Chapter 34 Chanel
Chanel
“Now that Little A and Imani are asleep, we can go join the grown folks,” Chanel said quietly as she grabbed the baby monitor,
then pulled the door half closed. Vincent swept her into his arms, eliciting a startled cry. She slapped a hand over her mouth.
“What are you doing? You’re going to make me wake them up again.”
“I’m about to be grown with my wife, and those two are out like a light. With the way my mom had them running all day, a freight train probably
wouldn’t wake them.”
She giggled as he carried her downstairs. “You’re probably right.” Mama Yvonne loved her grands, and in between letting them
stuff their faces with whatever they asked for, she had taken them to the beach to build sandcastles, then brought them back
to hang out on the mini playground. Tonight the couples were meeting on one of the larger decks to enjoy the night. When they
got there, Tariq and Shawn got the fire pit going, then everyone settled in the various loungers and chairs.
“Are my babies asleep?” Mama Yvonne asked from her place on the double lounger cuddled in Papa Aaron’s arms.
“Yep.” Seeing her in-laws this way never failed to bring a smile to her face.
She’d been so blessed to be part of this family and to see what real love looked like.
She scanned the faces of her sisters- and brothers-in-law and noted the same contentment.
More than anything, she was glad that the rift between Kamryn and Giselle was finally healing.
Chanel whispered to Vincent, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shawn and Giselle all cuddly and smiley. ”
“I haven’t either, but I’m glad. After everything that happened, I admit I was a little worried about them.”
“Same.”
Taylor left her spot next to Damon and produced a wireless speaker. “We need some music, y’all. I made an old-school playlist
to celebrate Papa Aaron and Mama Yvonne’s forty years of love. I have it on good authority that this first one is a favorite.”
The sound of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky” started, and Papa Aaron said, “That’s our song, baby.” He eased off the lounger
and gently pulled Mama Yvonne into his arms and started a slow sway to the beat. “I love you more now than I did when we danced
to it on our wedding day.”
“These are relationship goals,” Chanel said, pumping her fist in the air.
Kamryn waved a hand. “Amen, my sister.”
Shawn stood and pulled Giselle into his arms, then one by one, all the couples joined them and danced to song after song.
“This is so nice. We should do this more often,” Chanel said.
“Count me in for a grown folks couples’ night,” Tariq said, eliciting a round of laughter and a chorus of agreements.
After the dancing started to wind down, Shawn picked up a gift bag and handed it to his parents. “Mom, Dad, here’s a little
something from all of us.”
“You all didn’t have to get us anything,” his mother said. “Just spending this time together is enough.”
“We wanted to thank you for showing us what love and support look like, especially since some of us didn’t have that growing up.” Giselle reached for Chanel’s hand, and the two shared a smile.
Chanel couldn’t agree more. Being around this family had given her so many nuggets of wisdom to pass down to her son and to
share with her sister.
Everyone smiled as Mama Yvonne opened the envelope that had been inside the bag.
“A cruise?” Papa Aaron’s eyes lit up. “We’ve been saying for years we’d take another cruise, but never have. Thank you.”
“Are we all going?” Mama Yvonne asked brightly.
“No!” they all said.
“Ah, maybe you two should just take this one alone. It might be less . . . um . . . drama,” Giselle said with a sheepish grin, bringing on another round of laughter.
Vincent and Chanel grabbed the bottles of champagne, and Chanel said, “This calls for a toast.”
The guys opened the bottles and filled everyone’s glasses.
Papa Aaron held his up. “To love and family.”
A loud roar went up.
Chanel leaned up and kissed her husband. “Thank you for loving me and for inviting me to be part of this wonderful family.”
“Thank you for being my everything.”
He captured her lips in a slow, drugging kiss.
Family. Love. Nothing else matters.