The Lists (A Not Broken Novella) by Meka James

Author:Meka James [James, Meka]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jazen Ink Press
Published: 2018-11-22T21:00:00+00:00

6

Family Dinner

Malcolm

I gathered the diaper bag while Ginger unbuckled Shawn from his car seat. Weekly family dinners were something my lovely wife had done before we got married, and we kept the tradition going. Collin and Sandy looked forward to seeing Shawn, and I’d lucked out and gotten probably the best set of in-laws on the planet, so I didn’t mind.

Even spending time with Dorian wasn’t unpleasant. Something had mellowed her out. After years of tension between the two sisters and Ginger trying to please that woman who’d rarely spoken a nice word to or about her, seeing them getting along made me happy. A good relationship with her sister was always been something Ginger had longed for, so having it now was like the universe had finally stopped hating her.

“There’s my boy,” Sandy said, taking Shawn as soon as she opened the door.

Only after her grandson was secured in her arms did she move to greet Ginger with a kiss to the cheek, followed by doing the same to me.

I closed the door as I followed the ladies in. “Smells great as always, Sandy.”

“Thank you, Malcolm. I cooked extra so you two can take some leftovers.”

Ginger rolled her eyes and shook her head. It was the same thing every week, and I never turned down home-cooked food. Plus, I liked the fact it took the pressure off my Ginger, leaving her free to occupy her time in other ways. Like acting out the lists. This whole thing had added another layer to our sex life, and I had to stop myself from adding more items to my jar on the sly.

Collin got up to greet us when we entered, and Dorian gave us a slight nod. With ESPN on the TV, I sat and talked sports with my father-in-law while Ginger and her sister discussed business for Jokobi Enterprises. I did my best to tune them out and focus on what Collin said. Her selling off Seth’s company wasn’t an option, like his damn piano she’d kept in storage. Shawn’s legacy, was her excuse. Lil’ Man’s DNA couldn’t be denied—he was that bastard’s biologically—but the sentimental attachments she held onto, I couldn’t understand it. The ire under the surface prickled but I pushed it down.

“Come eat,” Sandy called out.

We all shuffled to the table. Food, laughs, and good times. Marrying a friend meant I already had a great relationship with her parents. They were like an extended family even before the marriage.

“You two shouldn’t wait too long,” Sandy said as she brushed bangs from Lil Man’s forehead. He sat in her lap drinking the last of his milk after we’d finished dinner.

“Wait for what?” Ginger asked, narrowing her eyes.

“To give this sweet boy a sibling or two.”

Ginger choked on the sip of tea she’d just taken. I focused on controlled breaths and keeping a smile on my face. Sandy certainly fell into that stereotypical ideal of grandmother. She doted on Shawn and made it known—not so subtly—that she was ready for more grandchildren.

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