Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“Mommy, Santa!” Ava pointed to an inflatable in someone’s front yard as we made our way down the street. We were on our way to breakfast then we were going to get his sister, brother-in-law, and nephews from the airport.
Apparently, the family group chat had been buzzing with the news of company at the house, and she was yet another person that was excited to see the impromptu guest at Kiyan’s place.
It was so funny to me because his family wasn’t supposed to come until a couple of days before Christmas, but everyone was so curious about us that they were all coming in earlier than expected.
“Yes, baby, that’s Santa,” I beamed.
“Are you ready for Santa, Ava?” Kiyan asked, looking at her through the rearview.
She nodded. “Christmas.”
“That’s right, baby girl, he’ll be here for Christmas.”
The breakfast restaurant, Rise and Dine, was only about twenty minutes away from Kiyan’s place, but he turned it into a thirty minute drive going a little slower so that my baby could see all the decorations everyone had up around town.
When we entered the restaurant, we were immediately welcomed by the warmth and the sweet and savory aroma of all the good food that was being cooked.
I loved coming to Rise and Dine because there was so much to choose from on the menu.
My baby was picky when it came to food, but she always ate well when it came to this place.
The server poured both me and Kiyan a cup of coffee and left us a pitcher of ice water. She laid a menu in front of us then gave Ava a kid menu that she could color on and some crayons.
“Do you know what you want to drink for the princess?”
“Ava, honey, what do you want to drink?” I asked her softly.
Without looking up from the picture she was coloring, she answered, “Apple juice.”
“Apple juice it is then,” the server beamed. “I’ll give you all a few minutes to look over the menu then I’ll be back.”
I scanned over the menu knowing already that I was getting the Hearty Homestyle Breakfast that consisted of bacon and sausage, eggs, grits, and my choice between toast or a biscuit.
“Do you know what you’re getting?” Kiyan asked.
I nodded. “I get the same thing every time I come.”
“Word? This is only like my second or third time here, so I’ll likely just get steak and eggs like I always do.”
“Their salmon is really good, and the croquettes if you want to try something different.”
“Says the woman getting the same thing she always gets,” he replied and smirked causing me to giggle.
“I’m just a huge creature of habit and the Hearty Homestyle Breakfast is very filling. I probably won’t eat again until dinner.”
“You can’t let my mama or Aunt Pat hear you saying that. They’ll assume that you’re starving yourself and start shoving food down your throat.”
“Oh, Lord, I don’t need that.” I giggled. “This will be our secret.”
“I got you.” He winked before taking a sip of his coffee.
When the server returned Kiyan took the liberty of ordering for us all since I’d told him what I was getting and the few things on the menu that Ava liked.
Once she was gone, we filled our waiting period with talk about my plans for the future.
I wasn’t as defeated as I was before because I had people in my corner that had faith in me.
I’d had some time to think on my situation and concluded that I was going to go back to school. My accounting degree was still good, but I wanted more for me and my baby. I wanted her to see that we’d be okay and that she could overcome any obstacle that she ran into.
Kiyan promised to help me get enrolled and to take care of the expenses despite me telling him that I would be okay.
I also planned to find a job after the holiday.
I wanted to make sure that I was able to spend Christmas and bring the New Year in with my baby, then I was going to hit the ground running.
I had to get us a place to stay pronto, so that was my number one priority after the holidays passed.
“I had this delivered for you.” He placed a small, gift wrapped, rectangular box on the table and slid it in my direction.
My brows dipped as I slowly reached for it. “What is it?”
He smiled. “Open it, Leila.”
I carefully peeled the wrapping paper from the box and immediately noticed that it was a phone. My eyes lifted quickly and found his.
“It’s paid for, but on my line. You don’t have to worry about the bill, and before you say anything, Leila, it’s not up for debate.”
My shoulders relaxed as I smiled. “I wasn’t going to give you any pushback. I was just going to say thank you.”
“You don’t have to say that either. I got you and baby girl for whatever, whenever.”
There wasn’t an ounce of humor in his voice or in his expression, but even if there was, I believed him. He’d been a man of his word since the moment that I met him.
The waiter returned with our food, and I waited until we had our plates and condiments before replying, “Well, I’m sure that I speak for us both when I say that we are extremely grateful.
You and your family haven’t had to treat my baby and me with the love and kindness that you have, so again, thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
He didn’t reply verbally, just winked and asked Ava if she could pause her drawing so that we could bless the food. She happily obliged, reaching for his hand then mine and bowing her head.
We dug right into our food after that. Ava hummed with a pretty smile and rubbed her belly after her first bite, pulling a laugh from me and Kiyan. She was a sucker for the Rainbow Waffles that they had because they smothered them in the house made icing.
Kiyan told me a little about his sister and her family that was coming into town.
They were both family law attorney’s but she specialized in divorce.
Both of his nephews went to a school for the gifted and talented.
I could now see why he’d become the chairman of the board at ACU at such a young age. He came from a very impressive family.
After breakfast we headed to the airport. Ava knocked out as soon as we got in the car, which gave Kiyan and I more time to talk.
“So, every year at the university we have a Christmas party,” Kiyan began, glancing my way briefly before turning his attention back to the road ahead. “Mel has been on me about finding someone to go with.”
“Uh huh, and?” I grinned.
“And I would love it if you’d go with me.” He smiled my way. “If you don’t already have plans that is.”
I gave him a knowing look when he glanced in my direction.
“You know I don’t have plans, but it sucks that you only want me to be your date just because Mel asked.”
“Naw, don’t do that.” He chuckled. “You know that’s not true. I just needed to find the right time to bring it up to you.”
“And today’s the perfect time, huh?” I grinned. “Get me good and full then try to bait me.”
“Did it work?”
“Hm, maybe.”
“It’s not a no, so I’ll take it.”
“It’s definitely not a no.” I chuckled lowly. “I’d actually love to go with you, but I don’t have anything to wear—”
“You know that’s not an issue,” he quickly intervened. “I’ll handle all of that.”
“How’d I know you were going to say that?”
“Because you know I got you.”
“I do,” I blushed. “But are you sure? All of your colleagues will be there…”
“The only person I care about being there is you.” He reached for my hand and gave me a smile. “And Mel, but she doesn’t count.”
“Don’t do her,” I laughed. “Yes, Kiyan. I would love to be your date to the Christmas party.”
His smile grew wider. “Bet. My parents, siblings, and their spouses are all going too. I know the women are going to go shopping. You can go out with them.”
I nodded. “Who’ll keep the kids?”
“Aunt Pat. She hates large crowds of unknown people, so she’s already opted out.”
“And she won’t mind an extra child?” I asked. “What? That’s a legitimate question.” I said and grinned when he gave me a look. “Ava is a lot to handle at times, and—”
“My aunt can do it, Leila,” he cut me off. “She raised Melonie, so trust me when I say she has it,” he laughed. “But seriously, Ava is like one of our own, so no one is going to feel a way about her staying home with the rest of the kids while we’re out.”
I just nodded and said okay. I’d promised myself that I was done questioning every little thing and blocking my blessing. Kiyan and his family had been very good to us, so I knew deep down that they wouldn’t bat an eyelash when they learned that Ava would be home with them while we went out.
When we made it through the busy airport traffic, we found Kiyan’s sister and her family already out front waiting for us. He parked and hopped out to help her husband and sons with their bags while she got right inside.
“Oh my God, I thought that you were a myth,” she said after pulling her door closed. “Me and Khalil were convinced that Mama had made this woman that Kiyan was dating up in her mind, but you are very real and very beautiful.”
I blushed. “Thank you so much. I’m Leila.”
I extended my hand and she quickly accepted.
“Kayla, and trust me, I know all about you and little miss Ava here.” She turned to my sleeping baby and smiled. “I know a food coma when I see one.”
We shared a laugh. “She ate so much this morning thanks to your brother and what seemed like the endless waffles he ordered her.”
“That’s Kiyan for you.” She grinned. “Get them full and hyper to send home for us parents to deal with.”
“I’d be that kind of aunt too if I had nieces and nephews.”
“Only child?”
I nodded. “Unfortunately. My parents had me later in life too, so no siblings for me.”
“Well, Kiyan has plenty of nephews and cousins to go around.”
Her boys had gotten in the truck by now and introduced themselves as Kyron and Isaiah.
“So, you guys aren’t going to try for a girl?”
“No.” Kayla quickly answered as her husband was getting in next to her.
It was cute to see her smushed between all of her guys.
Her boys were twelve and eleven but had the weight and height of fourteen or fifteen year olds.
We were in Kiyan’s Tahoe, so there were three rows, but their sons still opted to be in the back with their mom.
“No?” her husband smiled as he wrapped his arm around her. “I thought you wanted a mini you.”
“That was before I had to feed three men like I’d feed a football team.” She shook her head. “With my luck, she’d eat more than you three. And do you see this?” She pointed to their sons and her husband. “You all are clingy enough, where would a baby fit into this?”
“Oh, we’re not that bad.” He grinned, pulling her in for a kiss.
“Sure you’re not,” she giggled. “Babe, this is Leila, Kiyan’s lady friend. Leila, this is my husband, Irving.”
He reached to shake my hand, so I hurried to accept it.
“It’s so nice to meet all of you.” I beamed.
Kiyan was back inside the car and getting ready to pull away, so I turned back around in my seat. They filled the ride home with conversation mainly between Kiyan, Kyron, and Isaiah. They were filling their uncle in on school, sports, and everything else that they had going on back at home.
I just sat back and listened, enjoying hearing them talk.
I loved his relationships with each of his relatives.
I didn’t have any to really know how that felt, and Aldrick’s family acted exactly how he did, so they weren’t pleasant to be around.
It was refreshing to spend time with and around the Ward’s.
When we got back to the house, Ava was wide awake. She begged Kiyan’s dad to take her and Jazzlyn outside to play in the snow, and he happily obliged. I could tell that they really loved kids and could see why they were constantly telling their kids they wanted more grands.
I was upstairs getting our things together to go in the washing machine when Kayla knocked at the door asking if it was okay for her to come in.
“Of course.” I pushed the laundry that I was about to do down into the basket then took a seat on the bed next to her. “What’s up?”
“Okay, Mama has put me, you, Mel, and Miranda on lunch duty, so we don’t have a lot of time, but I wanted to really talk to you before we got back downstairs. Your divorce… where are you with that?”
I dropped my eyes to my hands, twirling my thumbs around each other.
“I signed the petition before I left.” I shrugged.
“Under duress, but go ahead,” she encouraged.
“W-what do you mean? Under duress?”
“What I mean is you didn’t sign freely. You were pressured. You had to have been in emotional turmoil at the time. You were threatened with losing your home, stability, and any means to care for your child. Consent under duress can be challenged. The courts take that very seriously.”
“So, basically what you’re saying is it doesn’t count?”
“Precisely.” She smiled. “I am a divorce attorney, but unfortunately, I can’t help you with this.
Not only is it a conflict of interest, but I can’t practice here in Atlyn City.
However, I do have plenty of connections here— even some colleagues that specialize in family law that involves coercion and inequitable settlements.
One of them would be happy to take on your case. ”
“I-I don’t have the money right now to pay them, but—”
She gently touched my hand to stop me. “This isn’t about money, Leila. This is about getting you and your child what you both deserve. I haven’t seen my brother smile this much in a very long time, and I’m almost one-hundred percent sure that you and little Ava have everything to do with that.”
I nodded with a smile thinking about Kiyan and that dangerously sexy smile that he was always wearing, but the thought of a battle in court had it fading quickly.
“I don’t want a war,” I said softly referring to long, drawn out court appearances.
“If he’s smart—there won’t be one. He can handle this quickly and amicably by refiling and agreeing to your reasonable terms.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then we go to war and let the courts see exactly how this ridiculous agreement came about.” She smiled. “We’ve got you and Ava’s back. We’re going to make that bastard pay for what he did to you.”
My smile returned and I jumped up to hug her. Every single member of this family had been a blessing to me and Ava, and honestly, Aldrick tossing us out had too because if he didn’t I would never have crossed paths with these angels that God had walking on earth.