Star stood and quickly gripped Swift's shoulder. Her body was almost between his legs as he steadied her by her waist. He gulped, then turned his head when she slowly took a few steps back.
"You sure you're okay to walk?"
"Yes." When her eyes fluttered, he knew she wasn't. "No, I guess not."
"No worries. I got you."
That was the second time Swift had said it, but both times he did, Starlah believed him. He'd leaped into action, taking care of Chevy as if he were his while training his own puppy, Papa. Starlah felt guilty she'd checked out on Chevy, but Swift never made her feel guilty.
"You ready?" It was a simple yet loaded question, but she nodded her head. "Slow and steady," he coached her, one hand holding hers while the other was on her lower back.
His mother stood on the other side of the door, peering through the glass. A soft grin appeared on her face when his father came behind her.
"Un-huh. I see you."
"What?" London smiled, turning and facing her husband.
"The door's not locked. Stop plotting."
"You mean like you did the day you made me go out with you?" He pecked her lips.
"Didn't have to make you, Mrs. Brighton. Remember, you managed to leave your ID in my hospital room. I think it was on purpose."
For years, London had never fessed up, but she learned a long time ago that the way to see if something was meant to be was to leave a breadcrumb.
"Maybe, but we're worried about Starlah, as we should be. What if the person we need to be worried about, though, is Swift?"
"He's grown, baby, and from what I can tell, he's doing just fine."
London hoped so, because no matter what she did, her son was strong-willed and protective, just like his father. Starlah would be in good hands if he chose to pursue her, and shechose him back. She'd learned that grief, even fear, had a way of making you take a leap when a glimpse of what life could look like flashed before your eyes.
"You think we should check on them?"
Cain shook his head. "No, let our boy handle it. Starlah's in shock, and to be honest, I didn't think he'd be this hands-on."
"It's in the air." She grinned and sniffed, the smell of the country evoking a sense of nostalgia. "You know I love Cedar Spike, but there's nothing like coming back home."
"Well, you'd better hope Swift doesn't dump our ass, because whether Starlah knows it or not, she has our boy's nose wide open. I think we'd better prepare for him to be out here longer than we anticipated."
"Am I wrong for being excited?" London asked. "It's such an awful time. Starlah's lost so much."
"She's also gained too. We're her family, Lo, too. Let her lean on us. If our boy needs us to help him while he helps her, he'll let us know."
She leaned back and grinned.
"What?" Cain asked with dipped brows.
"Are you trying to get rid of my baby?"
"Hell yeah. The nigga stays spoiling my wife." He flipped his hand up. "Let him find his own." They both tittered when Swift and Starlah eased outside. He was holding her, her skin pale.
"Ma, she wants to head to the gravesite before everyone gets there. Can y'all hold them off a little?"
London wasn't sure if that was a good idea, but she could tell that Starlah was barely holding on by a thread. She did, however, seem to want Swift around, as she tightly held his hand.
"Sure, baby. We can do that." She walked up and gently hugged Starlah. "One day at a time, baby, but know I'm praying. You need anything from us, we'll be here or back at the house."
"See y'all."
