I glanced back at him to find him looking shocked at Kai openly showing me affection. Kai yanked me to his side, and I allowed it. “Where’s Mama?”
Ingram looked around, trying to locate her with his eyes. “She’s around here somewhere. You know how your mama likes to mingle, and sometimes when she gets to talking, you can never get her to shut up.”
Out of nowhere, a strong voice said, “I heard that, Ingram.”
She appeared from the lawn to the left, catching us all off guard. Kai’s mother was a beautiful, brown-skinned woman with hazel eyes. While their children had their father’s complexion, they had her eyes. It made me curious about my mahogany tree of a husband without hazel eyes, but I knew when he was ready, he would share. It wasn’t like the truth changed the love I could tell they all had for Kai.
She opened her arms to him. “My baby!” she squealed. “I missed you so much, Munchkin.”
Kai chuckled, allowing her to shower kisses on his cheek. “You sound like Pooh Bear now. I gotta make sure I’m coming to see my girls.”
She swatted his shoulder and nodded. “Yes, you do. I know you have a wife and all, but I’m still your mama. Sometimes, mamas just need to lay eyes on their babies to make sure they’re truly good.” She paused, then looked over at me, standing there,soaking in all the love. “But I can see why you’d be locked up in a house with this one.”
Kai groaned and smacked his face in embarrassment. “Mama...” he warned in a low voice.
She laughed, ditching him to come over to me. “Hey, baby. I’m Kai’s mother, Jacqueline, but you can call me Mama Que.”
I stepped into her warm embrace and nearly broke from how motherly it was. I hadn’t had a hug like that in so long. As if she knew I needed it, Mama Que clung to me even tighter. Leaning closer, she whispered in my ear, “Kai told me all about your parents. I am so sorry for your loss, sweet girl. Please know that I am always here for you.”
When she stepped away, I had tears in my eyes. I used the back of my hand to wipe them away and nodded. I didn’t realize how badly I needed that right now. Kai stood behind his mother, looking like he was ready to save me, but he allowed his mother to console me. I smiled at him because I wouldn’t have this support around me if it weren’t for him. When he’d said I could have his family, I didn’t realize how true that was. They welcomed me with open arms, making me feel like I belonged.
Kai’s mother stepped away to bicker with her husband. Kai walked over to me and asked, “Are you hungry?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I could eat.”
Kai led us over to the large spread of food. By the time we made it to the end, I had a plate of ribs, baked beans, mac and cheese, collard greens, a Roger Wood sausage, and a slice of bread. I carried our drinks while Kai carried our plates over to the picnic tables, where people were eating. Azani was already there digging into her plate.
Kai set down the plates, then pulled out a chair for me beside his sister. I sat down, and then he tucked me in. Someone walked up, greeting him. I placed his plate next to mine because I knew he was going to be filling the seat beside me. I joined Azani indigging into my food. One by one, all the Walker siblings joined us at the table, filling it up completely.
I loved how big and tight-knit Kai’s family was. All of them welcomed me with open arms because their brother had. I would never understand what made him ever stick his neck out for me. Only God knows where I would’ve been right now if he hadn’t. I gulped down my food, suddenly feeling less hungry when I thought about what it could’ve been.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t realized Kai was sitting beside me until I felt his warm breath tickling my ear. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Are you?”
He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it softly. Any worries I had disappeared entirely, and my appetite returned. He took my left hand and placed it on his thigh before he started to eat his food. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I went back to doing the same.
Once we finished our food, we stood to walk the block. Man Man had snuck off but returned with a bottle of tequila. The red Solo cups came out next as everyone, but Azani, poured up a drink. We made our way over to where a crowd was beginning to form in front of the deejay. He was going off mixing songs so effortlessly you couldn’t help but bob your head.
Kai stood behind me, holding onto my waist as I whined my hips. The liquor mixed with his fresh scent was creating a fire in my center. Thankfully, someone walked up on Kai diffusing it before I snatched this man somewhere private to put it out.
“Wassup, OG,” the guy greeted him with a high voice for a man. He was average, nothing worth remembering for real.
“What’s good, Scream?” Kai nonchalantly replied.
The man eyed me. “You boo’d up and shit now?”
“Married.”
The man’s eyes bulged. “Married? Yo, when the fuck did that happen?”
Kai remained silent, which made things a little awkward. Eventually, the guy Scream realized my husband wasn’t going to respond to him. He cleared his throat and swiped his nose. “Shit, well, congrats. I just saw you over here and wanted to speak. Y’all enjoy.”
When he walked off, Jah’s eyes followed him with a scowl. “I can’t stand that nigga. His voice is annoying as hell, and he gossips like a bitch.”
Man Man burst out laughing. “Facts, and I don’t know why the fuck he thought Kai was going to tell him his business. He knows that nigga don’t like talking for real.” He turned to us and smirked. “Unless it’s to his wife,” he teased.
Kai didn’t even deny it. He just went back to holding me and swaying to the music.
