Page 91 of Until Forever

She sighs. “I’m just looking for JJ. You know how I get at these things.” She cranes her neck to see around the side where the players enter the field toward the dugout.

“Baby.” I rub her thigh. “Relax. He’s safe. We’re all safe.”

She nods, her posture only returning to normal when the team finally arrives.

“Look, Daddy. It’s JJ,” Sarai yells and points to her brother.

He hears her and waves at her with a smile, a ritual of theirs before every game. I grin at their interaction, pride swelling in my chest. He’s only a freshman in high school and has already made varsity.

Two young girls run to the end of the bleachers and lean against the fence, giggling amongst themselves. I recognize one of them. She lives next door to Toya’s parents, Alyssa, I think.

“Hey, JJ,” they coo loud enough for us to hear. Their laughter grows louder when he tips his chin at them, a cocky smirk playing on his face.

With my lips pressed together and my brows raised, I find myself impressed with my son. Latoya stares at me, and I notice from the corner of my eye her chest moving. She’s laughing at me.

I turn my attention to her. “What?”

She laughs. “You are ridiculous.”

“I’m just a proud man, you can’t blame me for that.”

“Yeah, I can actually. You see some rite of passage, but I see trouble.”

“Don’t hate the player,” I tease with my hands out at my sides.

She cackles, giving me one loud chuckle before shaking her head. “You are so corny.” She looks out into the field before leaning closer to me. “And because of that, tonight you’ll be giving him the birds and the bees talk.”

“No problem. That’s what I do.” I puff out my chest, drumming a fist against it.

“Sure.”

I smile and stretch out my legs.

“Oh, and we need to stop by your dad’s after the game. JJ told him he’d come over to tell him all about the big win he’s going to have today.”

“Okay.”

Over the years, we’ve grown closer—my dad and I. We still bicker sometimes, but for the most part, things have improved between us. I guess after he finally accepted his condition and the possibility of dying, he wanted to change. Though, it really started after what happened to Junior. He’d felt horrible, and for a long time blamed himself. If he was better and not addicted to alcohol and gambling, he never would have gotten involved with Scar and his crew, and they never would have harmed JJ.

It was Latoya who convinced me to give him a chance, especially since it had seemed his health was getting worse. But the old man surprised us all. He quit drinking and eventually received his liver transplant. He cleaned his life up, even started going to church with Toya’s parents. That part didn’t last very long, but he stayed clean, we made sure of it.

If he wanted to make amends with me and get to know his grandchildren, then he had no choice. The relationship he’s built with the kids has been somewhat magical. He was a crap dad, but he’s turned out to be an incredible grandfather.

The umpire calls our attention to the game, and the players take to the field. There is movement next to Latoya, and we check to see Harmony and Harlen slipping into our row. A few seconds later, Ivy and Raymond join us in the seats below us.

“Paw Paw,” Sarai yells when she sees her grandparents.

“Baby girl.” Raymond grins and holds his arms out to her.

Sarai leaves us without a second thought, jumping into her grandfather’s hold and wrapping her little arms around his neck. She kisses his cheek while holding him in place as he pretends to want to get away. Sarai laughs at that, and I can’t help but smile.

I love the relationship my kids have with Latoya’s parents. Knowing that the same people who raised the woman I love are here to give that same kind of parental guidance to my children helps me sleep better at night. I’ve always heard that it takes a village to raise a child, and considering the way I grew up, I never believed in that. Aside from the care I received from the Mayson family, there wasn’t a village around for me.

But it is for my family.

JJ, Sarai, and Daniel are loved beyond my wildest dreams by the people in our lives: us, Latoya’s parents and family, my dad, and every friend we’ve made in the Mayson bunch. They’ll never be alone in this world, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

People cheer as a batter from the other team steps to the plate. At the same time, a family settles in next to Raymond, Ivy, and Sarai. Their son, who looks to be about Sarai’s age, waves and runs to her.

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