was the fact that Hazel seemed so comfortable.
When they got back outside, Devyn knew the next phase of her hard day was about to commence: her talk with Haze.
He led her to the bike she hadn’t even noticed parked in the driveway. It would be her first time riding with him. For three hours, she would be hugged up on him. She gulped before she peered up at him.
With a grin, he asked, “You ready?”
The feel of Devyn’s arms around his waist as he navigated the busy highway felt like heaven. Haze knew it was time for him to open up to her about his feelings. Based on how she had been acting, holding back tears and trying to appear strong, he knew this conversation was way past due for her too.
“You good?” he asked as soon as the traffic let up.
He could tell by the way she squeezed him that she was startled. He chuckled. He forgot to mention that they could talk through the helmets. He’d gotten her one when he bought her bike a few years back, and he brought it along today for their ride.
Their luggage was tucked securely in his sidecar and the back of his bike in a storage unit he’d installed. They were set to have agreat weekend, but before they got there, he wanted to clear the air between them. The tension and awkwardness had to go. The past few weeks had been nothing but him working on letting go of the hurt and anger he felt toward Devyn. Because underneath all that, he knew he still wanted to be with her just as badly as the first moment he’d laid eyes on her.
“H-hello?” she asked hesitantly.
Haze laughed again. “Yes, Thicka. You can talk to me through the helmet.”
“You couldn’t have mentioned that? I almost pissed myself.”
