Genuine amusement took root on Hill’s face and he gave an obedient nod. “I’ll call today.”
“Baby, did you tell her you were coming here?” Imani asked.
Hill shook her head. “I didn’t tell anybody.”
It was Roman who erupted in a belt of laughter that time. “Well that’s about to change!” He declared.
Affected by his father’s contagious joy,
Hill dissolved into more laughter. “Yeah Dad, I guess it is.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
One Week Later~
Roman and Imani used the next several days after their son’s return, to prepare for a visit they never imagined would take place. Having never had girls, the couple did their homework on learning to prepare the kind of room they thought would thrill the average six year old. That the six year olds were their granddaughters, the Tesanos of course went overboard.
Imani was eager to meet the needs of all her
guests, though. She made sure the room she prepared for Hill and
Persephone would be an oasis. She was hoping the couple would share
more than the children who bound them.
~~~
The eager grandparents waited on the brick, semi-circular steps that led up to their front door. Hands clasped, the two held back happy tears when they saw the SUV appearing at the far end of the private road leading to their home.
“I don’t know which part of this is more unreal, that we’re about to meet our first grandchildren or that they’re Hills.”
Imani laughed over her husband’s words while her tears rolled. “I’m so nervous and happy, that I’m delirious.” She swiped at the tears as more appeared.
Roman traded holding his wife’s hand for holding her snug against the side of his chest.
Within moments, the SUV was pulling to a stop in the circular drive. Hill and Persephone released the children from their car seats.
Looking on, Imani realized her nervousness was about to be shoved aside by pure joy.
The girls raced for the porch steps the moment their sneakers hit the ground. Roman and Imani knelt to meet them, laughing when they heard the small voices calling out to them.
“Gram’Mani! Papa!”
The impact of the tiny bodies hitting them, only roused more laughter from the elated grandparents who held the twins close, turning their faces into their necks to inhale the unmistakable fragrance of baby lotion clinging to their silken skin.
Roman cleared his throat to relieve some of the emotion blocking it. “Let’s take a look at you beauties,” he looked first to the child who had barreled into him, then on to her mirror image. “Okay then, which one of you is which?” he asked in an amused gruff tone that made the girls giggle.
“I’m Leeya,” Leeya announced in her patented challenging style.
“I’m Layah,” Layah’s slightly more demure manner was easily recognized.
“Well aren’t those the loveliest names-” Imani’s attempt to bestow the compliment, was interrupted when she lost her scrimmage with emotion and began to weep lightly.
Leeya wiggled from her spot on her grandfather’s thigh to join her sister who gently rubbed Imani’s shoulder.
“Don’t cry, Gram’Mani.” Layah said.
Imani made a valiant attempt at stifling her emotion. She didn’t do so well.
“It’s okay,” Leeya soothed and put a kiss to her grandmother’s cheek.
Layah mimicked her sister’s action and then both girls turned their little faces into Imani’s neck as she squeezed them close.
Still waiting by the SUV, Hill and
Persephone exchanged knowing smiles. Hill jerked his head to
indicate Persephone should follow him. Roman and Imani disregarded
all else surrounding them save the little girls who had captured
their hearts.
~~~
Hill took Persephone the back way into his parents’ kitchen. The space was open enough to hold the warm, inviting kitchen as well as a spacious lounge area. There, the nervous parents waited.
In reality, there was only one nervous parent. Hill relaxed in the lounge area in one of the deep square chairs, his feet propped on a matching navy blue ottoman.
Persephone, on the other hand, chewed her thumbnail as she paced between the kitchen island and the long counter space on the other side.
“If you need to pace, would you mind doing it right here?” Hill waved to the spot directly in front of his chair.
Persephone kept pacing. “Could you get your mind out of your jockstrap at least while we’re in your parents’ house?”
“They raised four boys, Sef. They’re used to our minds being in our jockstraps.”
Persephone tried, but couldn’t resist letting a smile break through. “I really need you to be serious.”
Hill set his jaw to his fist and smiled. “Why are you so nervous?”
Persephone rounded the island then. “Are you being serious now? Why am I so nervous? Well… could it be the fact that I’ve been raising your parents’ grandchildren for six years without them or their son- the father- even knowing they existed? They’re gonna come in here soon demanding answers...Tell me how you could ask why I’m nervous?”
Hill took his time offering a reply. He was quite content then as she’d moved her pace attack closer to his chair. The flaring hem of her light denim dress stopped just above her knee to provide tantalizing glimpses of the lush thighs that made him stiff on sight. The capped sleeves and button up bodice further emphasized her curves.
