Page 76 of Redemption
I raised my eyes toward the ceiling as if considering his question for a minute. “The guy who goes around rating things. Likethat is PG, oh and this is Rated R. Oh, you are an X, stop that!”
He stared at me. “Ha-fucking -ha. So says the man that needs redemption more than any soul at this table.”
Cinnamon giggled and looked past him to Jewel. “Girl, are you hearing this?”
Nodding, she laughed. “You’d think they were ten, right?”
We both looked over at Jewel then at Cinnamon.
“If we are, Cinnamon is robbing the cradle,” I stated.
Cinnamon nodded. “Aaaand… now we are back to the spanking.” She laughed.
“Oh, my God!” Jewel joined her laughter.
“Cin, where did you find this Redemption guy?” Scarlet asked. Apparently, she had been listening from across the table.
I suddenly noticed it had gotten a bit too quiet in the room and I realized everyone had been listening.
Cinnamon sat up straighter in her chair and replied, “Well, I found him, right next to Justice but I didn’t need a lawyer.” She pointed at my brother sitting next to Scarlet. “Then if I recall right, Liberty was there too, but I was already free at the time, so I didn’t need him either. In fact, Fate was there too, but in name only.” She beamed at Scarlet then turned to look at me. “I needed Redemption and that is what I got.”
Everyone stared at her then at me.
I laughed and said, “So we ARE back to spanking! Because that is now the redemption you deserve.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
“Damn, when I named my boys, I never saw that one coming,” Jarret spoke up.
Bea laughed. “You were always too clever for your own good, Jarret. I think you finally outsmarted yourself.”
The roaring of laughter in the room got loud.
We all then continued with dinner. There seemed to be less talking as everyone ate. It felt so right to me, sitting with this family. I again wondered why we had never been told about these people. I sipped my tea and thought about how to ask my dad. He wasn’t the kind of man who believed he had to explain himself.
“You okay?” Cinnamon whispered close.
I assumed she had learned her lesson about talking too loud. I smiled. “Yeah, I was just…” I paused and looked over at my father, who by the way, had leaned in close to talk to Bea. They knew each other when they were young, but we all sure never knew she even existed.
Cinnamon placed her hand over mine. “I think…” She suddenly looked hesitant.
“What?” I whispered low, wondering now if she knew something I didn't. She seemed to be really close to Bea.
A pinging sounded as we all looked over at my dad.
He stood there while tapping a spoon against his tea glass. Then he set them down and cleared his throat. “As you all well know, Deacon is still out there. So, we Texas Walkers will be staying until we see this done.”
I wondered why he was publicly stating the obvious.
“And…” He motioned to Bea.
She stood from her chair and looked a bit nervous, which wasn’t like her.
Dad took Bea’s hand in his.
Next to me, Cinnamon sucked in a huge breath and I glanced over at her. She swallowed heavily and grabbed my hand. I furrowed my brows and looked up at Bea and my father.
“I will be staying permanently,” my dad announced.
