Celebration

I know how hard it was for her to leave New York. I was finally able to move her and Dae-Dae into their new place. I moved her to San Diego to give her a good distance between her place and where her parents live.

It’s a long drive, but I make anytime I can. I know she’s lonely sometimes and she doesn’t have as much help as she did in New York. I was able to get Dashawn into a daycare that he loves. It at least gives her the time she needs to write during the day.

When my mom found out Kaye was back on the West Coast, she had a million questions. The moment I told her about the books she was all over helping me throw something together for Kaye. I think she needs to keep busy. It’s been hard on mom, not being able to help Nellie snap out of her depression. It’s been hard on all of us.

I’m grateful to my mom. I don’t think I could have done this without her. Well, I wouldn’t have pulled it off the same.

“She’s here,” I breathe, as I hear Kaye’s Benz pull into the driveway.

Man, the fight we got into when I gave her that car. She’s my girl, it was her birthday, and she needed a car. I wasn’t hearing shit she had to say. It’s her car, in her name. That’s it.

“Aye, yer in love. Listen to ye,” my mother teases.

“Ya haven’t seen nothing, Aunt Cass,” Connie chortles.

“I’d just like to say now, this family was blessed with some beautiful genes,” Dean says dreamily, as she looks at Dylan. “Phew, you’re lucky I don’t rob cradles.”

“Lass, yer going to slip in that drool,” my mother teases.

“I just love you,” Kia giggles.

“I’ve taken a liking to ye and yer wee un,” my mother replies.

“Would you all shh,” I hiss.

Low laughter surrounds me as everyone tries to hide it behind their hands. I roll my eyes. My heart starts to pound when I hear Kaye’s keys in the front door.

The only thing that could make this better would be having my brothers here. I get Wyatt needs to be there for Nellie. Toby has some shit going on with him.

Now that I think about it. So does John lately. He was gone before I could make the offer for him to join us.

Noah, Ry, and Brax all had work, which I can’t blame them for. They have been helping pick up the slack in the office. Still, it would have been nice to have them in on this.

Honestly, I haven’t had time to tell my brothers about my relationship with Kaye. There always seems to be something going on these days.

“Mama, why is it dark in here? You left the lights on,” Dashawn says as they walk in.

Fuck.

This kid doesn’t miss a thing. I swear, he needs to come work at Black and Lock. I give the signal before Kaye can panic.

Kaye

I was already on edge the moment Dae-Dae pointed out that the lights were off. I turned them on this afternoon when we left, knowing it would most likely be dark when we returned. I hate stumbling around in the dark.

I look around at all of the smiling faces. My brain is still trying to catch up. The big congratulations sign helps the pieces to click into place.

“Aunt Connie,” Dae-Dae squeals.

“Really, kid? That’s all you see,” Dylan grumbles.

“Hi, Uncle Dylan,” he giggles.

“Oh my God, what are all of you doing here? I mean, I’m happy to see you, but how, why?” I ramble.

“Your man wanted to celebrate his Bestselling girlfriend,” Dean chimes.

“Aye, he’s very proud of ye, lass,” Cassidy Black says with a beaming smile.

I rush over to wrap my arms around her. She still smells the same. It feels like it’s been decades since I’ve been in one of her embraces. She hugs me just as tightly as I hug her.

“I’m proud of ye too. You’ve done well,” she whispers in my ear.

“Thank you,” I sniffle.

“Look at you,” Lakia says when I step back, wiping at my eyes.

“Really?” I huff and laugh. “I just talked to you two this morning.”

“And your boo had us on the plane not too long after. I wanted to spill so bad,” Dean laughs.

Lakia and Dean wrap me up in a group hug. We hug for a long time. When this last book went to number one, we all sat on the phone crying together. I couldn’t ask for better friends.

“I’m so freaking proud of you,” Kia says. “You are doing the damn thing and not a word has been weak. That book was straight fire, no chaser. Phew.”

“You heard,” Dean chimes in. “I’ve read it three times already. I wish I could pay you for each. Lord knows I should be writing my own books, but it keeps sucking me in.”

I laugh, wiping more tears.

“I’ve been doing my best,” I say tearfully.

“You’re doing more than your best. I don’t think you know how good your work is,” Dean says in the most serious tone I’ve ever heard her use.

“You had me in tears. I was so inspired,” Kia says.

“Thank you, guys.”

“Ladies, I want to give Kaye her surprise,” Felix interrupts.

“Oops, sorry,” Dean giggles.

Felix pulls me into his arms. I feel like I’m drowning in his eyes. He doesn’t know that just him being there when I published the last book and when I found out it went to number one was the best thing in the world.

“There are so many things I could have gotten you. I thought about it long and hard, but there was something I thought you needed,” he says, bending to kiss my lips.

He turns me towards the back of the house. I have the biggest smile on my face. My smile wobbles and tears rush down my check. My knees nearly buckle as I watch my grandparents walk out of one of the back rooms.

I rush forward into their open arms. It’s like being a little girl all over again. I didn’t know how much I needed this until their arms are around me.

I’m crying so hard, I start to rock and moan. I have no words for how I feel in this moment. It has hurt so much that I haven’t been able to share my success with my family.

“It’s alright, gal. We’re ‘ere now,” my grandmother coos.

“Lix, why is Mama crying?” I hear Dae-Dae ask behind us.

“She’s happy, big guy,” Felix replies.

“Oh, okay, happy tears,” Dae-Dae says as if he has gained a world of understanding. “Who’s that?”

“It’s your great-grandma and great-grandpa,” Felix tells him. “Come on, let’s go say hi.”

“Look at the pickney,” My grandmother says. “‘Em a big boy.”

I laugh, running my hand under my nose. Dashawn has gotten so big. He looks more and more like his father every day. Danny would be so proud. Dae-Dae is so smart and funny. Just like his dad.

“Em looks so much like, Danny,” my grandmother says with a shaky voice.

“Who’s Danny?” Dae-Dae looks up at Felix to ask.

“Your uncle,” a voice booms behind me, startling me.

I turn to see my father almost glaring at me. My mother rushes forward, pulling me into her arms. She is sobbing and rocking me in her arms before I get a chance to register what’s unfolding before me.

My eyes haven’t left my father’s. All I’ve done. All I’ve accomplished and he manages to squash it in one look. I close my eyes and turn away.

I’ve done nothing wrong.

I chant the words to myself. Yeah, I allowed Christa to use my insurance, but haven’t done any of the things my father’s accusing looks suggest. I won’t be made the villain. Not again.

“Mama, who’s that?” Dae-Dae asks.

I open my eyes to look at the little boy that has become my son. He is pointing to my father. I follow his little finger to see several emotions cross my father’s face. It happens so fast I can’t peg them all.

The one emotion I do recognize is disappointment. It cuts me to my core. I feel Felix place his hand on the small of my back. It should comfort me, but it only raises my anger.

He should have talked to me first. He should have allowed me to prepare myself for this. Honestly, he should have just left this alone.

“I’m your grandfather,” my father says as he moves closer. “You can call me Papa.”

“Hi, Papa, it’s nice to meet you,” Dae-Dae says with a huge grin on his face.

My father reaches to run a hand over his hair and cups his face. I can’t see my father’s full face to see his reaction to his first interaction with his grandson. Still, the ridged stance that he’s in speaks volumes.

“Give him a chance, Kaye,” my mother whispers in my ear.

I swallow my hurt feelings and nod. Brushing a hand over my hair, my mother kisses my cheek, before she nuzzles it. It’s a soothing balm I didn’t think she still had the power to offer.

“God is going to bless you for the amazing woman you are,” she whispers.

“He already has,” I say bitterly.

“Oh, no, my child. You haven’t seen anything yet. Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard. Even the stubborn will fall to the truth. You be patient, Kaye.”

Dae-Dae’s giggle pulls my attention. My father has him in his arms, tickling his stomach. When I hear my father’s chuckle, I feel a sting in my heart.

Patience. It’s been three years. It doesn’t get any more patient than that.

Felix

Kaye is pissed. I can feel it rolling off of her. If I couldn’t feel and see it, I would know from the way she’s been avoiding me all night.

“Hey, you heading out?”

“Yeah, Connie wanted to hit a bar or something. I’m going to go with her,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

“Okay, man. Be safe. Thanks for coming.”

“I wanted to say something to you,” he says, looking down at his feet. “You were looking for Ciara. Brooklyn told me. I just wanted to say thanks. I know you didn’t find her, but thanks.”

“I haven’t found her, yet. I’m not giving up,” I reply. “And you don’t need to thank me.”

“She’s the reason I fight,” he says with a small smile. Then his brows knit in sadness. “Knowing her dad his gone. It all seems silly now.”

“How so?”

“I made her a promise—”

“Hey, are ya coming with me or not. Time is ticking away and I want to have a wee bit of fun before we have to go back. Brooklyn is like a fly up my arse, never lets me live my life,” Connie says and pouts.

She winces, then looks over her shoulder. “Oh, sorry, Pastor,” she says, “Get me out of here.”

Dylan and I laugh. Connie has been slipping up all night in front of the Pastor. Mom let a few curses fly as well, but as long as Pastor Porter has known my mom he has flinched.

“I’ll tell you about it another time,” Dylan says. “Thanks again.”

I pull Dylan in for a hug. I wish I had better news to give him about his friend. Brooklyn told me not too long ago why he had me look for Deja and Ciara. I’ve doubled my efforts since.

Thinking of them turns my attention back to Kaye. She should look happier. This was supposed to be a great surprise.

I fucked up.

Whenever I get close, she finds a reason to move to the other side of the room. She hasn’t let me touch her and her responses to anything I say have been short and clipped.

In my defense, I’d only meant to reunite her with her grandparents and her mother. Pastor Porter blindsided me when he arrived with them. He’s another one that has been giving me the evil eye all night.

This has not turned out the way I thought it would. The one good thing about the night is Dae-Dae’s interest in his family and theirs in him. It’s funny but he has been clinging to his grandfather’s side, hanging on every word he says.

“Ye did the right thing,” my mother says, pulling my attention to my side. “Ye couldn’t have knew he would come, but it was time. It will work out.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’m no spring chicken. Aye, I maybe clean on, but I’ve been around a block or two. I’ve seen enough to know a few things. He wouldn’t have come if he didn’t want to see her,” she replies.

I grin at my mother. Clean on she is, she’s good looking for her age. She has kept her youthful looks, despite me and my hard-headed brothers.

“He hasn’t said a word to her,” I huff.

“Pride is a powerful thing. It can make ye or it can break ye. It sure as fuck can turn ye around a few times before ye head in the right direction.”

I heave out a breath. Taking my cap off, I run a hand through my hair, before returning it to my head. My jaw works as I think of how this night was supposed to go.

“So yer not going to propose tonight, are ye?” Mom whispers.

“Nope.”

“Aye, my smart boy. Always give a lass time to calm down. Maybe it’s for the best,” she chuckles.

“Yeah, Dad would probably be pissed too.”

“Aye, he is. He’s on a plane heading home,” Mom laughs harder. “I told ye this wasn’t going to fly. Ye were in a rush.”

I groan, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and tugging her into me. She did warn me and now look. It’s all fallen apart. I bend down to kiss the top of my mother’s head.

“One of these days, I’ll listen to you,” I murmur.

“Aye, ye will.”