Page 87 of Certified to Handle You
When we got out, we dried off, brushed our teeth, and went through our facial routine before gettin’ dressed.
I threw on a cream button-down, left open just enough for my chains to sit right, and some tailored chocolate shorts that fit clean on me. I slid into my fresh ass kicks and kept it pushin’.
Reni stepped into a chocolate crochet dress that tied around her neck, with the front sittin’ right while the entire back was left bare, showin’ off every curve when she moved. The material hugged her body, stretchin’ just enough to lay on her the way it was supposed to.
Her curls fell down her back in a mix of blonde and chestnut brown colors. Hey shit was full and soft, and still a lil’ damp but already bouncin’ back into shape.
She grabbed her clutch and turned, and I took a second to look at her for real, takin’ her in.
“You lookin’ real good, baby,” I said.
She smiled at that, slipped her hand into mine, and we walked out together to meet up with the rest of the fam.
Soon as we made it to the back deck where they had breakfast set up, my family was already at the table sippin’ on somethin’ and laughin’ about some shit my pops was talkin’ about.
The whole setup looked like some rich vacation magazine type shit. A long table was draped in crisp white linen. Gold flatware was laid out perfect. Glass pitchers filled with fresh juices sat between tall vases of white orchids that moved every time the breeze came off the water.
Chefs moved around, placin’ plates down smooth without interruptin’ nobody’s conversation.
There was grilled sea bass with lemon butter, soft scrambled eggs folded with crab meat, avocado toast topped with smoked salmon, roasted potatoes seasoned just right, fresh fruit laid out like art, and baskets of warm croissants and pastries that still had steam comin’ off them. Crystal glasses filled with cranberry mimosas sat at every seat, the bubbles hittin’ the top while the ocean stretched out behind us.
Reni’s hand stayed in mine as we walked up, and I could feel eyes comin’ our way before anybody even said somethin’.
“Look who finally decided to join us,” my mama said, smilin’ as she lifted her glass.
I ain’t even respond to that right away. I walked straight over to her, leanin’ down and wrapin’ my arms around her while I kissed her cheek.
“Happy birthday, mama,” I said low.
She smiled into the hug and held on to me for a second. “Thank you, my handsome, loving son.”
I pulled back and reached in my bag, slidin’ out a small black box before placin’ it in her hand. “I got you a lil’ somethin’, somethin’.”
She looked down at it, then back up at me with that same smile before she opened it at the table. Inside was a clean tennis bracelet with the diamonds settin’ off just enough without doin’ too much.
“Oh, Renza, sweetheart… this is beautiful,” she said, liftin’ it slightly while the light hit it.
“It’s light,” I told her. “Somethin’ you can wear with anything, and don’t break it,” I joked.
She looked at me again, softer this time, then pulled me back in for another hug. “Thank you. I love it and I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Mama,” I said, kissin’ her cheek again before steppin’ back.
That’s when I finally moved around the table, pullin’ Reni’s chair out for her before I took my seat like I was supposed to.
Pressure glanced over for a second, not sayin’ much, but I caught it. Kay’Lo lifted his glass toward me in a quiet nod before takin’ another sip.
Pluto sat there with her hand restin’ over her stomach while Toni leaned in close to her, both of them already mid-conversation. Reni settled in beside me, her hand brushin’ mine for a second before she got comfortable in her seat.
The table went right back to movin’ with conversations pickin’ up where they left off, glasses clinkin’ and plates bein’ moved around.
I sat there takin’ it in for real. It had been a minute since we all been together like this.
My pops was leanin’ back in his chair, talkin’ low to my uncle Kojo like they always did, not sayin’ much but still holdin’ the whole table with the way they carried it. Every now and then one of ’em would pause, sip they drink, then pick right back up like the conversation never broke.
Uncle Kwame was listenin’ to everything, jumpin’ in when he felt like it mattered. Auntie Treasure stayed close to him, checkin’ on everybody without makin’ it obvious, her attention movin’ around the table, makin’ sure everything stayed smooth.
Auntie Abeni ain’t say much at all. She sat there with her glass in her hand, speakin’ when she felt like it, and every time she did, people listened. My mama had that same kind of pull, but hers came with a lighter energy. She laughed and moved easy, but you could still feel it under that.
