Page 51 of Senior

“Give me your damn lips, Stanley.”

I grinned as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her lips to mine. Soft hands caressed the back of my head and she moaned into my mouth.

“Papa! Serena and Sydney are fighting!” Korri yelled, forcing us apart.

I shook my head and stepped back inside with her on my heels. Sure enough, those two were rolling around on the floor, fighting over the remote.

“Y’all better cut it out!” I yelled, snatching up one while Steph snatched up the other.

“Sydney won’t share!” Serena said. “It’s my turn to pick something.”

“I had it first!” Sydney retorted.

“I don’t care who had what, you don’t fight your sister,” I said firmly.

They both started crying until Steph snapped her fingers.

“Aht, aht!” she said, pointing at them. “What have I told you about crying when you don’t get your way?”

Those tears dried up quickly.

“Apologize.”

The girls looked at each other before opening their arms for hugs.

“Sorry, Sydney.”

“Sorry, Renny.”

They kissed each other on the cheek, then looked to us for approval.

Stephanie smiled. “Good girls. Give me some love.”

They ran into her arms and the other kids followed. I smiled as I watched them all shower her with hugs and kisses. She’d always loved my babies like they were her own. All of my kids’ mothers did, but it was different with Steph. She was the one who gathered Tavia and Allison together to work out a schedule for the kids when they were younger.

They had a whole system worked out to give each other breaks and it didn’t just stop with the kids we shared. Once Tavia and Allison got married and started having other children, it included those kids too. Kalia, Jaiden, Emelie, and Deja all loved their Auntie Steph. She just had this mothering spirit that extended to every child in her path.

The kids in her neighborhood came by to cut her grass or see if she needed anything after Aaron passed away. Sometimes when I went to check on her, they would be there just hanging out to keep her company. That’s just the good energy she brought. She was one of the most deserving people I knew.

“Y’all hungry?” I asked the kids.

They all answered like they were starving. I shook my head as I headed into the kitchen to make lunch. Since I knew I was going to have them all today, I’d prepped homemade burgers last night. I turned on the griddle and deep fryer so they could heat up. Once they were ready, I dropped the burgers and fries so they could do their thing.

By the time I got them going, Steph came into the kitchen to wash her hands.

“Need any help?” she asked.

“You could help me get their plates together,” I said, pulling out the paper plates.

She nodded as she dried her hands. While I put the buns on the plates, she grabbed the trimmings and condiments from the fridge. I didn’t have to tell her who liked what because she knew them as well as I did. I couldn’t help but stare at her as she moved around. She was still so fucking beautiful to me. It didn’t make any damn sense. I was about to bit my damn lip off looking at her.

“What are you staring at?” she asked with a light giggle.

“Just admiring the Lord’s work. There is much to be thankful for.”

She laughed out loud. “Wow. You are laying it on thick.”

“About as thick as that ass in these pants. Goddamn, Steph.”