With Imani stuck in Japan teaching and Justice literally stuck in his apartment, snowed in, Christmas didn’t feel whole, but the rest of the family made the best of it, decorating dozens of cookies and the tree.

"Dad, do you seriously have a barbecue sauce ornament?” Neveah snorted.

“Well, why not?” Jackson put a hand on his hip. “It’s not my brand of BBQ, but it’ll do.”

“Here we go again,” Madison rolled her eyes playfully.“It’s not my fault all the store sauces are awful. They just don’t put their foot in it,” Jackson shrugged.

“Yeah, dad, everyone's an awful cook except you,” Madison responded.

“Not true,” Jackson said. “Your mother is pretty okay, too.”  They all cackled, barely able to hang the ornaments because they were shaking from laughter.

Jackson’s taco socks peaked out beneath his pressed slacks. Resume in a leather-bound folder, his foot jittered and knocked it around a bit. The newest accounting firm in town was run by a woman of color, and he was excited to interview with her. It was the late Aughts, and he felt this was decades too late. But the job seemed right up his alley, focusing on small businesses. His wife had heard about this businesswoman in her bookclub.

The assistant motioned for Jackson to follow her, “Donna’s ready for you.”

Jackson was the guy everyone expected to navigate conversations with ease, but he couldn’t remember breathing until Donna told him he could. The eventual breath was full of concern and jitters, and it sputtered out as if his mouth were an old junker car.

“Are you…okay?” Donna asked Jackson, concerned.

“Yes, of course. Honestly, I’m relieved to be here.” Jackson responded.

Donna offered a slight smile in return. She got up from her desk and paced to the corner of the room as if she was a lawyer. “So, you’ve been in the field for 25 years or so now.What do you think sets you apart from other people who have been in the industry for that long?” She paused and looked down. “Besides your sock choices.”

Jackson grinned. “I take the time to get to know my clients. My wife and I are always the first in line for new businesses. I think that also helps me see what businesses go through as they’re building up their clientele.” He nodded to emphasize and then asked, “What do you think sets you apart from other people who have been in the industry for as long as you have besides your sense of humor?”

Donna knew she would hire him right after he asked that question, but as a formality, she finished the interview. They shook hands, and Jackson walked out feeling more confident. He dropped a thank you card in the mail the next day, but got the offer before the day was over.

Jackson put in his two weeks at his all-white accounting firm, and while he had certainly made friends there, he couldn’t help but feel relieved to be going somewhere that his boss would understand him. He had kept the big news a secret from his wife Diana but couldn’t wait any longer. He told her that he would cook dinner for them and planned a grand meal. 

It started off with one of his famous cheese boards. He and Diana had been practicing their cheese board technique for a couple years at that point. He sanitized the counter top and built a board around “Got It” created with bunches of grapes.

She walked in and beamed when she saw the display. “I’m so proud of you,” Diana said, kissing Jackson’s cheek. “You deserve everything good in the world.”

Jackson was always in awe of his wife’s unconditional support. “So do you,” he responded. “That’s why I got you all your favorite cheeses.” They laughed. “I’ll get started on the steaks. You sit down and enjoy.”