Page 21 of Papa's Beloved

I’m a bundle of nerves while I help the ladies clean up. Kelsi is still at her brother’s bedside. I feel a little guilty for not being there, but she told me they had a lot to talk about. I know the ol’ ladies are taking turns visiting her and I have things to deal with.

Things I don’t want to wrap my head around. I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Stormy.

“Want to talk about it?”

I shake my head, then nod. She laughs.

“Yes, but not yet. First, I need to make a call. Do you mind if I skip out on the rest of the cleanup?”

“That’s what prospects are for. Go take care of whatever’s eating at you. Find me when you’re ready to talk. No matter the time of day,” she says before hugging me tightly.

“Love you, girl.”

“Love you more,” she says with a smile.

I head to the stairs and take the three flights to the top floor. No one is in the hall as I make my way to Papa’s apartment. Papa told me they had several things to talk about in Church. Meaning they could be hours. As much as I’m not looking forward to this phone call, I know I have to make it.

After I let myself inside the apartment, I head to the bar and pour three fingers of scotch. I slam it back in a few gulps before searching my phone for my aunt’s number. I take a few breaths and hit call.

Lilian Danvers, my aunt. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She married a wealthy man she met when she went out east for college and never looked back. Considering how both her brothers turned out, I can’t say that I blame her. While she didn’t agree with my role as a doll, she never judged me or made me feel less.

She picked up on the second ring.

“What’s wrong, Nay?”

“How did you know?”

“This is not your normal time, sweet girl. You call me at the same time every week without fail. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

I blink back the tears that sting my eyes. “Linden is back.”

“What do you mean Linden is back? He’s dead.”

“I thought he was dead. I saw video proof with my own eyes. Papa and the Kings are looking for him.”

“Girl, you need to let that man put a ring on it.”

I laugh. I can’t help it. She’s been telling me forever to get over myself and say yes to him, making me his ol’ lady.

“They’re taking a vote on it right now.”

“Tell me how that works. Do they vote for all the ol’ ladies?”

“No, they don’t. Though some clubs do. It was Stormy’s idea. She thought if I got all the brothers' approval, I could finally get over myself.”

“I need to meet this young woman.”

“We can arrange that.”

“You need to tell the others everything.”

“Everything?”

“Everything, sweet girl. They deserve to know what you went through to take care of them.”

“I don’t want them to think less of me.”

“Oh honey, they won’t. Your siblings love you. They think you hung the moon.”

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