Page 84 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

She was joking because neither wanted more kids. Sianti was an accident after a drunken night out of of the country.

“You don’ risked ya life for me and the kids enough. I’m just trying to kick it with you from now on.” Asif peered down into his wife’s eyes, holding her closely. Her body lacked any real signs of having birthed six children just like all my other sisters-in-law.

She blushed as if he wasn’t her husband already, just as Khari stood before everybody, Harmony beside him, and of course, Wyatt was still watching even years later. Only now, Harmony was eighteen and about to go off to college, which drove my brother crazy just to think about.

Harmony was still his only baby girl, having had all boys—Lyric, Keyz, and newly Rhythm—with Couture.

Harmony and Couture were extremely close, much to Marley, her biological mother’s chagrin, but there wasn’t much she could do about it as Harmony grew older.

My niece had explained to me that Couture was easier to talk to and had mastered being a good mother and friend at the same time, whereas Marley treated her like a baby, disallowing her to have any of her own opinions or thoughts.

For that reason, Harmony had been living with Khari and Couture full time since she was fifteen.

“Aight, this shit about to start!” Khari cupped his mouth to call out, causing everyone to move around hurriedly in order to get in their seats.

“I’m so excited.” Bambi beamed to her husband Adam, who pecked her, as her four-year-old son Adam Jr. sat beside her. Bambi made it clear that would be her first and last child.

The wedding wasn’t as traditional with bridesmaids, groomsmen, and all that because my parents just wanted to walk down together. I wasn’t sure why, but after being together almost thirty years, I wouldn’t question them.

“Your mama said me and Taye can get married here next year.” Kailey sat in the row behind me beside Taye, making me look back at her with a simper.

“I can’t wait.” I beamed at her making her return the gesture as she sat back, Taye’s arm around her and her own hand on her rounded belly.

Kailey still danced ballet and planned to join the Manon show residency if she was up to it once her son was born. I loved that we were pregnant together.

The organ played as Yolani stood off to the side and in front of the microphone to sing.

“Go, Mommy!” Caylin shouted from beside his father, two brothers Crew and Cove, plus his baby sister Ysella.

Cemone’s bonus kids, the ones them two hos pinned on him, couldn’t make it, but I wasn’t surprised.

As they got older and blended in with their own father’s families, it got more difficult and more awkward for my brother to request time with them, especially since he’d only fathered them for only a short amount of time due to his baby mamas keeping him from them initially.

“With yo’ fine ass!” Cemone added.

Yolani tried to hide her smile at her son’s outburst, but it was inevitable. She quickly got back into character, crooning ethereally into the microphone as everyone quieted down to listen.

Everyone turned slightly to see my parents starting down the aisle after my baby girl Keziah had littered the area with flowers.

“True performer like her mama,” Low spoke against my ear before kissing it.

Keziah had put on quite the performance, skipping down as she’d tossed the flowers, basking in the grins, cheers, and camera flashes directed her little cute butt’s way.

As she sat in her daddy’s lap again, animatedly but silently clapping her tiny hands together as her grandparents made their way down the aisle, I kissed her cheek a couple times.

As my parents neared the archway where the officiant, Warner, stood waiting for them, everyone clapped despite that not being proper wedding etiquette. Phones had begun floating above the crowd as we all recorded.

“Okay, unlike the first wedding, the couple has some custom vows they’d like to exchange.” Warner wiggled his eyebrows in jest, sending a wave of snickers throughout the wedding party.

I took my mother in, in the beautiful white gown that clung to her still impeccable frame, even in her early sixties and after carrying seven children.

She looked just as elegant as always, with slight gray strands being her only sign of age.

Like her, my father looked great. Still tall, still stocky, his chest still broad, and his posture still firmly upright.

He had way more gray in his hair and beard though, despite being only a year older than my mother.

“I had a lot to say, but we would literally be here all night if I said everything I wanted to, so I had to keep it slightly short,” my mother started, gripping my father’s hands as she stared up into his gleaming eyes.

“But Chianti, since the day you literally broke into my life or my apartment, what have you, has been nothing short of an amazing ride. You were a man I could’ve only conjured up in my dreams, and even still, you’re one of a kind.

There is no man out there like you, and I am not sure what I did for God to bless me with such a man, but I couldn’t be any more thankful.

“Oftentimes, in the past, I would wish I’d met you first and built a family with you instead of who I had, but I know we wouldn’t have the sons we have, who I wouldn’t change a thing about.”

“Especially Sif. Gon’ head and say it, Ma! ’Bout time they know yo’ favorite!” Asif called out, sending everyone, including our parents, into a fit of laughter.

“Yes, especially Asif.” My mother beamed, turning her attention back up to my smiling father.

“You are an amazing man, Chianti, and I never thought I would ever meet someone like you—a man who would not only accept all of my flaws but heal my wounds. I have never known or experienced a love like what you give and have given me. The way you’ve fathered my sons, making them into the kind of men I could only dream they’d become.

The way you gave me another amazing son who is just like you and that I didn’t think I would’ve wanted but cannot live without.

” She winked at Asif, causing giggles. “Then of course the baby girl who is a result of the love we’ve built and nurtured was simply the cherry on top,” she added, making my eyes water even more.

“I love you, and I would marry you as many times as allowed in this lifetime and in the next if I could, baby.”

For the first time in my life, well second since my dad had teared up upon seeing Keziah in the hospital, I’d seen my daddy’s eyes prickle with tears.

We waited, sniffles sounding off and tissues being passed about as my daddy gathered himself.

“Lisara.” He gripped her hands even tighter before bringing them to his mouth to kiss.

“From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I was in some trouble. I was like a nigga on a mission, trying to figure you out and make you mine, despite the circumstances. I knew a woman like you, resilient, beautiful, giving, selfless, and maternal was a once in a lifetime type of deal. Not many women could mother six sons and perfectly, then mother a son that wasn’t hers the same way, as if she’d carried him herself.

Not many women have six amazing ass sons that a nigga would be honored to guide and father.

“Our situations at the beginning were a recipe for disaster, but we made it through, love. And we not only been making it through since then, we been enjoying the fucking ride.

“You brought so much light to my life, brightening areas I didn’t even know were in the dark.

I, too, wish I could’ve met you sooner, but simply because the years in one lifetime simply just ain’t enough.

I need you with me at all times, love. There is no other woman I would rather spend the rest of my days with.

There is no other woman I would’ve wanted to bear my first and only baby girl.

There simply is no other. I vow to love you for the rest of my days, baby, and even after that.

Whatever is on the other side of this life, I’ll love and honor you within that as well. ”

It wasn’t a dry eye in the place, especially me and all the ladies who were sobbing audibly. My brothers and Low just had damp eyes as they watched, Keziah crying like the actress she was, though I was sure she didn’t truly know why.

My mother’s makeup appeared to be ruined under her veil as Warner proceeded on, asking my parents to repeat after him.

Once they had, and he pronounced them as husband and wife again, my daddy lifted the veil to kiss my mom, and it was the only time I actually wanted to see such a thing. I usually would look away.

The whole wedding party, including the kiddos, jumped to their feet to cheer, some of the couples kissing simply because of the love felt in the room or on the beachside.

As my parents made their way back down the aisle, grinning excitedly, we all trailed them inside before splitting. They went to change, and we ventured into the humungous resort hotel and to the reception hall that had been decked out in a beach theme.

The deejay wasted no time keeping us on the floor, the kids taking up most of it as they danced, play fought, and just ran completely wild.

“Let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Chianti St. Thomas, . . . again!” the deejay shouted, causing a roar of applause as my mother and father entered the reception room, my mom in a more breathable dress.

“You look beautiful, Grandma.” My nephew Benton, Bashar and Analicia’s son, complimented his paternal grandmother like always.

We always said Benton would grow up to be a player. His little brothers, Britton and Blaze, were a little demurer, while their older sister, Brisa, was usually in her own little world.

“Thank you, cutie!” My mom bent to kiss him as he smiled, feeling accomplished.

“You are too much,” Analicia told her son, rubbing his head.

“Got the charm like pops, huh?” Bashar grinned down at his son, holding his youngest, Blaze.

“He definitely does.” Farrah, Leeci and Stazi’s mom chimed in as her grandson hugged her while her boyfriend Fred stood behind her grinning at the interaction.

Miss Farrah refused to marry again feeling like no one would ever live up to her first husband Ade Chase and therefore could never sit in his spot. I respected it.

Benton slapped hands with his father before running off after Amir toward the other rambunctious boys. Their parents wrangled them and quieted them down as my parents moved to the middle of the floor for their dance.

“I Care 4 U” by Aaliyah played softly as they danced together, and I remembered my mother telling me she loved the song even more after meeting my father because the lyrics described how she’d felt upon meeting him perfectly.

She hadn’t been able to believe his ex and Asif’s biological mother had fumbled a man like him.

The thought made me smile as I pressed the back of my head into Low’s chest while his big hands caressed my round belly.

Once the song commenced, everyone was able to dance as well, the deejay doing an amazing job with his song choices.

We danced and sang along to everything from YG’s “Why You Always Hatin’” all the way to Earth Wind and Fire. My grandparents felt YG was too raunchy, though, and kept asking the deejay to change against our wishes.

Of course, DJ Quik had my brothers on their feet, shouting the lyrics word for word like they were in the official music video. That and “Phone Number” by Tupac.

I chuckled seeing Presley and Shakur’s four sons—Sahil, Mikail, Sakim, and Malakai—fighting to dance with their mother as she laughed heartily.

“How about I dance with her since she mine?” Shakur cut into their bickering, making them groan as Presley placed her arms over him, simpering before they kissed.

The day continued on into the night with a lot of drinking, except for Kabrina and I, dancing, horseplay among us all since we reverted to children when my parents were around, and of course shit talking.

As a semi-slow song by Eric Bellinger descended upon us, Low pulled me to him, smiling lazily from drinking and then going to smoke with my brothers about half an hour ago, while the ladies and I gossiped without male intervention or opinions.

“You the best thing to ever happen to me, Peep.” He kissed my neck, his hands groping at my ass and turning me on.

I pulled back some, palming the side of his face to look into his whiskey brown eyes that I loved so much before pecking him slowly and deeply as we swayed to “G.O.A.T.”

“Ditto,” I whispered as we kissed harder under the now dimmed lights of the ballroom. Strobe lights shot around us like a psychedelic disco. “I think I’m obsessed with you.”

“’Bout time you joined the fucking club, Peep.”

I used to sit in my teenaged bedroom that overlooked the backyard, admiring Low and drumming up all kinds of fantasies about him, and as I grew older, I did away with it all.

One thing I never could’ve dreamed of was the man Willow Harris actually was. He was handsome, sexy, loving, protective, supportive, and tenacious. My favorite attribute to date, though, was how no matter what, he would do anything necessary for me.

*FIN*