Chapter 28 - Neha #2
He peered down at me, placing his forehead to mine.
I nuzzled my nose against his before pecking his lips a few times.
This was how I imagined us all those years ago.
I could see this being us in our old age.
When the kids were out the house and the grandchildren were done running us ragged.
We’d come to a place like this to unwind and reminisce about our life thus far.
We’d talk about the good old days and remember the very reasons we fell in love in the first place. ”
“Now don’t you two look cozy.”
We looked up to see Ms. Stephanie and Mr. Aaron joining us on the dance floor.
“Hey, Ma,” Kerrion said, kissing her cheek. “Sup, Aaron?”
“Hey,” I said with a smile.
“You two look good,” Ms. Stephanie said. “You are wearing that dress, baby.”
I blushed. “Thank you.”
“Y’all decided to hang with the old folks tonight?” Mr. Aaron asked.
Ms. Stephanie scoffed. “You might be old, baby. But I’m as young as I feel.”
I giggled. “I know that’s right. You look beautiful, Ms. Stephanie. You’re a lucky man, Mr. Aaron.”
He beamed with pride as he kissed her cheek. “Don’t I know it.”
“You mind if I steal your date?” Ms. Stephanie asked. “I haven’t danced with one of my babies in so long.”
I smiled as I offered Kerrion to her. “Not at all.”
He kissed my lips and pulled her into his arms. Mr. Aaron smiled and extended his hand.
“May I?”
“Of course.”
The four of us danced until our food was brought out.
The older couple joined us at our table and had their own food brought over.
I could see why the elder Mr. Dillinger was still in love with this woman.
She had the most beautiful spirit. I could tell just how much she loved Kerrion by the stories she told me about him growing up.
Just like with his mother, he became that little boy again in her presence.
As grown as he was, I could tell he loved when she would hug him or kiss his cheek as she spoke about him.
This family was bigger than I expected, but there really was so much love here. I was lucky I had the chance to finally be a part of that.
Dancing and dinner were great.
Surprisingly, it turned into a double date.
I really enjoyed Ms. Stephanie and Mr. Aaron’s company.
They were so funny, and I could tell how much in love that man was with that woman.
We parted ways about eleven to leave the hole-in-the-wall.
Currently, Kerrion and I were driving through the city with the widows down and the music blaring.
I felt so much peace.
As we drove out of the city and into the hills, a calm came over the car.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the nightlife, streetlights, and traffic, we made our way into the quietness.
When he came to a stop at the top of the hill, he shut off the truck and got out, instructing me to stay put until he came to get me.
I took the time to check in with Dinah to see how the kids were doing. She sent me the cutest picture of them knocked out on her and Kaylynn. Both of their mouths were wide open, looking like twins. They’d tired themselves out doing whatever she and Kaylynn had planned for them.
The passenger door opened, and Kerrion stood there waiting for me. His gaze dropped to my phone, and he smirked.
“You couldn’t help yourself, huh?”
“I couldn’t. I miss them.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back to them before you know it. Come on. I have a surprise for you.”
I smiled as I took his hand and slipped out of the seat.
He closed the door and walked me around to the back of the truck.
I gasped as I saw the setup he’d done. The bed of the truck had been transformed into a cute little oasis.
There was a blow-up mattress covered in a fitted sheet, blankets, rose petals, and oversized pillows.
He’d lit candles around the ledge, and there was a small cooler filled with ice, wine, and desserts.
“Baby . . .” I whined, poking out my lip. “I love it.”
I leaned in and pecked his lips. The next thing I knew, he was lifting me onto the bed of the truck. Carefully, he removed my heels and placed them in the truck. I crawled toward the pillows and felt a slap on my ass that made me squeal.
He grinned as he climbed in behind me. After grabbing the chilled bottle of wine, he joined me and popped the top, pouring us each a glass.
“This is nice,” I said as he handed me one. “It’s so peaceful up here.”
“It is. When . . . when I first lost Donna, I’d come up here all the time with KJ.
I don’t know why. I guess it just made me feel closer to her.
This was one of her favorite spots. She told me she used to hike up here with her dad when she was a kid, and coming here made her feel like she was closer to him. I guess I wanted that for my son.”
“I understand that. I’m sure you miss her.”
“I do. Sometimes I look at my son, and I cry for him, you know? He has all these wonderful women in his life, but he doesn’t have the one he needs most. I felt lost the first couple of weeks.
Having my nieces and nephews wasn’t like having my own child.
I had to learn him and his little quirks and cues.
Like the difference between a hungry cry, a diaper cry, or when he just wanted me to hold him. We figure this shit out together.”
“You did an amazing job with him, Kerrion. He’s one of the happiest babies I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m trying my best.”
“He adores you. His face lights up when he sees you.”
He chuckled. “He’s funny acting. We’re cool when it’s just us, but he acts brand new around certain people, like you. Lil’ nigga don’t give a fuck about me when he sees you.”
I giggled. “I smell a hater.”
“You damn sure do.” He took a sip of the wine and peered down at me. “It’s cool, though. Our daughter is the same way when it comes to me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, whatever, sir!”
“She’s a daddy’s girl, and that’s okay. Every woman in my family is just like that. My sisters are sickening about their daddies.”
“And their brothers are sickening about them. Jaeda told me how y’all were acting when she met Quaid. Y’all gave that man hell and then got mad when he wasn’t a punk.”
“That was Smoke and Deuce. Me and Maceo were cool on him.”
“So you didn’t break into her house along with the rest of them?”
“That’s neither here nor there.”
I laughed out loud. “No, no, no! It’s very much relevant. Y’all tried to bully that man.”
“Nah, we just needed to make sure he was a good fit for her. I mean, the nigga hacked her shit and almost got away with it. He’s neck and neck with her with that intellect shit.
Now, Jaeda might seem innocent, but sis can handle herself.
Baby’s got hands, and she can shoot. Even with that being said, I’m always gonna step behind her. ”
“As you should.”
“You know we’ll step behind you too now, right?”
“I know. The girls made that very clear at girls’ night. Although, most of them were pretty drunk when they told me they would shoot a bitch in the face about me.”
“I promise they were serious. We don’t play about family, and you are family. You’re forever protected from any and everything. Past, present, and future.”
He looked at me like he had something more to say. I sat up and looked at him.
“What?” I asked.
“Whatchu mean, what?”
“You look like something is on your mind, . . . like you had something to say.”
He shook his head. “Nah. I’m good.”
“You sure? What you said . . . about being protected from the past, present, and future. What did you mean by that?”
He stared at me before sucking down the rest of his wine. When he was done, he sat all the way up and cupped my chin.
“I love you, Neha,” he said, searching my eyes. “Just know that anything I did for you, there was a reason.”
It was my turn to search his eyes. “What did you do?”
“I don’t think you want to know.”
“Was it . . . was it my dad?”
He was quiet.
“Is he dead?”
Again, he was quiet.
“Kerrion.”
“Yes. He’s dead.”
“How long?”
“About a week.”
I swallowed hard. “What happened?”
“I made him as helpless as he made you, your sister, and your mother. Reminded him of what he did to you. Made him feel every ounce of pain he put you all through in a way where he couldn’t fight back. And once I felt like I’d done enough, . . . I snapped his neck.”
My mouth dropped. “How did . . . how did you . . . he’s in prison. I don’t understand.”
“Money talks. My father has connections.”
“Why would you do this?”
“Because he hurt you. You have your faults, and both of our actions played a part in this. But if he hadn’t done what he did, I don’t think you would have kept Nayelli from me.”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have. But . . . what if they find out you did it?”
“They won’t. Quaid scrambled the footage while we were inside. I wore gloves. We were careful. Nothing is gonna come back on me.”
Tears pooled in my eyes as I looked at him. “I’m scared.”
He cupped my face and swiped my tears away.
“You have nothing to be afraid of. I got you. I’m not going anywhere. Rest assured, I will always make it back home to you and our kids. Every time.”
He pecked my lips several times before pulling me onto his lap and cradling me in his arms, where I cried against his chest. Twice now he’d taken care of a man that had ill intentions for me.
The Neha from years ago would have been terrified.
The Neha today, . . . the one that now understood why he moved the way he moved, was grateful I had his protection.
Timothy would have been getting out in the next few years.
I’d always been afraid that he would come after my mother if that happened.
That man was vindictive enough to seek revenge for a problem he caused.
My father couldn’t be with her all the time.
All it took was five minutes alone with Timothy, and we could be burying my mother.
If that had ever become the case, I would have killed him myself.
I could breathe easy knowing that he couldn’t come home and hurt anybody ever again.