“Young…”
“Fuck you, Amell. Fuck you, man.” He started pacing back and forth.
Slowly I stood and walked in front of him. “You wanna know who my father is?” He stopped pacing. “My father is you. I don’t know that nigga who nuts I came out of. All I know is you. Only you. When no one else believed in me, you did. I’m who I am because of you. Why take that from me?” Tears freely fell from his eyes as he pounded his fist against his chest.
“Six pounds and eight ounces.” I chuckled at the memory. “Mother brought you home in that big ass car set. Cassian kept poking at you. Calling you a rat.” He refused to look at me. “The first night home you cried and cried, no one got any sleep. The second night came, and I picked you up. Eyes opened wide looking in my face. You were the first person to look at me like they loved me, Young.
“I never had to beg to take care of you at night. Our parents trusted that I could handle a newborn and I did.” For a while he fought against me but once he relented, I pulled him into my chest and hugged him with all my might. “I love you, Atlas. You’ve been that light to lead me on many of my dark days.” That day would forever change my life.
“Brush your teeth before you hold my sister. Don’t nobody wanna be held with stank breath in their face.” Cashton knew he was his father’s child. He and AJ were playing video games while we sat back and watched.
“Facts, bro.” AJ held out his fist. “Daddy always coming in my room with his top lip stankin’. Either it smells like garbage or booty.”
Everyone became quiet with all eyes on Atlas who sat there mugging the hell out of his son. A second later we all laughed. “Boe, you wrong as hell. That’s some foul shit. How you gon’ wake the kids up with puss…I mean Keatyn your lips.” Cassian was going to have a field day picking on Young.
Out the corner of my eye I spotted the blonde highlights and hand waving. It was Keatyn trying to get my attention. Knowing Tai wasn’t going to let me go, I stood with her wrapped in my arms walking over to where her aunt stood.
“Everything good?” I searched her face for any signs of disappointment. My heart became ridged waiting on edge for her confirmation.
“Yeah. She’s waiting for you in the room.” Keatyn and I haven’t had a real conversation since I been back. There were so many things I wanted to ask and thank her for. I expected to receive some form of hostility towards me, but she hadn’t.
We stood outside the bedroom Krishna was in. “Were you there?” I asked, hoping to get some kind of insight as to what went on that day.
“Yes.” She glanced down, closing her eyes. “She called me, and I helped her. Never told a soul. Not even my husband or Noelani. It was her grief to deal with alone.”
“How far along was she?” I shifted Tai in my arms.
“Four and a half months.” Her words were bricks to my chest, she had to take Tai from me. “I’m glad you gave her the safe space to mourn and grieve. It was hard on her. Everyone has their opinions and feels a way about her leaving, but I encouraged it. She needed to heal for her. Mitch died, you were sentenced to life in prison, and she lost her baby. Then Clover. She’s been through a lot.” She gave me a gentle squeeze before opening the bedroom door. “You’re healthy, Krishna.”
One of the first things Krishna did once we got back was get checked out and make sure that we could have another baby. The way I made love to her these last few months when we were back at the center, I’m positive one of my seeds made a home landing.
“Thank you, Keatyn. I feel fine, just wanted to hear you say it.” She stood and hugged her as much as Tai allowed.
“Come, time for our walk.” I held my arm out for Krishna. We continued to practice the same techniques Andrea started with us. More than anything we wanted to build on the foundation we had so that if ever faced with another moment of adversity we knew how to handle it.
“Do you want to stay here or move somewhere else?” “You wanna move?” Those beautiful brown eyes peeked up at me behind her long lashes.
“I want to do whatever makes you happy.” As much as I loved living on my compound and grateful that Chief Chatterjee gave it to me, Krishna and I were married. Which meant a whole lot of compromising, and if she wanted to start over away from everyone, I’d take her wherever she wanted to go.
“I thought about it a time or two. Where would we go? Your family is here, and you have an arsenal of nieces that will jump me if I take you away.” She laughed, speaking the truth. Ari would be the first one coming for Krishna if we moved.
“My family is your family too, you know, that right?” I stopped along the path behind my house leading to my indoor pool.
“Yes,” she rolled her eyes. Noelani and Krishna had a long way to go. A long way but I didn’t want her to feel like she didn’t belong because outside of that issue, everyone else adored her. “Let’s stay here and build our lives.”
“What are you doing tonight at six?” A mischievous smile curled on her lips. “Hopefully some grown up things with you.” I shook my head smiling. “Be ready at six and wear something you know I’ll like.” “Are we…are we going on a date?” Her bunched brows were so cute.
“Yes.” I pecked her lips that were open in a wide ‘O’. The girl could be so dramatic sometimes. “We’re not hiding anymore. It’s not a secret that I don’t like being in public places with lots of people, but I have to compromise because you do.”
Before I could brace myself she leaped in my arms, legs locking around my waist. “Oouu, we get to be grown, grown tonight.”
Krishna
Black is the signature color he wears when he’s about to send someone to their maker. Tonight, I wore the color with the hopeful intentions that he’d murder my kitty. The black satin fitted dress with bra like spaghetti straps and breast cups stopped right at my knees. Five-inch black feather heels with his favorite polish on my toes, white. I brought out the big guns and crimped my hair. Letting it hang loosely over my shoulders and down my back. Can’t forget the Dolce perfume.
At six pm on the dot I went downstairs and there he was. My king dressed in the same color. Why would I expect anything less?
I appreciated the four or so buttons he kept unbutton with a tease of his chest hairs flexing. To see Amell in a suit, an expensive tailored suit that stretched to the comfort of his muscles. Dear God, open my cervix so I can give this man all the babies floating in his nuts.
“Gazelle, you’re beautiful, baby.” He greeted me with that deep timber and a kiss to my cheek. He called me beautiful but Amell Kalmin was magical. A unique specimen that I had all to myself.
I watched him lock up the house. Paid close attention to his suit jacket stretching with his every move. To the swag in his walk to the thug dip in his hip. Uber eats delivered and I wouldn’t mind staying the night in doing things lovers do.
On the drive to Ingrid’s Steakhouse down by South Beach, I clung to him. I wanted to be in his skin. He drove one of his large SUVs with me hanging over the middle console trying to get as close to him as I could. The hostess greeted us with a smile and took us to the back area with black curtains separating us from the rest of the patrons.