Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson by Chiquita Dennie (rooftoppers TXT) 📕

pea look at you. How are you feeling? I know little man is causing a ruckus in there.” He rubbed my stomach as I sat next to him on the couch. I wondered if I’d ever had a moment like this with Jackson one day. As soon as the thought came to mind, I released it from my heart. He made his decision to walk out of my life, and I honestly can’t blame him.

“What’s the matter?” Grandfather turned from the television to look at me as I tried to get my thoughts together.

“Just thinking about the mess I’ve caused everyone. Jordan’s still mad, and Angela ignores the issue altogether. I know she feels like I’m slowly slipping away from her and not to mention Brent putting me on an early vacation and letting Dominique and Teresa take over my accounts.” Just the thought of everything coming to light caused a migraine to come on. Leaning on his shoulder, he motions for me to put my feet up on the other side of the couch and lay in his arms.

“Sweet pea, did I ever tell you the time your grandmother and I broke up?” Shaking my head, no, he releases a long sigh as we sit and wait on the food.

“Many moons ago your grandmother was what you children nowadays call a thot.” Laughing at his wording, I look up into his eyes, and he kisses the top of my forehead and helps me lay back down.

“Your grandmother wasn’t always this homebody, wife, mother, and grandmother to you all. We’ve had our ups and downs, we love each other, and no one can break that bond. Now, this young fellow came to our house and wanted to do right by you and get to know your family. You decided to shut him out if I recall.” Chuckling to himself.

“Stubborn just like your grandmother. I left her after I caught her with another man.”

“What?”

“Not like that Em, she was out on a date and lied to me. Thought she was at work this whole time. A few fellows and I went out for drinks one night, and I saw her across the room with some man, of course, he wasn’t fine like your grandfather.”

“Granny really played the field back then, and you forgave her?” I gasped and leaned up to look into his eyes for confirmation.

He nodded in confirmation and turned his head back to the television as the New York Knicks played the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Don’t tell her I told you about this. She hasn’t forgiven herself, and every year she apologizes on our anniversary. I tell her all was forgiven once she married me, but you know your grandmother is as stubborn as a mule.”

“I agree with that but what made you finally decide to forgive her.”

“I loved her, simple as that.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep, see Emery you’ve let the outcome of your relationship with Anthony determine how you base all relationships. Sweet pea if you haven’t heard, all men are dogs.” We burst into laughter at his statement as he places a lock of my hair behind my ear.

“Anthony and I were together for so long, and he just up and betrayed me with my best friend. We were supposed to have gotten married and had kids by now.”

“He was never meant to be your one constant.”

“Constant what?”

“Constant person in your life that will be there with you for the good and bad. How many times have you bailed that boy out of trouble or helped him graduate high school and college? Sweet pea this is hard to hear, but you allowed this to happen.”

“No, I didn’t,” I glared in annoyance that everyone keeps blaming me for Anthony’s problems.

“Emery, your heart is big, but you’re very naive with people. He walked all over you, and once you allow someone to take advantage of you, they will continue that treatment. No, I’m not saying Anthony is a bad person, but he needed to grow up. Basing every man on Anthony’s actions is not right.”

“I...I wasn’t—”

“Girl, you’re just like your grandmother. If you want to love and be loved, then you need to let go of that heart. Now let us go into the kitchen and see if my baby finished cooking.”

Standing up and picking up his cane, my grandfather and I joined hands, and we walked into the kitchen as my mom and grandmother finished placing the mashed potatoes and green beans in a dish.

“Ohh... you decided to grace us with your presence Emery,” Grandmother smirked as she turned the oven off and passed the bowl of gravy to my mother and walked over to kiss my grandfather on the cheek.

“Not today Granny, your husband already checked me for pushing Jackson away,” I whined as I sat down on the stool in the kitchen.

Waving me off she sat down next to me, and Grandpa sat to the left of her, while me, mom and dad sat at the head of the table.

“So, what are your plans after your vacation Emery?” Dad asked as he placed a fork full of green beans into his mouth.

Taking a sip of water and placing it back down, I hear the front door opening and closing. Angela walked in with a man I’ve never seen before. He’s handsome I can tell you that. Tall, at least around 6’6 with lean muscles and high cheekbones, chiseled jawline. Wearing a plain black shirt with the first few buttons open showcasing his chest hair. Angela’s dating a model.

“Hey family, what’s for dinner?” Angela sauntered over to grab a plate and sit down to eat.

“Who’s your friend Angela?” I questioned.

“A friend, family this is Robert and baby this is my family,” Angela replied as she passed Robert his plate of food.

“Robert, I’m Angela’s grandmother, well adoptive grandmother because my family adopted her when she was young. I know you’ve just met this family today, but one thing I should tell is that Angela can be a little sneaky sometimes—”

“Granny!” Angela and I yelled at the same time.

Shrugging her shoulders, she continued to eat not caring about her little slip-up. We all continued to eat.

“Brent’s on his way, Angela.”

“Okay.”

“When was the last time you’ve seen him?”

“The night you came over to Jordan’s place to talk about Jackson and Dominique. He’s moved on and so have I.” I peered at her as she leaned into Robert and kissed his lips like there was no one else in the room. Everyone at the table rolled their eyes at the fake display Angela was putting on.