So You Call Yourself a Man by Carl Weber

the call of duty. I’d brought her the children’s Advil, taken her to the hospital, and stuck around for a few hours.
    â€œI don’t know. The doctor said it could be twenty minutes, it could be a couple of hours.”
    â€œA couple of hours?” I glanced at her, shaking my head. “Michelle, I can’t stay here a couple of hours. Do you think if I gave you cab fair you could…”
    She raised her hand to stop me from talking. I was sure she was about to tell me some shit like, “Hell no, you can’t leave. I ain’t about to take my baby home in no cab,” but to my surprise, she didn’t say anything like that.
    â€œGo on home, James. I got money for a cab.” She actually looked sincere.
    â€œYou sure? I don’t want any trouble, Michelle.”
    She nodded, giving me a slight smile. “Ain’t gonna be no trouble, James. I know you gotta be home before the sun comes up.” She bent over and kissed my forehead.
    â€œWhat’s that for?”
    â€œThat’s for being a good father. I know I was tough on you, but I appreciate what you did.”
    â€œMs. Jones?” We both turned toward the voice and an Indian man in a lab coat approached us. “It looks like your son’s fever has broken. You can take him home.”
    Both Michelle and I smiled. “Thank you, doctor,” I said. The doctor walked back to the examination area and Michelle turned toward me. “I understand this isn’t a perfect situation for you, James, but all I want you to do is treat my son the same way you do his brothers. I don’t want no more, no less. You think you can handle that?”
    â€œI just don’t want any drama, Michelle.”
    â€œNeither do I. I just want you to be a father for my son.”
    â€œThen that’s what I’ll be. All you gotta do is work with me.” And I meant what I said.

14
Brent
    From the time we stepped off the plane to the second our limo pulled in front of our hotel on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Alison was in awe. She looked like a child on her first trip to Disney World. I’d completely forgotten that she’d never been out of the country before, let alone gone to a tropical paradise. She was so excited that she was pointing, holding her breath, and testifying all at the same time. It was truly a blessing just to watch her as she admired the postcard beauty of the island’s palm trees and blue-green waters.
    â€œHey, look over there.” I wrapped my arm around her and pointed to our hotel.
    â€œLawwd have mercy, is that our hotel?” She started shaking and waving her hands in the air like she’d just been struck by the Holy Ghost. I had to admit I was pretty impressed myself. We were staying at the Atlantis Casino Resort on Paradise Island. The hotel was just as inviting as the brochures had said it would be. It was truly a sight to behold.
    Once we got out of the limo, we spent about a half-hour in the lobby, admiring what could only be called an aquarium. Whoever designed the place and came up with the name Atlantis hit the nail right on the head.
    We followed the bellman to our room. After I tipped him for bringing up our suitcases, to Alison’s surprise, I picked her up in my arms and carried her 250-pound frame over the threshold. Now, I’m not saying it was easy, and I almost dropped her, but I’d been lifting weights at the gym in preparation for this moment. I wanted to make our honeymoon special for her, and I think I was on my way to a good start. Of course, I couldn’t wait to put her down once we got in the room, and I’m sure I pulled a muscle slightly in my back, but the look of pleasure on her face was worth any amount of pain I might have received.
    â€œOooh, Brent. You’re something else.” She threw her arms around me and gave me a deep kiss as she pulled me on the bed. “I love you, Mr. Williams. I love you so