Page 118 of Love's Most Wanted

“Longtime no see.”My aunt Rosabel scoffed as I walked into her home, closing the door behind me.

Sighing, I took a seat next to her on the couch, staring at her side profile since she refused to look at me.

“Aunt—”

“What was that bullshit, Kabrina?” She cut me off, finally giving me eye contact while frowning.

Shaking my head, I replied, “I know it was bad, but I had to have my man’s back. What Kyle did is fucked up, Bell.”

“But did they even think about how his preaching is the way he provides for his family? That’s how he puts food on the table, Kabrina.”

“I get all that, but what about Unique and his brothers? What about the food they needed and the providing they didn’t get from him when he decided he was just going to leave his family?” I felt myself getting upset. I hated this world and how a man’s actions were always excused.

I felt bad for Pastor Manning to a certain extent, but at the end of the day, he chose to be a deadbeat and abandon his children, not giving a damn for one minute how they got by. And to know he had a sick child in the mix but failed to even inform Lisara the insurance was canceled was on another level. I just couldn’t find full compassion inside of me. I mainly felt for Sharon and their children.

“You told me he had a stepfather that came in and did a good job with them. Which now I’m questioning because of their behavior, especially Unique’s.” She rolled her eyes.

“That is true, Auntie, but it’s not the same. I don’t get why men and some of these pick me women think just because a stepfather is present it means that the real father doesn’t need to do anything.” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter what their mother’s new husband did for them; he was their father. Not to mention, he lied to Sharon. She had no idea he had six kids, a different name, an ex-wife, or that his parents are very much alive. He only cut them out because they wouldn’t cut off his sons.”

Aunt Bell inhaled and exhaled sharply before bobbing her head in agreement.

“I guess I just feel bad for Sharon.”

“So do I. Her children too, but that is it.”

“And I wished it wasn’t in the church.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t the best place, but I also get why they chose for it to be done there. It wouldn’t have the same effect in private,” I explained.

“You gon’ take up for your man, huh?” She simpered, making me grin slightly.

“Always, so long as he’s right, and in this case, he is. I don’t even know my father, but somehow, I think I would feel worse had he been in my life consistently and then just stopped.”

“Why would he even do that?” Aunt Bell shook her head, eyes filled with confusion. “I knew he was suspicious. I’d never heard or seen him in the church circles, and he was always too quiet, never wanting to talk about his background.”

“Yeah, and I think he did it because he could. He knew his ex-wife was a good mother, and because of that, he felt okay with abandoning his children. And because they turned out better than okay, with an even better father figure, he probably fooled himself into believing he did them a favor. But he needs to face what he did.”

“He does.” My aunt looked me over like she was thinking deeply. “I don’t know how you came out the way you did, being raised by me and my sisters, but I’m thankful.”

They always said that some kids grow up to be identical versions of their parental figures and other kids make a point to grow up to be the opposite. I could definitely say I was the latter.

I hugged her, then said, “And you’re wrong about questioning any of the boys but especially Unique. He’s a great man, the best one I’ve ever met. I won’t speak on his behalf because he wants to make it right with you and Aunt Rosette himself, but he is sorry for how he behaved at the reunion.”

“Well, if you say he’s a great man, I believe you because Lord knows your radar is better than mine.”

We laughed in unison as she stood up, asking me if I wanted one of her famous onion and cheese pinwheels.

I, of course, told her I wanted one, so we relaxed together while eating them for the next hour or so, before I let her know I’d figure out when Unique planned to take her and Rosette out.

When I got to my studio, where Unique and I had been staying while we house hunted, I felt overjoyed for absolutely no reason until I realized it was because I knew Unique was upstairs.

I couldn’t remember if someone had ever made me feel like that—just excited to see them or be around them.

Entering through the front door, I spotted my man in all his fine dark chocolate glory, pacing as he mumbled his script lines with a sexy look of determination.

“My bad.” He dropped the thick script he was holding onto the coffee table and started over to me. “I ain’t even hear you come in.”

His once scrunched face was now relaxed and smiling, making mine mirror his.