➴c h a p t e r o n e |  we meet again➴

"How can I help you, sir?" The receptionist asked as Jon walked out of the elevator on the floor where Darnell's office was located.

"Yeah, I'm here to see Darnell Nicole." Jon said.

"Do you have an appointment with her?" She asked.

"No-"

"I'm sorry, sir but you have to have an appointment to see her." She said.

"Look, just get her on the phone and tell her that Jon Good is here to see her." Jon said.

"Okay." She said, as she picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Darnell, you have a Jon Good here to see you." She said as she looked him up and down. "Very well." She said hanging up the phone.

Jon didn't even wait to hear what the receptionist was about to say. He walked into Darnell's office.

-

"Huh, alright. Send him in." Darnell replied, logging in her computer to see just who had been scheduled today for her so she could have a little bit of background, when she heard the door open. Forever polite, Darnell grinned instantly before her eyes even landed on the person.

"Hi, I'll be just a s--" Darnell paused and looked up, her jaw dropping a little when she saw it was him.  "--econd," she finished her sentenced too late. "Hi," she cleared her throat, standing up from her desk to offer her hand for him to shake.

"Darnell, you know I don't shake hands." Jon said, as he took a moment to look around before he headed towards a chair infront of Darnell's desk.

"Right," Darnell replied more seriously. "So, what can I do for you, Jon?" She asked.

"Where's my daughter and Tiana?" Jon asked.

Darnell froze. She widened her eyes slightly, this time trying not to so obviously drop her jaw.

"Jon-"

"Don't bother lying to me. Tiana sent me a letter that's how I was able to find you. I want to see them." Jon said.

"You want to see her." Darnell corrected.

"No, the both of them." Jon said.

"Jon, Tiana died four months ago." Darnell said.

"Fuck, that means I got the letter too late then." He said.

"It's okay, don't be hard on yourself. At least you got it and know the truth which saves me the trouble. If you want to meet your daughter then you can come over to my house. She already knows about you so it won't be as hard for you to introduce yourself since we all know you have trouble with that." Darnell said, as she took out a pen and piece of paper to write down her phone number and address. She looked up at him and handed the paper to him.

"Thanks." He said.

"You're welcome." She said.

"It was nice seeing you again, Darnell." Jon said standing up.

"You too, Jon." She said.

-

I cannot help the way my leg bounces up and down frantically, with my fingernails digging crescent-shaped moons into my skin.

"Mom, why are you so nervous?" Gemini asked.

"Well, Nunu is about to meet her father for the first time and I never thought that would happen." I said.

"I'll be fine and it ain't like he's going to try and take me from you." Nunu said as she ate her sandwich.

"Oh my God, mom he can't do that, right cause I can't lose my sister." Gemini said.

"Calm down, Gemini and at the moment no he can't but if he goes to court then yes but Jon hates courtrooms." I said.

"Okay, good." Gemini said.

"Besides, he wouldn't dare try and take me away from y'all." Nunu said as the doorbell rang.

"I guess he's here." I said as I stood up and fixed my dress then my hair.

"Why are you fixing yourself up?" Gemini asked.

"Girl, hush." I replied walking to the door.

I opened the door and met the eyes of Jon and two other guys.

"Jon, you didn't say you were bringing company with you." I said.

"Sorry, Darnell, they didn't believe me and wanted to see for themselves." Jon said, walking into the house.

"Please, come in." I said.

"Nice place." Jon said as I closed the door.

"Thank you, Jon." I said.

"I'm Colby." Colby said introducing himself.

"And I'm Joe." Joe said aslo introducing himself.

"Nice to meet you both, I'm Darnell." I said, smiling.

"She's in the kitchen." I said, leading the them to the kitchen.

"Mom, Nunu tried to-" Gemini stopped looking at the three men standing behind me.

"Nunu, your dad is here." I said.

"Wassup, Jon." Nunu said, standing next to Gemini.

"Nunu, behave." I said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Nunu said.

"Hello." Jon said.

"Can we eat now?" Gemini asked.

"Of course, would you all head to the dining table?" I asked.

I grabbed the Roast Chicken with Herb Butter platter and I carried it to the dining table and went back to the kitchen. Nunu grabbed the vegetables. I grabbed the big bowl of rice and black beans.

She made her way back to the kitchen to make sure everything was clean and put away before deciding to join everyone at the dining table.

I returned to the table. I placed a fork down next to the full plate on my dining room table and pulled a chair out. Sitting myself down, I placed a napkin in my lap before dishing out on my plate of roast chicken with vegetables and rice and black beans.

I smiled as I watched three grown men devour my home-cooked meal while Nunu kept staring at Jon, like he was about disappear on her.

"This is amazing." Colby said.

"Thank you, Colby." I said.

"So, I want to take Nunu on the road with me so I can get to know her better." Jon said.

"Well, she's on break from school so I guess you can take her on the road with you." I said.

-

I looked over at my goddaughter as she carelessly tossed her clothing into her suitcase, not minding to the wrinkles that would soon form on the clothes.

"Nunu," I scolded. "You can't just throw a bag together. Your clothes are going to get wrinkled."

Nunu rolled her eyes, so I chucked a pillow playfully at her. "Don't roll your eyes at me, Nunu." I said.

"Ouch," she teased. "That really hurt." She said.

"Learn to pack a suitcase like a lady and I won't have to hurt you," I responded with a shy smile.

Nunu returned to packing her own bag.

"I can't believe he wants me to come on the road with him." Nunu said.

"He just wants to get to know you." I said.

"Well, he can get to know me from me being home and him where he at." Nunu said.

"Nunu, don't be like that." I said.

"He's going to try and take me away from you and Gemini." Nunu said.

"Nunu, the only way he can do it is if he kills me first which we know won't happen. Gemini and I will link up with you while you're on the road with Jon or just call me whenever you want." I said.

"Okay." Nunu said continuing to pack.

"And if someone messes with you, just call me and I'll be there." I said.

"I know." Nunu said.

"I love you, Nunu." I said.

"I love you too, Mo-auntie." Nunu said.