Page 234 of The Ninth

“Cassandra Leigh Woodson. How can I tell you in front of all of these people that you make me weak to my core? That without you, I’m only half of a man? You give me, and have always given me, purpose, drive, and ambition. Every decision I make. Every word that leaves my mouth. In all my actions...I always think about how this will affect Cassandra. Yeah it would be easy for me to do this, but how can I make it easier for Cassandra? You’ve called me a star of a man for the past few months as we’ve planned this day while you’re carrying my beautiful children. If I’m a star, then I’m just a star in your universe. I light up for you and you only. I promised you my life. That means that no pain, no task, no burden will ever be too much when it comes to you. I could never lose in this life because having you is the prize of a lifetime. I will take my last breath, still cherishing the beautiful woman in front of me. I promised your father I would take care of you. It’s a promise I will never break. I love you, Cassandra. Papa will always love you.”

I fought back the tears as Kenzo and Casey giddily opened the front door. The first pretty little face I saw was Demi’s. And of course, she and her girl matched.

She had on red rimmed glasses; her curls pulled into a puff at the top of her head and deep dimples in her cheeks. The dimples were the only thing about her that differentiated from Devyn. They had the same everything else. Even though Casey was five and she four, Demi still was taller. Casey doesn’t even know she’s about to stop growing like I did.

Because of complications, Casey and K4 will be my last. Demi was the second daughter I always yearned for.

“Hi Casey!” Demi’s cute little voice shrilled through the foyer.

Duke walked in smiling down at his pretty baby as a very pregnant Devyn came behind him. K3 started to make a joke but one look made him step backwards. I chuckled.

“Hi Dem! You look so pretty!”

“Thank you, so do you!” They embraced tightly. “My deddy got me a coloring book, so I asked if we could get you one. Do you wanna go play?”

“YES!”

“Dem, go say hi to everyone first!” Devyn said, rubbing her cheek.

She immediately looked over at me, running quickly into my arms. My heart melted smelling her little vanilla perfume I got her just a few weeks ago. A smile broke my face as her small hand rubbed my back.

“I love you, TT!”

“I love you more, baby!”

She ran around saying hi to everyone else including TayTay and her grandfathers, K2 and Uncle De’von. I walked to Devyn very cautiously, running my hands up and down her arms. Giggles left me as she rolled her eyes, giving in and hugging me tightly. This baby is whooping my baby’s ass, on my deddy!

“How many weeks are you now, Devy?” we began making our way to the kitchen where the ladies were.

“I’m about to turn thirty-six weeks. This boy is going to be the death of me, Cassie. Can’t believe I did a four year age gap!”

“Yeah but you’ve had so much fun!”

“I have...” she smiled to herself. “He’s already asked for a third one.”

“Call the police, bitch.”

She laughed as we entered the room.

Duke knocked my sistas birth control out of place just some months after Casey and K4 were born. Dev finally left the apartment after her taste of freedom, moving in with her man. Duke proposed by setting up a surprise exhibit for her. A lot of her past clients agreed to come stand on display, showing off the tattoos she did. She blubbered crying the entire night. It ended with him getting on one knee, asking her to be his wife. They had a very beautiful wedding with the family in DR and did a courthouse wedding here in Chicago.

Now they’ve just been traveling the world, drawing and painting everywhere. Sometimes they took Demi. Other times Casey begged them to leave Demi with us. We never cared.

Aunt Toni had both Demi and Casey sitting on the counter. Demi was showing her a picture she drew for her as well as for Mama J. Both Aunt Toni and Casey loved it.

“Wowwww, Dems! Thank you so much, you’re such a beautiful drawer! I can’t wait until you and Casey both get older and make me a BIG painting for my wall!”

The girls started yapping excitedly about the painting. Each interaction Aunt Toni and Uncle De’von had with the girls, Devyn got extremely emotional. She was more than grateful to see their growth and them treat our children beautifully. But I could tell she wished it was her every single time. I gave her wrist a light squeeze, winking at her once she met my eyes.

“Who’s heavy handed ass spiked the egg nog?!” Tati yelled. Mama J cackled as her and Kelisha danced around the stove making our Christmas Eve tradition, breakfast for dinner. “All I did was dip my tongue and now I can’t feel my face!”

“I’m leaning to the side!” Piper giggled.

“I told Kelisha it was way too much! How we gonna meet with Santa when he comes?!” Mama J shook her head.

Kelisha popped her lips, “We gotta be drunk as hell to see his ass, G! We ain’t gon see him sober!”

All of us including Aunt Toni started cracking up laughing. She sent the girls off so the three of them could continue their “grown up” conversations. Ever since Grandmother passed, Aunt Toni has been doing a lot for herself. She’s in a running club, a Black book club, and she comes up here every so often to meet with Kelisha and Mama J. They made it a tradition to stop by the salon and get their hair and make-up done. Kenzo lost his mind when they were here and he caught his mama on a pole!