LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

DOCTOR'S ORDERS

Continuing to stare at myself in the mirror of Me and Cookie's double bathroom, I can't stop my mind from drifting back to all that has happened to us. How this incredible series of events has unfolded within our lives. How the only woman I've ever truly loved magically reappeared in my life after I'd made my peace with the fact that I'd never be able to be with her again.

How my boys have finally found happiness within their own individual lives, without me feeling the need to control their every move. How fate turned two nights of passion and longing into a new chapter in this saga, that is Lucious Lyon. 

One grandchild, two weddings, three babies, and a few years later have all brought me to this very moment.

Cookie dropped the twins about three months ago outta the blue, we were supposed to be having a little cookout at the house for the fourth of July but instead our youngest decided to make their appearance. Newborn is definitely the toughest phase that babies go through, I don't think that I've had a full night sleep since they got here.

We hired the rest of the staff back on to help us out with things around the house because with Laylah, the twins, plus work, Cookie and I barely have time to take care of ourselves. Wifey didn't waste any time in making me get that Vasectomy I promised I'd get, and despite it all it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I certainly ain't been walking around bragging about that shit either.

The second club opened last month, and business has been booming ever since the doors opened...we named it Genesis, because it's the first business venture that Cookie and I have went into together since her return. 

It's our new beginning, the start of what's hopefully years of many more ventures together.

Adjusting my tie, I checked my watch, then trotted down the main stairs of the mansion towards my car. I've got a couple of meetings at the office today, so I'm trying to get an early start.

Cooks left with Laylah and the babies about forty-five minutes ago, she's taking the twins to get their three-month check-up at the Pediatrician today, and that sassy little daughter of ours insisted on tagging along.

Laylah's a great big sister, she's always trying to hold them, feed them, or play with them and she gets mad if we don't let her do what she wants to with her little brothers.

I sniggered, my eyes cascading outta the window of the SUV coasting me closer to Empire. I will admit though, she's a whole lot gentler than her big brothers were when a new baby came into the family back in the day. 

Andre and Jamal were some crazy little boys, I think they actually came up with a plan to get rid of Hakeem because they were so jealous and upset that he was taking all of Cookie's attention away from them.

Riding along with the bright lights of the city glimmering through the tented windows, I can't help but wonder what I've done to be so lucky to have such a great family surrounding me. I've done more than my fair share of dirt, maybe God's somehow looking out for me, I don't know why, but I really can't call it.

My faith was shattered and stolen from me years ago, I've never taken much stock in God to be honest. I've always felt like he doesn't exist, how could he, what type of God leaves a nine-year-old boy on the streets by himself with no one to care for him, no food, no money, no means of survival except to follow the dark path paved in front of him.

Cookie's the one who prays, not me, I don't see the point. I've made it this far without a higher power, I pulled myself up from the gutter and built all of this without God in my life.

Nowadays though, I'm beginning to believe that there may just be something bigger and better than the great Lucious Lyon worth caring for in this universe.