Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 121

~ And So It Begins... ~

Keesha grinned at her cousin as she set the plate of fresh-baked and still warm chocolate chip cookies in front of him. She sat down across from him and laughed softly as he dipped a cookie into his glass of milk. "This reminds me of old times," she said, watching him. "Remember, Grannie Mae's kitchen in the summer?"

"I couldn't forget if I tried or even if I wanted to," Justus said, nodding. "You're doing good here with this place, Keesha. She would be proud."

"Thanks," she said, softly. "We want her legacy to live on, Justus, and I think we're doing that."

"You are. You and Jason are changing lives here, Lil Bit. I didn't tell you this before, but I had a few doubts when you married him so quickly. I wasn't sure if he was the one for you, but I can see that he makes you happy. And that makes me happy." He smiled at her and then he reached for another cookie.

"Thanks, cuz," she said, grabbing a cookie of her own. She broke the cookie apart and took her time eating it. Merriment danced in her warm brown eyes as she said, "So, I suppose wedding bells will be ringing for you soon. Little birds have been telling me that you and Alexis are quite an item and are always together."

"Oh, really?" he asked. "Is that what the little birds have been telling you?"

"Yeah, more or less. So, when will they ring? In June or sooner?"

"Well, um...you won't exactly hear wedding bells. Maybe the pitter patter of little feet..." He let the words drift as he waited for her reaction.

She stared at him in surprise. "Justus! Is Alexis pregnant?"

"Yeah," he said, grinning. "We found out a few weeks ago. We decided to keep it to ourselves until we decided what to do."

"So, you're not getting married?" Keesha asked, leaning back in her chair to look at him.

"Not, yet. We don't have to be married to be a family," he answered.

"Wow," she said, shaking her head as she looked at him. "I never would have believed it. I was surprised when you started seeing her and now, I'm just about speechless. Congratulations, cuz!"

Justus opened his arms for Keesha's embrace. She squeezed him tight and patted his back. "Thanks," he said as their embrace ended. He watched her as she went to the refrigerator and returned with a carton of milk. He was silent as she refilled his glass and then returned the carton back to the fridge. When she came back with the cookie jar and began to fill it with cookies, he asked, "So, when do you and Jason plan to start, or do you?"

"We're not sure," she shrugged. "With the twins and Micki, our hands are pretty full. Besides, we have another addition that you should meet. Hold on, I'll be right back."

Frowning, Justus rose from the chair. He was concerned about her and Jason's growing attachment to Gracie and Georgie. The children were wards of the court and could be taken away at any time. He planned to remind Keesha of that as she came back into the room. He might even go so far as to suggest that they relinquish the children as soon as possible. With the twins having been there for almost two months, things could become nasty if the courts should decide to abruptly remove the children from their care.

Oblivious to her cousin's thoughts, a smile was on Keesha's face as she returned to the kitchen. Justus' back was to her as he washed and rinsed his glass. Walking up behind him, she said, "Justus, I'd like for you to meet Benjamin. Benjamin, this is my cousin, Justus."

Justus turned around to look into the sleepy grey eyes of a newborn baby boy. The infant's eyes opened to stare into Justus' stunned face. Then his little face scrunched up as a yawn escaped him. Grinning from ear to ear, Keesha handed the baby to Justus. "Here. You might as well as get used to the feel of one of these."