Page 102 of Steel

I palmed my face. “Ma, a little help here?” I said to my mother.

“Oh, no. I’m on their side because I’m still mad you knew about my grandbaby for so long without saying anything to me but told your bighead ass daddy.”

Both of my aunts’ heads snapped in my direction. Mama Steph laughed as she pulled out her phone. She tapped away on it for a moment before my father’s voice came through the speaker.

“Baby mama number one.”

“Senior, why didn’t your baldheaded ass tell me and Allison Kerrion had a daughter?”

“Because it wasn’t my business to tell. Don’t y’all be over there ganging up on my son.”

“Your son? I do believe we all raised him and four of your other kids. That’s practically our grandchild too. Please don’t piss me off.”

“Too late for that.”

Mama Steph glared at the phone. She said something to him in Swahili that almost made me gag.

“Hii ndio sababu niliacha kukupa.”(This is exactly why I stopped giving you some).

“Ma!” I exclaimed. “I don’t wanna hear that shit.”

My mama nor Mama Allison spoke the language, but we did, and I understood everything.

“Shut up, Kerrion,” Mama Steph snapped.

Pops was on the other end cracking up.

“See how you revert when you get mad at me?” he said. “You know I love it when you get spicy with me, baby.”

No this nigga wasn’t flirting right now.

“Watch me tell Deuce you being disrespectful,” Mama Allison said.

“I ain’t scared of a nigga that used to swim in my balls. Y’all better ease up off my boy over there.”

“Don’t worry,” Mama Steph said. “We’ll all be at Sunday dinner next time. Keep that same energy.”

“I get to see all three of your beautiful asses? Damn, I’m a lucky man.”

Mama Steph hung up the phone at that point. She turned to me.

“This may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to us. We’re family, and we want to be a part of her life just like we are part of all of your lives.”

I sighed. “I hear you and I’m sorry. I didn’t intentionally exclude you. It’s just been a lot going on. I promise I will do better.”

That seemed to satisfy them for the time being. They loved KJ, so I had no doubt that they would love Nayelli.

Baby girl and I headed up the front steps of the house. No sooner than we reached the top one did the door open. Neha stood there with a smile on her face, dressed in a T-shirt dress that I was anxious to see from the back.

“Hey, baby,” she said, hugging Nayelli. “You had a good time?”

“I did. Mommy, I met Uncle Deuce, Uncle Maceo, and Uncle Smoke’s moms and stepdaddies. They said they are my aunties. Mommy, they were so nice.”

“That’s good, baby. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Did you do your homework?”

“Yes, ma’am. Me and Jaiden did it while Grandma Tavia cooked.”

“Awesome.” Neha’s eyes drifted to me, and she blushed. “Hey, you.”