“That makes me nervous. Do you think everything is all right?”
“I’m sure it is. If it isn’t, he’ll let us know. You get the kids on the plane, I’ll see what this is all about,” I say before pecking her lips and climbing out to go greet our little friend.
When I get out of the SUV, I find Sammy standing there expectantly with his backpack on his back and a duffel bag in one hand and his phone in the other.
Felix, John, and Noah are already making their way to him as well. Maldonado closes the trunk and comes around the car with two more bags. I give him a look, and he shrugs.
“Hey, kid, what’s up?” I say.
“It is time I learn more computer skills. You, your wife, and Uncle Felix are among the best. Miss Sephora is heading back home to California as well.
“I will learn from the best. I will also need assistance with something else while I’m there. Uncle Wyatt, you will be able to help me achieve that goal. It’s my birthday request,” he says.
“Oh yeah, what did you decide you want?”
“I would like you to help me purchase a property. We will buy it through a trust for the deed to be transferred at a later date, but you will be my proxy for the time being, as I am only eleven.
“It will come from my own money, not yours. I just need your assistance in finding the right one and the purchase,” he says.
“Yo, he’s serious as fuck,” Ryan croons with amusement.
Ryan and Braxton have come over and they’re laughing their asses off. I look at the two and glare. They both shut the fuck up, but mirth still dances across their faces and in their eyes.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Oh, right. Your sarcasm. I will need to spend time with you and Uncle Braxton too. I would like to learn to joke more like you guys.
“Patrick will be funny and will enjoy taunting me. I want to be ready. I have a lot to learn from the Black family.”
With that, he turns and walks his little ass onto our plane. I stand there staring after him. My mind blown.
“LaSalle says if you don’t have enough seats for us, he will make arrangements for me and the kid to follow,” Maldonado says as he comes to my side.
“Wow,” I scoff and shake my head. “Nah, I’m not letting that kid out of my sight. We can fit two more.”
CHAPTER 19
Fulfilled Request
Tasha
“No,Carmen, he doesn’t have any allergies. It’s more a matter of preferences and sensory dislikes. He hates the texture of a lot of things or when his food touches.”
“Oh, I learned that already. I feel so bad. Jordan and Blake love jerk chicken with rice and peas and steamed vegetables and Ryan will tear anything up.
“I thought that would be safe. The way he looked at that food and told me all those things shouldn’t touch, with such disgust in his voice,” Carmen laughs.
“Oh, that’s rude. Let me talk to him.”
“No, no, it’s fine. Ryan understood what happened and made him a new plate and took Sammy’s for his own.”
“Wait a minute. How did he end up with you guys anyway? Maldonado texted LaSalle that Sammy said he was going to spend time with Wyatt.”
“I don’t know what happened. On the plane, Sammy got this look on his face and came to ask me and Ry if he could stay with Jordan and Blake since they’re his friends. I don’t mind. I just honestly wanted to call to make sure I understand all his needs, you know?”
“Yeah, thanks for that. You can call me anytime. No matter the hour. I’ll come to get him anytime he wants. Please tell him I said so. I’m trying so hard to give him space,” I say as my shoulders sag.
I was so surprised and disappointed to find out Sammy took off for California this morning with the Blacks. I had planned to have breakfast with him and then take him and his siblings to the skate park so he could use his new hoverboard.
“He’s in good hands. If we don’t know nothing else around here, we know how to take care of kids. We have enough of them.”
