I giggled sweetly parting from the kiss.
“And on that note, we’ll conclude this tonight,” Matt whispered.
I nodded, went to the door and opened it for Cody. “How did that door get closed?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“I don’t know.” Cody shrug
ged, then started to talk about his room and how amazing the baseball decorations were.
I shot Matt a couple glances and he just smiled and nodded to Cody’s enthusiasm as he would peek at me from the corner of his eye. This was going to be an exciting trip, and I was glad to share it with the two guys in my life.
***
It was good to spend the evening with Destiny and Jacob. Aunt Clara’s flight was delayed in Ireland, so she wouldn’t be making it back into the country until the next day. So, for now, it was just the eight of us, including Cody, Montie Jr., Montana and little Jacob Jr. cooing beside Destiny. I couldn’t believe my cousin had a full family of five. She still seemed so vibrant, as if rearing three kidos wasn’t driving her crazy. I just felt like if I had three small kids ranging from newborn to seven, I would be losing it. Not her. She was the epitome of grace.
Dinner was nice just talking and getting reacquainted with one another. We then went into the living room and continued to catch up, which obviously bored Cody and Montie Jr. About an hour in, they said they wanted to go to bed. Montana and Jacob Jr. had already crashed for the night and were sleeping soundly in their rooms.
“Do you want me to come up and tuck you in?” Matt asked Cody.
Cody shot a look at Matt. “Uncle Matt…seriously?”
That got the four adults to laughing and Matt smiled. “Sorry. Have a good night!”
“Well, you know you’re getting tucked in Montie Jr. so don’t even try it,” Jacob said to my little cousin.
“Yeah, you’re not even in the double digits, yet, so tucking in is a must,” I chimed in, while rubbing Montie Jr.’s wavy, black hair.
“I know, Cousin Tasha. I like to be tucked in,” Montie Jr. said and hugged me. Then, he ran up to Cody. “Come on, let me show you my train set.”
“Oh cool!!” Cody said, just before saying his goodnights to everyone and heading out of the living room and up the stairs behind Montie Jr.
“Good night,” Destiny called after them, and that caused them to turn around.
“Good night,” said Cody.
“Good night, Mama. Good night everyone,” Montie Jr. said before running on upstairs.
I watched the boys disappear to the top of the steps, when I heard Destiny’s voice. “Matt, you have a great nephew. You raised him well.”
I turned around and looked at Matt who beamed with pride. “Thank you, but my sister had a big hand in that. I just helped raise the boy that she already had molded.”
Destiny smiled, then she looked at Jacob. There was joy in both their eyes and I smiled along with them.
“That’s how I feel about my step children, Junior and Montana. They come from a beautiful mold. I’m just blessed to be in their lives,” Jacob said.
“You have a nice and big family. I can’t wait to have a little one of my own running around the house someday,” Matt said, and our eyes connected. “I might just have a little football team someday.”
“I feel sorry for whoever you hire to work in your baby making factory,” I said and laughed.
“Oh, I already have the perfect person working in that position,” Matt teased.
“Girl, you’re going to be busy,” Destiny joined in, laughing.
I just couldn’t believe she was taking Matt’s side in his joke. “That’s really too bad, but I wish you good luck with that, Matt,” I said laughing. Matt was staring right at me, jokingly but his eyes held a hint of seriousness.
We talked a little more, after the joking died down, until I yawned and expressed that it’d been a long day and I should be getting to bed.
“Yep, it has been a very long day and we both need our rest,” Matt began. “Thanks again for letting us stay here. We could have rented a room, but your hospitality would have never been matched.”