on retainer with the FBI. The bureau will be taking over the contract and all of you will start following our rules. What happened to that girl was horrible and after what went down with Wayne Gilbert Black, we’re not taking any chances with any of your safety. Are we all on board or do we need to hash this out further?”
I shrugged. “I’ll do what I’m told. As long as I can continue working, I won’t go mad. I’m happy to have a bodyguard. Mr. Holt, though scary and rough around the edges, was very respectful of giving me space to work.”
Jonah nodded.
“After dinner I’ll sit with each of you and get all of your schedules for the week so we can assign the security team accordingly.”
Genesis, Blessing, and Rory entered through the back door along with a bouncing Amber who had a bright green tennis ball in her mouth.
“Auntie Addy!” Rory squealed and raced her little feet across the floor until she slammed into my legs. She hugged me and looked up at me while I put my hand to her bouncy dark curls. “Can I play dwess up wit you?” Her incredible amber eyes were huge and filled with joy. I soaked up every ounce of her love, beauty, and innocence.
“After dinner we can totally play dress up. But I want to be the princess!” I demanded haughtily.
She nodded. “I’ll be Queen.”
“I heard that.” Blessing complimented Rory, a note of pride in her words. “Never be the princess when you can be Queen, sugar,” she boasted.
I rolled my eyes, dipped my head, and kissed Rory’s forehead, then lifted her up and put the almost four-year-old on my hip. She immediately started to play with my long hair, running her fingers through it in a way that was uniquely her. Rory played with all of our hair and maybe it was because her mama was always teasing her own curls or maybe it was her way to connect personally with an individual. I thought maybe it meant she’d be a hairdresser one day. I could use free haircuts for sure.
Gen plopped onto the bench seat and I sat down next to her with Rory in my lap, content to play with my hair and watch everyone move around the kitchen readying to eat.
“You look tired, Gen.” I noted the purple smudges under her eyes.
She yawned, covering her mouth. “Yeah, it’s hard to sleep in a bed with a four-year-old that kicks like she’s having night terrors but is actually sleeping merrily.”
“I’m sorry you have to stay here again. It’s all my fault.”
Gen twisted to face me. “Addy, none of this is anyone’s fault, least of all you. No one has the right to taunt or hurt others the way this person is. I’m more worried about you with this being so soon after the other thing,” she said softly, her words chosen only for me to hear.
I sighed and Rory climbed off my lap and pranced over to where Blessing was stealing tomatoes from the salad. She held her hand up and Blessing stole one and handed it to our niece who acted as though she’d stolen a cookie.
“I’m good, really.” Before I could say another word, Mama Kerri put two steaming hot plates full of enchiladas, beans, and rice before us.
Both of us looked at our plates, picked up a fork, and dug in without further conversation. Food before drama. Always. We’d come back to it later as we did with everything else in our lives.
Mama set plates down all over the table and each of my family members took a spot. Rory crawled up into her highchair which no longer needed the tray. Mama pushed it to the table and Liliana came up behind her with an already cut up enchilada, beans, and a small bowl of rice with a spoon. Rory filled her spoon with beans and shoved the entire lot into her mouth humming happily.
The only one missing was Sonia who worked late most nights and Tabitha who’d never sit at the table again. My heart squeezed at the thought of Tabby but instead of delving back into that grief, I looked around the table. Mama Kerri at the front, Jonah at the end—the resident male of the family at this current time. Simone next to his side, Charlie next to her, and then Blessing. Me sitting next to Gen and Rory, and Liliana on my other side. Ryan would likely pop in later.