Our Father: AD3: 'Pursuing Destiny'

4: *Supportive Shoulder*

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About an hour had passed by and although certain people had gotten over the whole ordeal, Nana Haley, my momma, Travis and Jamal were all still so evidently hurt.

I wasn't as hurt because I wasn't on good terms with my brother at the time, so I had no reason to expect an invitation. However, Jamal was still pissed; not only because he'd been lied to by our brother, but also because he was forced to use his free Uber code to get Seule up outta New Orleans.

Travis had been silent for the rest of the hour and it seems that now everybody else was embarrassed if him instead. Although, he was obviously hurting from his awkward break-up with Seule, he tried to brush it off.

All of us guys were crowded around the grill debating about last nights football game and how the New Orleans team benched their new player Tyrone. Yes, Tyrone as in the Tyrone that my kids kick it with. He got signed to the New Orleans Saints recently but has been benched for the past three games, yet he still gets paid.

Louis and I did the honors of flipping the meat as the rest of the guys hung around. I found myself constantly eyeing Devin, I don't know if it's just paranoia or my fatherly instincts are telling me that I have to watch out for this nigga. Nobody can be that perfect in a relationship, or maybe I'm just talking because all of my relationships failed... I don't even know anymore.

I looked behind me towards the beach chairs. Travis seemed to be kicking it with April, Lia, Anna and Miley as they spat question at him; probably regarding what just went down.

They stopped talking and April looked around and then up at me.
"Pops? Are you expecting anybody else?"

She asked, getting up, I handed the meat fork that I was using to Jamal and jogged towards the door. I jogged lightly to the front door with April following behind.

I peeped through the hole and my jaw dropped. In a rush, I swung the door open revealing my now overgrown nieces and my sister-in-law.

"Hey, Uncle August!" They shouted in unison, April stepped back in confusion; I guess she wasn't aware that there was more family than who met the eyes.

My nieces huddled towards me as I  embraced them all in hugs. I greeted them all and stared at them in awe. It'd been a while since I'd seen my nieces and here they are now; a teenager and pre-teens. I hadn't seen them all in probably 6 or 7 years so the fact that they remembered me meant a lot.

There was my oldest niece Amayila (Mya) who is now 16 years old, my second oldest Chaylen (Chay) who is now 13 years old, and my youngest niece Kayden (Kay), who is now 10 years old. After greeting them and making small talk, I took my time introducing them first to their cousin April.

They are my deceased brother, Mel's, children, and from what I remember, Mel didn't even get the chance to meet his youngest daughter Kayden who was still in the stomach when he was shot dead. That's the reason that I took on the fatherly role for them and cared for them as my own children.

After they'd greeted April, I looked up and frowned slightly at the sight of their mother, Chandra. This woman was once like a sister to me, but ever since Mel passed away, she's distanced not only herself, but my nieces too from our side of the family.

I guess she knew that there was a little bad blood between us, since she spoke so timidly, "Hey brother Aug."

"What's up Chandra." I said lightly, giving her a nod as I held the door open.