Chapter 14
I guess I didn’t learn my lesson the last time because I had all these kids at my house once again.
It was looking like daddy daycare over here.
Korri and Nayelli were entertaining themselves with learning those damn TikTok dances.
Darlyn, Marino, Charm, and Liam were playing with blocks.
KJ and Juri were hitting each other with pillows while Semaj was trying to get in on the fun.
Then there was Serena, Sydney, Lil, Stanley, DJ and TJ who were running Gracie’s Corner in the fucking ground on my TV.
It was a madhouse.
But I loved it. It was a blessing to have this many grandkids and still be around to enjoy them. A knock on my door shifted my gaze from the pandemonium going on in my living room.
“Korri, Nayelli, watch them right quick.”
“Okay, Papa,” they said, never breaking their rhythm.
I chuckled as I stood from the couch and headed to the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Stephanie on the other side. I looked around to make sure nobody was watching before sliding at arm around her waist and pulling her into me. Our lips met in a sensual kiss.
“I missed you,” I said, grabbing a hand full of her ass.
She giggled. “I missed you too”
“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“Well, I came to do a surprise visit with my grandbabies, but Salima told me you had the kids. I didn’t drive all this way for nothing, so here I am.”
“Your son knows you’re here? I wouldn’t wanna get you in trouble since you’re worried about that.”
She rolled her eyes. “He and the boys are at the gun range. The girls are congregated at his house sipping on mimosas.”
I chuckled. “They love those damn mimosas. That’s all they wanna do.”
“Are you gonna let me in or what, Senior?”
“Give me another kiss.”
She playfully sighed as she leaned into me.
“Do it like you mean it too,” I added.
“Give me your damn lips, Stanley.”
I grinned as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her lips to mine. Soft hands caressed the back of my head and she moaned into my mouth.
“Papa! Serena and Sydney are fighting!” Korri yelled, forcing us apart.
I shook my head and stepped back inside with her on my heels. Sure enough, those two were rolling around on the floor, fighting over the remote.
“Y’all better cut it out!” I yelled, snatching up one while Steph snatched up the other.
“Sydney won’t share!” Serena said. “It’s my turn to pick something.”
“I had it first!” Sydney retorted.
“I don’t care who had what, you don’t fight your sister,” I said firmly.
They both started crying until Steph snapped her fingers.
“Aht, aht!” she said, pointing at them. “What have I told you about crying when you don’t get your way?”
Those tears dried up quickly.
“Apologize.”
The girls looked at each other before opening their arms for hugs.
“Sorry, Sydney.”
“Sorry, Renny.”
They kissed each other on the cheek, then looked to us for approval.
Stephanie smiled. “Good girls. Give me some love.”
They ran into her arms and the other kids followed.
I smiled as I watched them all shower her with hugs and kisses.
She’d always loved my babies like they were her own.
All of my kids’ mothers did, but it was different with Steph.
She was the one who gathered Tavia and Allison together to work out a schedule for the kids when they were younger.
They had a whole system worked out to give each other breaks and it didn’t just stop with the kids we shared.
Once Tavia and Allison got married and started having other children, it included those kids too.
Kalia, Jaiden, Emelie, and Deja all loved their Auntie Steph.
She just had this mothering spirit that extended to every child in her path.
The kids in her neighborhood came by to cut her grass or see if she needed anything after Aaron passed away. Sometimes when I went to check on her, they would be there just hanging out to keep her company. That’s just the good energy she brought. She was one of the most deserving people I knew.
“Y’all hungry?” I asked the kids.
They all answered like they were starving.
I shook my head as I headed into the kitchen to make lunch.
Since I knew I was going to have them all today, I’d prepped homemade burgers last night.
I turned on the griddle and deep fryer so they could heat up.
Once they were ready, I dropped the burgers and fries so they could do their thing.
By the time I got them going, Steph came into the kitchen to wash her hands.
“Need any help?” she asked.
“You could help me get their plates together,” I said, pulling out the paper plates.
She nodded as she dried her hands. While I put the buns on the plates, she grabbed the trimmings and condiments from the fridge.
I didn’t have to tell her who liked what because she knew them as well as I did.
I couldn’t help but stare at her as she moved around.
She was still so fucking beautiful to me.
It didn’t make any damn sense. I was about to bit my damn lip off looking at her.
“What are you staring at?” she asked with a light giggle.
“Just admiring the Lord’s work. There is much to be thankful for.”
She laughed out loud. “Wow. You are laying it on thick.”
“About as thick as that ass in these pants. Goddamn, Steph.”
She rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Stanley. Stop playing so we can feed these babies.”
“Can you see yourself doing this all the time?” I asked as we worked.
She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind. Your house is a bigger than mine, so I’m thankful for the extra space.”
“This ain’t just my house, Steph. Your name is on the deed.”
She glanced over at me. “What?”
“Your name is on the deed.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted to marry you, baby. If shit hadn’t worked out the way it did, you and Deuce would have been right here.
If anything ever happened to me, I wanted you to have it.
You were with me from the start of it all and you held me down, together or not.
You deserve every dime to my name, Steph.
I’d give it to you if I knew you’d take it. ”
She smiled softly as she cupped my chin. “All I’ve ever wanted from you was you, Senior. You give me that and you can have me.”
“I still gotta date you?”
She giggled. “Yes. I don’t need anything fancy or over the top. Just something thoughtful.”
“I can do that.” I slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her into my chest. “First date, Friday night?”
“Time?”
“Seven.”
“I’ll be there.”
She pecked my lips and tried to pull away, but I held onto her tighter, deepening the kiss. We got so lost in it that we didn’t hear the front door opening. We didn’t hear the footsteps approaching the kitchen. The only thing we heard was Shar’s mouth.
“Ooooo! I knew it!” she exclaimed.
We broke apart to see her standing there with a smile on her face.
“Hi, Sharina,” Steph said, wiping her lips.
“Mmm hmm. Hey, Mama Steph, with your fine self.” She pointed between the two of us. “What y’all doing in here?”
“Making lunch,” I answered.
“Unless you were bird feeding my girl, you were doing a little more than that.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Marino has an ear infection, and I forgot to send his ear drops in case he starts whining about them hurting.” She held up a small bottle. “Looks like I was interrupting something.”
The smile on her face made me shake my head.
“Not a word of this to your brother in-law,” Stephanie warned her.
“Oh, girl, I can keep a secret. I just wanna know how long this has been going on.”
“It’s… newish.”
“Mmm hmm. I see you, Senior.” She walked over and grabbed our hands. “You always said you were gonna get her back. I’m not mad at it. For the record, I always thought you two had the most chemistry. You look happy and I love that.”
She kissed both our cheeks.
“Does this mean I can’t tell my husband?”
“No, Shar!” we both said.
She held up her hands in surrender. “Okay! Geez. Ugh. Does Salima know?”
“She does,” I said, nodding.
“Good. Because we are gonna have to gossip about this. Deuce is finna be mad as hell. If he finds out, I don’t know shit and I ain’t see shit. Just call me Ray.”
Stephanie palmed her face. “What am I gonna do with you, girl?”
Shar giggled as she pulled her in for a hug. “Nothing. Just love me as is cause I’m not about to change.” She pulled back and looked at me. “You said you were snipped right? We don’t need another Ms. Tavia around here.”
“Sharina, get out of my house,” I said, mushing her head.
She laughed loudly as she placed the ear drops on the counter. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m going. Love y’all!”
Steph waved her off. “Love you too, silly ass girl.”
“Love you too, Shar.”
She blew us both kisses before leaving the kitchen. A few seconds later, the front door closed. Steph turned to me and pointed a finger.
“You need to learn to lock your damn doors.”
“For what? Everybody around here is family.”
“What if that was Deuce? Or one of the boys? They would run back to tell him, and he would have lost his shit.”
“Ima need you to understand that I ain’t scared of my son. That’s you worried about him finding out. You want to keep this a secret, not me.”
She sighed. “I’m gonna tell him. I promise.”
I shrugged and went back to finishing the kids’ plates.
I understood her apprehension. But it was better to rip the band-aid off now, than later.
Deuce could be mad. He might want to swing on me and that was fine.
I’d let him get one lick in, then it was over for him because I knew for sure he couldn’t beat my ass.