Page 24 of Redemption
He blinked at her in puzzlement.
From her seat, Cinnamon looked back and forth at us in confusion.
I let go of his shirt and shooed him away with my hands.
Chuckling, he headed to the other side of the table.
Finally, I sat down.
Cinnamon was staring at me.
I looked over at her with a grin on my face.
“What the hell was that all about?” she asked in a whisper.
I decided honesty was best, “I wanted to sit next to you is all.”
She slowly shook her head at me,
“What?” I asked a bit too innocently.
She rolled her eyes and whispered again, “You are gonna try to pick me up at Ma Walker’s dinner table?”
I paused then nodded. “I would try that with you, just about anywhere.”
Cinnamon looked surprised then she smiled and glanced away.
Good. I made my intentions clear. I think?
A sound rippled out in the rather noisy room. A tinkling. We all looked over at Bea Walker.
“This will be a first,” she announced in a loud voice, so everyone could hear. “Allthe Walkers are now sitting down together at supper!” She beamed. “Be still my heart!” Laughing she added, “In all my born days, I never thought I’d see this day!” She looked over at my dad. “Jarret, I am gonna put you on the spot here. I want you to say Grace this special evening.”
Dad raised his brows at her. “You sure?” he asked her.
“Why yes, I am sure. Get to it.” She nodded at him.
He smiled at her and bowed his head.
Three surprises for us, his sons. One…the smile and the way he looked at her. Two…No one told Dad what to do. And three…he always made each of us say the meal prayer.
“Dear Lord,” my father began as he laced his fingers together and lowered his head. “Please watch over all of us. Keep our Glory safe and give us the strength to face the perils in front of us. Thank you for…this meal. Amen.”
We all repeated, “Amen,” with lowered heads.
Bea nodded at Dad. Their eyes met and her gaze looked saddened. He stared at her and showed an emotion I had never seen in his eyes before. Though, I had trouble identifying it. The man had always been sort of an enigma even to his own children. He lost our mother with the birth of the youngest Walker, Glory. He had been quiet and mostly stoic ever since then. He participated in our upbringing, our schooling, and sports. He did everything a father should and more. But I never saw him happy. Really happy. He was a widower, so after I got to be an adult, I realized that had been why. He loved our mother and missed her. During this one day we’d been here, I had seen him show more emotion than he had for most of my life. Maybe it was being on his own home ground?
“I swanee,” Bea spoke up again. “We need to introduce the ladies here to you all.” She looked over at Talon. “Do the honors, Tristan.”
He cleared his throat and motioned to the petite, black haired woman next to him. “This is my girl, Katya.”
She looked up and gazed around. Her dark blue eyes lit up and she gave us a small wave.
“This is Maggie, she is Hawk’s fiancé.” Talon gave Hawk a wink. “She grew up with us. Then there is Caroline, she is Dagger’s wife, they’re newlyweds in fact. And she also grew up with us. Then we have Ava, she is Raven’s girl and her baby Georgia is adopted…The sweetest little girl you will ever fall in love with.”
Raven raised his hand. “I asked Ava to marry me, so she is my fiancé…my bride to be.” He and Ava beamed at all of us.
“Oh, my stars!” Bea exclaimed. “So, how many weddin’s we got coming?” She looked animated and joyful.
