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“Not before bowing those nappy heads of yours.”
Stretched arms transformed the gaps into passageways to the next set of fingers as we all bowed our heads.
“Aeir,” Pops called out.
“Dear God,” she began immediately, her voice like soft wool against the skin. “Thank You for this day. Thank You for your grace and mercy. Thank You for Your protection. Thank You for keeping us all safe. Thank You for giving us all another day. Thank You for the food and the hands that prepared it. Your blessings are far beyond our imagination and we can’t tell You how much we love You for deeming us worthy of them. We need you. Stay close. Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
Maz bounced in my arms, ready to nibble on whatever was passed his way. As I stood to my feet, ready to go grab a plate, the doorbell sounded.
“I got it!” Makai yelled.
Because he was the closest and we all knew that he’d most likely invited one of the many from his lineup, we let him handle it. I grabbed a plate and followed the line into the area where the food was laid out, ready for consumption. I watched as Aeir and Malachi avoided the meaty goods and settled for extra helpings of the side dishes. They were strict vegetarians and refused meat of any kind. Mercer respected their choices, making their greens separate from everyone else's, which had turkey parts inside.
“What are you having?” Aeir asked. “Or how about I put my plate down and grab him?”
“Nah. It’s fine. Load me up. Put everything on my shit. I got him.”
I held my plate in her direction as she filled it with a little of everything on the table. The extra-large paper plates were almost too small for the spread but Aeir worked her magic and managed to fit it all on top somehow.
“Appreciate it.”
“Of course. If he gets on your nerves, I’ll get him.”
“I got him. Getting my practice in.”
“Yeah?” She smiled. “Admittedly, you look nice with a baby in your arms.”
“I can’t wait to hold Mason in mine.”
“Me either.”
My intensity of the waves the voice behind me caused left my heart in shambles. I stiffened, momentarily, hoping my balance wasn’t thrown off and Maz didn’t fall from my arms as a result. My body’s equilibrium was fucked. I knew that for a fact. With a shake of the head, I turned to find Nature standing behind me, wiggling her fingers.
“Can I hold him?” she asked. “So you can fix me a plate?”
Her hair was pushed back off her face into a messy bun. Her face was free of makeup, again. She wore a white button-down that stopped right at her knees. On her feet, she wore platformed Gucci slides that were brown and beige. Gold hoops dangled from her ears.
The Rolex watch I’d purchased her glistened on her wrist. Though she aimed for simplicity, she was glowing. My heart was heavy, but not with sadness or grief. Instantly, it was filled to capacity with joy and love and happiness and all the other things that Nature brought me.
“Hi,” I greeted her.
“Hi.”
“You lied to me.”
“I had a change of mind.”
Inside and out, I smiled. This woman would be the death of me and I’d die happily.
“You’re determined to drive me crazy, Dr. Dupree.”
