An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Stef's Brothers

STEF POV

"Mama, don't run away like that! It's not fair to Grandma!" I hear Callie follow close behind me, for I was halfway out the door before she catches up to me, and I turn to look at her, annoyed by her tone.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Mama! I'm not trying to be mean, but Grandma is trying and has been trying and all you do is fight her every single chance you get! When will you just let go and forgive? You're killing yourself, Mama!" She looks at me, her brown eyes fiery, and I feel as if I'm talking to Mike, Jr, and it's rather unnerving as I take a seat on my patio chair and light a smoke.

"I hardly think I'm killing myself, Callie, and you need to watch your tone."

"Oh, Mama, I'm saying this with utmost respect, but you definitely need anger management. Ever since Mocha and you split you've been in this funk and taking it out on everyone around you when all we want to do is love you. You're so combative, and maybe your brothers do love you and God knows they may be just as stubborn as you waiting for you to make a move. Hell, I had brunch with Uncle Lewis and Aunt Miranda on Sunday, and once again, they said they missed you!"

"Come again?" I sit forward now, for am I hearing things correctly.

"Yes, Mama! Daddy has kept me in touch with all of my uncles, every last one of them! Uncle Eddie and Aunt Lynn live in La Jolla, Uncle Lewis and Aunt Miranda lives in San Fran. Uncle Taylor and Aunt Laura live in Albany not far from Papa Frank, and Uncle Johnny too! Uncle James and Uncle Luther live in Kansas City, and Uncle Avery just moved to Ontario, Canada! I write them letters! And all my cousins too!"

"Canada???? Why the fuck would he move there????" I all but yell, for I am blindsided big time, but how did I not see this coming? I can't be this naive, for Mike had always seen my brothers as his, for as far back as I can remember, he had been a huge part of my family. "And who the hell is Uncle Luther?????"

"Well, for your information, Uncle Avery is a movie director, and a position opened up there. Aunt Sylvia works in hair and makeup up there with him. Of course, his kids, Annie and Gerald are still here in the States. Annie lives in NYC actually, and she's at Julliard for jazz. She plays the saxophone and Gerald is married, and he lives with his wife, Rebecca, in Albany as well, near Papa Frank. As for Uncle Luther? Well, um, he's Uncle James' partner. We just call him Uncle. They...they have been together for a while, and I think they want to have a ceremony and stuff."

I am sweating now, for I can't believe my damn ears. None of this made sense, and it feels as hot as fuck outside right now, and I need air. I need it badly, and I needed water...I needed space to think and all of this at once is making it rather difficult for me to concentrate as I feel Callie's hand in mine as she gently pulls me up, taking my smoke from me and putting it out in the ashtray.

"Come on. Let's go. NOW," she all but commands as my daughter firmly clasps my hand in hers and we leave the yard and begin walking towards the water front. Truth be told Callie knows me well, but the sidewalk is wobbly as I feel her arm around my waist as we walk in silence, the sun beginning to set in the distance.

I soon realize we have walked to the beach as we both sit on the sand,and I feel the warm ocean breeze around us. Feeling my daughter's hand grab mine, I know for a fact that everything she said about me was true, and I hated it. It was a very hard pill to swallow in terms of how I had been feeling about my marriage dying and well, my brothers. Honestly, I thought I had been handling it okay for the most part, but I realize that once my mother brought out the photos, once Callie told me she had kept in touch with her uncles all these years, and once she told me how I was treating her and her siblings, I realize I am not handling it well at all. And I don't know how to change that. I just don't.