Chapter 21
I watched Steph on the back patio from my spot in the kitchen.
She’d been in a mood since yesterday and I understood why.
Deuce hurt her feelings with his funky ass attitude about us.
Granted, I don’t think it would have been so bad if he hadn’t walked in on us, but that was his fault.
Nobody told him to just waltz his ass into my house uninvited.
Now my lady was in her feelings, and I didn’t like that shit.
She was around here moping and looking all sad and shit.
The only thing that made her smile was the grandbabies.
My son and I were going to have a conversation when he returned.
Even if it was just me talking, that lil’ nigga was gonna hear me.
The kids left for their mission yesterday, but that didn’t stop them blowing me up in the group chats.
My daughters were offering words of encouragement, while my sons were cracking jokes.
I guess they didn’t want to get on their brother’s bad side because these nosy muthafuckas created a whole chat without him to talk their shit.
I was five seconds from blocking their asses.
Looking down at my watch, I saw it was about time to head to the house for Sunday dinner.
Since shit wasn’t a secret anymore, there was no reason she couldn’t come with me as my lady.
I guess this was what my daughters called a soft launch.
Those damn girls teach me so much about the change in culture these days. They were the ones that kept me young.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I strolled over to the back door and opened it.
Steph was in the hammock, reading on my Kindle.
Over the last couple of years, I noticed she’d gotten into reading quite a bit.
Sometimes when I went over to chill with her, she’d read me chapters of whatever book she was reading.
I’d never been one that sat down and read for fun, so it was interesting to see what captured her attention.
Funny enough, she loved urban fiction and urban romance. I’d lived many lives, so I could relate to a lot of the books she put me on. She looked up from the book as I approached her. A soft smile played on her lips.
“Hey,” she said lowly.
“Hey, baby.”
I place the water on the table next to her. Leaning in, I pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“What are you reading? You better not have lost my page.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “War About You” by Nek Mills. The main female character beats niggas.”
I laughed. “Shar and Mia would love that then.”
I eased into the hammock behind her, making sure I was careful not to land us on the floor. She closed the kindle and turned to face me. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she rested her head against my chest.
“How’s your mental, my love?” I asked, stroking her back
“A five. I don’t want to fight with my son, Stanley.”
“I know. We’re gonna figure this shit out when they get back. If I have to go upside his head, I will.”
“No, Senior. I don’t want things to get physical. Just like I would never allow Deuce to put his hands on you, I don’t want you putting your hands on him, unwarranted. You’re my man, but that’s my baby.”
I grinned. “I’m your what?”
She rolled her eyes and playfully slapped my chest. “I said you’re my man.”
“I heard you. I just love to hear you say it. I promise, I won’t touch our baby without justification.
“Good. Because I will act like my daughter in law and you won’t get none.”
“You lying to your damn self, but I’ll let you think that. Everything’s gonna work out. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that, Senior.”
“Has Big Daddy ever lied to you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Stanley, please.”
I slapped her ass and pulled her closer into me. “Answer the question.”
She kissed her teeth. “No. You’ve never lied to me.”
“Okay then. Gimme some suga.”
She tilted her head up and kissed me. It started off innocent, but quickly migrated into something sensual. I pulled her leg over my waist and palmed her ass before giving it a hard slap. She moaned softly into my mouth.
“Stanley,” she whined. “That hurt.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said, massaging the sting away.
“Not y’all out here being grown! Y’all didn’t learn the first time?”
We both sighed as we looked up to see Shar and Salima standing in the doorway with grins on their faces.
“Why are y’all here?” Stephanie asked.
“The kids wanted their Pop Pop to ride with them to Grams’ house,” Salima said.
“No lie, I just wanted to be nosy,” Shar admitted. “My husband told me to get the tea while he’s gone.”
Steph rolled her eyes. “I can’t stand y’all.”
Shar ginned. “Make yourselves decent because here come the kids.”
I could hear them running through the house calling my name as Steph and I sat up. They pushed past their mothers and ran out the back door.
“Pop Pop!”
When Liam and Darlyn saw Steph, they screamed.
“Grandma!”
Charm and Marino were all smiles as well as the four of them ran full force toward us and jumped on us. I was glad I had this hammock reinforced to hold extra weight.
“Hey, my babies,” I said, kissing each of their foreheads. “Pop Pop missed you.”
“Can we stay with you tonight?” Darlyn asked me.
Salima scoffed. “Y’all just wanna leave me when daddy is gone?”
“We’re always with you, Mama. Pop Pop is all alone.”
Shar snickered. “No, he ain’t.”
I chuckled. “I appreciate you wanting to keep me company, Darlyn. You know I love when you guys spend the night.”
“See, Mama.” Darlyn looked at Stephane. “Grandma, what are you doing here?”
Salima and Shar stifled a laugh. Darlyn was eight, going on nine. Baby girl was smart and observant. Of course she would ask the first question. Steph looked at me, silently asking if we should tell the kids. I nodded.
“Well…” she said, looking around at the four faces staring back to her. “Grandpa and I went on a date last night.”
Darlyn’s eyes widened. “Like when Mommy and Daddy go on dates and you or Pop Pop babysit?”
“Yes.”
“Daddy is Mommy’s boyfriend,” Liam said, matter of factly.
“He’s her husband,” Darlyn corrected, rolling her eyes. She turned back to her grandma. “Is Pop Pop gonna be your boyfriend or your husband, Grandma?”
Stephanie giggled. “He’s my boyfriend.”
She looked at me. “Are you gonna marry her, Pop Pop?”
“Maybe y’all can help me get her to say yes this time,” I said, flicking her nose. “That way, she can be on the compound.”
“TiTi, you stay,” Charm said, grabbing Steph’s hands. “Pleeeease!”
I chuckled to myself because my other grandbabies knew her as TiTi Steph and she would eventually become their grandmother. Poor babies were gonna be confused as hell.
“You gotta get her a big ring, Pop Pop,” Darlyn said. “Like Mommy and Auntie Shar.”
“Nah, he’s gotta get a bigger one,” Salima said. “I hear the seventh time is the charm, Daddy.”
I discreetly showed her my middle finger, causing her to laugh. Inside, I was hoping that would prove to be true. I had it in me to propose one more time. Maybe this would be lucky number seven.
“Mmm mmm mmm,” my mama said as Steph and I strolled into the kitchen, hand in hand. “I should beat both of y’all’s ass.”
I chuckled. “What I do?”
“Got my grandson calling me in a damn uproar because he walked in on you and his mama.” She looked at Steph. “I knew your ass was about to be weak in the knees on Maceo’s birthday. I called it.”
Stephanie sighed. “Mama, please.”
“Don’t ‘Mama, please’ me. I know y’all better than you know yourselves and let me tell you something.” She pointed at the two of us. “This better be the last damn time. Get this shit together and keep it together. You’re too old for this shit. I expect a wedding before I go to glory.”
“Mama, you are just as dramatic as your grandson,” I said, kissing her cheek.
“You heard what I said. Go on and get outta my kitchen. Let everybody see you now so they can shut up about it before they sit at my table to eat. Stephanie, you go with him because I don’t want these nosy ass niggas in and out of my kitchen.”
Stephanie giggled as she kissed her cheek. “Yes ma’am.”
Mama paused and cupped her face. “I love you and I’m happy for you.”
“I love you too, Mama. Thank you.”
I pulled her along behind me to the back door. My sisters and Jeanie were coming through as we were heading out. All of them smirked and shook their heads.
“See what lustful looks turn into?” Jeanie said to Stephanie, causing her to giggle.
“Whatever!”
We made our way outside. My family thought they were funny. The minute we stepped out, the music stopped and all eyes fell on us. I shook my head.
“Yall don’t have shit else better to do?” I asked.
“How does it feel to be hydrated after being thirsty for so long?” Blake asked.
“The same way your wife is gonna feel when the ink dries on those divorce papers, nigga. Fuck outta my business.”
Everybody laughed, knowing Jeanie was a sore subject for him. Maybe we both lusted after the woman we loved, but only one of us stood a real chance at redemption. I ignored his scowls as my grandbabies came running over to greet me.
“Papa, Darlyn said you and Titi Steph are getting married,” Korri immediately said.
Darlyn grinned and Liam pointed.
“Look! Them holding hands!”
“I knew I saw y’all kissing,” Nayelli said. “I just didn’t say anything.”
Steph palmed her face. “Oh, God.”
Nayelli giggled. “As much as I see mama and daddy kissing, I know to mind my business or see something I don’t want to see.”
“Maybe you can teach your uncle that,” I muttered.
“TiTi, are you gonna be my grandma now?” Juri asked.
“I’m still your TiTi, JuJu.”
Juri palmed her head. “She don’t wanna marry you, Papa. We’re never gonna get you a grandma.”
I had to stifle my laugh because I could tell she was serious.
“Little girl, go somewhere,” Steph said, waving her off. “Romi, come get your child!”
Romi shook her head as she strolled over. “Juri, do you wanna get in trouble? Daddy ain’t here to save you. Go play and stay outta grown folks’ business. All of y’all go on.”
The kids groaned as they dispersed. Romi smirked as she hugged us both.