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  It was definitely true that he had been presented with plenty opportunities but his gut told him something different so he stayed away.

  ‘That is a huge step involving other people in what’s going on….or whatever this is supposed to be and …’

  ‘What this is supposed to be…what are you trying to say I have begged you tons of times to come meet my family and you…’

  ‘Yo…listen let’s not go back forth I’ve told you like a million times…it just didn’t feel right.’

  ‘What we’ve been doing everything else what do you mean it didn’t feel right, or is this just another excuse so you can play around like you always do?’ She was classic with claims of cheating it was comical to him really the truth was he had never stepped out on her in anyway.

  ‘What are you talking about….look nobody is playing around as a matter of fact I’m thinking we should just end this all now stop this game neither one of us is happy and you know it. Let’s just make a clean break so we can move on with our lives.’

  The phone had gone dead silent from the moment he echoed the words “end this all now” so he waited. He waited for the storm to come, the rage he could feel coming through the line. He knew she wasn’t expecting it he knew she was hoping for the exact opposite.

  ‘WHAT?!...who is she…is it that good that she has you tripping like this…WHO IS SHE SEDRIC it better not be that damn girl from Cleveland you know I am sick of having this happen every….’

  ‘Yoooo…KEMI, I’m not going through this shit again there is nobody else I’m just saying I’m trying to make this less complicated so we can both be happy…I mean think about it we don’t do anything like were a couple we still live apart and I don’t even think we’ve had sex in like three months…’

  ‘So all this is about is sex…I asked you over and over again to find a place with me and you…’

  ‘We’re not married I’m not about to shack up with you…I wasn’t raised that way…I have already fucked up way to much I’m not going there.’

  ‘Not being married is not my fault you’re the one scared of marriage.’

  ‘I’m not scared of anything Kemi…there is a difference in scared and not ready. Listen at the end of the day we can go back and forth with this conversation but it’s going to end the same let’s just walk away we will be cool just friends and nothing more.’ His body seemed lighter like there had been a mass of something holding him down that finally let go. ‘Look I know we should talk more in person so I will hit you back when I’m back in the states.’ She hadn’t said anything still he knew she was calculating her next move that’s who she was. She definitely was not going down without a fight. The tricky part was anticipating her move and being able to ward it off.

  ‘How dare you Sedric…’ Before she could finish there was a voice in the background and then she hung up. He waited a few minutes before he walked back assuming she would call back but she didn’t so he headed back towards the house. A few seconds later he was back at the other end of the porch were his brothers and a few of his cousins had gathered. When he got closer Brandon gave him a slight nod knowing exactly what that call had been about since they had countless conversations about him dealing with women coming from every possible cut and corner. Brandon was lucky he was about to celebrate his tenth wedding anniversary and now had three beautiful girls with the love of his life it was safe to say he was beyond happy in his personal life.

  To top that he was not going anywhere near any other woman because he had learned the lesson before the lights had truly turned on. So part of Sedric wasn’t exactly sure he could truly understand what it was like without that security at home. There wasn’t a home feeling to what he had with Kemi, it was simply what it was someone he occasionally slept with and had a few meals with. There was never the feeling he was expecting to have come along, possible because his feelings where settled on someone else and he wasn’t willing to admit it.

  ‘Sed man you look like you’re ready to burst. What got your feather rump?’ His brother Charles walked over draping his arm over his shoulder treating him just like he always had.

  ‘I miss you little brother what’s going on with you these days I hear your down for a whole month?’

  At that news Brandon’ eyes got bigger with even more question. He remembered the days of being the new hot player so it was safe to say Sedric would have every camera and mic basically shoved at him right now so the news of him staying away for a full month had him thinking. To try and answer Brandon’ questioning eyes and fill in everyone else he decided on the diplomatic answer and get them on another subject. Waiting to have that conversation was best, there was nothing but love that filled him about his family but even they had the tendency to be a little more into his personal life than he wanted.

  Once they had the house back in order the younger ladies joined them outside for a while before they all disappeared to their separate places for the night. The big celebration was the next day and they all needed to rest up for it.

  The one thing he knew was that he valued things differently than Kemi, and although they physically enjoyed each other at times lately even that was different for him. Then there was Ayida his mind never let him forget her, he never lost the feelings for her. So he was mentally and physically stuck when that situation was presented to him. The biggest frustration was the battle between simply walking away and staying. Staying would mean major changes had to be made right now changes were the on the thing he hated. Right now finding peace required a six hour flight with at least one lay over so right now all he wanted was to calm his life down. By the time his head hit the pillow his mind was spent. Sleep was what he needed; the morning would bring about a new fresh mind set. Or at least that was what he was hoping for.

  Two

  ‘Daddy…daddy Uncle Frasier says he is going to put a whole big fish on the fire…we can’t eat that can we daddy?’

  If Brandon had to describe his now middle child Marie he would start with reserved as her defining factor, she was more the protector of their little family and never liked too much attention from strangers around the family. But anytime they came down to visit that all went away and a new excited version of her appear so when she came barreling around the corner with her cousins on her side he knew she had relaxed. It bought him a different kind of joy knowing he had a way to give his kids a freedom they didn’t truly have away from the lights at home.

  ‘Sure baby girl it’s gonna be really good.’

  ‘But the fish has a stick for a nose Uncle Brandon.’ Brenden was putting on a brave face but the terror of the fish with the stick for a nose was all of his face as he tried to catch his breath and speak at the same time. His oldest nephew reminded him so much of himself he had to smile at the thought.

  ‘I know that’s why it’s gonna be so good.’

  ‘Do we eat the stick to Uncle Brandon?’ Brenden always put on a brave face for his uncle even now playing little league football and basketball. Saying he was going to be a superstar in both sports like his daddy and uncle. But it was clear that both he and Mimi where very worried about the prospects of having to eat the fish. They may have been the miniature protectors of their families but they still where little kids with real fears and he loved that part of them.

  ‘Nah…little man we don’t eat that part.’

  ‘You guys wanna go see the new baby goats they came last night?

  All there little eyes lit up at the mention of the new goats. Which was a quick change from the almost terror that was in their little faces talking about the fish. As Brandon headed over to the barn Sedric emerged from the house looking much better than he had appeared the night before and came over to join them.

  ‘Hey wah happen family.’

  ‘Hi Uncle Sedric we’re going to see the new baby goats you wanna come?’

  Mimi loved Sedric and had declared him Uncle Sedric from the moment she could speak saying he and Brandon where like she was with her b
ig sister Rori he was the little one and her daddy was the big one so he never made any change to correct her.

  ‘Yea man…you guys gonna help Uncle Thomas feed them?’ Both Brenden and Marie looked more than overjoyed at the idea. Even the other kids seemed ready to come out of their skin with excitement over the thought.

  ‘Can we…daddy can we?’ Marie bounced up and down her hair flying all around her face in the process in front of her dad waiting for his answer as if he could have found anyway to tell her no.

  ‘Sure Mimi you can help only if Uncle Thomas says you can ok?’

  ‘Sure daddy we will ask first.’ They all took off ahead of Brandon and Sedric once they had confirmation and had cleared the barn doors within seconds.

  ‘I take it sleep is what he doctor ordered your looking much better today.’

  ‘Yea man it’s been crazy these past few weeks…I needed a little break.’

  ‘So you got time like that though…a whole month in off season of nothing right now?’

  ‘Nah you know better Jake got like a billion things lined up…I just did like two phone interviews this morning.’

  ‘Yea that’s what I thought…so you good with everything else though.’

  ‘If you mean Kemi…that’s what I was dealing with last night…I’m sure when I get back she is going to have a boat load of drama for me but I’m done. I’m sick of that whole situation you know it was time.’

  ‘As long as that’s what you wanted then you good…patience man one of these days it’s gonna be you chasing your kid into this barn.’

  ‘I don’t know man you seem to be filing the place up just fine…three now how many more.’

  ‘Tell me about it…but nah Lalayha is barley three months my three girls are more than enough I feel like I get older every day trying to keep up wit’em…Besides Taye looked at me and the doctor like we were crazy when she asked was Lay it for us right before we came down.’

  ‘Ha…you better watch yourself…Taye aint no joke.’

  ‘Oh trust me I know.’

  ‘Hi daddy…hi uncle Sedric you guys came to see the goats too?’

  When they had finally reached the barn they walked into Ashley, Matt, and Aurora helping clean off two of the goats to Brandon’ surprise since he thought his oldest was still at their house with her mom and baby sister.

  ‘See what I mean man my girls are more than enough….they are everywhere I go without me even knowing it….yea we did Rori when did you get here is mommy with you…where did Mimi, Brenden and the kids go?

  ‘Mommy stayed at home with Lay she said she is coming over later…I came with Auntie Ashley…Mimi is back there with Uncle Thomas though…I’ll be right back.’ Brandon’ oldest girl had spent the most time on the island so she was completely comfortable with everyone and everything. Seeing her so easily move around the barn and finish task like it was second nature was completely natural to him. Ashley however pick up his undertones better than just about anyone and cleared up things in grown up speak.

  ‘Don’t get all bent out of shape fathead…I stopped by cause I saw the back doors open and Taye said Lalayha was still sleeping and she would come down when she got up…so Rori came with me since you had Mimi and Brenden. That a better explanation for you cause you looked like you were about to run out of here.’

  ‘Shut up fathead…nobody looked like that I just didn’t know Rori came up with you she was helping Taye when I left….wassup brother in law I see Ash got you playing in the mud to.’

  ‘Hey man…you know what your sister wants your sister gets...’ Matt lifted his elbow to Brandon’ fist since he hands were occupied with one of the baby goats.

  ‘Whatever you say….wassup Sed…you look like you got some good rest last night.’ Clearly everyone had noticed the stress coming from him yesterday and where finding their own little subtle ways of bringing it up.

  ‘Yea always do when I’m here. Let me go back there and see if my pops needs any help…you two don’t kill each other while I’m gone’ Sedric bumped Brandon’ shoulder and gave Ashely a quick peck on the cheek then headed back to where his dad was cleaning up the new arrivals.

  **

  There were so many different things happening to make sure the afternoon activities went off the way everyone wanted that there was no part of the house that didn’t have someone in it preparing something or simply sitting around laughing and enjoying the time with each other. The focus of the celebration was on the one person but it was clear that everyone around was just happy to have time to be together and it actually be a celebration. The guest of honor however had been swept away just to make sure all the work would get done without her trying to help. All the adults had agreed weeks before on the plan to keep her away so that she would actually have some surprise.

  ‘Brenda those grandbabies of yours are getting big…I just saw Aurora out in the barn with Thomas she is just beautiful.’

  ‘Rachel the child has grown overnight basically I think she may be just as tall as Taylor by now and she is only nine.’

  ‘I can tell she is beautiful though she reminds me of Fiona and Ashley when they were her age…where is Taylor by the way?’

  ‘Oh I don’t know…she isn’t here? If not she may be resting the child does so much and three girls to top it off…I know I couldn’t handle it.’

  ‘I hear you on that one mine are the same way…and look at Theo and his family they are the same way, Sedric and all that he has going on, Charles and his girls, Fiona and her babies and Trent with his work I never know what is happening with them they had to get that from daddy for sure…so who has Nanny K today I’ve been wanting to see her but she moves more than I do these days.’

  ‘Shelia has her at her place she didn’t want her trying to help with cooking or anything today so they should be over in a few. We should get the rest of the meat outside for Clay bless his heart for doing all that grilling.’

  ‘He loves that he is always standing at the grill at home. The kids come home even now expecting him to do it.’

  A large part of the family reunion had been belt around there families and being that it was there mother who would be the missing member it was a bittersweet moment for the two sisters but they were overjoyed like everyone else to be able to celebrate what they had. They headed toward the kitchen laughing and simply enjoying the atmosphere as they entered they came into Taye putting away the babies food.

  ‘Hi, mom hi Aunt Rachel...have you two seen the rest of my clan?’

  ‘Hi sweetheart…Rachel said she saw Rori out at the barn so I’m sure that is where everyone else is. I think Trent and Charles went to get the ice for this afternoon everyone else is probably still sleeping….Lalayha sleeping through the night yet?’

  ‘Almost but I swear the girl hears one noise and she has to be wide awake to investigate what’s going on…Brandon and I trade places at night to get her to sleep most of the time.’

  ‘Well she is just as beautiful as her two big sisters…I can’t believe you have five grandbabies Bren.’ Rachel had already stopped what she was doing and headed over to the baby playing with her little toes and was rewarded with her happy giggles.

  ‘Rachel I can barely believe it myself but I love being nana…the boys keep me on my toes the whole time I have them with me though….for a while I thought Brenden was going to break his neck every time he was at my place the boy climbed and jumped off every piece of my furniture.’

  ‘Like his big cousin I would say….Rori was the same way except she like to climb the steps…a few times Brandon had to get her unstuck from the bannister. She isn’t much different now. Mom do you mind looking after Lalayha for a few minutes I’m gonna go see if the kids want a snack or anything?’

  ‘Of course not she is fine here with us….aren’t you sweetheart?’ It made Taye smile as she headed out the backdoor watching the ladies playing with the baby. Life was finally balanced for them their family was whole and settled and if her husband had
any say he would continue the growing which she wasn’t completely opposed to.

  ‘Her swinger is out on the deck I put it out there for later if you guys want to go outside its really nice out there today.’

  ‘It is isn’t it I think we will…let’s go see what Uncle Clay and Uncle Frasier are doing Lay.’

  The ladies all went their separate ways Taylor heading off to the barn and the ladies heading out to the back with the baby and the last of the food that needed to be grilled in tow. No matter what was missing it was hard to find anything less than joy surrounding them all. By the time she reached the barn Taylor was completely tickled thinking about what her mother in law said about her grand kids. Then walked right into the exact picture with her kids and nephews all huddled around the barn.

  ‘Hey Taye you came to help to were basically done now the kids are playing in the back now with them…your husband has been worried about you though…where’s Lay?’ Taylor still saw the little sister in Ashely at times she was still a rush of excitement at times that it was just fun being around her. That was where her boys got so much of their energy and excitement from and thank goodness she had spades of it to deal with them.

  ‘Hey Ash…he was why I was just at the house Lay decided on a nap and I decided I wanted to take one with her that’s all…where is he?

  ‘Oh I told the big lump that he still had that look though…oh and come on I will show you the goats are so adorable.’

  ‘How long have you guys been out here?’

  ‘Not long the goats came early this morning when I got here Uncle Thomas was cleaning them so we helped some…I think I’m gonna have to clean Brenden and Tyler up before everyone gets here.’

  ‘I’m sure Mimi and Rori will need the same come show me the new little ones.’

  Sedric had all the kids in the back of the truck helping to feed the new ones and Brandon and his Uncle where helping the two new mother goats get comfortable. It was absolutely a completely different site to see the two men engrossed in activities outside of anything near what they did for their day jobs. Not only did they look completely comfortable they looked completely unstressed and not one worry in the world. Out of all of the things that hit the news and papers about them both this was the one thing that at least they got to keep private. The moments they got when the lights went off and they got to just live and enjoy life.