Chapter 27 #2
“And your father.” He holds my gaze. “While their opinions are not ours, I want them to respect us, and by doing that, we need to tread slowly, carefully, and gain their trust so they understand I’m not going away. I’m here for the long haul with you.”
While I want to state it’s for my birthday, I don’t want to force him into an uncomfortable situation, so I lean in and kiss his lips.
I’m here for the long haul.
My gut tightens, knowing there will be a time he’ll want to return home.
And for now, I’ll cross that bridge when the problem arises.
However, at this moment, it’s the last thing I want to think about.
On Sunday, my family gathers in the living room of my parents’ home.
“Happy birthday, Lottie,” they all chant. Summer rushes over first with her handmade birthday card.
“Oh, that’s so beautiful,” I tell her and whisk her into my arms for a hug.
Mom hands me a gorgeous bunch of pink peonies already in a crystal vase.
Summer slides down my legs and runs away because, obviously, something in the other room is more exciting.
Slowly, my family comes to me one by one, hugging me and offering their best wishes.
Penny takes their gifts and places them on the table after I open each one.
Byron and Giana gifted me fancy oils from Italy, along with some cheese. “Thank you. I know just the right wine to have with these,” I tell them.
“And I have the wine,” Jobe adds.
“Thank you,” I tell him and Zara.
I receive expensive candles and a personalized notebook from Penny and Franklin, and my favorite Hawaii Kona coffee from my parents, along with another diamond bracelet. Apart from the bracelet, all safe gifts for someone single and who, let’s face it, doesn’t need for anything.
“Thank you again,” I tell my family. “I really appreciate the kindness and your thoughtful gifts.”
Everyone heads outside since the last weeks of February have seen temperatures in the seventies, so lunch is being served under the patio.
Mom helps me with my gifts. “Do you like your bracelet, Charlotte?”
“I do, Mom. It’s different from the last one.”
“They’ll sit beautifully on your wrist together. I thought you could wear them to the gala.”
The dang gala—that’s the furthest thing from my mind.
“Come, darling.” She heads outside ahead of me, and I stop dead in my tracks.
“What the?” I murmur as Summer screams in delight.
Huge play equipment dominates most of the grassed area, and an enclosed trampoline is beside it.
Monkey bars, a slide, double swing sets, two hoops for swinging, and a climbing section as though she is grooming little ninjas.
Franklin assists Carson Jr. on the baby swing, holding onto him as he moves.
Byron has Leo on the slide, holding his waist as he slides down, his little face smiling with delight.
Zara comes to stand beside me. “It’s a lot, right?”
“It sure is,” I murmur, taking it all in. “I’m not sure whose birthday we’re celebrating. We never had anything like this, and my brothers could have benefitted from releasing some of their pent-up energy instead of wrestling with each other.”
“Jobe and Byron, yes,” she whispers. “But not Franklin.”
“No. He was older, and I don’t remember Franklin as well as I do Jobe and Byron. If Jobe told Byron to go away, he would come and pick on me.”
Zara laughs. “Sounds accurate.” We remain quiet for a few seconds while the kids squeal in excitement, and I drift off into some other universe where my child and Brandon are playing with the children.
Zara bumps my hip. “Hey. Are you okay?”
“Aha. I was daydreaming. I can see my future here, with my child playing with its cousins.”
“Yeah?” She smiles at me. “Your mother will be ecstatic. The more grandbabies there are, the less the expectation will be for me.”
“She knows you don’t want kids.”
Zara exhales heavily. “I don’t think she has accepted it and believes we’ll change our minds. “‘Help me, Obe-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope.’”
I giggle at Zara. “You’re an idiot.”
My father comes to stand beside us, and we automatically straighten our backs as though the King of England has graced us with his presence. My father has always demanded respect not only from his family but also wherever he travels—he’s almost as famous as royalty.
“Afternoon, Charlotte.”
“Hi, Dad. It’s an impressive play gym.”
“It’s built to last at least ten years,” he states.
Zara elbows me.
“Lucky. It might be that long before I have children.”
His dark brown eyes meet mine, the same eyes as Franklin and Jobe. I am no longer afraid of his opinion because pleasing my parents has led me to some of my unhappiest memories. “How are you now that that boy is back?”
I clench my hands, and Zara slips away quietly. I keep my gaze forward on the children. “That boy is a man and was once part of this family,” I say in a level and controlled voice.
“He was until he hurt you.”
“I also hurt him, Dad. The whole family did by not accepting us.” I turn and look at him. “But we have mended our differences, and I hope you all accept he is here to stay.”
“Here to stay as in playing basketball or—”
“With me.”
He rubs along his jaw and looks down at the ground. “My priority was always your happiness.”
“I know.”
“And this is what you want?”
“It is.”
He steps closer, his face serious. “He hurt my little girl, and for years, I watched you suffer. I just can’t forgive him on a whim.
” His eyes search my face, and now, I see through my father’s eyes how hard it must have been for my family to watch me spiral.
Hiding behind the frantic office of work, barely giving myself any self-love, he has a right to be protective.
I slowly nod. “He also suffered, Dad. He was ostracized and felt lost. No one knows what he went through.”
“I see.”
“And you’re friends?”
“No. We’re more. Have been for over a month. And I couldn’t be happier.” Only now do I see the family has gathered to listen to my confession.
Byron moves to my other side. “I trust you know what you’re doing?”
I nod at him. “I do. It’s my choice, and now I need you all to accept him back into the family. I want him to come to our next family dinner.”
“It’s only been a month,” Byron growls out. “It hardly makes him family.”
“No? He was part of this family for years, so it’s not new. I choose him, and none of you have a say in who I get to love.”
Byron mumbles under his breath.
“While I respect your opinion, it’s up to you to mend whatever is holding you two back from friendship. Originally, I was to blame, but now I’m fixing it.”
Byron shakes his head. “Coming here… I don’t know if I can trust him again.”
“You can. Accept it, Byron. I’m not backing down on this.”
“I can vouch for him,” Zara pipes up, and my family turns to look at her. “He loves Lottie…” She pauses. “No! Is completely in love with her and would do anything to win her back.”
“I agree,” Penny says and leans her head on Franklin’s shoulder. “I trust him.”
I smile at my sisters-in-law.
“Well, I believe he is here to do the right thing by this family.” She looks at her husband with gentle eyes and places a hand on his shoulder. “This feels right.”
I let out a long breath. My girls have my back. And if anyone can convince Byron, it’s Giana. Thankfully, she got to know Byron before the shit hit the fan.
“I believe now is the right time to announce that I have already reached out to Brandon, and he is coming to the gala.”
I gasp at my mother. “What?”
She smiles at me. “Our table is now complete.”
For the past two years, I took over the preparations from my mother, but this year, she wants to take back the reins. She misses it, loves the control, and I am overwhelmed with the business of the basketball team. For most things, she still ran some things past me, but I had no knowledge of this.
Lola appears with the entrée, and my brothers grumble about the gala before sitting at the outdoor table.
“Thank you, Lola,” Mom says before coming to me. “Are you angry?”
I smile at my mother. She cannot help but interfere, but she does it in the way of helping her children—her adult children. “No. How can I be when you have accepted BJ back into our lives?”
She beams a smile at me. “A mother notices when her daughter’s happy. My old Charlotte is back, radiant and beautiful.” She pulls me in for a hug.
“We promised not to keep secrets,” I murmur. “And now he has kept this from me.”
“I also made him promise as I wanted to surprise you.”
“I think you surprised the entire family.”
She laughs under her breath. “That always gives me a thrill.”