Page 34 of Daddy’s Little Secret

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Or a day of shopping and entertaining others, perhaps?

“How many dolls do you two think he needs?” Sasha’s story broke my heart, and I felt for him, just as the boys did. Samian looked at him with hearts in his eyes, and I knew right then my baby brother had found his forever. Now I wondered if they’d join us up north or stay in the city.

My vote was for up north.

“Twenty,” Trey said at the same time Tae hollered, “A hundred.” Sasha stood nearby giggling. In the end, they each bought him two with their own money, while Samian bought him a few doll accessories. Chuck and I had already decided to build Sasha a special doll house.

“Let’s get going, Angel, we have a wedding to star in.”

“Yup, but it can’t happen without us there,” the little shit teased, but acquiesced. I was so proud of Trey and Tae for the way they’d opened their hearts to Sasha. Though we hardly knew him, I could tell he’d been hurt. And to see the way Samian was with him warmed me to the core.

Not only had Momma and Grandma done a good job raising Chuck and Trey, but I now knew I hadn’t done such a bad job myself. Sometimes, we just needed a bit of reassurance.

We loaded up in the trucks, Tae, Trey, and Sasha in the back seat of mine and Samian in the passenger seat, while Chuck had Mom and Grandma. Both had a couple of errands to run and came along with us.

The boys chatted all the way home. Beyond adorable, I loved how happy they were.

“What costume did you get?” Trey asked Sasha.

Sasha ducked his head and whispered, “A princess.”

“You’re gonna be the prettiest princess at the wedding,” Tae replied.

“I can’t wait to see it. We have to take lots of pictures in our costumes,” Trey added. The boys didn’t even blink an eye.

“What if someone makes fun of me?” Oh, this poor boy tugged at all our hearts.

“Then they’ll have a lot of angry Daddies to answer to,” I said. “That’s not nice, and we don’t like bullies.”

“See, Sasha, I told you everything would be alright. You just had to have faith in your Daddy.”

“Sorry, Daddy, just those who were supposed to love me only loved the version they wanted me to be.”

“They don’t sound nice at all,” Trey said. “You should move up here with us.”

Sasha perked up. “I’d like that, a lot.”

Samian side-eyed me, and I knew a private conversation between the two of us was coming. “Why don’t you boys get ready at Chuck and Tae’s with Momma and Grandma while the Daddies finish up a few things.”

“’Kay, Daddy. We can get your new dollies dressed up for the wedding, too,” Trey said. As soon as we got home, Sasha and Tae took Sasha’s stuff into Chuck’s place while Trey ran inside to gather all his costume makings. “Kisses, Daddy.” He puckered up.

“I love you, Angel.”

“And I love you, Daddy. Meet you in two hours in front of all our family.”

“That you will.” I watched him run off and into Chuck’s cabin. I was a lucky motherfucker.

“It looks good on you,” Samian said. For a moment, I’d forgotten he stood nearby.

“What does?”

“Being in love.”

“The same could be said for you, but I have a feeling we’re about to have a heavy conversation?”

He sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Can we go inside?”