Free Push The Button by Feminista Jones Page A

Doesn’t she have a big head? What’s her name? Tyesha? Tyricka?”
    “Tyra, Tyra Banks” Nicole responded, chuckling. She couldn’t help but laugh. Joseph had always been the humorous charmer. She didn’t realize until then that she’d actually missed him a bit. She glanced over at David who stared at Marcus, watching his every move. She could see His jaw twitching and she grew concerned about His next moves.
    “David? Let me introduce you to Joseph, M..M.. Marcus’s father,” she began, waving David over. “Joseph, this is my fiancé, David, who I’m sure you’ve heard a bit about from Janice,” she continued with a smile. She was determined to de-escalate this situation before it became volatile.
    “Well now, yes, I have heard about Janice’s sons,” Joseph said extending his hand to shake David’s. “She didn’t mention David having a fiancée as beautiful as you,” he continued with a smile.
    “That’s because we just announced it today!” Nicole decided to not contain her excitement and she may have cranked it up a notch, given the new company. She extended her hand out to show off the engagement ring Janice had gawked over not long ago.
    “Well damn, you can see that rock from over here,” Marcus chimed in. He was staring at the three of them from across the room, saying nothing until now. Marcus’s words brought Joseph out of his moment of reverie and he stepped back from Nicole, as if remembering his allegiance. He let go of her hand, which he’d been holding while examining her ring.
    “That’s a nice ring you have there, young lady. Too bad you’re not marrying my boy here,” he said with half of a laugh.
    “Pop…” Marcus began. He glanced at David and made a shrugging gesture. David felt His own shoulders relaxing a bit. Janice, looking back and forth between her new beau, his son, Marcus, who she was meeting for the first time, her own son, and her son’s new fiancée, finally spoke up.
    “What in the hell is going on here? Can someone please tell me how y’all know each other?” she asked, confused and feeling left out.
    “Mama, it seems as though the world is far smaller than we could ever imagine. Nicole and Marcus used to be an item, many  many  years ago,” David explained to his mother, a wry smile creeping to His lips. “It’s fine, Mama, don’t worry. I only recently met Marcus myself. Chance meeting at a social club. Didn’t think that I’d see him again after Nicole and I went home that night, though.”
    “Oh?… OH! Oh well…well goodness,” she stumbled, trying to find the right words to say. “Well everyone get washed up, and let’s eat before this food gets cold. I didn’t slave over that hot stove since yesterday for nothing!” Janice made her way towards the kitchen and Nicole followed her to help bring the food out.
    Marcus, David, and Joseph all stood still for a moment, glancing back and forth at each other, not sure what to say next.
    “Awww shit”, Darlene mumbled.
    “Mommy, you said a bad word!” her son Junior chastised.
    “I’m sorry, baby, Mommy didn’t mean to curse…but this is about to be some shit,” she apologized with a laugh. Jonathan shook his head as he stood up. “I’ll show you gentlemen where the bathroom is,” he said as began walking towards the stairs.
    “Oh I know where it is,” Joseph began. David shot him a quick look. Clearly, this wasn’t Joseph’s first time in this home and David realized His mother has been keeping a secret from Him for some time. “I’ll use the downstairs bathroom. Son, you go upstairs. It’s the second door on the left,” Joseph instructed. Marcus made his way upstairs and Jonathan and Darlene got their family situated at the table. David stood by His seat, awaiting Nicole’s return. She returned a minute or so later, carrying a casserole dish filled with Janice’s “famous” macaroni and cheese. She caught David’s eye, smiled at Him, and went back into the kitchen