Epilogue: The Stakeout

*ERIC*

“I don’t like him.”

Mira didn’t look up.

That pissed me off more than if she had argued.

She sat on the other end of the couch with her legs underneath her, scrolling through something on her phone like our daughter hadn’t just left this house with some strange man.

Some strange man who apparently thought he could pull into my driveway.

Walk to my front door.

Ring my doorbell.

And leave with my daughter.

Like that shit was normal.

“Mira.”

“I heard you.”

“I said I don’t like him.”

“And I said nothing.”

“Exactly.”

She looked up.

“What do you want me to say?”

“That you agree.”

“I don’t.”

I stared at her.

She went back to her phone.

I reached over and grabbed it.

“Jamira.”

That got her attention.

Her eyes lifted slowly.

“What?”

“You saw him.”

“Yes.”

“You saw his shoes?”

She blinked.

“His shoes?”

“Yes.”

“What was wrong with his shoes?”

I sat forward.

“Exactly.”

“What?”

“You didn’t notice.”

She stared at me.

Then started laughing.

“This isn’t funny.”

“What was wrong with his shoes?”

“I didn’t like them.”

“What does that have to do with him dating Erian?”

“Everything.”

“Eric.”

“What?”

“She is grown.”

“I know how old she is.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Because you’re acting like she’s fifteen.”

“I wasn’t letting her date at fifteen either.”

“I remember.”

“Good.”

“She’s not a kid anymore.”

“Never said she was.”

“Then let her live her life.”

I looked toward the front door.

Her life.

That was exactly the fucking problem.

I didn’t like her having one outside this house that involved boys.

I was a boy.

I knew how they thought.

How I thought.

What they did.

What I did to her mama.

And that shit didn’t sit right with me because no boy was gonna touch my daughter like that.

Work?

Fine.

Friends?

Whatever.

Going places?

Within reason.

Some man picking her up?

Absolutely the fuck not.

“As long as she lives under my roof, her life is my life.”

Mira’s mouth dropped.

Then she laughed.

Hard.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No. What?”

“You actually believe that.”

“I know that.”

“She pays bills here.”

“Seldomly.”

“She buys groceries.”

“Only the stuff she likes.”

“She contributes to the mortgage.”

“I told her to stop.”

“She’s an adult, Eric.”

“Under my roof.”

“You have got to stop saying that.”

“Why?”

“Because you sound ridiculous.”

“I sound like a father.”

“You sound like a father who is about to get on his grown daughter’s nerves.”

“Too late.”

Mira smiled.

“At least you know.”

I looked at the clock.

They’d been gone thirty-seven minutes.

“What restaurant did she say they were going to?”

Mira immediately looked at me.

“No.”

“I asked a question.”

“And I know why.”

“I’m making conversation.”

“You have never made conversation in your life.”

“That’s not true.”

“You interrogate people.”

“I talk.”

“You investigate.”

“I communicate.”

“You gather evidence.”

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Then narrowed her eyes.

“Eric.”

“What?”

“Leave that girl alone.”

“I’m sitting right here.”

“Stay sitting right there.”

“I am.”

“Good.”

She snatched her phone back.

I waited.

Maybe thirty seconds.

Then stood.

Her head snapped up.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Eric.”

“What?”

“Where?”

“I need something.”

“From where?”

“The store.”

“What store?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“You don’t know what store, but you know you need something?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

I looked around.

Nothing.

Damn.

“Batteries.”

She stared at me.

“For what?”

“Things need batteries.”

“What things?”

“Mira.”

She slowly put her phone down.

“You better not be thinking about following that girl.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I know you.”

“You think you do.”

“I’ve been married to you for two damn decades.”

“Then you should trust me.”

“I trust you to do exactly the bullshit I think you’re about to do.”

I grabbed my keys.

“Love you.”

“Eric.”

“Love you too.”

“I didn’t say it back.”

“I know you do.”

“ERIC.”

I closed the door.

She’d get over it.

Eventually.

⸻

Ezra was my first mistake.

I should’ve gone alone.

Instead, I found him upstairs and told him to put some shoes on.

He followed me all the way to the garage asking questions.

“Where are we going?”

“Out.”

“Where?”

“Why everybody in this family need details?”

“Because you came into my room and told me to put shoes on.”

“Then put them on.”

“I did.”

“Good.”

He stopped beside the truck.

Then looked at me.

Really looked at me.

His face changed.

“No.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m doing.”

“Yes, I do.”

“How?”

“Because Erian left on a date forty minutes ago, Mom told you to leave her alone, and now you’re wearing that jacket.”

I looked down at myself.

“What the hell my jacket got to do with anything?”

“You wear that one when you’re doing bullshit.”

I stared at my son.

“I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“You’re already outside.”

“Dad.”

“Get in.”

“No.”

“Ezra.”

“I like living.”

“Nobody is going to kill you.”

“Erian might.”

“She ain’t gonna do shit.”

He stared at me.

I thought about it.

“She ain’t gonna do shit to you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“Get in the truck.”

He sighed.

Then climbed in.

Good boy.

We got maybe four blocks before he noticed the binoculars.

He looked at them.

Then at me.

“Why do you have binoculars in your car?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Normal people don’t keep binoculars in their car.”

“Normal people aren’t prepared.”

“For what?”

“Anything.”

He looked behind his seat.

“Is that a camera?”

“Leave my shit alone.”

“Oh my God.”

“Stop being dramatic.”

“You have spy equipment.”

“It ain’t spy equipment.”

“What do you call binoculars, a camera, and—”

He reached toward the console.

I slapped his hand.

“Don’t touch that.”

“What is it?”

“None of your business.”

He slowly sat back.

“You need help.”

“Your mama says that too.”

“She’s right.”

“Both of y’all get on my nerves.”

I pulled into a parking lot across from the restaurant.

Not directly across.

That would’ve been stupid.

Diagonal.

Better angle.

Less obvious.

Ezra looked around.

Then at me.

“You know where she is?”

“Of course.”

“How?”

“Your mama told me.”

“Mom told you?”

“Not technically.”

“What does that mean?”

“She mentioned it.”

“When?”

“Earlier.”

“To you?”

“Not exactly.”

He closed his eyes.

“You overheard her.”

“Information is information.”

“I want to go home.”

“You just got here.”

“I didn’t want to come.”

“You’ll be alright.”

“I’m calling Erian.”

I snatched his phone.

“Dad!”

“Absolutely not.”

“Give me my phone.”

“You’re compromised.”

“What?”

“You can’t be trusted.”

“I DIDN’T WANT TO BE HERE.”

A knock hit the window.

Both of us jumped.

“SHIT.”

I turned.

Thorne.

Standing outside my truck.

Holding three coffees.

Ezra looked at me.

I looked at him.

Then back at Thorne.

He knocked again.

I lowered the window.

“What?”

“Sorry I’m late.”

I stared at him.

“Late for what?”

He held up the coffee.

“The stakeout.”

Ezra dropped his head against the headrest.

“Of course.”

I looked at Thorne.

Then the coffee.

Then him again.

“Who invited you?”

“I wouldn’t miss this.”

“Nobody asked you.”

He tried the back door.

Locked.

Then looked at me.

“Let me in. It’s cold.”

“No.”

“Eric.”

“Go home.”

He knocked on the window again.

“I brought coffee.”

I looked at the cup holder.

Empty.

Then at him.

“What kind?”

“Yours is black.”

I unlocked the door.

Ezra looked disgusted.

“You’re weak.”

“Shut up.”

Thorne climbed into the passenger seat and made Ezra get in the back.

He closed the door.

Then handed me my coffee.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I took a sip.

Ezra stuck his head between us.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That we were doing this.”

Thorne handed him a cup.

“Your mother.”

I slowly turned.

“What?”

He looked at me.

“Jamira.”

“I know who my mother is,” Ezra said.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

I pulled out my phone.

Mira.

That sneaky—

The screen lit before I could call.

FACETIME — MIRA

I answered.

Her face appeared.

Ayana’s too.

I frowned.

“Why is Ayana there?”

“Hello to you too,” Ayana said.

“Where are y’all?”

“At home.”

“Whose?”

“Mine.”

“Why?”

Mira stared at me.

“Why are you sitting outside a restaurant spying on our daughter?”

I looked at Thorne.

He sipped his coffee.

Traitor.

“You invited him?”

“I informed him.”

“WHY?”

“Because if you’re going to be stupid, I want witnesses.”

Ayana leaned closer to the screen.

“Can y’all see them?”

“Barely.”

“Move closer.”

I stared at her.

“You’re encouraging this.”

“Ain’t shit else to do.”

Mira looked at her.

“You said we weren’t.”

“I lied.”

I pointed at the phone.

“See? This is why Walt can’t control shit.”

Ayana smiled.

“Walt doesn’t know.”

Of course he didn’t.

Ezra leaned toward the phone.

“Mom, can I go home?”

“No,” Mira said.

His face dropped.

“What?”

“You’re already there.”

“I didn’t want to come!”

“Record it.”

“MOM.”

“I want to see.”

I smiled.

“That’s my wife.”

“Shut up, Eric.”

I laughed.

Then looked toward the restaurant.

There.

Heated patio.

Clear plastic barriers around part of it.

Tables underneath those big standing heaters.

And near the edge—

Erian.

I sat forward.

“Found her.”

Ezra groaned.

Thorne leaned up.

“Where?”

“There.”

“I can’t see.”

I pointed in her direction.

Mira’s voice came through the phone.

“Turn the camera.”

Ezra looked miserable.

“Why am I involved in this family?”

“Because you were born,” I said.

“I didn’t choose that.”

“Neither did I.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Shut up and record.”

He turned the phone.

Erian sat across from the dude.

Still didn’t like him.

His shoes looked worse from here.

“What are they saying?” Ayana asked.

“How the hell would we know?”

“You don’t have audio?”

I slowly looked at Thorne.

He looked at me.

“No,” we said together.

Ezra stared at both of us.

“Why did y’all answer like that?”

“Mind your business.”

For a while, nothing happened.

They ate.

Talked.

Erian smiled a few times.

I didn’t like that.

Then she laughed.

Really laughed.

I liked that even less.

“What the fuck is so funny?”

“Dad.”

“What?”

“She’s having a good time.”

“I can see that.”

“That’s supposed to be good.”

“According to who?”

“Normal people.”

“Fuck normal people.”

“Eric,” Mira said.

“Sorry.”

Then something changed.

Erian stopped smiling.

I saw it immediately.

Her shoulders shifted.

Her face tightened.

Jaw locked.

There it was.

Mine.

She looked just like me.

Shit.

Her hand moved toward her water glass.

I sat up.

“Oh.”

Ezra looked.

“What?”

I pointed.

“Twenty dollars says she throws that water on him.”

Ezra stared at me.

“She is not throwing water on anybody.”

“Look at her jaw.”

“What about it?”

“She pissed.”

“You can’t tell that from here.”

“I make that face.”

“Unfortunately,” Mira said.

“Stay out of this.”

Thorne leaned forward.

“I’ll take that bet.”

I looked over.

“You think she won’t?”

“I think she’s more restrained than you.”

“Twenty.”

“Twenty.”

Ezra shook his head.

“Both of you are ridiculous.”

I watched her.

The dude said something.

Erian’s jaw tightened harder.

Her fingers wrapped around the glass.

I smiled.

“Here we go.”

“She’s not doing it,” Ezra said.

“She doing it.”

“No.”

“She absolutely is.”

Erian lifted the glass.

Thorne sat forward.

Ezra whispered—

“Don’t.”

Like she could hear him.

Then—

SPLASH.

Right in that motherfucker’s face.

I slapped the steering wheel.

“PAY ME.”

“Oh my God,” Ezra said.

“PAY ME.”

Thorne reached for his wallet.

I turned toward Ezra.

“Pay up.”

He paused.

“Huh?”

“Pay up. You lost.”

“I didn’t even bet.”

“You said she wouldn’t.”

“I didn’t bet.”

“Verbal opinion counts as a bet.”

Ezra stared at me.

“That is not how betting works.”

“Twenty.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out twenty dollars.

Mira screamed through the phone.

Ayana was laughing so hard I couldn’t hear anything else.

“I KNEW IT.”

Ezra looked horrified.

“Why are you happy?”

“Because I know my daughter.”

“She just threw water on somebody!”

“Exactly.”

Thorne handed me a twenty.

I held it up toward the phone.

“Easy money.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Mira said.

“I ain’t even over there.”

“Your spirit is.”

“That don’t count.”

I looked back toward Erian.

She was standing now.

The dude was wiping his face.

Good.

Probably deserved it.

She grabbed her purse.

Said something.

Turned.

And—

stopped.

Her eyes narrowed.

At first, I didn’t understand why.

Then she looked directly across the parking lot.

At us.

No.

I slowly lowered the twenty.

Ezra followed my eyes.

“Oh shit.”

Thorne leaned forward.

“What?”

“She sees us.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

Erian started walking.

Directly toward us.

Thorne looked through the windshield.

“Oh.”

I started the truck.

Ezra grabbed the door.

“NO.”

“What?”

“You are not leaving her!”

“I ain’t leaving her.”

“You started the car!”

“I was adjusting the heat.”

“YOU TOUCHED THE GEAR.”

Erian was getting closer.

I looked at Thorne.

He looked at me.

“Drive,” he said.

“You said she was restrained!”

“I misjudged.”

“Dad,” Ezra warned.

The phone was still connected.

Mira was laughing.

Ayana yelled—

“DON’T LEAVE!”

“Everybody shut up!”

Erian reached the truck.

Knocked on my window.

I looked straight ahead.

Maybe she couldn’t see through the tint.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

“Let me in.”

Fuck.

I looked at Thorne.

He looked at me.

“She can see us.”

“I know.”

“You said—”

“I KNOW.”

Erian knocked again.

“Dad.”

I lowered the window two inches.

“Hey, baby.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Open the door.”

“What happened to your date?”

“Open. The. Door.”

“You good?”

“Do I look good?”

“Not really.”

“Then open the door.”

I unlocked it.

She yanked the back door open.

Ezra immediately moved to the other side.

“I didn’t want to come.”

“Shut up, Ezra.”

“I told him not to.”

“I KNOW YOU DIDN’T BRING MY BROTHER ON A STAKEOUT.”

“Technically,” Thorne said, “I believe your father brought him.”

She looked up.

Her eyes widened.

“SERGIO?”

“Hey, Erian.”

“What are YOU doing here?”

I pointed.

“THANK YOU. I’ve been asking that shit for years.”

Thorne adjusted his coat.

“I was invited.”

“BY WHO?”

Mira’s laugh came through the phone.

Erian froze.

Slowly.

She looked at my phone.

Then at me.

“Is that Mom?”

Silence.

Mira immediately hung up.

The screen went black.

Erian stared at it.

Then at me.

“Oh my God.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

“Your mama wanted to make sure you were safe.”

“DON’T PUT THIS ON HER.”

“She’s the one who called.”

“Because YOU were already here!”

“That sounds like speculation.”

Ezra snorted.

Erian turned.

“Were you recording?”

He held up both hands.

“Under duress.”

“Ezra.”

“Mom told me to!”

Her mouth dropped.

“Oh my God.”

She sat back.

Covered her face.

“I hate this family.”

I smiled.

“You want twenty dollars?”

Her hands lowered.

“What?”

I held up one of the bills.

“Won it off Thorne.”

“For what?”

I probably shouldn’t have told her.

I did.

“Bet you were gonna throw the water.”

Her eyes widened.

“You BET ON ME?”

“I won.”

“Give it to me.”

“What?”

“Half.”

“For what?”

“I threw it.”

I stared at her.

She held out her hand.

“That’s my water.”

Thorne nodded.

“She has a point.”

“You stay out of this.”

“Pay me.”

I gave her ten.

She folded it and put it in her purse.

Ezra stared at all of us.

“I cannot believe we’re related.”

“Neither can I,” Erian said.

I looked toward the restaurant.

“So what he say?”

“None of your business.”

“Must’ve been something.”

“Dad.”

“You threw water.”

“And I’ll throw some on you too.”

I smiled.

“There she is.”

She glared at me.

“Take me home.”

“Gladly.”

“What about my date?”

“Fuck him.”

“Dad.”

“What? You just assaulted him with Dasani.”

“It wasn’t Dasani.”

Thorne looked toward the restaurant.

“It appeared filtered.”

I looked at him.

“Why are you like this?”

“I was clarifying.”

“Stop.”

⸻

We weren’t halfway home before the truth came out.

Not about the date.

She refused to discuss that.

The stakeouts.

Erian sat behind me with her arms crossed.

“You’ve done this before.”

It wasn’t a question.

I kept my eyes on the road.

“No.”

Ezra laughed from the back.

I looked in the mirror.

“Shut up.”

Erian turned.

“Ezra.”

He looked out the window.

“I value my life.”

“EZRA.”

“Ask Kayla.”

I closed my eyes.

Traitor.

“Kayla?”

Erian looked at me.

“You stalked Kayla’s dates?”

“I supervised.”

“You followed her?”

“Sometimes.”

“How many times?”

“That’s irrelevant.”

“Oh my God.”

Thorne sipped his coffee.

“It became something of a family tradition.”

I looked over at him.

“YOU WEREN’T EVEN THERE FOR ALL OF THEM.”

“I heard stories.”

“From who?”

He looked out the window.

Of course.

Erian grabbed her phone.

“I’m calling Kayla.”

“You don’t need to.”

She was already doing it.

Kayla answered on the third ring.

“Hello?”

Erian put her on speaker.

“Did Dad stalk your dates?”

Silence.

Then—

“Oh.”

I sighed.

“Hey, Sour Patch.”

“Uncle Eric.”

“You don’t know what she’s talking about.”

“Yes, I do.”

“See, this why I don’t call you.”

“You called me yesterday.”

“That ain’t the point.”

Kayla laughed.

“He absolutely did.”

Erian’s mouth dropped.

“How many times?”

“I don’t know. A lot.”

“A LOT?”

“Not a lot,” I said.

“Uncle Eric, you followed me to the movies.”

“You were sixteen.”

“You followed me to dinner when I was twenty.”

“He WHAT?” Erian yelled.

“That was different.”

“How?”

“I didn’t like him.”

Kayla laughed.

“You never liked anybody.”

“Exactly.”

Erian stared at me.

“Who else?”

I said nothing.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Anaya.”

Fuck.

⸻

By the time we got home, Anaya had been summoned.

So had Walt.

Ayana was already there.

Mira sat on the couch looking entirely too pleased with herself.

Erian walked through the door first.

“I know.”

Mira blinked.

“Know what?”

“The Wilkes family apparently has a stalking tradition.”

“Stakeout,” I corrected.

Erian turned.

“That does not make it better.”

Ayana burst out laughing.

Walt looked at me.

“You did it again?”

“Don’t start.”

“I thought you were done with this.”

“I told you your privileges were revoked.”

Erian stopped.

“His WHAT?”

I pointed at Walt.

“Don’t.”

“No,” Erian said. “Please continue.”

Walt looked entirely too happy.

“Your father told me my stakeout privileges were revoked months ago.”

“Why?”

“Because I got a little carried away.”

“Understatement.”

Walt looked at me.

“How?”

“You got out of the car.”

“He needed correcting.”

“You threatened to call his employer.”

“He was late to work all the time.”

“HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?” Erian yelled.

He shrugged.

“Research.”

She covered her face.

“This is insane.”

Anaya walked in from the kitchen eating something.

“What happened?”

Erian pointed at me.

“He followed me on my date.”

Anaya nodded.

“Yup. Sounds about right.”

Erian stared at her.

“Huh?”

“He did it to me too.”

“You knew?”

“Yeah.”

“And you never told me?”

“I thought you knew.”

“WHY WOULD I KNOW?”

Anaya shrugged.

“It’s Uncle Eric.”

Exactly.

Walt sat down.

“For the record, I got shit done.”

I looked at him.

“Bullshit.”

“I did.”

Ayana laughed.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Thank you.”

Walt pointed at her.

“Because YOU hyped me up.”

Her mouth dropped.

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

“What did I say?”

“You said, ‘If I was there, I’d fuck some shit up.’”

Ayana thought about it.

Then nodded.

“Okay. I did say that.”

Erian looked between them.

“So all of you are crazy.”

“Pretty much,” Anaya said.

Mira raised her hand.

“I wasn’t involved with Kayla.”

I stared at her.

“You knew.”

“I knew after.”

“You didn’t stop me.”

“I tried.”

“Not hard.”

“Because you’re grown.”

“Exactly.”

Erian pointed.

“THANK YOU.”

I looked at her.

“Don’t use my wife against me.”

“She’s my mother.”

“She was my wife first.”

“Here we go,” Ezra muttered.

I looked at him.

“You still here?”

“I live here.”

“So does everybody apparently.”

Erian dropped onto the couch.

“I hate it here.”

I looked at her.

“Then move.”

Her head snapped toward me.

“No way, old man.”

Everybody laughed.

“Then stop complaining.”

“I can complain where I pay bills.”

“I told you I don’t want your money.”

“And I told you I’m grown.”

“Then move.”

“No.”

“Then you’re under my roof.”

Mira threw a pillow.

It hit me directly in the face.

I caught it.

“What?”

“Leave her alone.”

“She started it.”

“She went on a date.”

“Exactly.”

Erian groaned and stretched across the couch.

Her head landed in my lap like it had done a thousand times before.

I looked down at her.

She looked up at me.

“What?”

“You too grown for this.”

“Get over it.”

I smiled.

There she was.

I put my hand against her hair and started scratching her scalp.

Slowly.

Her eyes closed almost immediately.

Didn’t matter how old she got.

That shit still worked.

Mira noticed.

Of course.

She smiled.

I ignored her.

For a few minutes, everybody talked around us.

Walt and Ayana arguing about who started the stakeout.

Anaya defending herself for something nobody accused her of.

Ezra telling Sergio he should’ve known better.

Sergio explaining that he’d merely provided logistical support.

Bullshit.

Eventually, I looked down.

“You alright?”

Erian opened one eye.

“I’m fine.”

“He ain’t worth throwing water over.”

“He deserved it.”

“I figured.”

“You don’t even know what he said.”

“Don’t need to.”

She smiled a little.

Then it disappeared.

“I liked him.”

I kept scratching her scalp.

“I know.”

“I thought he was different.”

“Most people do.”

She opened both eyes.

“That supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I smiled.

“You’ll find better.”

Her face softened.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She settled deeper into my lap.

Then I added—

“When you’re fifty.”

Her eyes opened.

“Daddy.”

Mira threw another pillow.

“ERIC.”

“What?”

“You almost had it.”

“I said she’ll find somebody.”

“At fifty?”

“That’s reasonable.”

Erian sat up.

“I will date whoever I want.”

“Not under my roof.”

“Here we fucking go,” Ezra said.

“Watch your mouth.”

“You just—”

“I’m your father.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does to me.”

Erian laid back down.

“I’m still not moving.”

“Then I guess you ain’t dating.”

“I literally just did.”

“And look how that turned out.”

She stared at me.

I stared back.

Then—

“You’re an asshole.”

My eyebrows went up.

Mira gasped.

The room went silent.

Erian’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

I slowly stopped scratching her head.

“Excuse me?”

She sat up.

“I meant—”

“Get out.”

“Daddy.”

“You grown, right?”

She started laughing.

“Stop.”

“Go be grown somewhere else.”

“No.”

“That’s what I thought.”

She dropped her head back into my lap.

I shook mine.

Spoiled ass.

My hand went right back to her hair.

Of course it did.

Across the room, Sergio smiled.

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why you smiling?”

He lifted his coffee.

“It’s nice.”

“What is?”

“This.”

I looked around.

Everybody.

Still.

Somehow.

Walt and Ayana had stayed.

Anaya was sitting on the floor.

Ezra had taken over the chair.

Mira was curled against the opposite end of the couch.

Anais and Erica were upstairs doing Lord knows what.

Esme was staying over at a friend’s house.

Eli was probably upstairs playing video games.

Sergio was—

Wait.

I frowned.

“Who invited you in the house?”

He looked at me.

“You did.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You drove me here.”

“That is not an invitation.”

“I came inside with everyone else.”

“Exactly. Nobody told you to.”

Erian spoke without opening her eyes.

“He can stay.”

I looked down.

“You don’t own this house.”

“I pay bills.”

“NOT ENOUGH.”

Sergio smiled.

“Thank you, Erian.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Both of y’all get on my nerves.”

Mira laughed.

I looked at her.

She was watching me again.

That look.

The one she’d been giving me for decades.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You always say nothing.”

“Because sometimes there isn’t anything to say.”

I looked down at Erian.

Still in my lap.

Grown.

Still here.

Stubborn as hell.

Still coming to me when something hurt.

Ezra across the room.

Twenty-one now.

Still somehow attached to Sergio.

God help me.

The others had their own lives too.

Erian, my Velcro child, was twenty.

Still raising hell.

Esme, fifteen and finally social enough to make friends.

Eli, twelve and still wanting his mama.

My baby girl, Erica.

Eleven and refusing to share her dad.

Jobs.

Relationships.

Problems I had to fix.

Choices I couldn’t make for them.

I’d spent years thinking fatherhood was keeping shit from happening.

Keeping everybody safe.

Keeping the doors locked.

Keeping people out.

Keeping my family close enough that I could reach them if something went wrong.

Turns out—

shit happened anyway.

Kids grew up.

They left.

Some came back.

Some refused to fucking leave.

They fell in love.

Got their hearts broken.

Made mistakes.

Made choices I hated.

Built lives that belonged to them.

And no amount of binoculars in my truck could change that.

Didn’t mean I was getting rid of them.

That would’ve been irresponsible.

Erian moved against my leg.

“Daddy?”

“What?”

“You gonna follow me next time?”

“Yes.”

“Eric,” Mira said.

“What?”

Erian smiled without opening her eyes.

“I knew you were gonna say that.”

“Then don’t ask stupid questions.”

She laughed.

I scratched her scalp again.

“I’m serious though.”

“I know.”

“You better not.”

“Then move.”

“No.”

I smiled.

There it was.

All these years later.

Still under my roof.

Still mine to worry about.

Not mine to control.

I knew the difference now.

Mostly.

Mira leaned over and kissed my cheek.

I looked at her.

“What was that for?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

She smiled.

“I love you.”

I looked around the room.

At our daughter stretched across my lap.

Our son arguing with his godfather.

Our family scattered everywhere.

At people who had spent years coming through my door like they lived here.

Some of them practically did.

Then back at my wife.

Still her.

After everything.

Still fucking her.

I kissed her.

“I love you too.”

Erian groaned beneath us.

“Oh my God.”

I pulled away.

“What?”

“Can y’all not do that over me?”

“Then move.”

She settled farther into my lap.

“No.”

I laughed.

Of course not.

She’d never give me the satisfaction.

Or my peace of mind.

Nobody ever fucking left.

And maybe—

I didn’t really want them to.