Kenny arranged to take Monica and Josiah to a basketball game; the Houston Stars were taking on the Dallas Bluebonnets in their preseason opener. Monica was confident Kenny and JoJo would get along and hoped their initial meeting would set the foundation for the future. She believed attending a basketball game would be the perfect buffer if things did not go as well as expected.
Monica met Kenny in the VIP parking lot at the Stars arena. He had arranged for VIP access and a parking pass after Monica informed him that she preferred meeting at the arena versus him picking her and Josiah up at their house. Entering the parking lot Monica immediately located Kenny’s Mercedes. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot yet, so she cut across the aisles and parked grill to grill with Kenny. He walked to the driver’s side of the car and opened the door for Monica to exit. “Hey,” Monica said as she gave Kenny a tight hug, “let me get JoJo from his seat.”
“Sure,” Kenny responded as he followed her to rear passenger side of the SUV.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she opened the door for the moment of truth. Having unbuckled the chest harness of his booster seat Monica released the lower buckle to free Josiah’s legs. “Momma, who is that?” Josiah asked while pointing at Kenny.
“This is mommy’s friend, Mr. Kenny. He wanted to meet you, so he got us tickets to the game,” Monica answered.
“Oh!” Josiah paused, “Hi Mr. Kenny” the boy greeted with a large smile.
Squatting to be leveled with the young boy, “Hi Josiah,” Kenny stuck out his hand to formalize the introduction. Josiah looked at the hand curiously before imitating Kenny and sticking out his hand.
“I got us courtside seats if that’s okay with you,” Kenny informed the young boy as he stood up.
“It’s fine,” the boy said gleefully.
Josiah reached for Kenny’s hand as they made their way to the arena entrance; Monica’s heart smiled as she observed her son take to her man. “This could work,” she thought to herself as her son chatted up Kenny leaving her two steps behind. Kenny briefly broke his focus from Josiah to flash Monica a reassuring smile.
********************
Josiah, Monica, and Kenny went to Pappadeaux for dinner after the game. The Stars lost but that didn’t stop the little boy’s excitement. “That game was awesome,” Josiah shared exuberantly.
“I’m glad you liked it baby,” Monica replied.
“This was the best day ever!” Josiah exclaimed as he showed his mother and Kenny the signed basketball he was holding. “All of the players signed it,” he went on.
Kenny informed Monica that he had a surprise for Josiah, but he did not go into detail. After the game, she and Josiah were excited when they were escorted to the hall outside of the players’ locker room. The team’s star player, Jared Knicks, appeared from the locker room and presented Josiah with the game ball with signatures from all the players and coaches.
Kenny really tried to make the day special for Josiah and Monica. Josiah could not get enough of talking about meeting players, taking pictures and his beloved basketball. Memories are important to Monica and this one facilitated by Kenny was quickly climbing the charts.
Monica excused herself after the waiter took their order, “I need to go the restroom. JoJo, do you need to go?”
“No mama,” Josiah answered.
Monica turned her gaze to Kenny, “He’s fine,” Kenny reassured.
“Thank you,” Monica replied before turning for the ladies’ room.
Kenny watched as Monica walked off; when she was no longer in his line of vision, he turned his attention to the little boy that was sitting next to him in the corner booth.
“So, JoJo” Kenny started, “you know I like your mother, right?”
“I know” Josiah responded quickly. Entirely too quick to understand, Kenny thought to himself.
“One day I want to marry her. Would that be okay with you?” Kenny asked. The young boy was confused about the question but figured he was enjoying himself with his mother's new friend, so he agreed.
“Sure.” Josiah answered.
Kenny engaged Josiah in a 5-year old’s conversation discussing all his favorite things. Kenny was listening so intently as Josiah was describing the design of his bedroom that he had not noticed Monica had returned.
“What are you two fellas talking about,” Monica asked while sliding into the booth next to Josiah?
Stopping mid-sentence Josiah answered, “Mr. Kenny wants to marry you.”
“Oh,” Monica said as she darted her eyes to Kenny.