The kitchen was busy. Gregory and Geoffrey finally made it their business to make their mother proud by making their way to Dallas from Atlanta. Christmas was the very next day, and in thirty minutes they would be arriving from the airport: one with a fiancée and another with a girlfriend. Gracie couldn’t be more proud. What a difference a year had made.
“You want to check on the cake, Kendra? I’m going to go ahead and get these dressing rolls out of the oven.” Gracie had been up all morning long, preparing a small Christmas eve dinner for their home. She’d been over the stove since the early A.M., and when Kendra finally broke away from her grandson, she arrived just in time to help her dear friend out. Since Bishop had been away with his bishop duties, and was not scheduled to come home until later that afternoon, Kendra had been tending to her grandmotherly duties.
“Is Mercy bringing my great-godson over for dinner?” Gracie asked.
Not able to contain her giddiness anytime her grandbaby was mentioned, Kendra eased her best friend’s worries. “You know she wouldn’t have it any other way. They should be here any minute now.”
“Don’t laugh, Kendra. You know I’m just as bad as you are. I can’t get enough of little Grant either.” Gracie placed the two dozen dressing rolls on the pan rack to cool.
“Isn’t he just a doll baby?” Kendra’s eyes gazed and mouth oozed like only a grandmother’s could when talking about her grandchild. Setting the cake, which was baked just right, on another cooling rack, Kendra leaned against the counter, not believing just how much she actually loved being someone’s grandmother. “That boy has my heart wide open.”
“Mine too,” Gracie said honestly.
The doorbell sounded throughout the intercom system. Gracie threw her pan holder on the counter and went toward the front of their home. Looking through the side panel, Gracie was excited to open the door for Mercy, her boyfriend, and the baby.
Gracie beamed as if she were the actual grandparent. “Merry Christmas.” Taking Grant Jr. In her arms, Gracie leant her cheek for Mercy and Grant sr. To leave their hellos. “Your mom is in the kitchen,” she directed them. “Come on, Baby Grant. I need to get my snuggle time with you.”
“Aunt Gracie, did G and G-Money make it yet?” Mercy asked about her god brothers, calling them by the nicknames she had given them.
“They should be pulling up soon. Your Uncle Marcus picked the two up from the airport. It’s good to see you again, Grant.” She wanted the twenty-three-year-old father to feel welcomed.
“Same to you, Mrs. Jeffries,” Grant sr. Replied.
The four made their way into the kitchen area, where Kendra put finishing touches on the German chocolate cake she’d made. It was Marcus’s favorite.
“There is my little man. Come to Grams,” Kendra cooed to the almost-year-old, bright-eyed little boy.
“Ooh, no, you don’t.” Gracie rocked Baby Grant in her arms. “I heard he spent the night with you last night. Let this child breath.” everyone in the kitchen laughed in unison.
“Anybody home?” Marcus’s voice rang toward the kitchen area.
“Okay. Maybe for just a bit.” Gracie reluctantly handed Baby Grant to his grandmother. “I need my hands for those big boys of mine.” Gracie’s eyes watered as she half ran to greet her sons.
“Mama,” Geoffrey’s voice rang out.
“Hey, Ma,” the almost-thirty-year-old twins said simultaneously.
Not knowing who to hug first, Gracie wrapped her arms around both of their necks. “My boys. Oh, thank you, Lord. Oh my goodness.” She kissed one and then the other. “I can’t believe you all are here. Look at you.”
Landing their own kisses on both of her cheeks, Gregory and Geoffrey took turns picking up their mother as if she were a rag doll. As soon as she yelled, “Put me down,” and swatted one’s arm, the other duplicated the love gesture.
Finally settled, Gracie thought to look around for the ladies in their lives.
“Where are Tosha and Rachel? I know you two haven’t dumped them that quickly,” Gracie joked with her sons, knowing they had been chick magnets in college.
“No, Ma,” Gregory answered first. “They are going to tour the city. Tosha has family here. Plus, we wanted to spend some family time and make sure—”
“Uh, make sure we had everything in place for Christmas,” Geoffrey cut his brother off before he continued the real reason for the two coming without their beloveds: family business needed to be taken care of. Seeing Mercy over their mother’s shoulder, he was glad he interrupted his brother. Noticing a bright-eyed Mercy, the two ran to hug the young lady who grew up as if she were a little sister to them.
Marcus waited in the wings, allowing his sons time with their mother and Mercy. With Gregory’s almost mishaps, he figured it was time to cut in. According to his watch, they only had another fifteen minutes before their company made it over. “Honey, do you need anything else done? I was going to go out to the garage, but if you need me to do anything, it can wait.”
Glad about the change from where the conversation had almost ventured to, Gracie answered her husband. “It’s all done. Kendra is in the kitchen; her, Grant, and Baby Grant. We’re fine, honey. You can go ahead and busy yourself.” She walked up to and placed a kiss on her husband’s lips. “Ky called and he’s running a little late.”
The past year had been a new detour in their steady lives. The wind blew in and tested their faith, their loyalty, and their ability to keep forgiving. Their past year was a testament to God’s fresh anointing.
“Cool. Is the baby here too?” Gregory had heard his mother, and wanted the confirmation from Mercy. “Come on, G. Let’s go see what this cat Grant is all about.” he slapped his brother on the chest with the back of his hand.
“Right,” Geoffrey totally agreed.
“You two!” Mercy yelled and ran after the twins.
As Gracie was about to make her exit behind her boys, Marcus grabbed for his wife’s elbow. “Honey, how is Kendra?”
“She’s good, babe.” Gracie added a smile to her face, and silently asked God to walk her friends and family through the tedious journey they were about to dive deeper into. “We need you, Jesus,” she whispered as Marcus turned toward the door.
Stoney was finally able to kick her habit: a habit that hadn’t been hers to begin with. Just a year prior, when Michelle finally claimed her, the two promised to work hard for a relationship they both needed and wanted. For Stoney, with that came the honesty of being hooked on prescription drugs. For Michelle, it was time to be honest about all the hurt and pain she’d caused herself and others.
Stoney never made it past Houston’s exit sign once the relationship that never was, sparked. The day at the infirmary was the beginning of what should have been for Stoney and Michelle.
The charges that had been placed against Stoney by Michelle, before Michelle knew Stoney’s identity, were dropped. Before it was all said and done, Stoney and Michelle walked out of the hospital arm in arm. With Keithe behind the duo, there hadn’t been much for him to say. The mere fact that God did the impossible was enough for him.
At her mother’s insistence, Stoney moved right in with Michelle and Keithe, her stepfather. The air had been cleared and a three-way discussion laid the foundation of Keithe and Stoney’s meeting and communication. Whatever it was that Keithe thought he had for Stoney was settled to that of a father figure for his stepdaughter.
During their full year of recovery, a lot of time was spent between the two ladies. Michelle’s title of judge had been put to the side for the time being. Vacation time, sick time, any time she had available for use was used for one-on-one time with Stoney.
Michelle started their relationship with the truth. She explained her life with her own mother and father. She tried to clarify the tragic happening that took her father when she was just a child herself, and how her mother, Grandma Susie, fell deep into depression.
“I wasn’t as strong as you, Stoney,” Michelle had said. “There were days when she wouldn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t cook, wouldn’t bathe.” Michelle still had a hard time making reference to Susie as her mother at first, but the more they talked, the more she missed the person who gave her life. She realized her mother didn’t purposefully do her wrong, and once she did, she took responsibility for her action. “She wasn’t responsive to me. I wasn’t enough to pull her from the fact that my father was no longer there,” she shared with Stoney.
In return, Stoney shared how, by the time she had come along, Grandma Susie’s depression had gotten aggressive, and with medications involved, anger presented itself. Before long, schizophrenia somehow lodged itself into the elderly lady, making Stoney’s life full of childhood heartbreak.
A lot of crying presented itself during late-night girl talks, with Michelle usually falling asleep holding her twenty-two-year-old baby. Waking the very next morning, the entire day’s scenario would sometimes repeat itself.
Stoney tapped in to who she really was and wanted to be: a God-fearing young lady. Praying together as mother and daughter had become a part of who Stoney and Michelle were. With Stoney leading the prayers, she was able to teach her mother that it was okay to praise God even when her heart was heavy. In return, Michelle inadvertently showed Stoney how to let go and let God. Still learning about one another, the year in review had been a promising start to their new future together. Even to the point when Michelle explained to Stoney about who her father was.
“Ready, Stoney?” Keithe walked down the hall and halted in front of Stoney’s door. Giving two knocks to the door like an impatient father would, Keithe said, “Your mother is already downstairs in the car. Girl, how many more bags do you need?” not believing Michelle was actually teaching Stoney bad shopping habits already, Keithe shook his head.
“Pops. Give me one minute please and I’ll be down,” Stoney yelled out to her stepfather, who she was more than thankful to have.
She had tried to prepare herself for the day that had been on her calendar for months. All the time she’d spent with her mother and Keithe, Stoney had finally gotten to the point where she wanted to learn more about her other half: her real father. After the four-hour drive she would be face-to-face with him and his immediate and extended family.
“You ready?” Michelle asked Stoney as soon as she added herself to the backseat of Keithe’s Range Rover. He punched in their destination to his GPs system.
With his own life settling, mind at ease and marriage traveling the path meant by God, Keithe’s inability to drive without fear of stress-induced seizures had been put to ease. Given a lower dosage of his anti-seizure medication was good enough for him to add himself behind the steering wheel once again, permanently.
“I’m ready.” Stoney sat back and looked at her mother with a smile of thankfulness.
On the drive toward Dallas, the new family made small conversation about movies, music, and other amenities revolving around their lives. Enrolled back in school, Stoney told them how she was enjoying being at the University of Houston.
A new adventure for Michelle, and a now permanent fixture, the conversation geared toward their church lives and how worshipping together made a difference. Michelle even apologized to Keithe about how she waited so long to be the woman God had blessed him with. He accepted, and admonished her for finding who she was in God.
“Mom, so are you going to sing with the fifty-plus women when they sing on new Year’s?” Stoney snickered, knowing Michelle didn’t know if she was for real or not.
“Um. Stoney?” Michelle whined, hoping her daughter wouldn’t push her to do the unthinkable. Michelle and singing never did mix.
“Just kidding. I just wanted to see your face light up.” Stoney and Keithe laughed.
“Very funny.” Michelle was relieved. She had told herself she would try to be the mother Stoney needed, instead of what she felt a mother should be. She knew she hadn’t stayed in her mother’s presence long enough to get the feel of how a mother is supposed to be to her child. “But actually, I was thinking about signing up to usher.”
“Shut up,” Keithe and Stoney both said at the same time. All three broke out in a unified laugh.
Riding in the backseat granted Stoney time to nap. With their arrival in Dallas, Stoney woke up just in time to take a look around the metropolitan area, which had been her home for a few years. It was just a pass through for her, but the stay had taught her a lot, and lasting friendships had blossomed.
It was Mike who had invited their three-member family down for the Christmas holiday. He and Vicky had been dating for almost a year and they were becoming closer and commingling together. Bygones would have to be bygones and forgiveness would have to settle in. With Michelle and Keithe rooming under Mike’s roof for the entire weekend, God’s love would have to be in full effect.
This would be the first face-to-face meeting between Mike and Michelle since the hospital scene a year ago, though they had spoken several times over the phone. Mike was on her list of those to ask for forgiveness. Michelle really did mean the vow she made with the Lord the Sunday she was baptized.
“Are you going to call your father and let him know you’re in town?” Keithe asked Stoney, waking Michelle from her short nap.
The downtown buildings veered off to her left from Central expressway. Michelle pushed herself up in her seat and pulled down the mirrored visor. Sitting quietly, this was going to be one of the last apologies Michelle would have to face. Though she had spoken with Stoney’s father back when she revealed to their daughter that he was indeed her dad, Michelle had only spoken to him a few other times. With all of the hurt and pain Stoney had to go through, Michelle had wished more than anything she had just told the man she once loved that he was indeed the father. Back when the DNA tests were first taken, he just took Michelle’s word for it. Even if he had tried to get the information that was rightfully his, being as wicked as she was, Michelle would have countered it.
“I texted him and let him know.” Looking at her watch, Stoney said, “He’s probably just settling in himself. Oh, but he said he’ll drop me back at Mike’s later on tonight. And he said it would probably be late, because everyone always gathered and stayed extra late on Christmas eve.”
“That’s good, honey.” Michelle jumped into the two-way conversation. “No matter what, don’t forget we will be leaving early in the morning, headed to Greenville.” Michelle didn’t want to miss the opportunity to sit alongside her mother’s grave and give her proper recognition for all that had happened. In her heart all was well, but she wanted, needed, closure.
Another fifteen minutes and Keithe was turning off his GPs system, thanking it for its handy detail. “We’re here,” Keithe called out. All three looked over their shoulders to the right, and admired the house that looked to come off of the street they lived on in Houston.
“Nice,” Michelle spoke.
“It is,” Keithe agreed.
“Yeah. It is. But, of course, it’s not prettier than ours,” Stoney joked.
“Girl, hush.” Michelle swatted behind her.
Stoney and Keithe got out of the truck. Keithe went to the back to retrieve her tote bag. Stoney made her way to the front door and pushed the doorbell.
The door opened and Stoney drew in a breath. During the past year, she had made two trips to Dallas in order to spend one-on-one time with her father. Other times he’d traveled to Houston to see her. Now able to spend the holiday with her family and who her father deemed extended family, Stoney was walking on eggshells when she didn’t see her father’s car. Having to meet her stepmother on a totally different level than before was a bit nerve-wracking for Stoney.
“Stoney,” Marcus happily answered the door, wanting to show the young girl who could have easily been his daughter that he had no qualms about her joining in with him and his family.
“Hey, Mr. Jeffries,” Stoney said. “Is my dad, uh, er, Kendra here? I was told to come over here.”
“First off, young lady, you can call me Uncle Marcus.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“And you can call me aunt Gracie, if you’d like,” Gracie said, standing beside her husband.
Feeling weird calling someone she really didn’t know uncle and aunt, Stoney obliged, knowing they played a major role in her father and stepmother’s lives. Hearing the sound of a horn blowing, Stoney turned just in time to see her dad, Bishop Perry, pulling behind Keithe’s vehicle.
Still sitting behind the wheel of his car, it still bothered Bishop terribly to know he didn’t get to play a role in raising his daughter. And just when he thought he had to be there for Marcus, it was he who turned out to be Stoney’s father. With Michelle calling out Marcus’s name before she fainted, for whatever reason, the incident threw them for a loop. The second round of DNA testing that he and Marcus had to take confirmed him to be the father of Michelle’s baby. It was the same result the test showed all those years ago. This time he had to see them for himself. Taking Michelle’s word all those years ago didn’t pay off. Nevertheless, with the regret, he still rejoiced for the time he still had left to spoil Stoney.
“Hey, Daddy.” Stoney didn’t wait for Bishop to come closer to the house before showing her affection.
“Hey, Stoney. Hey, honey, how are you?” he didn’t wait for an answer, knowing his daughter was more than okay. “Come on. Let’s get you inside. Oh.” he looked beyond Stoney. “How’s it going?” he reached out to shake Keithe’s hand, while hugging Stoney with his other arm.
“Good, good,” Keithe said and looked toward the Jeffries, plus Kendra, who had added herself to the door.
Moving farther into their home, Marcus and Gracie gave the blended family time to themselves.
“How are you, Stoney?” Kendra grabbed at Stoney and held her as if she’d birth the young lady herself. Knowing how a hard childhood can play into someone’s future, Kendra never for a minute blamed Stoney for anything she went through.
“I’m good, Mrs. Kendra,” Stoney replied.
“That’s good. We’re so glad you’re here,” Kendra reassured her.
“I’ll take the bag for you,” Bishop offered to Keithe. “Would you all like to come inside?” he never acknowledged Michelle, but without a doubt knew she was in the truck. Bishop had already forgiven her, but having to remain in her presence was another thing.
“No. We have to be going,” Keithe said, looking back at the truck. When he saw that Michelle was looking down, he chopped the conversation in half.
“Okay. Okay. Well. I’ll bring her to where you all will be later on tonight. Don’t wait up for her.”
Starting his short trek to the car, Keithe hollered back, “Sounds like a plan. We’ll probably be up though. Playing spades always keeps us going.” he wanted Bishop Perry to read between the lines and know that he’d become an overprotective dad overnight.
“Right.”
Before Keithe was able to get in the car, Stoney walked out of the house and trotted a short way to her stepfather. Michelle giving her life over to the Lord, and Stoney coming into their life, was cause enough for Keithe to put any ill feelings or wayward thoughts away about Stoney. When he realized God’s plan for all of their lives, he walked the walk and talked the talk.
“Thank you, Pops. I’ll see you later.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a peck. Walking over to the passenger’s side where her mother sat, Stoney opened the door.
Stunned by the door opening, Michelle gasped. “Stoney. Girl what are you doing?”
“I had to come give you a hug and a kiss. I won’t see you until later on,” Stoney stated.
Turning her body to the right, Michelle got out of the car, knowing it was inevitable and she would eventually have to make her presence known in not only Bishop Perry and Kendra’s life, but in Marcus and Gracie’s life.
“I love you, Mom. I love you very much.” Stoney didn’t try to whisper. She wanted to be as real to both of her parents as she possibly could.
“I love you even more, Stoney alexia.” Michelle was proud they’d been able to amend her birth certificate and give Stoney the name she’d picked for her all those years ago.
With dual kisses to seal their love until later on, Stoney turned and walked back to her dad’s and Kendra’s arms. Michelle stood in place. Stoney disappeared into the house and Michelle fought with herself to lift her eyes from the ground. When she did, she saw Bishop and Kendra standing in the door, arm in arm.
Before she could turn quickly and get into her seat, Michelle looked their way once more and saw the genuine smiles that had crawled onto their lips. Giving the same gesture back, tears formed in Michelle’s eyes when she noticed Gracie and Marcus making their way to the door. When all four lifted their hands and waved in her direction, Michelle waved back, feeling as if a white flag presented itself between the two families
Getting back into the truck, Michelle whispered something to herself.
“Huh? what did you say, honey?” Keithe asked as he grabbed for his wife’s hand.
“Oh, I said”—she looked in her husband’s direction—“God really is the keeper of my soul.”
Agreeing with a nod, Keithe said, “Yes, he is, dear. Yes, he truly is.”