Chapter 32

Malaysia’s first birthday came around so fast. My little baby was turning into a big girl right before my eyes. Boss and I decided to throw her a huge party at Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate her special day, and Uncle Pee-Wee was even well enough to come. Mama was also there, along with my little brothers and Angie. The big surprise arrival of the day, though, was Boss’ sister Monique. I mailed her an invitation, even though Boss told me not to. She arrived with her three children, who didn’t know their uncle the same way Malaysia didn’t know her aunt. When Boss first saw his sister, he turned and looked at me like he wanted to whoop my ass. I didn’t care; I wanted our daughter to know her father’s side of the family. I also wanted my husband to reconnect with them so he could finally start to heal.

“Hi, Malcolm,” Monique spoke up first. “Thank you for invitiMalu for in’ me.”

“I didn’t.” He was as cold as I’d ever seen him. “Meesh, what the fuck did I tell you?”

He was mad, and I understood where he was coming from, but he also had to see my side of things. Our daughter had nothing to do with the mistakes he and his sisters made. I know it hurt him when Monique and Michelle turned their backs on him; it hurt me, too, and I wasn’t even around back then. But it was time to move on. He could take all of his anger out on me if that’s what he needed to do. I could handle it; it wouldn’t break me.

“Hi, Monique.” I completely ignored my husband’s question. “I’m Meesha, Malcolm’s wife.” I politely introduced myself to my new sister-in-law.

“Nice to meet you,” Monique returned my politeness. “And thank you so much for invitin’ me.”

“You’re welcome.”

I could feel Boss’s eyes burning through the back of my head. I knew he was pissed; he always was when I did what he told me not to - but I didn’t care. I wasn’t his child and wasn’t doing anything wrong. What was so bad about wanting us all to get along? People hurt each other every day, and they get over it. Nobody knew that better than me. Boss hurt me all the time. Every piece of himself he gave to another woman was a piece he was taking from me. That killed me, but I got over it every single time.

“This is Patience.” Monique began introducing her children. “This is Fantasia.” She then took a deep breath for some reason, as if she knew that what she was about to say would change things in a major way. “And this li’l man right here is Malcolm.”

I was speechless. How could Boss not come around after hearing that? I turned around just in time to see the look on his face. He was shocked that his sister - who he thought had forgotten all about her little brother - had named her son after him. The years they lost didn't matter as much anymore.

“This is ya’ll uncle Malcolm,” Monique formally introduced the three little ones to her little brother, who wasn’t so little anymore.

“That’s my name, too,” Li’l Malcolm announced, so excited to tell everyone.

He even looked a lot like Boss. The little boy looked up at his namesokeat his ake, thrilled to have a male role model in his life. Boss knew what that was like. He never met his own father. Neither did I, and neither did Li’l Malcolm; we all shared that painful bond. I watched with pride as the man I married took his little nephew over to the hoops, put in a few tokens, and began to rack up on tickets. I couldn’t take my eyes off the two of them. That was the day when I knew I was going to give Boss a son...our family wouldn’t be complete without him.

While the boys played, Monique and I sat down in a booth and got better acquainted. She kept a close eye on Patience and Fantasia the entire time. We had a lot in common; I didn’t go more than a few seconds without zeroing in on Malaysia’s exact location. She was safe, though, in her uncle Pee-Wee’s arm, and he had her laughing up a storm. I loved him for that. It wasn’t just the laughing or the tossing her in the air; he loved her as if she were his own. That touched my heart, and it seemed to touch Monique’s, too. She watched her cousin and her niece with the biggest smile on her face. Her family was growing, and I understood how good that felt.

The party lasted for almost five hours, and everybody had a good time - especially Malaysia. She dug into her Sponge Bob birthday cake with her bare hands, then fed it to Boss. She loved Sponge Bob Square Pants, but she loved her Daddy even more. I just sat back and enjoyed the show. I couldn’t hate on my baby for being a Daddy’s Girl. Maybe if my own father had stuck around, I’d be a Daddy’s Girl, too. I was so grateful that I had a man in my life that took care of his child. Most girls my age weren’t so lucky.

Pee-Wee had the entire party recorded on his digital camcorder. He wanted to remember every moment of that day. We all did. Watching Malaysia open her birthday presents was hilarious. She seemed to grow more excited with each one, but her absolute favorite was the pink Power Wheels ride-in Cadillac Escalade given to her by her uncle Pee-Wee. It was complete with two seats, chrome wheels, and personalized plates that read “May-May.” That’s what Pee-Wee called her. He was going to spoil that girl rotten; I could already see it coming. After one last song and dance with Mr. Chuck-E-Cheese himself, it was time to take little worn out May-May home. She fell asleep in her daddy’s arms on the way to the truck, and I walked behind the two of them with the biggest grin on my face. Malaysia was a lot like her mama: Daddy’s arms were always where I wanted to end my nights.