Smoke and Mirrors (DE)

71. Party of four

Kash licked his bottom lip excitedly whilst holding his arms out anxiously— anxious to finally get to hold his little cousin CiCi. He kicked his feet that now hung over the couch patiently, watching Grace get ready for him to hold the baby.

Joseph, Grace, and the baby were on their way to London upon deciding to extend their European excursion when Grace received a call from her mom to 'not panic, but come home'. So they flew back to New York and were currently a Emily's waiting on dinner to be finished.

"Wow— she's so little," Kash mumbled more so to himself making Grace pause and look at him before letting out a small laugh, Kash mirroring her smile.

"What?" He asked with an innocent smile.

Kash had always been a well spoken child— always advanced and very articulate for his ages. Sometimes it still threw Grace off when he spoke because she remembers when he couldn't talk at all, now he's six and just casually commented on how little Cataleya is.

"Nothing," Grace giggled. "Okay—you ready boo?" She asked as she placed the baby in Kash's lap, kneeling next to the couch making sure he held her correctly.

Kash's grin stretched from ear to ear as he marveled at his new baby cousin for the first time in person, gently poking her face. "Wow— she's so pretty," He whispered, making Grace smile softly as she cupped his face and gently stroked his cheek with her thumb.

Despite having two overly outspoken parents, Kash was a very sweet, well mannered, loving boy.

"You know you're not my baby anymore right— you're my big boy," Grace said, playfully poking out her bottom lip.

"I know TiTi— don't do that with your mouth," He laughed, holding up his hand to her mouth as if she were embarrassing him.

"But you're getting so big and it's making me sad— do you not care that you're making me sad?" Grace asked.

Kash used his free hand to cover his face and shake his head— playing embarrassed.

"Aye boy!" Joseph said loudly as he entered the room making Kash grin widely, excited to see his 'Uncle Jo'.

Cataleya flinched at the sound of Joseph's loud and deep voice, scrunching up her face as she was about to cry making Grace kiss her teeth and look over her shoulder irritatedly at him.

"Uncle Joe why did you do that!" Kash exclaimed in a whisper. "No TiTi— I got it," He assured, stopping Grace from grabbing the baby. Kash started gently kissing all over Cataleya's little face, shushing her.

Grace poked her bottom lip out again, fanning her face as she looked back at Joseph. "I want another one,"

Joseph grinned deviously as he looked at her and her poor effort to conceal her smile as her cheeks took on a rosy tone.  "Ight—meet me in the room," He smirked, nodding his head towards the guest room.

"I just want the baby though— I don't want you," She said.

The corners of Joseph's lips instantly curved down as his lustful smirk took on a frown, smacking his lips. "Stop playing with me Grace before you make me mad," He grumbled, making Grace giggle.

"I'm being serious," She laughed.

"Yea ight— come get it out of me then and you can have it,"

"Joseph!" Grace gasped with a giggle. "The kids," She stressed at his vulgar comment.

Joseph waved Grace off. "Kash— you got a new job now you know that right?" He asked, kneeling near where Grace sat on the floor beside the couch so that he was eye level with Kash as he held the baby. "And it's important— you wanna know what it is?"