“You haven’t always seen it.”
“Isohave.”
“You totally haven’t.”
“Gah!”
I tore my gaze from Kenneth, who was cuddling his and Lena’sbrand-new daughter, Michelle, to his chest while sitting tucked up next to Lenain her hospital bed, and as was not unusual, the world had melted away forKenneth.
The only people in it were him, his wife and his daughter.
“You think he’s touched.I think he’s got itgoin’ on.He only has space for what’s important to him,what’s interesting to him, what matters to him, and the rest fades away.It’sgenius,” Darius whispered.
I couldn’t argue.
I watched Mom try to get in there and get her hands onMichelle.
Kenneth ignored her, making googly eyes at his wife in turnwith doing the same to his daughter, so into it, Mom had no choice but to backaway.
“See?”Darius was still whispering.“Genius.”
I gave him the side-eye.
He grinned at me when he caught it, then dipped down andmurmured in my ear, “I want one of those.”
When he pulled away, I promised, “When the time comes, I’lldo my best.”
He smiled at me before he kissed me.
He kept his arm around me as we returned our attention tothe newly expanded family.
Lena rested her head on Kenneth’s shoulder and touched herdaughter’s cheek.
My cloud gave me a hug.
I sighed.
Not too long later…
We didn’t have near enough tickets foreverybody in Liam’s family.
Still, we managed to scrounge around and get Mom and Dad,Lena and Kenneth, Toni and Tony, Miss Dorothea, Gabby, Danni and GrandmomsBeverly in the stadium.
After Liam accepted his diploma and moved his tassel acrosshis mortarboard, his steps determined, like he was already walking into thebrilliant life he would lead, his honors stole flapping off to his sides, hisgaze came direct to me.
I waved, hopping in my seat, and blew kisses.
His big smile got bigger, spreading across his face.
Then he stopped dead and sharply dropped his head, before helooked up at his father.Only after he did that did he pound his fist to hisheart.
My throat closed.
Darius pounded his fist too.
Liam strode off.
I looked up to my man and I didn’t have time to deal withthe tears in my eyes.
