Chapter 13
“ M iss Anderson, can I stay with you?”
Miley’s question caught me so off guard I couldn’t respond immediately.
Sonny had given me and Kayne permission to take the kids to the beach and pool this weekend, so I took her to the mall to look for a bathing suit.
We’d spent the day talking about a lot of random stuff and her old classmates, and I wasn’t expecting that question at all.
Instead of responding right away, I waited until we were seated at a small round table at the food court.
“Is everything okay at your grandma’s house?”
She nodded rapidly, causing her pigtails to sway. Miley was the cutest little thing with her long, wavy hair, cashew brown skin, big smile, and bright eyes.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Is someone touching you in a way that’s not safe like we talked about in class?”
“No, ma’am,” she answered, shaking her head and swirling her middle finger around on the table.
“Is your grandma mean or ignoring you?”
“No, Grandma Pearl is nice, but she’s old and we don’t do anything.”
Covering my mouth, I reeled in my laugh. “And that’s why you want to stay with me?”
“Mhm.” She nodded. “Plus, I don’t have a mommy anymore, and Grandma told me she’s not my mommy and is too old to be raising me and my brother. She said my aunt and uncle are going to start watching us too so she can get a break. Can you be?”
Clearing my throat, I looked around the food court as if this was some kind of prank show. There was no way this sweet little angel was asking what I thought she was asking.
“Can I be what, munchkin?”
“My mommy.”
Licking the corner of my mouth, I fought my tears. I lost the fight. Brushing them away quickly, I took her tiny hands into mine and sat her on my lap. When she wiped more of my steadily flowing tears, I smiled.
“First, just you asking me that makes me really happy and proud. I would love to be a mother figure to you. I’m sorry that you lost your mommy, especially so young, and I hate what you and your brother are going through.
I promise I’m going to be here for you every day for as long as you want me to be. ”
“Even when I get to college?”
Chuckling, I nodded. “Even when you get to college. Even when you’re thirty!”
“Thirty!” she yelled. “Miss Anderson, that’s really old.”
“Hey! That’s how old I am.”
She laughed as I tickled her, and when I stopped, she hugged my neck.
I held her close, wanting to tell her I’d be her mommy in this lifetime and the next.
But I couldn’t. That wasn’t my place. I’d treat her like she was my daughter, though, and make sure I showed up for her as if I’d given birth to her myself.
Later that Evening
My day had already been emotionally draining after my conversation with Miley.
Though I was honored that she’d asked me to be her mommy, it made me sad when I dropped her off.
I wished I could be her adoptive mom and give her and Mateo the love, nurturing, and stability they deserved.
I told myself having her younger aunt and uncle might help them both, and that was the only thing keeping me from bursting into tears and kidnapping them both.
All I wanted to do was grab a few items from the grocery store to cook for my unofficial man.
I needed him to love on me even more. Seeing Kenya made me groan and roll my eyes.
The last thing I wanted to do was deal with his mouth, or the guilt of feeling like I was doing something wrong because I was dating his brother.
“Hey.” He spoke, walking toward my basket with a surprisingly warm smile.
“Hi,” I replied skeptically. “You’re mighty chipper today. Hot date tonight?”
Kenya chuckled. “Nah, but I heard you got one.” His smile wavered slightly, but it was still there when he added, “Kayne told me about the two of you.”
“Oh.” Shit . “Um . . .”
“It’s fine, JJ,” he promised, taking my hand into his. “Y’all are better for each other anyway.”
Relief filled me as I nodded and squeezed his hand. “You sure you’re okay with this?”
“Would it matter if I wasn’t?”
“Yeah. I’d still date him, but we’d just hide it from you,” I joked, causing him to laugh. “Seriously, though, I love Kayne and would never do anything to intentionally hurt him. I know being at odds with you would do that, so if you aren’t cool with this?—”
“It’s fine, Jayla. For real. You both deserve to be happy and loved well. If you find that with each other, I will never stand in the way of that.”
I appreciated the sentiment, so I thanked him, and we hugged.
We walked down a few aisles together and talked, and I didn’t mind the company.
He asked me if I was cooking for his brother, and I confirmed.
Kayne was a true meat and potatoes kind of man, so I was going to make steak, baked potatoes, shrimp, and a zucchini and squash mix with cherry cheesecake pie for dessert.
After I checked out, I stopped by Charlene’s Winehouse to get a bottle of red wine for us to have then headed home, and I couldn’t wait to be in Kayne’s arms and on his lips tonight.
I knew being with him was probably the only thing that would make me stop obsessing over the kids and wanting to go get them.
A part of me wanted to ask Sonny if he’d mind if I kept them at least on the weekends.
I felt like the logical thing to do was wait and see how things would go with them spending time with their aunt and uncle since they were younger than Pearl, but right now, I wasn’t thinking with my mind. I was thinking with my heart. And my heart wanted those kiddos at home with me .
“Who am I kidding?” I chuckled. “I don’t even have enough space for them in my apartment.
Well, I guess I could turn my home office into a bedroom for them to share, but that wouldn’t last long with Mateo being in middle school.
Ugh. I’m nowhere near ready for that responsibility, but Lord knows I want to be. ”
Nibbling my lip, I could only laugh at myself for trying to find a solution to a problem that I’d created myself.
For now, they were safe and being taken care of by Pearl.
It may not have been the most fun house, but she was their grandmother, and Sonny wanted them with her. For now, that would have to be enough.