Page 163 of The Love of Priest

Britain applied her finger to the doorbell, and moments later, she was met with the beaming face of her stepfather. "Say it ain't so!" Henderson smiled at his daughter as he pulled Britain into a hug. "I thought you would never stop by to see your old man."

Britain laughed as she wrapped her arms around him. "Sorry, Pops. I've been busy," she told him as she entered the home.

Although she never really got the chance to stop by often, Britain loved her parents' home. She had so many childhood memories that took place in that very brownstone. Britain's stepfather, Henderson, owned the brownstone which had been passed down from generation to generation of his family. Britain remembered when he and her mother Seven started dating, and he would invite them over. She would think his house was a mansion compared to the tiny apartment Seven and her grandparents lived in at the time.

Henderson opened up his home to Seven and Britain a year later once they got married. Britain used to brag to her cousins about living in a three-story home and having her own bedroom. She was glad that neither Henderson nor Seven made any changes to it.

Henderson smirked at Britain. "I hear. Your mother tells me you have a boyfriend." He raised a brow.

Britain laughed. She was sure her mother had yapped her mouth to everyone by now. "Of course she did." Britain shook her head.

"So, when are you bringing the man over to meet your pops?" He had always been hands-on in Britain's life. Britain was his daughter; no one could tell him otherwise.

Britain let out a light groan as she dramatically took a seat on her parents’ couch. "I forgot to tell him I had two dads," Britain admitted. Meeting her dad, Remy, was stressful enough— well, to her— but now, he had to meet her pops, Henderson.

The smile that canvassed Henderson's face faltered for a brief moment before he quickly masked his face with a light smile. "Oh," he breathed. "He met Jeremy?"

Britain could hear the slight disappointment about not getting the chance to meet her boyfriend before Remy in Henderson's voice. Henderson was still adjusting to the fact that Britain's biological father was now in her life. He had basically raised Britain from her first time riding her bike to her last tantrum she threw about not being able to go to a party on a school night. It was just weird now that Jeremy was in her life.

Britain nodded her head. "Yeah," she eased out. "It's a really complicated story. He actually knew my dad before I knew my dad," Britain explained to Henderson in hopes of making him feel better.

Henderson smiled lightly. "I get it, Mocha. I was actually heading out to go fill in for your mother at the clinic," he muttered, causing Britain to laugh. Seven sure knew how to drive her husband up the wall.

"Best orthopedic surgeon in the nation," Britain cheered him on, trying to make him far more ecstatic about heading to the clinic.

Arrogantly, Henderson dusted his shoulders off. "I don't mean to toot my own horn, but you're kinda right." He did a little dance, which caused Britain to laugh.

Seven descended the steps in the midst of Henderson and Britain’s in laughter. "What's so funny?" she asked with her face screwed up in a playful mean mug.

"Nothing, Ma," Britain waved her off. "Bye, Pops.”

"Bye, Princess." He kissed the top of her head. He then averted his attention to Seven, sharing a light kiss with her and telling her goodbye for the day. He whisked out the door at his usual fast pace that he had acquired during his career at the hospital.

Seven made her way over to the couch across from Britain and plopped down onto it. Britain eyed her mother oddly. "Did you stop dyeing your hair?" Britain asked her mother with a beaming smile of excitement.

Seven nodded her head. "Yeah, I did. Is it that bad?" she asked with a look of concern as she gathered all the tresses to the right side of her face.

"My dad loved your grays." She smirked as she mentioned Remy to her mother.

Seven had always had small streaks of grays in her hair long before she got older. It was just a characteristic that set her apart from many. She complained about it a lot and spent her time dyeing her hair jet black to hide the fact that her hair grayed far earlier than everyone else’s. It made her feel old, but Remy found it gorgeous.

A light sigh drifted out of Seven. "That’s what he told you?"

With a chuckle and a nod of her head, Britain responded to her mother. "Yeah. He still thinks you’re the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. It would be nice to know that you guys could be in the same room together," she eased out with a hopeful grin.

Seven sighed. "I have no issue with Jeremy. You forgave him for missing out?—"

"Ma, he didn't know," Britain corrected her mother, not wanting Remy to be perceived as a deadbeat.

Seven scoffed. "Again," she prompted herself before reiterating her statement. "You forgave him for missing out on your entire life. I hold no ill will against him." She shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Every time Britain came around, she just had to mention Jeremy. Seven suspected that Jeremy had told Britain far more than she had, which she was fine with because she had no intention of discussing him. She wanted Jeremy to stay in the past.

Britain let out sigh of defeat. No matter how much her mother told her she had no issue with her father, Britain knew that just meant she could handle him at a distance. Britain’s inner little girl just wanted to see Seven and Remy in the same room or even share a hug.

"I met someone the other day." Britain shifted the conversation.

"Your father's girlfriend?" She raised a brow, jumping to conclusions.

"No." Britain shook her head. "My dad is literally the definition of a loner. I don't even see him leave the house, honestly." Britain frowned. These days, Remy didn't feel up to doing anything. All he did was stay out the way and take care of himself. Britain noted that she should really take her father out some time. He really deserved it.

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