Beautiful, Loved and Blessed

.....Enough?!

Before I sat down, I gestured for Hakeem to do so first.

"Would you like something to drink; water, coffee, juice?" I offered.

"I appreciate it, but no thank you."  Hakeem kindly responded.

"May I speak to you candidly?"  I sat.

"Yes you may."

"How well do you know me? And when I say know me, I mean--"

"Are you asking if I'm a Prince fan?" He got to the point.

"I guess I am."

"I am actually a proud Prince admirer.   I have several of your records in my music collection and I've even been to a few concerts. However, I know how to separate my admiration for you as a musician from my duty as a Godfather."  He calmly stated.

I was relieved, but nervous. Hakeem wasn't going to allow who I am cloud his judgement as to what was best for Jeanette.   That however, could either work for me or against me.

"Being an admirer of my music, do you know much about my personal life?"

"Only what I've read."

"Based on what you've read, do you think I deserve Jeanette?"

"No, I don't."

"So why haven't you forbidden me from continuing to see Jeanette?"

"I can't forbid you, but I can forbid Jeanette from continuing to see you."

"Will you forbid her to do that?"  

Hakeem sternly looked at me. "If you have a case to plead, I suggest you do so now."

Ms. Agnes was right when she said that he was wise beyond his years. Hakeem didn't show a bit of nervousness and his poise was confident, but his unwavering commitment to Jeanette was beyond admirable.

"I truly do love Jeanette you know."

"But do you love her, enough?

"Enough?" I furrowed my brows.

"Enough to be a better man than you already are?" He questioned.

"I am a better man when I'm with her and to be honest, I think she too is a better woman when with me."

Hakeem looked at me and leaned forward.

"What about when you're not with her? Does your conscious nag at you when doing something that you know she wouldn't approve of?   Do you make decisions thinking about how it will impact the two of you and Preston?   Do you now live in a way that will make her proud to be with you?"

"Are those trick questions?" I lightheartedly chuckled.

"I have no time for tricks where Baby Doll is concerned Mr. Nelson." His brow arched.

Seeing that he was becoming impatient with my lightheartedness, I decided that maybe it was time for me to do something that I've never done when trying to prove to someone that their female relative would be okay with me. 

Letting down my guard with another man was strange territory due to me being teased so badly in my youth.   However, knowing that Hakeem needed solid reassurance, maybe this show of vulnerability was the step I needed to take to prove my point.

"Hakeem, I would be a liar if I said yes to the questions you asked.   However, I will say that I am trying. I am truly trying to become a man that she can be proud of.   Before Jeanette came into my life a few months ago, I had accepted my fate per se.