Chapter 7

• Chapter Seven
• Damien’s big brain was a hot commodity in the mathematics and physics world. He and his son were registered Mensa members. Uncle Hero had put up one hell of a fight to make sure his grandson went to a private school for young geniuses unlike his own son. He even paid the exuberant fees. Damien’s parents had also occupied their guest room and they didn’t look like they were in any hurry to move out. They’d been around eight months already and Uncle Hero loved study time with DJ and so did the kid. Damien joined in after Tasha told him how ridiculous he was being jealous of the two instead of just adding himself to their little group.
• After the two couples chaotic beginning, they were quite happy and had settled into family life just dandy. Derek was glad for them.
• Derek’s own parents had also come for a visit, but only because they heard someone had walked into his condo and shot him. And now they were thinking about moving back, permanently. Derek loved his parents, but having them around all the time especially when he went back to work… his mother would have questions he couldn’t and wouldn’t answer. He could already foresee the disaster that would be. But he was glad his new apartment was a one bedroom and his parents currently lived in a hotel. Derek didn’t know how his cousins held onto their sanity. A house full of kids and their parents at the same time, he would have lost it by now.
• He smiled when he spotted his father Alonzo Silva, in the sunroom standing next to a potted plant, watching the room. It was in complete chaos, filled with children’s laughter as they rolled around on the floor with his uncles. Hell, he hoped his dad wasn’t feeling the grandpa itch. His mom was suffering a bad case of it. She’d been hinting at grandbabies for years now. He waved at the group of Dale’s co-workers standing by the electric fireplace. Three of them were seated in the lounge chairs arranged to cage up the fire in the fireplace and to keep the kids away. He spotted the top of Gwen’s head huddled close to a blondes. Paloma perhaps.
• He walked into the room towards his father, giving him a big hug when he reached him, “Pops, it’s been too long.”
• He snorted once Derek pulled away, “And whose fault is that?”
• Once upon a time, when he looked larger than life, that raised black brow would have made him think twice about giving a smart answer, but not so much anymore. They were the same build and he was quite fit for a man in his sixties that it shamed Derek. He looked like Rico Suave with his Clerk Kent hair—all his mother’s words.
• “Yours I believe.”
• He sighed shaking his head, “Your mother seems to think so. She blames me for your itchy feet,” his gaze grew intense, “I got blamed for your attitude toward your daughter and that was one too far.” Derek groaned, “Apparently you got too much of me in you. I called her a liar seeing as how I settled down and took care of my kid.”
• “I didn’t want a kid.”
• Derek should have seen it coming, but as always his dad moved fast and undetected. He winced and clenched his jaw when he felt the sting of a slap behind his neck followed by a tight squeeze. His father pulled him down until his head was bowed and he was hunched over.
• Alonzo leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Your mother didn’t name you Derek because she liked the German name. She said the moment she held you she knew you were a natural born leader. Days it took me to find a name with that meaning. I gave you my names because I’ve never known your mother to be wrong about anything, and she wasn’t about you. A true junior.” Derek cringed when he squeezed harder and harshly added, “If you didn’t want a kid you should have kept it in your pants or worn a fucking condom. You don’t make stupid mistakes like those and not expect consequences.”
• He let go of Derek and went back to looking completely relaxed like the last five seconds hadn’t happen. Derek stretched his neck. He hated disappointing his father. He was probably the only man who still believed his dad was superman. But… ah hell!
• He nervously rubbed his forehead, “Am I causing problems between you and mom?”
• His dad pulled the bottle from behind his leg and took a long draw. Once it was back hidden behind his leg he said, “I’m drinking in the middle of the day. Have been since we found out about our granddaughter. What do you think?”
• Ah hell! Derek didn’t want this. He didn’t want any of it. He turned his back to the room and growled in a low tone, “I didn’t ask for a kid. She did this on purpose.”
• His dad shrugged, “I never asked for a kid either, but I got you. I manned up. Time for you to do the same.” He stood straighter and groaned, “Incoming.”
• Derek turned and caught his mother’s glare. He unconsciously took a step towards his father.
• “Ah, ah boy. You face the firing squad alone.”
• Derek turned to his father with a glare, “Gee, thanks, dad.”
• He patted his shoulder in response, “Whatever you do, don’t back talk and don’t let her go anywhere near the plant,” then he walked away and joined his uncles on the floor.
• Derek turned then to face the room, waiting for his mother, Amelia Silva, as she slowly made her way to him.
• A little girl ran to his father, her arms held out with the brightest and widest smile on her face, showing off her little front teeth. She wasn’t Dale’s and Damien’s girls were just babies. This one was his. That realization made his heart thud harder in his chest, he could hear the rush of blood in his ears. She looked like a little penguin the way she ran, waddling from side to side. Why that thought popped into his head was a wonder. But she was a beauty, in her tutu dress, long socks and flowered sweater all pink including the hair barrettes that held her black-brown hair away from her face. The curls bounced like little springs around her head. She leaped on his dad and he in turn caught her, leaning backward exaggeratedly making her scream her laughter. Soon she was talking and his dad listened and responded like he understood her baby talk.
• How old was she anyway?