His eyes rest on me briefly, but I can’t tell if there is any lingering animosity there or not.
Pulling out a chair, he sits right next to Easy. For the first time, I noticed that he’s ceded the head of the table to Pa-Pete. Not sure if this is for their position as the former leaders of the Southern Syndicate, which they allowed him to take over when none of their own sons showed interest in the life their parents led before other opportunities opened up.
“Let’s say the blessing.” Pa-Pete says, eyeing the glazed ham with eagerness.
“Ah, we have one more.” Angel says just as shadow fall, over the doorway. My back is to the entrance, but the apprehension I see on Easy’s face tells me everything I need to know.
Still, my tummy lurches when the chair beside me slides out and the body that just had me pressed up against the wood grain wall of The Shack By The Track.
“Well, alright,” Pa-Pete says, looking at Snake and me like he can’t wait to see the fireworks that are about to explode.
Closing my eyes, I say my own silent little prayer not to throw a fit in these good people’s home.
Dinner, which turns out to be in honor of Lourdes getting her top match, goes by faster than I anticipate.
The table is filled with conversation about Lourdes’ plans to work in the community that gave her so much and her desire to open a free clinic for those underserved in the community regardless of their status.
“Healthcare is a right.” She says with passion, like it’s a point she’s had to argue.
“Calm down, killer,” Angel smiles at her with pride. “Ain’t nobody here gone disagree with you.”
“Yeah, we don’t want you catching a case and you having to explain how you went from “first do no harm” to cuttin’em up,” Mama-Pete chuckles as she slices a dulce de leche cake handing Lourdes the first piece then Pa-Pete.
“I’m going to go walk some of this food off.” Pa-Pete says with a meaningful look to Angel and Snake after we finish the rich dessert.
Soon, the men leave. Fooling no one, which is apparent when Mama-Pete rises, saying. “I already done told him he needs to knock some heads together. Y’all young ladies already know what Imma say —”
“Don’t let nobody mistreat you.” Easy pipes up.
“Yeah, and when you’re wrong, own it and move on. If the Lord don’t require nothing but for you to do once with a sincere heart, then no man needs to be asking for more than that. I’m going to take a nap.” She waits, letting us all thank and hug her.
Judah choses then to pass gas and more, making us all burst out in laughter.
“Y’all come with me so I can change him and put him down. Saban, wait till you see his room.” Leading the way through the hacienda-themed home with some southern touches here and there, we follow her up the wide staircase that leads to the second level.
“Who designed this place?” It’s not lost on me that it’s very similar to Snake’s mansion. Whoever designed this house also did Snakes.
“Lucien Carrington did the blueprints. They blindfolded him whenever he came out here to inspect the site. Why you ask?” Easy asks, curiosity filling her gaze, pulling a dozing Judah from her breast and handing him to Lourdes like this is the routine. “You thinking of having Snake build you a house?” Easy asks.
“Too late. He already has a house. It looks a lot like this.” I supply to Ezekiel-Jane’s surprise.
“Actually, this one looks like his. Snake had his built first. When Angel saw it, he was inspired. He wanted to build something to honor our mom and create a safe place for me, like Snake did for you.” Lourdes hands Easy the journal then takes a dozing Judah over to the rocking chair.
“What?” Stunned, I look at my nodding friend as she pats her nephew’s back.
“Wait, Snake built a house for Saban?” Ezekiel-Jane asks just as Judah lets a loud burp rip then tucks his head deeper into Lourdes neck.
“Don’t hold him the whole time.” Easy admonishes. “And explain.”
“I did, Saban, come hold him because he’s gone be knocked out for a good three hours, and you may not be here when he wakes up.”
Getting up, I switch places with her, letting her show me how to hold him properly. No sooner than I get him in position is he nuzzling me. He’s such a thick little baby, not to mention long. He has all his father’s features. Only his skin tone is more of a mocha, closer to his mom’s deep brown. Nuzzling my face in his thick curls, I breathe in his unique baby scent. Never have I ever thought about having kids — with what I went through and all that I’ve seen. But I’d be lying if I said holding Judah Love Cruz doesn’t cause thoughts to stir I’ve never considered before. No sooner than I muse about Hadrián’s eyes and my skin tone does Easy’s question cuts into my thought, asking for more clarification.
“What do you mean, Snake built his house first? For Saban?” I meet her question with a surprise stare of my own. “If that’s true, then why did we live in the cottage all that time?”
Lourdes shrugs. “He thought y’all coming and going would be noticed by Rudy’s crew. He didn’t want to risk it. Angel said Snake didn’t want to tether you to the place by not allowing you to come and go as you wished either. As you know, they don’t want anyone outside of their sacred little circle to know where we live.”
“I’m sure if everything hadn’t happened like it did, he would have brought you there.” Absorbing this new revelation, I sigh, searching both their faces. “Earlier I was with Crimson and Clover over at the St. Agustus. They said we had it all wrong, Easy. They said Angel, Snake and them were not the traffickers of the one’s who assaulted those girls—” cutting out when I see Easy’s nod I just look from my best friend in the world since I was nine to my newest one — who I had to leave her husband while she was pregnant.
