Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Really I’m not, baby.” She blew out rings of smoke. “Ain’t no way a man can be tall, sexy, a good musician, great lover, financially successful, excellent journalist, have a successful podcast, good lookin’, clever, romantic and funny, be packin’ like a horse, his voice sound like an echo from the back of a mothafuckin’ cave, White Barry White soundin’ son of a bitch, without a caveat.” She vehemently shook her head and tapped the ashes into an ashtray. “Ain’t nobody that perfect and I ain’t that stupid. Something is wrong with this mothafucka.”
She brought her cigar to her lips again, took a drag. “And I’m too nosy, enthralled, and dickmatized not to try and find out what the hell it is…”
Chapter Nine
On the way to Clifford Florence’s residence, located at the Davenport Nursing Home, Caspian heard the shifting of the boxes on the passenger seat. Among other presents, he’d placed a bronze tin box of expensive cigars wrapped in blue and silver there, in honor of the new baby that had come into the world.
He drove along, listening to the sounds of ‘Dark Necessities’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His lips twitched when the Bluetooth sounds of his phone came through. When he answered the call, Legend was screaming with joy on the other end, declaring that his son had officially made a touchdown.
Caspian made a U-Turn, heading towards the hospital. When he arrived, he found English standing off to the side, dressed in a black and white checkered suit and holding a cup of coffee. She was laughing while talking on the phone.
“Oh, hold on, Annie…” she stated.
She pointed at Axel and Legend in the maternity waiting area, about thirty feet away, so he could join them. He walked there, wrapped his arms around Legend, and handed him the gifts.
“Wow.” He looked around. There were many people present who he recognized from Legend’s wedding. “Nice turnout. Where’s your sister?”
“Melanie just left to get something from her car. She’s been here all day,” Axel answered.
Legend’s face was various shades of pink and red, his eyes moist.
“I need the details, man. What’s his name? How much does he weigh?”
“His name is Roman Legend Vidal, eight pounds, five ounces. Head full of black hair. He has Desiree’s lips and my nose, not sure on the eyes yet since he has ’em all squinty… he looks high.” They all had a good laugh at that. “And even though he’s got big cheeks, all that cute baby fat on his face, you can still see he has dimples. Just like his mama.” He leaned against the wall and ran his hand up and down his thigh. “He’s… he’s beautiful.” Legend’s voice trembled. Then he hung his head and started crying.
Caspian and Axel immediately rushed to hug and comfort him. It was an emotionally picturesque moment. A perfect day in paradise. One Legend would never forget. After a while, they broke it up. Caspian was given a special gift, too. He was allowed in the room with Desiree to finally see the baby with his own two eyes. The woman looked dog-tired. According to English, it had been a fast but hard labor. No time for an epidural.
Regardless, she greeted him with a heartwarming smile.
“Hi, Caspian… Nice to see you. Legend couldn’t wait until you got here.”
“Nice to see you too, sister-in-law.” He bent down to kiss her forehead, then carefully took the baby from her arms. “I washed my hands real good ’fore comin’ in here… Ohhh my, what do we have here?” he said in a hushed tone as he gently peeled back a few layers of the soft yellow and blue striped blanket from around the baby.
He could immediately see the boy’s resemblance to his mother—no doubt—but he definitely saw Legend, too. “Same nose. Same hair. Same ears as your father, boy… now ain’t that a cryin’ shame? Yo’ daddy got a little bit of a point at the top of his ears, kinda like a bat’s.”
Desiree burst out laughing, then nodded in agreement.
“Well, there’s no question about it. Y’all made a nice-lookin’ baby.” He cradled the child to his chest.
“Look at you holdin’ that baby, Caspian. You’re so good at that. I would’ve thought you had chi’dren yourself. Didn’t need no tips or nothin’.” Desiree rearranged her blanket, watching him as if she were truly impressed.
“I had practice. I had a daughter at one point in time.”
“Oh… I’m so sorry. When did she pass?”
“Oh, no ma’am. No need in bein’ sorry. She’s very much alive. It’s a long story and would be a mood dampener if I got into the details on such a fine day as this, but she’s not biologically mine. Yeah though, it’s like ridin’ a bike.” He smiled down at the boy, and kissed the top of his head. “I remember how to do it just fine.”