Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Now they were both laughing again, and she suddenly grabbed him, taking him off guard, and wrapped her arms around him tight. He could feel her shaking like a leaf against him. Falling apart.
“Legend, I need you in my life. We’ve both lost so much, I refuse to lose you, too. You’re my big brother, always watchin’ over me, but sometimes, a little sister can be a guardian, too.” She kissed his cheek, stared up at him in adoration, then finished her coffee…
Chapter Seventeen
Legend discarded his rubber gloves in the hazard material waste bin, then made his way over to the work van. He opened the back to toss in a sealed roll of paper towels, then put his gold chain back around his neck. It was late morning, and he was exhausted already.
Axel leaned against the vehicle, staring at him, but Legend acted like he didn’t notice. They’d just finished cleaning a house. A five-man crew. The old lady, who had Alzheimer’s, had died in her sleep. Her husband had called and asked for help. It was a fairly easy job. They treated the mattress, as well as a few areas in the bathroom. Nothing too crazy. He could tell the elderly guy had been in love with his wife. Family photos abounded, and he went on and on about her, a cheery smile on his face while burgeoning tears welled in his beady brown eyes. Legend knew he’d never forget those eyes—ones that had loved and lost, but would do it all over again in a heartbeat, just to have one more day with his beloved.
“Legend, we can’t keep on like this. This tension between us. We gotta talk.” Axel broke into his thoughts.
“I know.” Legend hopped into the passenger’s side of the van while the other guys in the crew got in the back. He soon heard sodas being opened, and them talking amongst themselves, mostly about their plans for the upcoming day.
Axel started up the vehicle and dropped off his other staff members first, leaving him and Legend at the helm. Legend leaned forward and turned on the radio. He surfed around and settled on a station Desiree often listened to. Keke Wyatt’s, ‘Nothing in This World’ was playing. He kept it there, and leaned back in his seat.
“Oh, you’re listenin’ to love songs now?” Axel grinned, causing him to smile. “Oh God, you’re definitely whipped. I take it everything with you and Desiree is going good?”
“Definitely. She’s good for me, man. I love her.” Legend grabbed some sanitizing wipes for his hands to get the glove residue off.
“And I love that for you. I’d like to meet ’er soon. Y’all been together a minute now, and I still haven’t been introduced.”
“Yeah, I know, man. Crazy schedules. She works second shift sometimes at her job, and then she has school, and she just got a big candle order in for a wedding, so she’s been really busy.”
“That’s right. You did say she had a side hustle makin’ candles, soaps, and things like that.”
“Hopefully, we can maybe all go out to lunch or dinner sometime soon.”
“Sounds good. Oh, uh, didn’t you say you finally met her daughter?”
“Yeah.” Legend smiled as he scratched his ankle for a moment. “I stopped over and gave her and her mama flowers. I introduced myself, and Desiree explained to Kaylee that I was her boyfriend. She wanted to be sure I was not some fly by night kinda guy, so I understood why she waited so long. Said she didn’t want Kaylee getting used to someone, and then they bounce. She’s a sweet girl. Smart, too. Looks just like her mama.”
“Is Kaylee’s father in her life? You never really said.”
“It’s complicated I guess.” Legend yawned. “But the short, easy answer is: not really. I don’t know what’s up with all of these fathers not being there either emotionally, or physically for their kids, man. Your father left the family. My father left the family. Kaylee’s father left. It’s crazy, man.”
“Now that I’m a father, I couldn’t imagine leavin’ my son like that. I don’t care what English and I go through—I’d be staying in his life, and there wouldn’t be nothin’ that could keep me away.” Legend nodded in agreement. “You and I know first-hand what it’s like to have a father walk out on us.”
“Yup.” Legend crossed his arms, feeling a bit fidgety and out of sorts.
“Do you talk to your dad at all anymore? I know you said a while back that you do a few times a year… crazy.” Axel shook his head.
“It’s still only a few times a year. I used to initiate the calls, then stopped. Now, he calls me and Melanie on our birthdays and Christmas. The conversations are always pretty generic. I guess he’s doin’ all right.” Legend shrugged. “I can’t worry about him though. He wasn’t worried about me and Mel. He apologized ’nd everything, a few years ago, but sorry don’t fix it.”