Morning workouts were his favorite part of the day. Second to that was coming home to a place he could call his own. It was his home and in another month or two he would finish the back patio and invite his family for the housewarming. His house not a mansion like Pearl’s or a fortress like Joshua’s. It was a six-bedroom, four-bathroom house with a huge basement, family room, and fireplace. He figured if the family ever needed to stay with him, Joshua and Adam would claim basement with the two additional bedrooms and bath. Matt smirked at the thought. There was no scenario he could think of that any member of his family would need to stay at his home. As much as he loved his family, Matt knew he was the odd man out. For years, that did not concern him. Children needed his help. His players needed his guidance and to know he had faith in them. He was blessed with parents, five brothers and six sisters who were always there. Never allowing him to fall prey to the streets, or bad elements within the school. The kids in his school district didn’t have people looking out for them. Many, like Mac, found themselves fighting against family members just to survive each day.
Matt turned the corner to see his father’s truck parked in front of his house. Pulling into his driveway, Matt got out of the car with a wide smile on his face. Joe Lassiter was larger than life. One Christmas his father was shot, nearly losing his life. After that night, all of the boys seemed to have lost a step or two. None of them ever really recovered from the shock of seeing their father in a bed with tubes keeping him alive. So to see him functioning and enjoying his life at its fullest made Matt take every moment he could to spend time with his dad.
His father met him halfway to the front porch.
“Hey, Pop.” Matt looked up. “What are you doing here?”
“I came by to help my son frame the outline of the fire pit.” Joe shook the outstretched hand, then pulled him in for an embrace.
“I see you didn’t come empty handed.” Matt beamed as he opened the front door. “How about a beer to go along with that pizza?”
“A beer with pizza.” Joe nodded. “That can convince me to stay for a few hours.”
“Is Sally going to be mad at me?” Matt asked as the door opened.
“I’m not scared of Sally,” Joe laughed.
“We’re all scared of Sally.” Matt closed the door.
Joe looked around. “It’s looking good in here, son. Knocking down that wall between the kitchen and dining room really opened up the space.”
Matt placed his keys on a tray on the stand next to the door. “Yes, it did. Once I get the backyard done, it will look like paradise from all points in the house.”
“You’re going to catch hell trying to keep those floor-to-ceiling windows clean,” Joe chuckled as he took a seat at the island.
“You ever hear of something called maid service?” Matt smirked.
“Maid service? You better get a wife and have some kids to help you take care of this house. That’s what I did.”
“There aren’t many women out there like Sally, Dad,” Matt said as he washed his hands, then pulled out two plates for the pizza. “You ask women these days to clean the house they will tell you to clean your own damn house.”
“Not all women,” Joe said as he took the beer Matt had placed in front of him. “You have a point. We raised your sisters to be independent, but we also taught them how to keep a home. Women these days are more versatile than you think.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Matt said as he bit into a slice of pizza. “I can’t seem to be interested in one long enough to find out if they can cook or clean.”
“That’s because you’re looking for your mother.” Joe laughed. “Sorry, son, she’s taken. And I’m not letting her go.”
Matt smiled. “Yes, you struck gold with Sally.”
“Your Sally is out there. Samuel found Cynthia, Timothy found Denise, Amber is willing to deal with Adam and all the madness that comes with him. Rochelle managed to marry Joshua.” Joe shook his head. “Think about that for a minute.
They both laughed, then Matt shook his head. “My brothers have all been blessed with women who are not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well.”
“You will do the same.”
Matt shook his head. “I don’t know, Dad. I’m twenty-nine years old with no prospects. I don’t have the exciting career of Sammy, Joshua and Adam. And Timothy…well Denise fell into his lap. I don’t want somebody else to get shot to find the love of my life.”
“When people are meant to be together, God makes a way.” Joe smiled. “If I was his vessel for Timothy and Denise, I thank him for the honor and for seeing me through it all.” He took a drink of his beer. “As for your career, well son, it’s not the profession that grooms the man,” Joe declared. “It’s the inner soul that makes him valuable. Your father works in a mailroom, yet I have twelve children filled with the intellectual fortitude to impact this country. Think about that, Matt. I was a mailman, now I run a mailroom. But at anytime I can walk into my house and see the President of the United States sitting there. You are an educator, think of the number of minds you can touch. And how many of them touch another, and another. Don’t ever measure your contribution to this life against others, especially your brothers and sisters. Their path is for them to follow. Your path is for you. That is the greatness of America. Even the average Joe can impact the world. Now, when it comes to women, my advice is that you stop looking at what your brothers and your father have. There is a woman out there for you. All you have to do is open your eyes to the possibilities.” He took one last bite of his pizza then dropped the crust on the plate. “Who knows, she may walk into your life when you least expect it.”
“The question is when?” Matt closed the pizza box.
“When God knows you are ready.” Joe stood. “I want you to think about something. You just renovated a five-bedroom house. Why? You are only one man. Who are all those other bedrooms for? Now,” he pulled a pair of work gloves from his back pocket, “where are those bricks?”
“They’re out back.” Matt pointed towards the patio door. “I’ll change clothes and meet you out there.”
He watched as his father walked out back, then climbed the stairs to his bedroom. Changing into sweats and a tee, he looked around then chuckled. “Why do I have two walk-in closets, not to mention the two vanities in the bathroom?” The answered filled his mind. God is preparing you.