“Hi dear, I’m Kelvin. I can understand why my son lost his sanity for a second. Courtland, she’s beautiful,” he said, addressing Courtland who had the littlest kid in his arms now while the others huddled around him.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please, just Kelvin. I heard we’re family now. Congratulations, dear. How far along are y’all?”
I looked at Cortland who only shrugged. Of course he’d told his family.
“Thank you. We’re twelve weeks.”
“Wait, you’re having a baby?” Liv practically screamed, gaining Lando’s eyes.
“Yes. Things moved fast with us.”
“Girl, I was the same way with my husband.”
“When love is real, it grows,” Kelvin said, making me smile.
“I don’t know what you did to my son, but we all welcome the change,” he said as he grabbed me into a quick hug.
“It was him who changed me,” I said, looking over at Courtland as he tossed me a wink that had my cheeks warming.
“And this is Talia, the youngest pirate,” he said as he tickled the baby girl in his arms.
“I not the youngest, Unc Tuk, Baby Huey is.” She pointed to her mother’s belly, further stating her case, which had me smirking.
“My fault, the youngest baby girl. Is that better, Talia?”
She nodded.
“Next we have Neela, Cece, and the little big brother JoJo.”
“You’re really pretty.” A tiny voice came from below and had me looking down to see another cutie clinging to his leg. I bent to talk to her directly.
“Thank you, pretty girl. I must say, you girls have the cutest dresses on. And JoJo, I can see where your uncle gets his fly style from. I like your tennis shoes.”
“Thank you, my dad bought them for me.”
“My mommy said that you’re a queen. Is that true?” Neela asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Can we be one too?” Cece asked.
“Of course. But first, I have to teach you the most important thing about becoming a queen, the wave.” I leaned back on the heels and straightened my pose enough to do the signature move with my hand. I smiled once I noticed the girls doing their best to mimic my movements.
“Oh yeah, I knew you were naturals. All you girls need are crowns.”
“Unc Tuk, down please. I wanna try,” Talia said with Courtland putting her down next to her sister now waving the same.
“For you, JoJo, kings do a different type of wave. You go like this,” I said, not wanting him to feel left out.
“Perfect! I feel like you are officially ready to be crowned.” Hopping into gear, Courtland went to get their gifts. I got them crowns and other pirate stuff, eye patches and all. It had been a long season without seeing my kids at the center, so I went all out for his nieces and nephews, even getting Liv a baby gift.
After he passed out their bags, he helped me up. Their little oohs and ahhs rang out in unison.
“Oh girl, you won them over for real. Thank you,” Liv said as Courtland hugged me from behind.
“See, baby, I told you.” He kissed my cheek before releasing me, with Liv taking me by the hand and leading me to the lounge chairs.
