CHAPTER 43
Lincoln
November 2010
Katherine wasn’t serious about visiting him, was she?
Lincoln sat in his room watching anything except football. Just in case she was, he texted Mona, Plans changed. Don’t come now. Wait until I contact you with the okay. His text wasn’t a request. It was a demand. To make sure he didn’t receive her calls or texts, Lincoln blocked Mona’s number.
Next week would be better to talk to her. He’d be in his apartment. She could help him pick out furniture for his place. And he could kiss Mona Lisa one last time. If he honestly had a chance to get his family back, they were his priority. He’d have to find a job to support them. Hopefully one he could keep without getting fired. But would getting a job mean he’d have to give up his housing voucher? He’d better check with his Prime Care doctor first. The government had too many hidden rules in their manuals.
Lincoln turned on his radio, danced in front of the television. His combat boots were strapped to his feet. His dick slapped thigh to thigh. He only removed his shoes to shower and sleep. The room wasn’t that big but, “Sleeping on fresh sheets every day beats the hell out of sleeping on the street,” he said, moonwalking on the carpet. More than being happy, he was grateful his life was looking up. Plus....
Downing two sleeping pills with a cola, he prayed he’d fall asleep before sunrise. He stared at himself in the mirror. Despite his trials and obstacles, his abs and ass were tighter than ever. His chocolate thighs and muscular biceps were well defined. Neither his hair nor skin looked or felt as good as it used to, but it was getting there. He had housekeeping leave him extra lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. A trip to the barbershop and one of them spa treatments wouldn’t hurt either.
Opening the newspaper, he pulled out the classifieds. Maybe he could get on with that seafood company over on Shilshole Ave. They had over six thousand employees. Surely they could benefit from his strength and skills. Or he could get a desk job at the Veteran’s Administration. They owed him that much.
His cell phone rang. He checked the ID. “Hey, this is a surprise,” he said.
“Katherine gave me your number,” she said.
“Wow, Katherine did that? That was nice of her. Grandma, how are you?”
“If I wasn’t in this hospital bed, I’d come to wherever you are and beat your behind, young man. Why haven’t you called us? Were we that bad of grandparents that you left here and never called, or wrote, or sent us a picture? Your mama said you never called her, either. Nobody’s heard from you. Not even Katherine and your son. Oh, Lincoln, he looks just like you. Don’t be like your daddy was. Your son needs you. What’s wrong, baby? Don’t you know we love you?”
Shaking his head, he was not forgiving his father for taking the easy way out. For the first time in years, he cried. He wept so loud and hard, it was hard for him to swallow. “I love you too, Grandma.”
The things he’d gone through weren’t her fault. What he’d experienced overseas he wouldn’t wish on the enemy. And he would tell. No one would believe any human beings could be that cruel.
“Baby, you hush. Ain’t no reason for you to be crying. Now, I’m calling you ’cause I want you to come see me. This ole bag of bones might not see the New Year roll in, and your grandfather and I want pictures with our grand and great-grand together before the Lord calls me home. They’re sending me home tomorrow. Said there’s not much else they can do for me here. Promise me you’ll come see me.”
Lincoln wiped his eyes, his nose, his jaw, his eyes again. He sniffled. “I promise, Grandma. I promise.”
When he thought no one loved him, he learned that was a decision he’d made. Not them.