It was 2 PM sharp when the first batch of family showed up and it consisted of the Timberlake clan. They joined everyone in the backyard, passing around greetings and adding their own pot luck to the buffet. Just as she had with the Bomars, Cheyenne jovially hugged and kissed her grandparents and great grandparents. It was her meeting with Jonathan and Stephen that the spectating family was anxious to see. Justin led the introduction and was happy to say it went well. Jonathan and Stephen were very welcoming. They had heard a lot about Cheyenne in the past few days and were psyched about their new role as Uncles. Naturally Cheyenne was weary of them like with all new people, but when Stephen brought out his soccer ball and he and Jonathan started playing in the yard, her shy nature went right out the window and she dived into the game with them. Kiki was happy to finally meet the two boys and was thrilled to see Cheyenne was getting along so well with them. She knew how anxious Justin was about his two favorite guys and his favorite girl getting along.
So far it was turning out to be a pleasant little reunion with the exception of Justin and Randy. The two were still being cold as ice to each other, only speaking a curt greeting of “Dad” and “Son”. It was frustrating for everyone to watch, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. Lisa and Lynn had been continuously trying to find common ground between the two to start some sort of reconciliation, only to be shut down before they could get anywhere. Something had to give though, this feud was unnecessary and tiresome.
Not letting the stubborn father/son duo ruin the day, everyone went about relaxing, snacking on appetizers, and mingling. In the midst of the festivities, other relatives showed up including Justin’s cousin, Nick, who he was very close with. Kiki was dragged by Justin away from her conversation with Lisa and Bobby to meet him. She had heard a lot about him, as did Nick about her, and she could see why he and Justin were so close. He was a very laid back, funny guy and talking with him definitely made up for having her previous conversation cut short.
Next Kiki was pulled from that latest encounter, this time by Lynn, because her best friends wanted to meet her.
“So this is the girl who’s been terrorizing my baby.” Cathy joked with her smirking husband standing behind her.
At Kiki’s perplexed look, she and Lynn laughed before Lynn clarified that Cathy and Juan were Trace’s parents.
“Ah…..Oh no! It’s the other way around. Your son and his partner in crime.” She poked her thumb towards Justin. “Have been invading my house and eating up all my food.” Lately Trace had been showing up at her place not long after Justin arrived, conveniently whenever she was cooking a full meal. They were both almost like two stray dogs looking for scraps, she felt sorry for them and didn’t have the heart to turn them away. “I should send half of my grocery bill to Lynn and the other half to you.” She complained good-naturedly. It really wasn’t that bad cooking for the guys.
Cathy and Juan laughed wholeheartedly. That sounded a lot like their son. “Oh I’m sorry honey. Thank you for keeping him feed though.”
“You’re very welcome.” Kiki smiled and was once again dragged by her and Lynn back to the table that the women had taken over to chat.
More family slow trickled in after the Timberlakes and Ayalas, like Lynn’s sister Joanie, her husband Mitch and their daughter, Rachel.
As soon as Justin heard that they were there he took Cheyenne away from playing with the other kids and after being scolded for being rude earlier, he politely excused Kiki again.
“Rach!” He bellowed as he approached her and Rachel happily bounced over to give her favorite cousin a big hug.
The two shared a very close relationship and kept in constant contact. As a matter of fact, as Justin put it “ “Once I see you walk across that stage, you have a job and a guest house wait for you.” She had six months until she got her bachelor’s from UM and she was off to LA to be his PA or as she used to call Trace “ PB “ personal bitch. Talk about karma right? Regardless, it was a good job, one that she would be paid well for and would get the chance to travel the world. August couldn’t get here fast enough.
“It’s about time you showed your ugly mug around here. Forget where home was?”
“I’ve been busy. Sorry if I have a life and my head isn’t always stuck in a book.”
Rachel sobered at that. “Yeah we’ve all heard about the very big change in your life taking up all your time.”
At her accusatory tone, he nervously scratched behind his ear and presented his companions. “Yeah um, Rach this is Cheyenne.” He took her out of Kiki’s arms and brought her to face her second cousin. “Pixie this is your cousin Rachel. Can you say hi?”
“Hi.” She brightly peeped and Rachel was sold.
“Oh hi Cheyenne. It’s so nice to meet you. Can I hold you?” She put out her hands and Cheyenne easily went to her.
Once again Justin’s face was all teeth. He was so proud of his baby girl and how open she was being with people who may have been strangers, but were her family.
Their interaction was cut short when Carrie, Lynn’s brother Terry’s six year old daughter, came to get Cheyenne for a game of tag. Rachel put her down and she ran off to play again.
“She’s so cute Justin.”
“Thanks. She gets it from her Mama.” He nudged Kiki, who was being introduced by Lynn to her sister and brother in-law, getting her attention. “Kiki this is Rachel, Rachel “ Kiki.”
“Hi. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Not even bothering to return her friendly smile, Rachel snorted. “Well I can’t say the same about you on either account.” Everyone standing in the same vicinity went quiet at her harsh words. Kiki gaped, thinking cousin or not this girl had some nerve and seeing her incredulous look, Rachel continued. “Sorry if you feel offend. I feel offend by what you did to my cousin, it was low and dirty.”
“What I did?!” Kiki snapped, ready to go off and check this girl because she had it all wrong.
“Rachel!” Lynn scolded while Justin was still in shock.
This was not the way he had planned this. Kiki and Rachel were supposed to be fast friends on their way to BFFs. Not Rachel on the verge of getting cussed out.
“You know what I’m glad you told me how you feel. I’m glad I know you don’t like me and that you weren’t the least bit nice to me. That means I don’t have to waste my time pretending to enjoy the likes of you either.” Kiki jabbed back. “But just a little bit of advice “ when you don’t know someone or what happened, don’t make assumptions cause it only serves to piss people off and make you look like an ass.” Smiling condescendingly, she dismissed Rachel, “you take care,” and quickly, stalked away to get a cold bottle of water so she could cool off.
Snapping out of it, Justin growled, “we have to talk. Now!” and yanked Rachel by the wrist into the house.
Watching the exchange, Lynn and Joanie were surprised how bad that meeting went, but they places the blame on different people.
“I cannot believe she had the nerve to speak to Rachel like that. She’s nothing but a-“
“Do not go there Jo. Kiki had every right to defend herself. Rachel was totally out of line. Kiki was not at fault in her situation with Justin, he was. It’s time for her to wake up and see that, its time for all us to.” She knew that much like her former self, Rachel turned a blind eye to Justin’s poor decisions and behavior, sometimes placing the blame on others. He may have confessed his sins publicly, but Rachel needed to hear the truth from the horse’s mouth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ushering her into the living room, Justin closed the French doors behind them. “What the hell was that? That was completely fucked up Rachel.”
“Her being here is what's fucked up. Why would you want someone like her around?”
“Someone like her? You mean someone who’s a groupie, a liar, a gold digger?” She gave him a defiantly nodded as he ticked off all the unfair titles that had been placed on Kiki by the media. “She’s none of those things Rachel. You’re buying into lies made up by people who don’t even know her, the media bullshit, and you said you’d never do that.”
“I don’t when it concerns you, but I don’t know her.”
“Exactly! You have no clue about her, but maybe if you gave her a chance you’d see how cool she is.” Standing insolently with her arms crossed, Rachel was trying not to hear the truth in his words, but Justin pressed on. “I mean didn’t you read the article? Those were my words. Everything that happened between me, Kiki and Cheyenne was my fault. Mine.” He grabbed her arm when she turned away in an attempt to ignore what she knew was the painful truth. It was hard to find out that he could be so heartless towards his own child especially. “I caused our relationship to fail and I neglected my daughter. Kiki did nothing. Don’t blame her.” He implored.
After some silent musing and really processing what he was saying, Rachel asked. “Why’d you do it?”
He sighed. “Because I was stupid and selfish. Honestly Rachel, you’ve known me my entire life, you know I’m an asshole. You’ve seen me at my worse plenty of times. They weren’t flukes. I can be a real jerk sometimes and this time I went too far. I made a horrible mistake that I’ll always regret, but I was lucky enough to get a second chance. Because of Kiki.” He stressed. “She’s a good person like that, nothing like what they say and one of the few people that I trust completely.” Knowing how hard it was for him to trust people that said a lot about her. “I’m not asking for you to be her best friend, but give her a chance and who knows she may just end up being one.”
Rachel’s eyebrows arched at that, it was doubtful, but her behavior earlier was so disrespectful. It was stupid of her to make assumptions based off of what the notoriously lying press said and she had to make amends for her unfair treatment.
She and Justin returned to the party to see a lot more people had arrived. Justin went off the visit the newcomers that he hadn’t seen in some time while Rachel sucked up her pride and went to apologize. Approaching Kiki who was sitting with Cathy, Lisa and Lynn, she said.
“Excuse me Kiki. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Initially annoyed by her returned presence, but swallowing her own bruised pride, Kiki decided to hear her out. She usually wasn’t a fan of second chances especially after being accosted like that, but this whole situation was filled with misunderstandings and prejudgments. She could manage a few second chances this time.
“Sure.” She agreed and stood to follow her back into the house.
Rightly Rachel did all the talking “ explaining that she was sorry about what she said and misjudging her. She was just worried about her cousin’s interest and that to be honest she was resistant to believe what was said in the People’s issue.
“Yeah I know you all think Justin is perfect, but he’s not. None of us are, but the truth is: he was the bad guy in this, not me.” Kiki stated bluntly and in frustration. She was so tired of the finger being pointed at her over this.
***************************************************************************************************************
Plenty of Lynn’s and Randy’s family were very nice and welcoming, but there were a few that were the exact opposite. After her tiff with Rachel, and Justin disappeared with her into the house they didn’t even bother to hide their accusatory glares, snotty looks, and nasty whispering among each other. It grated her nerves and she had to bit her tongue numerous times. But thankfully she had Lynn and Sadie on her side and they were quick to have her back.
“Um excuse me everyone!” Lynn stood on the deck calling the whole backyard to attention. “You all need to watch who you’re looking at like you’re somebody special and if you have something to say to Kiki, you say it to me first. You will not disrespect her in my damn house or in my presence. She hasn’t done a thing to deserve your trashy attitudes and she is a part of our family.” She gestured between herself and her mother who was giving them all a pissed off look, ashamed of how some of them were acting. “If you don’t like it, you can get the hell out of my house and don’t come back. Thank you.” She ended her speech with a big pleasant smile and walked away to finish starting up the buffet line.
That kind of snapped some of them out of it and they started approaching Kiki to apologize. Honestly she didn’t care, the only people in Justin’s, now Cheyenne’s, family that she did care for were in her corner. She didn’t plan on connection with anyone outside the immediate family and according the Lynn, she really wouldn’t be visiting with most of these people after today. “It’ll only be us gathering after this.”
Kiki was thankful for that, but knowing how close Justin and Rachel were, she knew “us” included her. They would have to be around each other and needed to be able to be civil at the very least.
***************************************************************************************************************
“Listen whatever opinions you have about Justin are yours and you have every right to them, but pointing fingers at other people to preserve your perfect perception of him isn’t fair.”
“You’re absolutely right. I just “ well you know how you can get overprotective of family even when they’re not doing right?”
Kiki chuckled and nodded, completely relating to her there. She jumped to Maya’s defense a number of times even when she knew her sister was just being the bitch that she was.
“Can we call a truce? Start over?” Rachel asked hopefully.
“I think I can handle that.”
Sticking her hand out, she said. “Hi I’m Rachel Yarbrough. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“I’m Kiki Lewis and it’s nice to finally meet you too.” They shook hands and busted out laughing at themselves.
“That was so lame.”
“I know. But it was effective.” Kiki giggled and Rachel joined in once more before they decided to go back to the party. “You know what’s going to happen when we get out there don’t you?” She questioned as they ambled towards the back doors. “Justin’s going to hail himself as our peacekeeper.” Rachel rolled her eyes realizing just how right she was about her praise whore of a cousin. “I swear if he says anything the only peacekeeping he’s gonna have to do is between my hand and the back of his head.”
Rachel laughed again. Already she was seeing how right Justin was and how wrong she was about Kiki. Oh great there was another thing for him to gloat over.
Luckily, Lynn had opened up the buffet and Justin was too busy stuffing his face to say anything. Kiki went looking for Cheyenne so she could eat and found her sitting in between her chair and Justin, stuffing her face right along side her father. Both Rachel and Kiki got a plate and joined the two bottomless pits.
The food was excellent, no wonder they were eating it like it might disappear any minute, and now that everyone had cut the crap, the conversation was actually substantial. All that plus good music, pick up basketball games and happy kids, including Cheyenne, running all around continued into the earlier evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Now that the atmosphere was much more comfortable and relaxing, Kiki was really able be herself. It became clear just how down to Earth, sweet, and funny she really was. She had Joanie and Mitch cracking up as she told various stories about herself, her family, and Cheyenne. When Randy’s sister Sharon found out she owned and operated a health club she practically interrogated her about every possible thing she could do to get back in shape. With the way she hung on ever single piece of advice Kiki gave her, she was expecting her to start taking notes any minute. Not the she mind, she had no qualms talking about a job that she loved even if she was on vacation. Aside from the help of Lynn’s little declaration and without even trying, Kiki’s natural charm won over any misconceptions about her that still lingered. It proved that old adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Lynn’s brother Terry, in particular, was really impressed by Kiki when she went for her third helping of food. After almost winning a basketball game with Rachel against Nick and Justin, she had the munchies again. And having no shame in her game, she went and got some more food.
“You must have been really hungry girl.” He chuckled as she sat down on the opposite side of the table from him.
Kiki laughed at herself. “Not especially. I just love Lynn’s and Sadie’s food. I’m gonna get so fat this week.” She beamed as she collected some potatoes salad on her fork, “I can’t wait,” and scooped it into her mouth.
He chuckled again, more heartily this time, and joked. “I thought you skin and bones California girls were afraid of food or something.”
“Huh. Well I may be from California, but I will never be skin and bones because when it comes to food, I am far from afraid. It’s my best friend actually.” She took a big bite of corn on the cob, proving her point, and he laughed.
“Now you’re from California, but I hear you have southern roots.” Terry’s wife, Angie, who had been sitting by listening, cut in to question her. The hundredth question she’d asked Kiki today. It was clear she was digging for information again “ “to take back to her gossip circle,” Justin had warned. She was, after all, one of the town’s biggest busy bodies. Still Kiki politely answered.
“Yeah my father’s from Florida and then my mom’s from Mexico so I guess that’s even deeper southern roots.” She retorted and wondered what the next question that information would lead to.
Since deciding to come on this trip in the back of her mind, she wondered if anyone was going to bring up her ethnicity. She was clearly not the typical white girl that Justin usually dated and being realistic, she was a half Black and half Mexican girl in the south “ an experience she had visiting her grandparents that wasn’t always pleasant. No one had expressed any offensive feelings or attitudes about race, at least not to her face. She wasn’t worried if they did because she knew there were plenty of people here that would be quick to defend her.
If someone was going to bring up anything race related, Kiki never found out because Lynn and her mother showed up with a covered glass casserole dish and covered cake platter. “That’s right at heart our Kiki is a real southern girl.” Sadie commented with a wink aimed at her.
Almost startling Kiki, Cheyenne popped up at her side, resting her head in her mother’s lap. A sure sign that someone was getting sleepy.
“Hey babe. You having fun?” Silently she nodded and tucked her fist under her chin as her mother stroked her hair. “Are you sleepy baby?”
“No.” Cheyenne quickly and adamantly replied. Kiki knew it was a front, but she also knew her baby wouldn’t go down for a nap with all this commotion going on, so she offered. “You wanna sit down and have a break?” Without hesitation, she climbed into Kiki’s lap and with a kiss on the forehead, she snuggled into the crux of her arm.
“Well Mama you got one here, better call the other.” Lynn said and both women sprouted an amused grin. “Kiki watch this.” She pointed to Justin still at the court right as Sadie called for him.
Justin looked to see who was calling and he saw his grandmother waving him over with a knowing smile. When it clicked, he practically slammed the ball into Nick’s chest and speed-walked across to the deck.
Beaming down at the peach cobbler that his grandmother uncovered on his arrival, he asked. “I’m the first to get a taste right?”
“This one is actually all yours and this one is all yours dumplin’.” Sadie said as she unveiled the cake platter to show a chocolate brownie fudge cake.
Cheyenne’s eyes bugged out and she sat up straight in Kiki’s lap. “Mine?” Sadie nodded and she quickly whirled around towards her mother. “Mommy I have peas?” She asked almost desperately for permission to have some of her sweets, a whole cake just for her!
“Of course you can. Your Nana made it especially for you.” Kiki took the piece that Sadie had cut and placed it in front of her.
“Hey Pix.” She looked across to her father and Justin stretched his fork out to her spork, clinking them together. “Bottoms up.” She beamed, nose cutely scrunched and went to work.
Lynn, Sadie and Kiki watched them, undecided between cringing in disgust or laughing, as father and daughter stuffed their faces. After practically inhaling her piece of cake, Cheyenne looked between her empty plate and Justin who was still digging through his dish of cobbler. He saw her watching him sadly and thinking she wanted some of his, he offered her a forkful.
“Its good isn't it?” He asked once she swallowed the cobbler.
“Mmhmm.” She quickly nodded, but since it wasn’t what she was really after, she asked this time. “Mommy I have more cake, peas?”
“Sure baby.” Again Sadie did the honors, cutting another slice of cake for Cheyenne. Again she went to town on the bigger piece this time. Kiki looked up to see Justin pouting. “Oh be happy she doesn’t share your love for cobbler cause if she did she’d probably be ready to throw down with you over it.” Watching her child indulge in her addiction, she shook her head. “You just created a monster Sadie.” Talking to Justin, she said with a laugh. “We’re gonna have to hide that cake or she’ll be creeping downstairs in the middle of the night to eat the whole thing.” They giggled at the thought and watched Cheyenne licking her spork clean between each bit.
While Justin’s arrival at the table may have brought some fun and laughter for most of the people sitting there, one person had been salivating at the opportunity to stir the pot and jumped in.
“So Justin, we’ve got the chance to meet your daughter and Kiki, when are we going to meet your girlfriend? She was the one in those Charlie’s Angels movies right? What she like?” Angie asked anxiously.
Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes in aggravation, he replied as nicely as possible. “Yeah her name's Cameron and she’s busy with work so probably next visit. I’ll make sure you’re the first person I call Aunt Ang so you can come right over and meet her.” He gave her a big phony smile thinking, or in your case, come over and harass her like you have Kiki.
Angie puffed dismissively with that air of arrogance that always surrounded her. Apparently he didn’t supply her with the details she was looking for, so he was of no use to her anymore. No one at this table was. “Come on Terry we gotta ask Taylor about watching Carrie next week.”
The minute she and her husband left the table, Justin sneered. “Why did you invite her Ma?”
“Oh what was I supposed to say to my brother Justin “ ‘bring yourself and the kids Terry, but leave your snotty, nosey wife at home?’ Ow Mama.” Sadie tapped her daughter for her rude remake. She wasn’t a big fan of her daughter in-law either, but talking about her behind her back wouldn’t do any good.
“I would have said exactly that.” Justin grumbled. “When are they leaving?”
“Who Aunt Angie and your Uncle Danny?” Rachel asked as she and Nick came to sit with them.
“I was talking about Aunt Ang, but he can leave too. I swear if he asks me one more question about Julia Roberts, seriously I’m gonna open up the pool and toss him in.”
“Justin be nice.” Kiki chided.
“I don’t even know the woman Kik!”
“Hey they’re in-laws they really don’t need to be here.” Nick supplied and Justin knocked fists with him in total agreement.
Sadie shook her head at them. “You kids are terrible. Honey I see some empty pans out there. I’m gonna go straighten up a little.”
“Oh we’ll come too.” Lynn offered pulling her sister with her and they left the young ones to finish gossiping and complaining about their family.
Kiki sat back laughing at the three of them as they shared stories about how crazy their relatives were. As much as she hated to miss what they would say next, she had to use the bathroom, so she excused herself, leaving Cheyenne to hold her seat. When she came back, she saw that Rachel and Nick were the only ones still at the table. Cheyenne had gotten her second wind from her sugar rush and ran off the play some more. Justin had a phone call to take. He was now standing to the side of the deck, just watching everyone, so she approached him.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” He said with an easy smile still on his face.
“You look happy.”
“I am. I didn’t realize how much I missed my family.”
“They missed you too.” That was very obvious about all his relatives, “but no one more than your father.” Over the course of the afternoon she’d witnessed Randy looking at Justin longingly. The distance between him and his son was clearly hurting him and there was no reason for it to continue.
It was obvious that Justin disagreed when he groaned in annoyance, his good mood gone. “I don’t want to talk about this. I’m so tired of everyone trying to talk to me about this.”
“Well maybe that should tell you something Justin. You need to talk to him. He’s your father. He loves you.”
“He left me.” He snapped at her.
Not wanting to draw any attention to them if things got too heated, Kiki grabbed him and dragged him into the empty kitchen. “He didn’t leave you, he left your mother.” That stung and Justin was ready to lay into her, but she stopped him. “I know that’s harsh, but it’s the truth. Would you have been happier if they stayed together and you grew up watching them be miserable with each other?” She knew from conversations with Lynn that in hindsight it was best that she and Randy separated and she was much happier with Paul, and Randy with Lisa. Justin knew this about his parents as well, it was just difficult to acknowledge, so he stayed stubbornly silent. “What happened between your mother and father had nothing to do with you. And hasn’t your father always been there for you when you needed him?” The answer was a resounding “yes”, but Justin was stuck in his ways and refused to verbally admit it. “God Justin do you know how lucky you are? You have two great fathers who love you and would do anything for you. So many people out there don’t even have one. Your daughter used to be one of them.”
“That’s fuckin’ low Kik.”
“It’s the truth. There was a time not too long ago that when it came to being a father, you were worse than yours. You got a second chance, why can’t he?”
Her peace said, Kiki left him there to stew over it. Completely irritated she returned to her seat among the others, now minus Nick and rejoined by the all Bomar women, Bobby and Lisa. Lynn noticed her mood and asked if she was okay. As much as she wanted to say, “your son is an idiot,” she refrained and lied with a smile. “Oh I’m fine. Just a little tired, still jet lagging I think.”
For awhile Justin didn’t follow Kiki back outside. You got a second chance, why can’t he?, kept echoing through his head. It took him two years to even show up for Cheyenne, his Dad had been there since day one. His parents’ marriage may not have survived, but his family thrived, in fact it grew. He got Paul and Lisa, and Jonathan and Stephen, and still his parents who loved him unconditionally, always supporting him. It wasn’t a perfect family, but it was a family nonetheless. Sure he and his father were never super close, but things had been very strained lately. His own guilt over his poor relationship with his child had resurfaced old resentment towards his father. Resentment that should have been let go a long time ago.
Moving towards his father standing at a table near the grill with Paul, and his uncles Danny and Terry, Justin clearing his throat nervously and said. “Uh Dad.”
Surprised at being summoned by his son, Randy immediately turned to him. For a second Justin smirked at how ironic it was that he called Paul Dad too, but somehow he and Randy seemed to always know the difference when he called one over the other. He was a real life “My Two Dads” and for the first time he was really realizing how lucky he was.
“Yeah Justin.”
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
As hope welled up inside Randy a smile flashed on his face, but he tried to tame it just in case things ended up being worse rather than better between them. Bracing himself, he agreed. “Sure,” and walking side by side, father and son made their way towards the house for some privacy.
Among the men left in the huddle, Paul watched the exchange with hope and pride in Justin for finally taking the initiative to make amends with his father.
On the other side of the backyard, Kiki was in the middle of telling a comical story about one of her mother’s and Lynn’s antics when she suddenly trailed off.
“Honey are you sure you’re okay?” Lynn asked again. This time Kiki only nodded, too focus on something in the background, so they all looked over to see what had her so transfixed.
Kiki couldn’t believe it when she saw Justin approach his father and now they were walking towards the house together, hopefully to finally talk. She had thought for sure that what she said went through one ear and out the other. Apparently she had been heard and she was so proud of him.
As he passed the table with his father, Justin could feel all the eyes of the women in his family on them. He chose to ignore all expect one that he simply could not. With a “you win” smirk on his face, he glanced over at Kiki and she beamed back. Snorting wryly to himself, he thought - Damn girl. No matter if she’s going off or smiling brightly, she always manages to get her way with me.
All the women watched as Justin and Randy disappeared into the house, hope overwhelming them. There was no way the two would be caught dead alone together unless they were finally going to hash things out.
“Oh thank God.” Bobby sighed and Lisa couldn’t agree more. Randy had talk to them both numerous times about how painful his estrangement from his son was and how guilty he felt about the resentment towards him that Justin was exuding lately. They both prayed that this moment would be the time for them to start tearing down that wall between them.
Of course Lynn wished for the same happy reunion, but once Justin reached the deck, her attention had divided between her son and Kiki after she saw the look that passed between them. Kiki had some explaining to do. “Did you say something to him about his father?”
One eyebrow quirked, Kiki shrugged conspiratorially and took a sip of her sweet tea. She’d wait till Justin and his father came back out reunited to claim her victory.
For the next half hour, everyone who witnessed the exchange kept looking back at the patio door every other minute. They were all anxious to find out what the outcome was, but at the same time the longer they were gone the more promising it was. When Justin and Randy did finally emerge, they may not have been all smiles, but there was a renewed calm and ease between the two, all that tension was noticeably gone.
“Are you okay baby?” Lynn spoke up first, more concerned with her son’s emotional state rather than the success of the meeting.
Easing her worry, Justin gave her a genuine smile. “I’m fine Ma.” He looked over at his father, still smiling and Randy returned it with a pat on the back. “It’s good.”
Nothing more was said by either men and they both went off to re-immerse themselves into the fun after such an emotionally charged confrontation. What happened was private and it really wasn’t the appropriate time to review it, but progress was made and that was the most important thing.
“So…all of us at this table, Paul, Charlie and Bill have tried to talk to that boy about mending fences with his father to no avail. But apparently little Miss Thang over there swooped in and he’s finally talking to Randy.” Sadie amusedly surmised. Glancing between Justin playing with Cheyenne and Kiki talking animatedly with Rachel and Nick over at the poolside lounges they’d moved to, she was starting to get the same feeling Lynn had earlier. “Hmm, besides his mama I only know of one other woman who can make a man do just about anything.” She hinted and the rest of the women agreed 100%. There was more that met the eye and possibly more to come between those two…...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eventually nighttime fell and just as people trickled in when the barbeque started, they trickled out the same way. Any food that wasn’t take home with various family members was pack up and stored, garbage was collected and set out at the end of the driveway for pick up, and empty chairs and tables were put back in the garage.
In the end it was the immediate family that was the last to leave, solidifying plans with Justin and Kiki for the rest of their stay. Of the few people remaining, they were either still outside or now inside. On the patio, under the backyard lights, not ready to go home, a Gin Rummy game had started between Lynn, Paul, the Ayalas, and Joanie and Mitch. In the house, after a warm bath, Cheyenne was knocked out in the bed and after Nick and Rachel left, Justin and Kiki were lounging in the den finishing a movie.
At a pretty dead part in the film, Justin looked down the couch to Kiki who was curled up under a blanket.
“Ey.” She turned her attention to him and he asked. “Did you have a good time? Even though my family is nuts?”
She snorted, “like mine isn’t,” and stretched out.
“Yeah. Yours is probably crazier actually.”
“Hey!” She kicked at his extended legs, making him shrink back as he laughed. “Ass.”
Watching her get comfortable again, he thought about how all day he’d been having fun with her like that and he couldn’t image coming here without her. “I’m glad you’re here. Thanks for coming.” He paused. “And thank you for what you said earlier.”
Knowing what he was referring to, she smiled. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you listened to me.” He rolled his eyes and she smirked. “I’m happy I’m here too.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
For the rest of the trip, people were either in and out of the house visiting or Justin, Kiki and Cheyenne were running around town doing the visiting. Even with all the family activities, they managed to do a little tourism in the city. Justin and Kiki got a night out in Memphis, clubbing with Rachel and Nick while Lynn and Paul watched Cheyenne. In addition to enjoying the club scene, they also spent the day site seeing in the city with Cheyenne.
It started off with a stop at the house Justin owned in town. It was a nice modest little mansion, one that to Kiki’s touching surprise, already had been outfitted with a nursery for Cheyenne and a spare room for her.
Bashfully Justin shrugged and explained. “It’s like at the house in LA. You know just in case.”
Kiki giggled at the red hue that touched his face. “Aww you’re so sweet.” Up on her tip toes, she kissed his cheek and then squeezed them. “Thank you.” Bashfulness turned into a big goofy triumphant grin and again Kiki laughed. “Come on Mr. Wonderful, let’s go introduce your daughter to M-Town.”
They started off at the most essential tourism spot for a child “ the Memphis zoo which resulted in a few stuffed animals to add to her collection at home. After that was museum time, specifically the National Civil Rights Museum “ a place they wanted to make sure Cheyenne saw and would definitely bring her back to when she was old enough to really understand and appreciate. Regardless of her age, Justin insisted that next she experience all the landmarks of the birthplace of Blues and Rock n’ Roll “ Graceland, Sun Records, Beale Street, etc. Cheyenne actually enjoyed it all, especially all the music coming from the clubs or being performed out on the streets. The experience was second nature to Justin and Kiki had visited the city before when they were on tour, but they still had just as good a time as Cheyenne. It was well into the evening when they finally, yet reluctantly returned to Millington.
Despite all Tennessee had to offer, before going back home it was most important that Cheyenne be introduced to the family tradition of fishing. While Lynn, Sadie and Kiki went on a shopping trip, Justin, Paul and Bill took Cheyenne out to the lake. And they all met back up at Sadie’s and Bill’s for an early dinner.
“Oh Lordy honey look what they did to your child.” Sadie told Kiki and Lynn sudden busted out laughing.
Kiki turned around to see Cheyenne, all wrapped up some kind of way in what looked like Justin's shirt, walking ahead of the guys, hopping from one stone on the cobble stone walk to another.
“What the hell is she wearing Justin? Where are her clothes?” Kiki asked in amusement that he appearently missed because his hands went up in surrender and he amended.
“Ok, ok first off you were right “ I should have brought more than a couple of pampers, but she ran into the water herself Kik. I swear I couldn’t stop her, one minute she was dry the next she was soaked.”
***************************************************************************************************************
“You need help baby?”
With his assistance, Cheyenne had caught a small sun fish and he tossed it into her bucket to take back to the house. But she decided that she wanted to let the fish go and was determined to head the release herself.
“No I do it.” She wrapped her arms around the bucket’s handle and grunted as she tried to lift it.
“Here let me help.”
Jerking away from him, she protested firmly. “No! I do it Daddy.”
“Ok, ok.” He backed off and let her lead the way.
When lifting the bucket wasn’t cutting it, using the rim, she dragged it to the shore line. When assumedly, she was just about to tip the bucket over, Justin felt a pull at his line and for a second turned away from her to see if he hooked a fish. He turned back to check on her before reeling his catch in and found Cheyenne sitting in the water freeing the fish.
“Go home fishy!” She tipped the bucket on its side and clapped when the fish frantically swam away.
“Cheyenne.” He groaned while Paul and Bill were cracking up at him.
***************************************************************************************************************
Once the walk lost its interest, Cheyenne looked up and smiled brightly when she heard her mother laughing at her father. In a dash, she ran to Kiki to tell her all about the fun she had. “Mommy! Mommy! I catch fishy!”
Catching her, Kiki placed her in her lap. “You did? Did you keep it?”
“No him go home.” She informed, a little sad that she couldn’t keep him, but he had to go home to his own mommy and daddy. “Daddy and Pop Pop and Pa keep their fishys.”
“Oh well guess I know what we’re having for dinner.” Cheyenne tilted her head and looked at her in confusion. Kiki just smiled and reminded herself to make sure she was not around when dinner was prepared.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The time came for Justin, Kiki and Cheyenne to say bye to Tennessee. Paul and Lynn were headed back to LA as well so they all left together. Most of the immediate family came over to the house once more to see them off. Kiki took the chance to exchange contact information with Rachel. After their less than stellar initial meeting they had really clicked and had a great time together. Now Kiki was just as excited about Rachel moving to LA at the end of the summer. “I’m gonna be ready and waiting with my girls to corrupt you LA style.” They laughed and actually shared a warm goodbye hug. When it came time to head to the airport, it was a little bittersweet saying goodbye to everyone, new and old, that they visited with. But it certainly wouldn’t be the last time they got together like this, it would just be in LA for the next round. With the inner circle most likely in the mix then, it was going to be a lot bigger and a lot louder!
