Page 9 of Peter

ChapterFive

Peter

I pull up to the store I am meeting Savvy at and see her standing outside waiting for me. After getting my hug we go in to grab the kid’s graduation gifts, at least the ones we plan on giving them at the ceremony. As we are waiting for the cashier to bag the gifts, I notice something that reminds me of Lennox. I call another associate over and tell her what I would like. It is going to take a couple of days to get it since it has to be customized.

“How are you feeling today, Savvy? Your last two babies are graduating from college,” I say to her.

“I feel very blessed. I know it was not just me and my strength alone that got me and my babies to this point. And I will forever be grateful that God kept us under his protection, love, and grace. Saint is doing well here with his job and in his marriage, and Skai already has a job offer working with her brother, the only wild card is Shepp. But I have faith that he will be ok too,” Savvy says as she takes the bag from the cashier.

“I wouldn’t worry about Shepp. I have a feeling he’ll be just fine,” I tell her. “You’re looking especially nice today. It wouldn’t have anything to do with your ex coming to town for the kid’s graduation, would it?” I watch as Savvy’s easy-going attitude morphs into just barely contained anger.

“I have no idea why William is even bringing his ass down here for the graduation ceremony, he barely helped those kids all four years they been in college. And of course, Robin has to bring her nerve-wracking ass down here too. Jesus, please be a fence and some bail money,” she rants, and I have to hold the laughter in. I heard all about the incident between Josh and William when Savannah went home to bring her belongings here to Mississippi. And I can’t wait to meet the infamous William and Robin. I just hope we don’t have to come up with a story to explain why they’re missing.

“And how dare you insinuate I dressed up for William! You act like I go around looking homeless!” she finally finishes.

“That is not what I am saying at all. All I am saying is the outfit you have on looks more like something I would pick out for you, and not something you’d choose for yourself,” I tell her while looking over her outfit.

“Jag picked it out,” she says quietly.

I raise my eyebrow but do not make a comment. Joshua knew what he was doing when he picked this outfit. We head back to our cars and head to the graduation venue.

It’s like a village of giants when we get there. All eight brothers are there looking like the walls of Jericho. Jag is at Savannah’s car before she can cut the car off, to help her out. I make my way over to them and pull True into a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I have taken her in as a daughter as well.

After the piece of shit father and adoptive father she needed a learn what a real father is, and although I do not have children, I am sure I can do a better job than either of the men who were in her life. Once we are inside, we find Saint, Mell, Sarai, and Bubba. Savvy’s dad and his wife are in attendance, along with her sister Bailey, her husband Cal, Shell, and her husband Brown. Megan is there also and as usual, she finds herself in Savvy’s arms. She has turned into a huge momma’s girl whenever Savannah is around. I notice that even though she is surrounded by the protection of the Gideons, Anson has not taken his eyes off of her.

We take up damn near a whole section. Bubba ends up in Savvy’s lap and Sarai is in mine for the moment, but I see Anson plotting on taking her from me. Whenever she is around, she never stays in one person’s arms for long and is usually passed around like an offering pan at a Baptist revival. I long to share today with Lennox, I keep looking for her even though she has already told me she would not be able to make it. I am eager to make her a part of my world, but we still have a lot to discuss. I focus on what is going on around me, I want to be present for this moment my grandkids worked too hard for me to be zoned out the whole time.

“Saint, how are you? When does recruiting start for next season?” I ask him.

“We already have our eye on a few prospects and have been trying to lure them over here. But we will begin recruiting in earnest probably next month,” he says.

He and I get into a conversation about recruiting and Skai joining his team as the women are having their own conversation. The brothers are also talking among themselves or have joined in the conversation with me and Saint when a voice stops all the talking.

“There they are, William.” I look up to see a woman and man heading towards us. I can tell it’s William and his wife because Savannah’s kids look just like him. The boys especially.

“We’ve been trying to find y’all for the past thirty minutes. I don’t know why you weren’t outside waiting for us Savvy,” William says.

“I know the hell he didn’t just say that ignorant shit out his mouth!” Shell says.

“My wife isn’t waiting on you or for you anymore, under any circumstances that’s why,” Joshua says with menace laced through his voice. “Don’t come here with that shit, worry about your wife and I’ll worry about mine. And don’t get confused as to who your wife is.”

“You shouldn’t get confused as to who kids are graduating today. I don’t even know why your ass is here.” William responds.

“And that’s no surprise, you wouldn’t understand what it is to support a woman and everything that comes with her,” Josh says.

“Jag baby, not here,” Savvy says when she sees the conversation is getting attention from people around them.

“Dad, Robin why don’t y’all have a seat, the ceremony is going to be starting any moment,” Saint says diffusing the situation.

I am shocked William is still breathing but I guess it was out of respect for the kid’s graduation. I do not think William noticed that all seven of Josh’s brothers were getting ready to act an ass. Just as I think about how lucky he is the music comes on alerting us that the ceremony is beginning.

It really should be against the law to make a graduation this damn long. All these people pontificating, that no one cares about shouldn’t even be on the program. Finally, it’s time for the kids to walk the stage. In true Gideon fashion, they hired not just a photographer of their own but a videographer to capture the once-in-a-lifetime event.

When Shepp’s name is called out, we explode with cheers, yells, and whistles, and then Skai’s name is announced right after, and we get even louder for her. I must revise my earlier thought, even though she does look like her father, she is definitely her mother’s daughter. She is stunning today, usually, she is a high-octane ball of energy in sweats, and jeans but today she is actually in heels, with make-up, hair done, and looking like a runway model.

I peek to my right to see if there is any reaction for Jabarri and I am not sure the reaction adequately describes what is happening with him. But the real reaction happens when he notices Alayna waiting for Skai and the bottom of the stairs. They embrace, share a quick kiss, and hold hands back to their seat. I look back over to him, and he’s ripped the program in half. I really feel sorry for him he’s in a tough spot and I hope things work out for him.

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