Continued from The Genesis of Michael J’s Life
“You have some nerve being here. What if my husband comes home and sees you darkening our doorstep?” She hissed at him.
“I’ve been to Michael’s graduation away from your family. Now, I’m here to see him in person. I want to spend time with our son… today.”
Karena huffed. She felt like the last bit of energy was draining out of her and she had no strength to do anything about it. She wants and needs for him to be gone before her husband come back home early.
“Fine. When are you bringing him back?”
“It should be an hour before his bedtime,” Xander smirked.
Karena shook her head, knowing that meant whenever he felt like bringing him back. She called out to Michael to grab his things because he was going out for a ride with Mr. Xander.
When I heard my mom calling out to me to pack my things, my first thought was I was going to spend the night with someone. But when I went downstairs and saw her with her arms folded appearing upset standing next to Mr. Xander, I knew something else was going on.
“Yes, mom?” I asked her, raising an eyebrow. I needed to know why I was packing my things and for what.
“Michael, you are going with Mr. Xander for a day. So pack whatever you want, okay?”
Before I could say something, Mr. Xander interrupted.
“Pack an overnight bag, just in case,” he said.
“For what?” I wanted to know.
“Well, there’s a lot we’re going to do today. Pack an overnight bag just in case it runs over into the next day.” The way he spoke that let me know that I may or may not like it.
So I nodded and turned to leave, but not before I saw my mother glaring at the dude like she wanted to yell at him about whatever. I don’t know what is up with those two, and I can’t believe I haven’t noticed that until now.
After I threw some things like two shirts, jeans, socks, underwear, that sort of thing along with toiletries, I called my best friends, Craig and Cynthia to let them know I would be out for today. I know they would be pissed since this is a last-minute thing, but they’ll understand.
When I came back to the living room with my tote bag, I noticed my mom and Mr. Xander staring at each other like they were telepathically having a conversation. I didn’t know what to make of it, and it gave me vibes that they share or once shared some type of love for each other. I cleared my throat and they immediately broke contact to look my way.
“Ready, son?” Mr. Xander asked me.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, wondering why he seems to take great pleasure in calling me, son. Like damn, yeah, I am somebody’s son but not his.
We rode around for like thirty minutes before we ended up at the Robert Mueller Airport. I glanced around through the side window wondering why we were here. A look of puzzlement settled on my face because no one told me we were going to take a flight. Or maybe he was picking someone up like his sister like the last time. All I know is, the vibes I was picking up didn’t feel right.
Don’t get me wrong. I like hanging out with the guy and I have been since I was maybe six or seven. Off-and-on was more like it, and I would constantly hear my parents argued a lot with Mr. Xander’s name coming up just as much.
“Michael, we are going to take a short flight to Austin on my private jet.” When he saw my eyebrows raised up to my forehead, he added,
“Hear me out. We are going to do something different this time. Remember when I told you it was okay to be spontaneous and to do something entirely different than before, well this is it.” He actually said that with a huge smile and twinkled eyes like he had some big secret up his sleeve. I just nodded, feeling some type of way about it.
After we retrieved our bags from the trunk, we walked to the back of the airport. Once there, we got on a white jet with black stripes, and inside was impeccable. I have never been inside a jet before- private or commercial, and I really wish I could have brought Cynthia with me. She would love this!
The day went by smoothly and sort of fast, and I am not complaining either. The activities we did with his family had brought so much fun and joy, I didn’t want to leave. His family really believes in having fun at the highest level. They also like doing things as a family, and they are so tight-knit.
Now that the day was nearing an end, I settled into the cotton sheets and brought the white and yellow bedspread over my shoulders and stared at the ceiling. No matter how much of a great time I had today, I’m still worried about what my dad Jarren told me last night and I haven’t seen him for breakfast.
The next day around five in the evening, Mr. Xander pulled into the Gulf gas station. When I took a peek at the fuel gauge, I saw that it was above the halfway mark. And we are less than thirty minutes from my house. I know we weren’t stopping for gas and the way he steered the car away from the gas pumps to park near a telephone booth, so many things ran through my mind.
“Michael, I have something to tell you.” He started off to say.
“Yeah?”
He turned his full body to face me. He had a solemn expression on his face like something was weighing heavy on his mind.
“This is something I wanted to say for so long. And, it is killing me to get it off my chest. After having a quick talk with your mom yesterday before we left, she told me that it was revealed that your dad, Jarren isn’t your father.”
“Oh! Uh, yeah. I found out the previous night. Why did my mom tell you?” I wanted to know. I knew they were friends, or whatever they are, no one told me, but their weird friendship is making me question a lot of things. And just like with my sibling, we were taught not to get into grown folks’ business.
“Because she-” he paused, and then sighed. He cocked his head to the side and stated, “Michael, I am your father.” He said it with such a straight face I couldn’t help but laugh. I threw my hands over my face and continue to laugh.
“Michael, I’m serious. You know what? Let’s get you home and get our answer while we’re at it. Shall we?” Mr. Xander was serious. I can see it in his eyes. For as long as I have known him, when he was serious, he was serious. He had joked around about things before, but this new to me.
Arriving at my house, I saw my mom walking up and down the driveway glancing down the street probably looking for me. My dad, well, my dad Jarren, or whatever it is I can call him, was bent down digging up something by a bush. When they saw the car stopped by the sidewalk, they paused.
I saw a look of horror stretched across my mom’s face. And my “dad” Jarren appeared angry as he would normally be when I’m gone too long without him knowing about it. When I got out and got my tote bags and extra bags for myself and the family, Mr. Xander rose out of the car like he was on a mission.
Next thing I knew, my “dad” angrily approached him and started shouting.
“What the hell your ass doing here?”
“Excuse me, Jarren. Karena, tell Michael that I’m his biological father.” When Mr. Xander said that, we all looked to my mom who just stared back at us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cynthia walking up. Damn, if only I knew before now.
TO BE CONTINUED.
©2020 Pamela E. Hester
