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thirty three

courtney

CHEERS TO MONICA & RILEY banner welcomed Courtney and Lucy as they arrived to the park. They both wore blue airbrush shirts—the same as every single person around—representing for deceased best friend's as they do every year. She navigates the stroller ahead of her with her sleeping child inside. Jams boomed around the park being played by the DJ. She spotted her grandfather and grandmother sitting beneath canopy tent and they made it their first stop.

      "Hey, hey." Courtney spoke, pausing Otis and Alba's conversation; their eyes lit at the sight of the stroller.

      Alba's spanish rolled off her tongue asking for the baby, making Lucy say, "Dang, can we at least get a hello?"

      "What for? Give me him." Alba beckoned; Otis chuckled quietly.

      Courtney lifted Valero sleeping body out the car seat and laid him in Alba's hold; Lucy greeted Otis, then to mingle with everyone else. "Y'all just over here in the cut, ain't y'all?"

      "Best spot for the shade and seeing everybody." Otis said, setting his gaze on his granddaughter as she sat. "I feel like I haven't laid eyes on you in a while."

      "Kinda has been a while. I had the tour then Fashion Week. Glad to be back in home, though. New York City became overwhelming. Just too much, especially after..." she paused; Otis immediately noticing her discomfort for the topic.

      "It's okay.." Otis assured, watching her breathe easier and form a soft smile. "How have you been after the interview Coke?" he asked.

      Courtney exhaled sharply. "Well.. I was served with a cease and desist by his wife the day after the interview. I really do not plan to speak on it any further. I just wanted to get my side out; now it is. I'm done with it. My focus is that little boy and raising him."

      "Hermoso niño." Alba admired, rubbing Valero's curls with a smile.

      "Then that's done." Otis declared.

      "Yes it is. But my tour was such a success my label wants to send me back on tour the end of next month."

      Otis and Alba congratulated her in unison.

      "Booked and busy."

      Courtney chuckled. "A little bit. Bam going with me this time. His ASL tutor will tag along the first month."

      "How you think his father's going to feel about that?"

      "He doesn't want anymore press drama, so he's fine with it as long as the nanny goes and he communicates with Bam via Zoom every day."

      "That's some great co-parenting."

      "Be lucky you never had to deal with the co-parent life, Papa."

      Otis shook his head with a chuckle. "My Marlisa loved me too much; same here. I found only one woman, married her, and she blessed me with children."

      "You never thought about falling in love again? Abuela?"

      "No." Alba responded. "I have my friends; but, I don't want that love any-more."

      "I gotta agree," Otis concurred and went on. "The love my Marlisa and I had was one that's indescribable. It can't be duplicated; nor would I attempt to. You come across that love only once in life. I want to hold on to that and not let it go. She was the only one for me. Some folks fall in love more than once; some don't."