Clyde walks over to the turntable and lays the needle on the record. It’s evident to Maia that he’s been listening to the song recently. The song begins, transporting Maia in time.
♪ “Things have been goin’ wrong long enough to know,
Everything is right.
Been walkin’ in the dark long enough to know,
Finally seen the light.
Been losin’ long enough to know when I’ve finally won.
And even a blind man can tell when he’s walkin’ in the sun.” ♫
Song: Walking in the Sun by Rufus ft. Chaka Khan
Maia can almost feel her mother’s firm hands and the stiff plastic comb raking through and parting her hair. The medicinal scent of the yellow grease her mother used on her scalp floods her thoughts. Maia concentrates, trying to recall her mother’s voice but can’t quite remember it.
Lost in his own memories, Clyde closes his eyes, taps his cane to the beat of the music, and sways from side to side.
Maia receives another text from Dub. This one tells her he will grab something to eat with a guy he met while exploring the area. The message snaps Maia out of the grip of nostalgia and gives her an excuse to step away from the long-lost memories.
Maia: I’m going to make us something to eat.
Clyde pauses his dancing long enough to respond.
Clyde: You know where everything is.
Maia goes into the kitchen and takes a look inside the refrigerator. It’s mostly empty, but she does find some chicken, flour, and bread. It’s enough to make one of her favorite meals – chicken sliders.
The record continues to play, but Clyde joins Maia in the kitchen. With some struggle, he lowers himself into a table chair.
Maia: Are you doing okay here by yourself?
Clyde: Well, you know how it is – constantly trying to keep the wolf from the door. But I’ve always managed, and I always will.
Maia: I can help, you know.
Clyde: What kind of man got a woman taking care of him? It’s not your job.
Maia: I’m not just some woman. I’m your daughter.
Clyde waves her words away, indicating that it’s not up for discussion. Maia gives up and changes the subject.
Maia: What happened to your neighbors?
Clyde: Gentrification, that’s what. The rent has gone up in the area, forcing most folks to leave. I’ve developed a friendship with the owner, and he say I can stay as long as I want. He’s fixed up the old widow Douglas’ home and that one at the end. He’s looking to rent them out.
Maia: So he hasn’t raised your rent at all?
Clyde: Course he has, but not as much as he’ll charge for the other houses on the block. I get enough from my retirement to cover it for now.
Maia finishes cooking and fixes her and her father’s plates. Clyde takes his and sits in the dining room, which surprises Maia because they only ever ate in the dining room on special occasions. She sits with her plate and watches as Clyde takes a bite of his slider. He moans softly and takes more bites until he’s eaten one slider and half of the other.
Clyde: This is good stuff, Maia girl! When you learn to burn like this?
Maia appreciates hearing this. Her father has always been a harsh critic of most things.
Maia: *proud* I’ve just been practicing.
Maia and Clyde eat in silence until interrupted by another text from Dub.
Maia: Wade is on his way back.
Clyde: You really like him, don’t you?
Maia pauses with her phone still in the air. This conversation could go in several different ways.
Maia: I do
Clyde: I think he’ll be good for you. He’ll expose you to a world beyond these few blocks.
Maia likes that her father approves of Dub, but she’s almost offended.
Maia: I’ve done a great job exposing myself to new things.
Clyde: I know, and I’m not tryna take that from you. But sometimes you don’t know all the possibilities available to you unless you’ve lived them. That’s why po folks stay poor, no matter how hard they work. I can tell that Wade comes from a family that’s lived it. That’s all I mean.
Maia gets up and grabs the dirty plates from the table, still slightly bothered by what her father says. She wants him to like Dub because he’s nice, not because his family has money.
After Maia has cleaned the dishes, Clyde joins her in the kitchen.
Clyde: Don’t forget about your old father. You hear?
Maia: I won’t.
Clyde: I know you’ll take care of yourself – you’ve done a great job of that already.
Clyde doesn’t just toss compliments, so saying that means a lot. Maia steps in close and kisses her father on the cheek.
Maia: See you again soon. I promise.
An hour or so after picking Maia up from her dad’s house, we are on the train and returning to Brindleton Bay. We talk briefly about the visit with Maia’s dad, which ends with her apologizing several times about the threats. Then I tell her about Luca, whom I met while exploring.
After that, Maia and I don’t do a lot of talking. Eventually, with her head on my shoulder, she falls asleep, giving me quiet time to think about everything that happened during this short trip.
Meeting Luca is one of the best things to happen this weekend. Not only because I don’t have a lot of male friends but also because talking to him opened my eyes to things in my relationship with Maia. He talked about making some big moves, which I know, in his case, means marriage. I may not be ready for marriage yet, but it might be time also start making some moves.
With my decision settled in my mind, I close my eyes and join Maia in sleep the rest of the way home.
It’s freezing when we arrive in Brindleton Bay, and we aren’t dressed for it, making me miss San Sequoia already. We walk into Maia’s tiny house, which is cute and clean. The ugliest cat I’ve ever seen in my life greets us. Maia picks it up.
Maia: This is my cat Luna. Luna meet Dub!
Maia puts the cat down, and it slinks away to some corner of the room. It’s now or never – time to tell her exactly what’s been on my mind.
Wade: I’ve been thinking, Maia. This weekend would not have been the same without you. And I hope our spending time together doesn’t have to end.
Maia: What do you mean by that?
What I just said makes no sense at all. I need to be clear.
Wade: I want us to be together. I want you to be my girlfriend.
Maia looks hesitant.
Maia: Even after what I told you – about my condition.
Wade: I don’t care about that. I love you no matter what.
Holey crap, what the f did I just say? Even I didn’t expect it.
Maia: You what?
I repeat it, quickly adjusting to how it sounds coming out of my mouth.
Wade: I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?
Maia: Of course, I will. I love you too!
I pull my new girlfriend into my arms and seal our new relationship status with a kiss.
After my big confession, I peel myself out of Maia’s arms and reluctantly leave her house. My dog Hiro has been alone at home for too long, so I have to get back to check on him. I have just enough time to greet him and pick him up for a hug before someone knocks at my door.
I see it’s Maia, dressed more appropriately for the weather.
Wade: Maia – everything okay?
Maia: Yeah, I just – thought maybe we could finish what we started back in Del Sol Valley.
Maybe? There’s no maybe here. I’m all in, willing, and ready.
I grab her hand and lead her up the stairs to my bedroom, not bothering to show her around or introduce her to Hiro. We have all the time in the world for that. And that’s not what she came for. Our encounter in Del Sol Valley was just foreplay; it’s time for the real deal, but I still do my best to avoid rushing or being overly anxious.
We sit on the side of my bed and slowly remove clothes, using body heat and our mouths to keep warm. Down to underwear, we slide under the cover, remove the rest of our clothing, and woohoo for the first time.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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