I glanced at the dealer invoice on the passenger window of the 2006 Maybach, thinking back to how much I’d paid for my first used car. My younger self would’ve died on the spot ... or would’ve been thrown out from a place such as this. But time changes a lot of things. It makes some men wiser and others more foolish. I’d like to think I was one of the wiser ones.
My hand was still on the car window. I removed it, noticing the fingerprints left behind. Again, my mind went back to that younger man, to a time when my fingerprints were recorded by the NYPD for cause. I swore I would never be locked up again, and thank God I’d delivered on that promise and many more on my way to this point. I had to admit, it wasn’t easy as a black man trying to make it in America, but I’d made it with Chippy’s help.
“Sooo, any hard feelings that I didn’t pick you to run things? You are the eldest.” I was hoping he’d give me a truthful answer. Knowing where he stood would go a long way to helping me transition Orlando into leadership.
He shook his head. “Nah. Orlando’s the smart one. He’s a lot like you and Vegas.”
“You’re saying that as if you’re not smart. All my children are smart,” I said confidently.
“You know what I mean, Pops. O plans for things. When something goes wrong, he has a backup plan. Me, I’m not a planning guy. I’m good with my hands. I know that, and I’m all right with it.” I nodded my understanding. “Like Vegas always said, a man has got to know his limitations. I know mine.”
It made me feel good to know my son was comfortable with who he was. Junior was a good boy, a good son. He wasn’t as bright as the other boys, but he was a hundred times more loyal, and he cared about this family—perhaps even more than Chippy and myself. In many ways, he was the heart of our family, while Vegas was the soul.
“So you’re completely fine with this? No hard feelings at all?”
“None whatsoever, but—” His face became very serious and he folded his massive arms over his chest as he leaned back against the car. “I do have a question, and I’ll keep it just between you and me.”
“Of course. You can ask me anything.”
“Okay, well, I’m not knocking Orlando at all, but what I wanna know is, why didn’t you choose Vegas? If you wanted him home, all you’d have to do is pick up the damn phone.”
I sucked in a bit of air as I studied my oldest son. For the child who wasn’t supposed to be so bright, he’d asked a damn good question. Funny thing was, it was a question I’d asked myself a thousand times.
“I didn’t choose Vegas because he doesn’t need this.” My eyes traveled around the showroom. “Vegas can build an empire anytime he wants. He’s smarter than all of us.”
I took off my glasses and wiped my eyes. Vegas had been away almost three years, and I missed him dearly. Everyone who met him just seemed to love him. I never thought a child could teach a parent, but then there was Vegas. He’d taught me more about being a man and about sacrifice than anyone I’d ever met. “And to be honest with you, Junior, I don’t think he’s ready to come home yet.”
“You might be right.” Junior walked over and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You really miss him, don’t you, Pop?”
I tried to clear the frog in my throat. “More than I’d miss my right arm if you cut it off. What about you, son? Do you miss him?”
“Of course I miss him. Vegas wasn’t just my brother. He was my best friend.”
A smile crept up on my face, and a laugh escaped. “I feel the same way. I feel the very same way.”
“You know, it’s gonna be strange not having you around here,” Junior said.
“Not half as strange as it’s gonna be for me.”
My son wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we walked toward my office. I stopped, turned around, and took a last look at the showroom. “I’ve spent the better part of my adult life putting this place together.”
“So why you leaving? You don’t have to go to Florida. O’s got everything here under control, and you and Momma can travel anytime you want. You guys can be snowbirds.”