Page 40 of Solomon’s Temple

“And you’re blushing? Yeah, come on in here. Mama and the girls ain’t going to believe this.” Aunt Tasha turned and went back into the house.

“I told you,” Temple whispered to me as she took my hand and we followed her aunt inside.

I could tell from the warmth in the home, the brown, cream, and white decor, that it had been lived in for many years. The extreme amount of photos hanging on the wall told stories of joy, laughter, and some pain.

Beautiful plants sat atop glossy wood tables with small trinkets on the fireplace mantle.

“We’re in the kitchen. Your uncle Steve went to grab some ice from the basement,” Aunt Tasha told us while leading us into the kitchen. The aroma that attacked my senses had my mouth watering and remembering I hadn’t eaten since breakfast this morning.

When we stepped inside the kitchen, I noticed two women standing at the long kitchen island, cutting up yams, onions, and peppers. They, too, favored my Beauty in some kind of way.

“It’s about time y’all made it!” the shortest one in the kitchen exclaimed, walking over to Temple. She hugged her, then looked up at me with a smile.

“Solomon, this is my sister, Antonia, but we call her Toni.”

“Hello, Solomon. Nice to finally meet you.” A ghost of a smile rested on her lips.

“Same to you.”

“And this is my other sister, Sapphire.” Sapphire was much taller, seemingly taking after her mother in height, looks, and build. While they all looked alike, she was certainly her mother’s twin. She wiped her hands on her apron, then held it out to me.

“Glad to finally see the man my sister has been raving about.”

Temple rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”

Sapphire laughed as I shook her hand.

“Pleasure to meet you, Sapphire.”

“Where’s Ma Lula?” Temple queried.

“I’m here, beloved.” We turned toward the entrance, and a smile lifted on my face. The woman stood tall with two silver braids down to her hips, skin the color of toffee, and eyes that were just as soft and warm as Aunt Tasha’s. They all carried that same look and hair, but Ma Lula’s energy was much calmer and inviting.

“Solomon. It’s good to see you again,” she said, moving over to me. Out of instinct, I wrapped my arms around her when she pulled me in for a hug. I had no idea what she meant by "again," but I didn’t dwell on it.

“And this is my favorite person in the world, my Ma Lula,” Temple introduced.

“It’s truly a pleasure to finally meet the woman my future wife can’t stop talking about.”

Ma Lula giggled. “That’s right, baby. Speak it into existence.”

“The Big Homie already said it’s solidified.”

“Then so it shall be. Dinner will be done shortly. Beanie, take your man to get cleaned up and set up on the patio.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Temple took my hand, led me out of the kitchen, and down the hall to a bathroom.

We both washed our hands, then she led me out onto the patio where two men stood with beers in their hands, and one of them was on the grill.

“Hi, Uncle Steve. Hey, Uncle Marvin,” Temple greeted.

The one on the grill swooped her up and spun her around. Temple laughed as he set her on her feet. “Beanie! How you been, baby girl!”

“I’ve been good. This is my friend, Solomon. Lo, this is my uncle Steve, and his best friend, Marvin.”

I shook their hands. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Well, this is a first. This must be real serious,” Uncle Steve noted with a smile on his face.