Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 82060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
And yes, when Dorothea’s gaze raced to her son’s after her grandson’s announcement, a nanosecond later, her eyes filled with tears.
Darius pulled her in his arms and said over her head to his boy, “Smooth, son.”
Liam grinned unrepentantly. “Surprises are the best.”
“What’s going on?” Danni asked.
She was carrying two glasses of wine.
It looked like Gabby had a glass of Coke, which I frowned at. My son didn’t drink pop. There weren’t a lot of things I refused him, but a beverage that could break down a nail over time was one of them.
“I’m taking Dad’s name as soon as he gets it sorted to go before a judge,” Liam announced.
The real Gabby came out when she exclaimed, “Oh my God! That’s amazing, honey!” as she handed him the Coke and gave him another hug.
Danni didn’t even look at me when she passed off the glass of white wine, and I didn’t think it was just because she was all about Liam as she added, “Totally! That’s great.”
She definitely looked at Darius when she handed him his glass of red.
I actually preferred red, but she didn’t ask, and I didn’t say anything.
“Liam,” I said softly, dipping my head to his Coke.
He didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, Aunt Gabs. I don’t drink Coke.”
“It’s a special occasion,” she replied.
“Mom doesn’t like it. And I don’t really like it either.” He looked to his grandmother. “I’m sorry to waste, Grams.”
“That’s fine, love,” she said, sending a side eye to Gabby, telling me that Liam had told them this already, including the part that I didn’t like it. “I got you cranberry juice and some of those sports drinks you like. The blue ones. Your favorite.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled, then hustled to the kitchen.
“Okay, now, let’s sit,” Miss Dorothea said.
Darius led me to the couch, and I sat, but he didn’t. He stood at my side, arms crossed on his chest, eyes tracking every move his sisters made.
Oh boy.
He hadn’t missed the Coke thing either.
Dorothea sat on the opposite side of the couch to me.
I shrugged off the strap of my purse, placed it by my feet and settled in.
Because it was time to thaw the iced-over ramparts.
“So, Liam tells me you two designed Darius’s house. It’s gorgeous,” I said to his sisters who were sitting opposite us in armchairs.
“It’s not like he gave us free reign. He picked everything. We just gave him choices. He’s got good taste. A real eye,” Danni replied.
“Well, of course. Obviously, he’d have the final decision,” I muttered. I drew in a breath and glanced at the doilies before saying to Dorothea. “You know, all through the years, every time I saw a pretty doily, I thought of you.”
“Too bad her thinking of Mom didn’t get her ass with her kid over to Mom’s house,” Danni said to Gabby in a loud whisper just as Liam came in with a bottle of Gatorade in his hand.
Gabby pulled an oh shit face.
Dorothea’s head jerked Danni’s way.
Liam’s brows shot together, so I knew he heard.
But I had other things to worry about.
Principal of which being the burning wall of fury that moved through the room from my left.
Everyone felt it, including Danni and Gabby, who looked right to their brother.
Gabby had the good sense to quail.
Danni lifted her chin.
Darius’s voice was deceptively quiet when he asked, “Is my woman’s business your business?”
“He’s our nephew and Mom’s grandchild,” Danni snapped. “And we didn’t meet him until he was eight, and even then, barely saw him at all.”
“I’ll repeat,” Darius said slowly. “Is my woman’s business your business?”
“It’s family business,” Danni retorted. “And I’m sorry. I’m not down with this whole pretending everything is okay crap. We can’t sit on this. We need to have it out.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin’ about,” Darius clipped.
“I know she took your money and kept her son from his family,” Danni returned then looked at me and commented snidely, “Nice dress, Malia.”
“Eyes to me,” Darius ordered.
Danni sneered at me.
“Eyes to me!” Darius roared.
Danni jumped.
Oh boy!
I stood and turned into him, putting a hand light on his stomach. “Darius, let’s talk outside, baby. Okay?”
He didn’t take his attention from his sister.
And so, when he spoke, it was right to her. “You have the fuckin’ balls to sit there wearin’ the dress that the money I made off my back and sellin’ my soul got you the education and set you up in the business you can buy it, and you talk shit to my woman about the money I gave her to keep her in a good house and nice clothes while she’s raising my son?”
“Darius—” she tried.
“No, girl,” he bit. “You started this, answer me. You got those big a’ balls?”
Danni squared her shoulders but said nothing.
“I’d like to hear the answer to that question too,” Dorothea chimed in. It was quiet, but it was firm.