Page 63 of Falling for Autumn
They both considered her a baby. At the age of five, they thought they were half-grown. It was cute, but right now, I wanted to kick grown folks’ ass.
“I’ll be surprised if we can pull that off,” I replied dryly before I turned back to the stairs.
By the time I arrived downstairs, Reuben and Sarai were nowhere in sight, and neither were Kevin, TJ, nor the girl.
I rushed to the front door and stepped outside, where I saw October leaning against the side of my SUV with his arms crossed.
“You just gon’ leave like that, October?” Kevin asked as I stepped off the porch.
October didn’t say a word. He just kept staring straight ahead at me.
I looked at the two men and immediately saw the difference between them. Although they both shared the same triangularface, long, slightly broad nose, and high cheekbones, the similarities ended there. His brother had round hazel eyes, and October’s were almond-shaped and chestnut brown.
I noted the blond streaks in his brother’s hair also and realized that it was curlier than October’s straight hair. He kept a bald head, but I had seen it grow out before. The brothers were only two inches apart in height difference, with Kevin being a little taller than October, but October was bigger and more muscular than Kevin. They both had full, thick, fluffy beards, soul patches, and mustaches that surrounded full, oval-shaped lips and caramel colored skin.
“Man, you gotta get past this.”
“Autumn, let’s roll, baby,” he stated, taking Auburn from my arms when I reached him.
“Man, we’re brothers. You gotta let that shit go and peace it out,” Kevin declared.
“I’m at peace,” October replied, strapping Auburn into her car seat as I walked around to the other side of the vehicle.
“October, how you gon’ let a woman come between us, man? What kinda shit is that?”
October stood up and mugged the hell out of his brother.
“Nigga, I ain’t let no woman come between us. You did that. And not only did you do that, you were willing to let me believe that child was mine and take care of her for four years. And if it hadn’t been for me insisting on a DNA test, I’d still be taking care of your responsibility like I’ve always done while you’re still running around with TJ.”
“You gotta forgive me, man. I was wrong. You owe me that.”
“I don’t owe you shit. I don’t even owe you this conversation we’re having right now. What you did was treachery. You was gon’ allow me to believe that child was mine while you had your relationship around me. And let me take care of that child. You didn’t care about me, this child, or anything. Some things can’tbe fixed. At the time, y’all felt it was necessary to be that way; you didn’t give a damn about our relationship. What do I mean to you? What’s this brother stuff when you were ready to tag me with that? If that wasn’t bad enough, y’all took two years of my life. You got in court and lied on me, and now we’re supposed to peace it out because you’ve had some sort of an epiphany? Get the fuck outta here. Go in peace, and I will too, nigga. We had our conversation. I hope it was informative.”
“Man, come on,” Kevin pleaded.
“Daddy, please,” Empiria begged.
I glanced at the young teenage girl with wide, watery eyes. She had the same eyes as Kevin. She had to be the daughter October thought had been his, only to learn his brother had fathered her.
October glanced at the girl, too, and his jaws clenched tightly before he looked at his brother again.
“You worked hard as hell to build your family, dawg. Take care of ’em. I’ma roll on and live my life with my family, separate from you and yours. And if it’s any consolation to you, I do love you. Just can’t fuck with ya. Be easy, G. I’m out.”
Chapter 23
Autumn
“Oh, that feels so good.”
My feet rested in October’s lap, and he massaged them. My eyes drifted close at the wonderful feeling of his hands working out the aches in the sole of my foot.
“Look at ya li’l spoiled ass. Just lying back chilling like a queen.”
“It’s your fault. You made me this way.” I moaned as he kneaded my instep.
“I guess that’s gonna be her claim too,” he declared, thrusting his chin at Auburn, where she slept on the love seat opposite us. She had two princess pillows propped underneath her head, a sleeping mask that read “sleeping beauty,” and a princess blanket covering her body. On a little table right beside her lay a half-eaten bag of fruit snacks, a pink princess sippy cup with juice in it, and some wet wipes for her fingers. Her tablet lay tucked underneath her arm, and it was quietly playing out the remainder of her show that she’d fallen asleep watching.
“That’s your fault too. You spoil her more than I do.”
