Page 158 of Steel
“Let’s get you home,” she said.
She and my father led us out of the house and back to the car. As the house became a distant view, I expelled a heavy breath. This wasn’t how I wanted things to go, but if I was honest, there was always the possibility that this was how it ended up. Ms. Anita was too far gone at this point. I couldn’t take her out, so she did us all a favor and did it herself.
I just wished it didn’t have to be that way.
I’d never been sohappy to see the compound.
Against her will, we dropped my mama off first. She’d been up with us all night, and I knew she was tired. The moment we pulled through the gates, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Nomatter what happened on the outside, I knew I was always safe on the other side of this iron.
KJ sat peacefully in his car seat, looking out the window. I kept watching him like I was afraid he’d disappear. Nothing in this life scared me. But losing my kids, . . . that shit terrified me. It was the one thing that could bring me to my knees.
Pops had let everyone know we’d gotten KJ back, and we were coming home. He’d also told them to give us space and come visit tomorrow. Right now, all I wanted was to get home to my little family. As soon as we pulled into the driveway, the front door opened. Neha and Nayelli ran out, both of them barefoot.
Baby girl latched on to me immediately when I stepped out.
“Daddy, you’re home!”
“I’m home, princess.”
She peered around me, looking for her brother. I carefully lifted him from the car seat so she could see him. The moment he laid eyes on her, a grin spread across his face, and his arms and feet started going in all different directions. Tears filled her eyes as she kissed his forehead.
“I’m so glad you’re home, KJ,” she said, tickling his belly. “I missed you so much.”
“I’m sure he missed you too, baby.”
Neha came to me with red, puffy eyes. I pulled her in for a hug and kissed her lips before handing off KJ. When he recognized who she was, he squealed in delight.
“Mama! Mama!”
Neha and I both gasped as she stared at him, then at me.
“What did you say?” she whispered.
As though he understood her, he said it again. “Mama!”
He placed a slobbery kiss to her cheek like he did anytime he got close enough to her face. She held him close to her, crying as she returned the kisses to his cheek.
“Oh, I’ve missed you so much,” she declared. “We’re so glad you’re home.”
Pops climbed out of his truck to join the tearful reunion. He scooped up Nayelli to love on her a bit before kissing Neha’s temple.
“You girls held it down while we were gone?” he asked.
“My aunties and uncles came over,” Nayelli confessed, making him chuckle.
“That sounds about right,” Senior said. “They don’t give you a moment’s peace when things get serious. That’s why your grandma almost beat your daddy’s butt,” he added with a smirk.”
Nayelli giggled. “I thought she was gonna get you like she, Auntie Allison, and Auntie Steph got Grandpa the other Sunday.”
The smirk dropped from his face. “Really, Yelli? Why would you bring that up?”
She grinned and shrugged.
He shook his head. “I’m gonna head on up to the house. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Pop, can you stay a little bit?” I asked. “I just, um . . . I just need a second, man.”
He nodded, knowing what time it was. I’d been holding it together since we left that cabin. Of my brothers, I was the one more in touch with my feelings. If a nigga needed to cry, I couldn’t hold that shit back. When we were kids, they used to fuck with me about being the sensitive one until I started beating their asses.
