Chapter 30 Kamryn
Kamryn
“Daddy, wait for me.” Imani took off as soon as Kamryn got her out of the car seat and set her on her feet. She shook her
head and picked up the bag containing an extra set of clothing. Kamryn had learned the hard way never to leave home without
it. Time seemed to be flying by, and now at almost four years old, somehow, some way, no matter where they went, Imani managed
to get dirty.
Tariq used his key to unlock the door and let them in. “Hey, everybody,” he said when they entered the room.
Only Vincent, Chanel, and Little Austin, as the family had taken to calling their son, had arrived. “I see you’re back on
your game of arriving first, Vincent.” Kamryn tilted her head as he kissed her cheek.
“Hey, you know I’ve got to keep my spot.” Vincent tickled Imani. “Hey, baby girl.”
“Hi, Uncle Vince. I’m on Daddy’s shoulders.”
“I see.” He pulled Tariq in for a one-armed hug. “What’s up, big bro?”
“It’s all good.”
Kamryn greeted her in-laws, then waved at Chanel, who happened to be chasing her half-naked fifteen-month-old son.
Vincent intercepted the giggling Austin. “Where are you going without your clothes?”
Chanel shook her head. “This little boy . . . Every time I change his diaper, he tries to escape. I feel like I need three
sets of hands.”
“Girl, I know how you feel. Imani used to do the same thing. Where’s Jada?”
“She’ll be here later. She and a couple of her friends were meeting up for brunch first.”
“Hey, hey, family.” Shawn came into the room and hugged everyone.
Kamryn greeted them but didn’t get one word from Giselle. Her smile faded when she turned and noticed Giselle hugging and
smiling at Tariq. Her gaze narrowed when Giselle’s hand on his arm lingered a little longer than politeness dictated. Of course,
she acted like she was talking to Imani, but Kamryn knew whatever infatuation Giselle had with Tariq had not gone away. Kamryn
shifted to face her mother-in-law as she approached. “Mama Yvonne, did Taylor say she was coming?”
“I talked to her yesterday, and she assured me she’d be here. She mentioned that she and the sergeant who helped with Austin’s
arrangements were meeting up for coffee earlier.”
“You should’ve told her to invite him if he doesn’t have any family nearby,” Papa Aaron said.
“I did.”
Kamryn smiled inwardly. Taylor probably didn’t have a clue, but Kamryn suspected Damon’s feelings probably had passed friendship
and were heading to something more romantic. “I hope he’s able to come.”
After all the catching up, she joined Mama Yvonne in the kitchen, as she always did during the holidays. An hour later, Taylor arrived with Damon.
Taylor passed out hugs and kisses, then said, “I don’t know if everybody remembers, but this is Damon.”
Tariq stepped up first. “Good to see you again, Sergeant.”
“Same here, and it’s just Damon.”
Kamryn was happy to see the family embrace him, but she detected something in her husband and sought him out to ask about
it. “Hey, can we talk for a minute?”
Tariq hopped up and followed her to the front of the house. “What’s going on? Did something happen with Giselle already?”
She smiled. “No. I noticed how you’re frowning at Damon, and I wanted to ask why.”
He ran a hand down his face. “I promised Austin I’d look out for Taylor, and I plan to do just that. I don’t know what Damon’s
intentions are with her, and I will break him in half if he hurts her.”
Stroking his tight jaw, she said, “Baby, I don’t think you have to worry about that. The brother has been around for a good
three years checking on her and being a friend. Now, I admit, I do think he has feelings for her, but I also believe that he’ll be gentle
with her. You yourself said you didn’t want her to be alone for the rest of her life, and you know that’s not what Austin
would’ve wanted for her.”
“I know, but it’s just—”
“It’s hard to see her with someone else. I get it. What she and Austin shared was powerful and amazing and can never be duplicated.
It shouldn’t be because Damon is not Austin, and he deserves his own place in her life, whether they choose to remain friends
or move forward with something else. Our job is to love her through all of it.”
“And that’s why you’re such an amazing social worker and counselor.” Tariq kissed her softly. “I guess I’ll give him a little leeway and have the brothers stand down. For now. But make no mistake about it, we will be watching him.”
Kamryn laughed. “I can’t with you. Come on. And be nice to him. I have a feeling he’s going to be around for a long while.”
He just grunted.
By the time dinner was served, the guys had all seemed to relax and treated Damon like he’d been a friend since forever. Toward
the end of the lavish meal, Mama Yvonne tapped her fork against her glass and waited until the chatter died down.
“Next June, your dad and I are celebrating our fortieth anniversary, and we want to celebrate with all of you.”
“What do you have in mind?” Giselle asked. “I can help do all the planning.”
Kamryn barely stifled an eye roll. Giselle always asked to plan something, but when it came down to the actual work, she was
the only one missing in action.
“I’ve already decided. I’m booking us a weeklong stay at a cabin in Big Bear Lake.”
As much as she loved her mother-in-law, having to deal with Giselle for an entire week was something Kamryn couldn’t stomach.
The discussion continued, but she’d checked out. Seven whole days of her crap? Absolutely not. Tariq would have to go on his own. She had no idea what kind of excuse she could use, but she needed to come up with a good
one, and soon.
Later, Tariq came into the kitchen where she was helping to put away the leftover food and pack up to-go bags.
“Can I borrow my wife for a minute?”
“As long as you bring her back,” Mama Yvonne teased.
“I won’t keep her long. I promise.” Tariq planted a kiss on his mother’s upturned cheek. To Kamryn he said, “Come with me.”
For the second time that evening, they ended up in the front room. “Are you bringing me in here to tell me that y’all decided to give Damon a chance?” she asked with a giggle.
“No. I was a little concerned about you. I saw your face when Mom made that announcement.”
Her smile faded. “I can’t do it, Tariq.” Kamryn held up her hands and shook her head. “I cannot spend an entire week in the same house with her, knowing that she’ll be trying to start something. Nope. I’m not going. You
can take Imani, but I think I’m going to sit this one out.”
“You know Mom is not going to agree with you. The place has nine bedrooms and is over six thousand square feet. That’s more
than enough space for the two of you to keep your distance. And I for sure don’t want to be there without you.”
“See, why you gotta try to make me feel guilty? Ugh. And stop looking at me like that.”
Chuckling, he nuzzled her neck. “You know I can’t be away from you for an entire week. And think about it, when we put Imani
down for the night, we could hop into the hot tub, have a little wine . . .”
The feel of his lips moving so sensuously along her neck had her ready to agree to whatever he wanted. “Fine. I’ll go. But
I’m telling you now, if she don’t start none, won’t be none. Otherwise, the earrings are coming off.”
He smiled. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m seriously thinking about having another talk with Shawn beforehand,
though. He’s as confused as the rest of us, and said he’s tried to talk to Giselle about it, but she denies everything.”
Kamryn sighed. “I’m so sorry for dragging you two into this.
I hate that it’s impacting your relationship with your brother.
That’s why I kept trying so hard to make things right.
” Knowing that the discord between her and Giselle might mess up the closeness the brothers shared weighed on her heavily.
“We’re fine, so don’t worry. Now let me get you back to the kitchen before Mom comes looking for me.”
“Can’t have that.” They shared a smile. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
Tariq made a show of thinking. “It’s been a while, so how about you tell me again.”
Kamryn ran her hands up his chest and wound them around his neck. “I love you, Tariq Bradley.”
“And I love you, baby. I plan to show you how much when I get you home tonight.”
“See, comments like that will have me packing up and running out the door.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I can make it happen. Just say the word.”
Pushing him toward the back of the house, she said, “You are trouble. Aren’t you missing some football game or something?” After six years, the passion had not lessened in their
marriage. If anything, it had gotten stronger.
“I’m just sayin’.”
“Mmm-hmm. Go watch the game.” He went to the family room, and she headed for the back deck. She needed a minute. As she reached
the door, she spotted Taylor and Damon standing near the rail talking. A slow grin spread across her face when he placed a
soft kiss on Taylor’s forehead. “Aw, sookie sookie,” she said to herself.
Taylor glanced over and waved. Kamryn opened the door and stepped out. “Sorry, I was just coming out because I needed a minute.”
“A lot of that going on tonight,” Damon said with a smile. “I’m going to join the guys and watch the game.”
She waited until the door closed. “Girl, that man likes you.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Yeah, as a friend.”
“Nooo. He really likes you. And if you deny it, lightning is going to strike you right here.” Kamryn folded her arms and waited.
“Fine. He likes me. Happy?”
“Are you?”
She averted her gaze and leaned against the deck railing. “I don’t know. Part of me feels like it’s wrong to start having
feelings for another man, even though I know Austin won’t ever be coming back.”
“What you and Austin had was so amazing, and the two of you had a rare connection that not many couples get to experience,
so it’s reasonable for you to feel this way. On the other hand, the fact that Damon has been a good friend and hasn’t tried
to push you says a lot about his character. I mean, we all got a glimpse of it for those several days when he was here, so
I’m not really surprised.”
“He really is a nice guy. Very respectful.”
“Not to mention, the brother is fine, and oooh, those light brown eyes.”
“Don’t make me go tell on you.” They laughed. “He . . . Never mind.”
“Oh nooo, sister,” Kamryn said with a laugh. “I want to know. You can’t just leave me hanging.”
Taylor laughed a little.
“Come on, come on. Spill the beans.”
“He sort of kissed me earlier today.”
“What do you mean ‘sort of’? The brother either kissed you or he didn’t.”
“Shut up,” she said, trying not to smile. “It wasn’t anything real deep, just a little touch on the lips. Honestly, I don’t think he’d planned to do it, because I couldn’t tell who was more shocked.”
“And how did it make you feel?”
“Confused, guilty, but it was nice and sweet. He apologized, but I told him it wasn’t necessary. Still, I’m conflicted. He
lost his wife, too, but it’s been a few years longer than me.”
Kamryn hoped he wasn’t using Taylor as a replacement for his deceased wife.
Taylor must have interpreted her thoughts because she said, “And no, I don’t feel like he’s using me to get over her. He had
already started dating again and told me he’d gotten to the place where he could move forward. But I can’t be sure that I’m
there.”
“You know, I truly believe that neither of you planned for this to happen. That your friendship just organically developed
into more, and it’s really okay. My advice is to just take it one step at a time. You’ll both know if it’s destined to be
more than friendship.”
“Thanks, Kam. I really needed to hear that.”
“I told you I was going to be the best big sister ever, and I keep my promises.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway, what do you think about Mama Yvonne’s anniversary plans?”
“I’d rather not go because I know Giselle is going to try to start some crap like she usually does. But Tariq sweet-talked
me into going, so if you’re thinking of backing out, forget it. I’m going to need you on standby to mediate.”
“I was actually thinking of not going. That’s what Damon and I were discussing. He pretty much said that I was blessed to
have a family who loved me and that I shouldn’t distance myself.”
“Well, hallelujah. We’ve been telling you that from the beginning. Damon’s a keeper in my book.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at Kamryn. “Don’t you start trying to matchmake.”
“You promise to go on this trip, and I won’t matchmake.”
“That’s just straight-up blackmail.”
“I mean . . .” Kamryn shrugged and let the sentence hang.
“You’re lucky I love you, and your big sister card is in jeopardy.”
She feigned being hurt. “I can’t believe you said that. I’ve been a good big sister.”
“Whateva. All I know is if I see one iota of matchmaking, you’re on your own.”
“I promise.”
“Pinky swear.”
Taylor lifted her pinky, and Kamryn entwined it with her own. I just hope the week doesn’t turn out to be a disaster and that I don’t end up wanting to snatch Giselle.