Page 48

Kairi

Kairi was watching something on her phone as we pulled into her driveway.

“Kairi, look!” Ebony shoved her shoulder from the back seat. I watched Kairi’s face shift from calm to pure shock. The yard had been transformed with colorful lights, tents, and bouncy houses. Streamers were draped over every fence post, and balloons were everywhere. There were carnival games and animal stalls set up along the yard. I parked and turned to Kairi, grinning. “Surprise. It’s Dion’s birthday party. I tried to get us home yesterday so we didn’t arrive after it started, but this will have to do.”

Kairi’s jaw dropped as she took it all in. She glanced over at Ebony and Lu. “Did you two know about this?” she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and joy.

Lu nodded. “He lets us in on secrets.”

Kairi rebutted, “So you have no problem holding his secrets. But when I tell you to act normal after telling you about him, y’all couldn’t?” She shook her head but was grinning slightly.

Kairi looked back at me. “Thank you.”

I squeezed her hand. “I invited everyone in the neighborhood. Now Dion can make friends, and we can introduce ourselves as a family.”

She blinked, her eyes a little glossy, but I could still see doubt in them. I would give her time. She quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “Thank you again,” she whispered. “Where’s Dion? I want to see how much he’s enjoying this.”

“Let’s go find him,” I said, guiding her through the small crowd of neighbors and kids already running wild in the backyard after we got out of the car. I spotted him by the petting zoo, holding hands with a little girl as they fed tiny chicks from a basket of feed. Kairi started to walk toward him, but I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Let him spend time with his friends,” I said quietly.

She took a deep breath and nodded, smiling as she watched him. My eyes circled the backyard; everyone looked like they were having fun. Ebony was already off to the side, flirting with one of the dads, leaning against the picnic table as she laughed at something he said. Lu was sitting under a tree, letting a little girl play in her hair; the kids looked in awe of her. When Dion eventually ran over, we joined him in the bounce house, taking turns trying to keep up with his energy. I could see how happy Kairi was watching him be happy. The exhaustion started to show on his face as the afternoon went on, and he finally slowed down.

I was trying to talk him into a nap when Kairi’s father came and asked to speak to her.

I overheard him talking to her off to the side. He was apologizing. “I was wrong about what I said about the situation between you and Atlas. I had no business taking a side because of something that happened to me long before you were born,” he said, glancing in my direction without alerting Kairi that I was nearby. “He seems like he really wants to be a father to Dion and a man to you, but none of it matters. He can’t make you stay with him. You choose what’s right for you and my grandson, and I’ll support you—even if it means shooting him.”

Kairi nodded. I walked away, holding a now-sleeping Dion before she said anything. I didn’t want to hear anything else. We were in a good place, and I had faith in her to let her father know that. Still, my chest felt tight because... what if she didn’t? I couldn’t take Dion away from her, really. I just hoped we never had to go a different route than us being a family. I went and put Dion to bed.

As the party wound down, Lu and Ebony joined me and Kairi inside. We were in the kitchen trying to avoid some of the nosier mothers in the neighborhood.

“We better head to the airport,” Ebony said as soon as she walked in. “Flight’s in a few hours, and I don’t trust Miami traffic.”

Kairi frowned. “I’m going to miss you all,” she whined.

They hugged Kairi, and as they turned to leave, Lu glanced at me with a half-sneer, half-smirk on her face. “Don’t mess up, Atlas. We will jump you,” she laughed.

Ebony added, “We’ll see you in a few weeks.”

I glanced at Kairi. She hadn’t told me she’d be going back to New York.

She shook her head, indicating she’d tell speak with me later. I had questions but let it go—for now.

Ebony and Lu had already called for an Uber. They waved as they headed to their car, but just as I was closing the door behind them, the doorbell rang. Kairi headed to the kitchen to deal with the staff I had hired. I opened it to find my mother standing there, a soft smile on her face.

“Mom,” I greeted her. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be here in another week.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” she said.

Then, from behind her, Ashlen appeared.

“Surprise,” she deadpanned.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to find Kairi walking back in from the kitchen. “The bouncy house owner said—” Kairi’s words trailed off.

Her gaze zeroed in on Ashlen.

Kairi sighed. “Great.”

Ebony and Lu pushed past my mother and Ashlen, coming inside to stand next to Kairi.

“So, this is Ashlen? And showing up with his momma?” Ebony mock-whispered.

Kairi nodded, letting out a sigh. “Yep. Y’all better get going if you don’t want to miss your flight.”

Lu glanced between Kairi and Ashlen before shaking her head. “Actually, I think we’re staying.” They both plopped down on the sofa.

Ashlen’s smirk shifted from me to Kairi. I could tell Ashlen thought she had the upper hand here. Ashlen opened her mouth to speak, but my mother, standing beside her, put a gentle hand on her arm.

“Let’s go inside and talk, darling. We don’t want the neighborhood talking,” she suggested.

I wanted to close the door in their faces and just not deal with any of it, but I knew it was better now than later.

“Come in.” I stepped aside.