Chapter 7
Two Weeks Later
N o matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my tears.
It was graduation day for my little nuggets, and I couldn’t be prouder.
We put together a great program and they sang their little hearts out.
Now, they were doing introductions that included their name, age, and what they wanted to be when they grew up.
When it was Miley’s turn, my eyes scanned the crowd to see if her father was here.
He wasn’t.
Pulling out my phone, I pressed record when she grabbed the mic and cleared her throat.
“Hi. My name is Miley Richmond, and I’m five years old. When I grow up, I want to be a teacher like Miss Anderson.”
“Yayyy, munchkin!” I cheered before ending the recording.
“That’s my sister!” Mateo yelled. “Woohoo!”
I laughed along with the rest of the audience as Miley blushed and waved at her brother, who was sitting next to Kayne. At least Mateo was here for Miley, and there was no doubt in my mind that Kayne had brought him here.
When the ceremony was over, everyone was allowed to grab a goodie bag and sweet treats with lemonade, but Kayne let me know he had permission to take Miley and Mateo out for lunch, which they were super excited about.
While Katie got our graduating class out of their caps and gowns, I pulled Kayne to the side to speak with him.
“So you talked to Sonny?” I confirmed.
“If you could call it that.” He squeezed his neck and looked back to make sure Mateo wasn’t in ear shot.
“I told him about the situation and all he said was that it won’t happen again.
He thanked me for taking Mateo shopping and tried to pay me back, but I didn’t accept it.
I told him if he wanted to pay me back, to be more present with his kids and pay fucking attention. ”
“Some good that did,” I replied, looking around one last time to make sure we hadn’t missed Sonny’s arrival. “Well, at least he agreed to you taking them to lunch today.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
His jaw clenched as a distant look glazed over his face.
“Hey,” I called, gently taking his hand into mine. “Are you okay?”
Looking down at me, Kayne shook his head. “He’s losing weight, JJ.”
“Sonny?”
“No, Mateo.” Running his hand down his scruffy beard, he released a shaky breath.
“When I took him home that day, the refrigerator and pantry was stocked like a college student lived there. Noodles, frozen meals, and junk food. I asked him was that common and he said yeah because Sonny doesn’t know how to cook.
They only get balanced meals from their neighbor and at school.
I want to believe he’s losing weight because he’s getting taller, but look at his face, pooh. ”
I looked at Mateo, and I couldn’t deny that his eyes were dark and sunken in, and his cheeks and bone structure were thinner and more prominent.
“Do you think we should get someone involved? I don’t want to cause them any trouble and worry over something that’s not a big deal, but if they are being neglected physically and not just with his time, maybe someone needs to step in.
He needs to at least make sure they have food to eat when he works late. ”
“How does Miley respond to food?” he asked, giving me a question of his own.
“She devours it. I thought it was just because she had a hearty appetite because she’s a growing child.
Now you have me wondering if she does that because she doesn’t want to eat the noodles and frozen meals they have at home.
There’s nothing wrong with those things but they shouldn’t be what they eat every day. ”
“I won’t call anyone yet,” Kayne decided.
“I’ll get with their neighbor and see if I can pay her to do meal prep for them throughout the week.
I’ll try and have one more talk with him before school lets out for the summer.
If I think he can’t at least hire a babysitter that can cook for them, I’ll have to get child services involved, and I really don’t want to do that. ”
“Yeah, this is an easy fix. I don’t think Sonny is intentionally being neglectful. He just needs help.”
“Right. I don’t want to risk them being taken if I can help.”
“Okay, well, let me know what I can do. I have a few nannies and babysitters that I recommend to my parents. Maybe if you can get him to agree to the help, I can find one and refer her to Sonny.” A slow smile lifted Kayne’s lips as he stared at me. “What?”
“Nothing just . . .” His arms wrapped around me, and he kissed my nose. “We make great partners.”
We swayed slowly from side to side, and though my mind told me to pull away, I melted in the embrace.
“Yeah, we do, huh?”
Our eyes remained locked until a short pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. “Are you ready to go, Miss Anderson?” Miley checked, causing me to drop my arms from around Kayne and look down at her tiny frame. “I’m starving !”
Had Kayne and I not had the conversation we just had, I wouldn’t have thought too much about her statement. Now, it made warning bells sound off in my head.
That Evening
“My little nuggets did so well,” I told my parents after we had dinner. “Only one was so overwhelmed he cried giving his speech, but the crowd cheered him on and gave him the courage to push through. It was so sweet.”
“Sounds like it was a beautiful moment. Did you record it?” Mama asked, and I showed her the video on my phone, plus the one of Miley giving her speech. “And when are you going to have a little nugget of your own?” she continued with a teasing tone. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No, I’m not. And as much as I love kids, I’m in no rush to have my own. I’m only thirty.”
“Yeah, but I’m sixty, and I want to be young enough to do more with my grands than just talk to them while lying on my death bed.”
“Ma,” I said while Daddy said . . .
“Be nice, Lila. You know she’s sketchy like a cat and will run outta here if you cage her in.”
We laughed because that was the truth. If they started asking me things I didn’t want to discuss, I’d leave in a minute.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Besides, she already has a man,” was his response.
Me and Mama looked at each other before I replied. “Who?”
“Kayne.”
“Ugh.” My eyes rolled. “It always comes back to him.”
“Yeah, it does, because y’all belong together,” Mama said. “That’s why you can’t give another man a chance. You’re too busy holding space in your heart for your,” she paused and used air quotes while adding, “best friend.”
I was so tired of trying to convince people that me and Kayne were only friends that I didn’t even bother.
I just shook my head as they ping ponged their opinion about my nonexistent love life.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I left and headed straight for Kayne’s place.
What the hell was he saying and doing that made people believe we were supposed to be together?
My desire for him was secret. Sacred. Supposed to be hidden.
But people made it seem like it was louder and brighter than I’d realized.
That pissed me off. It was bad enough that I couldn’t have a relationship with Kayne because I’d dated his brother.
I didn’t need people gassing me about a love that could never be nurtured.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
And by the time Kayne opened the door, not even his naked chest and wide smile were able to calm me down.