Page 64 of Desire

“Me either. Tell me what you need, so I can have it delivered.”

Shaking my head at his spoiled ass, I wrote down the ingredients to make stuffed bell peppers. A few minutes later, he announced, “It’ll be here in thirty minutes.”

“Get out of my kitchen, you spoiled brat, and take this little traitor with you.”

“I love you, too, baby,” he said, smacking my ass before swooping Azaria out of her chair and disappearing.

A few hours later, dinner was ready, and our families had arrived. Everyone was gathered in the family room when I came downstairs after getting dressed in wide-leg jeans and a graphic T-shirt.

“There you are,” my mother greeted me when I entered the room. “I swear it feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

She stood, and we exchanged a warm embrace.

“Your mother misses you popping up at our house every other day. I told her you have a family now, and your priorities have changed,” my father said when it was his turn to hug me.

“She doesn’t have a job anymore, Deakin. She’s had plenty of time to come and see us.”

“You’re right, Ma. I’ll do better. However, I’ll be interviewing soon with a new preschool opening this fall.”

“That’s good news,” she replied.

I made my way around the room to greet everyone else. My sisters and I talked every day and met up a few times, so they didn’t give me any grief. Aziel’s family had busy lives and weren’t worried about visits from me, but they were excited to see me again.

“Is everyone ready to eat?” I asked after we chatted for a while.

“My baby made a spread for y’all, and there’s plenty for everyone, but the stuffed bell peppers are for me and me only,” Aziel announced.

“Stuffed bell peppers? Sounds delicious,” AJ commented.

“Oh, they’re better than delicious, but they’re mine,” Aziel reiterated.

The brothers went back and forth until their mother put a stop to it.

“AJ, stop trying to bully your brother out of his food. Aziel, you shouldn’t be stingy with your guests. I swear you two are worse than my grandchildren.”

“He’s not a guest, Ma.”

“You heard what I said,” she told him sternly.

Once the kids were shuffled inside from the backyard, we gathered around the dining room table, and my father offered to bless the food. No one protested, so we joined hands and bowed our heads.

“Lord, when Desire came to us with news that she planned to marry a stranger, we were skeptical like most parents would be. In the world we live in today, it’s hard to find good people, but I know good people when I see them. Although our families were united in a nontraditional way, we are grateful for this union. This family is one of the good ones. Thank you for family, old and new, fellowship, and good food. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

My father’s blessing made me emotional. When I decided to use Arranged Hearts to find my husband, I didn’t consider how my parents might feel. They had no idea what kind of man I would marry or the family I would marry into. It was selfish, but I was grateful it worked in my favor.

“Daddy, that was beautiful,” I said before embracing him.

“Thank you, sweetheart. I can rest easy at night because I know you’re in good hands.” He kissed my forehead.

After hands were washed or sanitized, the kids’ plates were made. We seated them in the kitchen, where we had an additional table set up because there were so many kids. Once they were situated, the adults made their plates and dined in the dining room.

A few minutes after we began eating, all that could be heard was silverware hitting plates. AJ eventually broke the silence by raving about the stuffed bell peppers. Between me and his mother fussing at him, Aziel broke down and gave his brother half of a pepper.

“I’m glad you like them. Your brother begged me to make them at the last minute, so I apologize for not making enough for everyone.”

“There’s plenty of other food here, and it’s delicious. However, the way my son is acting over those peppers, I’m putting my dibs in now,” Mr. Harris said.

“Of course. Since you all are spending the night, I can fulfill your request before you leave tomorrow.”

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