“I love my kid.I also talked to her about how to help himadjust to split custody.But he didn’t need it.He was so relieved we were outabout all our shit, he just settled in.”
“I noticed that,” I mumbled.
“Malia, our son is waiting for us.”
Our son.
He was our son.
And he could be, officially, on the record,our sonwith us beinghis parentsif I stopped hiding in the damned kitchen.
“You good?”Darius asked.
I nodded.
He unpinned me but took my hand.
He led me into the living room where Liam was sprawled inone of the black leather chairs.
In fact, he was sprawled in the one I tackled his fatherinto a few hours before.
Eek!
Work through it, girl!my mind screamed.
Liam started it.
“You don’t have to sit me down like I’m five and tell meMom’s spending the night.I think I got it earlier that you worked things out.”
Darius led me to the couch and hesitated.I looked up at himin confusion, and his gaze went from me to the couch to me.
Oh.
Right.
I sat.
He remained standing and faced his son.
I stilled and my heart stopped in my chest.
Because Mister Morris used to do that.
At an event or gathering, he’d lead Miss Dorothea to a seat,made sure she was comfortable, but he was a stander.
He stood.
Usually close to his wife’s side, sometimes so he’d be thereif she needed anything, because he’d send Darius or one of his sisters to gettheir mother and him something, but usually, it was Mister Morris who saw toMiss Dorothea.Sometimes it seemed just so he’d be close, but she’d becomfortable.
Oh God.
Darius spoke.
“You do understand that we both love you and it’s importantfor us to know you’re processing this appropriately.”
Man, he had thisdown.That Jules chick must besomething.
“No shade, Dad, but again, I’m not five,” Liam said, hismanner relaxed, his face untroubled, his lips slightly tipped up at the ends.“I know how you two feel about each other.It’s kinda hard to miss.So I guesshow I’m processing things is to say it’s about damned time.”He looked to me.“No offense with the cursing, Mom, but it’s warranted, don’t you think?”BeforeI could answer (that would be in the negative), he returned his attention tohis dad.“But you gotta talk Mom into moving here.Your place is where it’sat.”
