“Right along with Remi and everyone else I know. They hate me, but it’s hard not to love them.” Giselle snickered.
“I doubt anybody really hates you, Giselle. Disappointed, absolutely, but you can’t let that get to you. You still have to be their mama. Now, let’s go load some of that stuff from the car into this house. Chile, it looks like you packed your entire life in that thing,” Petal kidded.
Giselle walked toward her and the woman threw her arm over her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. It was the only warm welcome Giselle had received.
“I basically did. We got a little furniture coming tomorrow, though.”
“Well, let’s get things inside. I think it’s supposed to rain here soon, and I want to make sure you all are settled in for the night. I’ll have Horace light a fire before we go.”
TEN
YOU REMIND ME
Later that day…
“The hell y’all doing here?” Heavy exhaled weed smoke from the front porch of Giselle’s house.
Crew pulled up with Oz and Solo in his car, while Maisie, Lou, and Gem all rolled up behind them in Remi’s pick-up truck. Furniture and other boxes were stacked on the back as the group piled out of the vehicles, everybody carrying something.
“Remi recruited us. Since she fed us and shit, we couldn’t exactly say no,” Oz voiced, turning his fitted hat backward on his head. “What you doing here?”
“Checking on the house for my baby mama,” Heavy answered.
With a glare, he took another pull from the blunt. Maisie choked on the blunt she and the girls were smoking, and Crew spit out the water he was guzzling.
“I’m sorry, what!” Lou screamed.
“Giselle!” Maisie hollered.
“Damn, Mais, you are the bull horn, ain’t you?” Giselle rushed out onto the porch in time to find everyone coming up the sidewalk. “What is wrong with you?”
“Me? When were you going to mention that Heavy, and not that fuck nigga husband of yours is the twin’s daddy?” Maisie demanded.
“After I told him.” Giselle rested her hands on her hip. “What are y’all doing here?”
“Nah, nah, nah.” Crew waved a hand. “Fuck all that. How and when this shit happen? And how come we didn’t know about it?”
“Ain’t like she told me either.” Heavy pinched the blunt tighter between his fingers and brought it to his lips.
Giselle cut a sharp glare in his direction before her attention swung back to her people, who were all awaiting answers.
“Oh, shit, it happened that night, didn’t it?” Maisie did the math, and her eyes bucked. “The night you got stuck at the shop, and the power went out.”
“Nigga had to keep warm somehow,” Solo muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm as he huffed and puffed, carrying a large box up the steps labeledkitchen. “Where you want this, shorty?”
“Um, straight through to the kitchen.” Giselle pointed over her shoulder.
“Maisie, see, that’s why I didn’t tell you then. You always making something out of nothing.” Giselle sucked her teeth.
“Shit, sounds like you two muhfuckas made something,” Crew accused. “Twice.”
With an eyeroll, Giselle turned to go back inside. Petal helped her unpack what was going to be the kids’ room. She wanted to get them situated first before she figured out her sleeping arrangements for the night. The two of them had their little sleeping bags, and she planned to make it like an adventure for them. Within a couple of hours, she managed to get stuff put away in the kitchen and bathrooms. It wasn’t a mansion, but itwas home. Heir and Harlee couldn’t stop running and chasing each other from room to room. Remi thought of everything, including more food to feed everyone. The sun had gone down, and most of the men hung out on the porch while Maisie poured wine for the women inside, and the twins played on the floor in the living room with toys.
“They are so damn cute, G. I can’t stand it.” Lou grinned and tipped her glass to her lips.
Giselle and Maisie sat side by side on the windowsill, with Lou holding up the wall beside her sister, and Gem on the floor seated Indian style, watching the twins play. Petal strolled out from the kitchen with her leather purse draped over one shoulder.
“Chile, I am beat. Going home to soak these old dogs and call it a night. You call me if you need anything, Giselle. I already told you if something is wrong with the house, just let your baby daddy know.” Petal winked, and Maisie and Lou snickered.
