Page 19 of Surrender to Love

“Uncle Shiro!” she yells. “Look.” I glance down at her pointing to a smiling tooth attached to her shirt with a fifty-dollar bill hanging from it.

“What’s that for?” I ask.

“My tooth,” she says, then opens her mouth wide. She’s missing a front tooth.

“Aww. Look at you. It came out,” Kyrah gushes.

“Yes, and I got some money last night under my pillow,” Niya says excitedly.

While touching the fifty-dollar bill and lifting it lightly, I ask, “You got this from the tooth fairy?”

“Yeah and Mommie put it on me.”

“For what?” I ask right as Quintus and Sis walk out. I look at them and direct my question to him. “Why she wearing this?”

“So, we can add money,” Kyrah says.

“Exactly,” Sis cosigns as she hugs Kyrah. “With all of her uncles and big cousins, I figure she can clean up today. I brought extra pins too.” Mireya looks down at Niya. “Sweetheart, tell your uncle and auntie how much you want.”

“She wants five dollars,” I answer before Niya can. “That’s what we got growing up, five dollars. That’s it.”

“Inflation, bruh. Give my baby more than five,” Quintus says before we dap.

“Give me fifty, Uncle. Please,” Niya pleads and I just shake my damn head as I pull my wallet out because I already know I’m giving in. Shuga thinks she runs the family, but it’s really my little niece.

“Don’t forget your Auntie Kyrah,” Sis says before walking over to the fridge Shuga added out here last year. My brother is right behind her too. He was already up on her all the time, but now that she is pregnant, Quintus doesn’t let her breathe.

“Auntie,” Niya says.

“I didn’t bring my purse, baby,” Kyrah tells her, then looks at me. “Give her another fifty from me.”

“I’m getting hustled,” I utter.

“Thank you,” Niya gushes and Kyrah attaches the two fifty-dollar bills to the pin.

“What are you going to do with all this money?” I ask.

“A lot. Get some snacks, a purse, and some legs,” she says, referring to her favorite food, crab legs. My little niece can eat them shits every day.

“Legs cost a grip, so go get your other uncles. They all got money on them too and don’t take no for an answer,” I say.

“Okay,” she says before taking off.

“Oh, Niya,” I call out and she turns around. “Get your Nana too.” Just for Kyrah ears, I utter, “Since she’s a millionaire.” Kyrah knows Shuga’s secret. I told her because I trust her; I’ve trusted her from the start.

Shuga walks back out into the solarium, and with her damn dog ears, she hears me. Her little hand shoves my chest then she says, “Y’all stop saying that millionaire stuff. I never said that. I’m comfortable. Com-for-table and my boys and grandbabies will be comfortable when the Heavenly Father wants me to paint for Him.”

“He not ready to have your little bossy ass up there yet, so you and your millions are stuck here,” I say and she rolls her eyes.

“Please handle him,” Shuga tells Kyrah.

“Yes, ma’am. Trust me, I got him.”

“Good ’cause he loves to run his damn mouth. Come, let’s eat anyway.”

Shuga turns to walk toward the food table and Kyrah starts to follow her but I grab her arm and pull her back into me. When her soft body lands against mine, I wrap one arm around her.

“You got me, huh?” I ask.