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I got up early, taking extra time on my hair and makeup, and then helped my mom peel and boil potatoes for the potato salad. After that, we made deviled eggs, and I ran to the grocery store for chips, soda, disposable plates and silverware, and of course, the cake with the puppy’s face printed on top.
As we were putting food into dishes, Grandma sat at the kitchen island and said, “Is your male friend coming today, Hen?”
All eyes swiveled on me, making me very aware that I hadn’t told my parents Tyler was coming over.
Dad’s hands stalled over the piping bag he used to fill the deviled eggs. “Male friend?”
Despite the heat in my cheeks, I kept my voice even. “He’s acolleaguewho rescued me from that horrible date last Friday. Grandma insisted I invite him.”
With a cunning smile, she said, “You know how I love a good Prince Charming, Murph.”
Before Dad could reply, the doorbell rang.
“Saved by the bell,” I muttered, wiping my hands on a rag to go and answer it.
As soon as I opened the door, my brother Bertrand and his fiancée, Imani, came inside, carrying ridiculous amounts of presents for a birthday Kenner probably wouldn’t remember. Mom immediately put Bertrand to work on the potato salad, and I stepped outside to help my other brother Justus, who had just pulled up.
He and Raven had driven a slick red convertible he no doubt borrowed from the car dealership where he worked. Driving new cars, even with the giant stickers on the front, was just a perk of the job.
He popped the trunk and walked to Raven’s side of the car. She was eight months pregnant and no doubt needed some help up from her seat. I went to the trunk, grabbing a big wrapped box. “How are you two doing?”
Raven groaned. “If this baby doesn’t get here soon, I might lose my mind.”
Over the present, I caught sight of her wearing Crocs. “I thought you hated those shoes! You must be hurting bad to have those on.”
“You have no idea,” she grunted, making her way toward the house with her hands supporting her back.
Justus took the gift from me and followed her to the door. As he passed me, he whispered, “These hormones are killing me, sis.”
“Seems like a fair trade—she carries your baby, and you deal with a few mood swings and cravings.”
He stuck his tongue out at me, and I patted his back as I walked toward the house, a minivan pulling up.
My oldest brother, Johmarcus, was there with his wife, Laila. They got out of the car, grabbing the kids. She held their nine-month-old, A’yisha, and Kenner bounced up and down with a balloon.
“Look what I got!” Kenner said, waving his arm around to show the string tied around his wrist.
“I love that balloon! And it’s red! Your favorite color!”
His smile couldn’t have been any bigger as he jumped into my arms for a hug. He wrapped his little arms around my neck, and I squeezed him back, saying, “Happy birthday, four-year-old!”
He let me go before running into the house as Laila futilely asked him to tell me thank you.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, reaching for the baby. That’s what we did when they came. I took the kids and gave them a break, and by the way their shoulders instantly relaxed, I knew they needed it. I’d do the same for Justus and Raven when their baby came.
Laila and Johmarcus passed me, going into the house while I slowly trailed after them, holding my niece. A’yisha was only nine months old, but she had the most beautiful dark curls and these big black eyes that constantly sparkled. This had to be my favorite age.
“Hi, baby!” I said to her, smiling wide.
“I usually go by Tyler, but baby will do.”
My eyes widened as I looked away from my niece to see the most handsome guy ever walking up the sidewalk. I hadn’t heard his truck in all the chaos, but there he was in dark wash jeans, cowboy boots, and a plaid shirt tucked in, showing off his narrow hips and broad shoulders. The bag in his hand with a puppy’s face on it and tissue paper sticking out made me swoon that much more.
Damn. I was completely unprepared.
I focused my eyes back on A’yisha and said, “Sweetie, this is Tyler. Tyler, this is my favorite niece, A’yisha.”
“Nice to meet you, A’yisha.” He reached for her little fingers, and she wrapped her fist around his pointer finger, hanging on. There was the sweetest smile on her lips, showing off her two bottom teeth.