I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face even if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to. Yesterday, I picked up my brother. Of course, he didn’t squeal like a little girl when he greeted me. He strode over to me with sure steps, importance oozing with his each movement.
With him in town, Sailor along with little Gabriel, who wasn’t so little, and Willow, it almost felt like my entire family was with me. If my other brothers were with us, it would feel complete. Like old times. Especially during college. Sailor, Willow, and I struggled figuring out having a baby in the home. My brothers were there to help us through.
As the three of them ran to me, I opened my arms, hugging them all at the same time. Our words stumbled over each other’s, our high-pitched voices mixing together, reflecting the excitement we all felt. Poor little Gabriel was smothered in-between our three bodies, giggling.
“Oh my gosh, I am so happy you’re here,” I exclaimed, showering all three of them with kisses. “I was so worried something would come up and none of you would be able to come.”
“Mom said the same thing,” Gabriel blurted out, grinning. “She said she needs this to keep her sanity.”
I chuckled, ruffling his dark curls. “We all need this to keep our sanity, my little man.”
Gabriel just turned seven and was my godson. I had never been more proud than the moment Sailor asked me to be his godmother. And I took that responsibility seriously. Just as Sailor took her responsibility seriously. When Anya passed away, right after giving birth, Sailor adopted Gabriel. Being she was only nineteen at the time, I begged my brothers to use their connections and make it happen. And they came through, like always.
They even funded her tuition and all financial needs to ensure she finished college since her family cut her off completely. The world didn’t know my brothers for the wonderful men they were.
Of course, Sailor couldn’t live on campus anymore, but she refused to accept more help than was needed from my family. She insisted her job could pay for her living expenses. So my wonderfully sneaky brothers got me a beautiful five bedroom apartment, more like a penthouse, in the heart of downtown Washington. The three of us left the Georgetown University dorms and lived off campus for the last three years of college while caring for little Gabriel.
Now, for all intents and purposes, Sailor was Gabriel’s mother, and we were his aunts.
“You three are crazy?” Gabriel asked seriously, prompting us all to chuckle. I guessed it all depended on the definition of crazy.
“Shush, little man,” Sailor scolded him softly. “We need our little getaways to keep going in life. And we never went so long without seeing each other. Besides, didn’t you just tell me last week how you missed Aunt Aurora?”
Unlike Gabriel who had dark brown curls and the darkest blue eyes that always shone with mischief, Sailor had a golden mane full of soft curls and ocean eyes. I always thought she looked like the best version of any princess I had ever seen. Even more importantly, she was the most beautiful person I had ever met, inside and outside.
“What?” Willow pretended to be heartbroken. “You didn’t miss me, little guy?”
Gabriel’s grin widened, ear-to-ear, and his dark blue eyes sparkled. “I did, but we live together. I saw you last week before your business trip.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she agreed. “It just seems too long to go without seeing you all.” I agreed. It was hard after years of seeing each other every single day to not seeing each other for weeks and months. “I really need this,” Willow sighed, hugging us all. “Looking forward to this weekend has been the highlight of my life.”
“We will make it the best weekend of our lives,” I announced, grinning. Then immediately winced. Sailor and Willow’s eyes snapped to me, and I knew exactly what they were thinking. The last time we made that announcement was during our spring break the last year of high school. “And Gabriel will keep us in check,” I added assuringly. “Besides, Byron is here for the weekend so no wild things will be happening,” I assured us all.
* * *
Willow,Sailor, and I giggled like high school girls as we armed ourselves for a night out. Byron was staying behind with Gabriel, and I caught them both rolling their eyes several times.
Typical boys.
“Woman, you gotta put some pictures on the walls,” Willow complained. “It is freaking me out how impersonal this place is. It’s not you.”
I shrugged my one shoulder. It was a place to lay my head, that was it. But she was right. My apartment in D.C. had paintings from our travels on the wall, pictures of my brothers and best friends, along with Gabriel. It was the same apartment the three of us lived in during college years, so it was probably the reason it felt like home.
Since I arrived in New Orleans, this case had kept me busy, consuming all my thoughts and time. I spent more time at work than at home, hence the minimal décor. Besides, the condo was too quiet and my thoughts too loud. So sitting home alone was a major pain in my ass.
Though now that my girlfriends, my brother, and Gabriel were here, the three bedroom condo brimmed with life. Just like my apartment back home.
My plan wasn’t to stay in New Orleans permanently. It wasn’t home. Both Sailor and Willow stayed in D.C. so I planned to go back. My brothers had penthouses there too, though they were rarely there anymore. But when they were, they’d come and visit so it was home.
“Uncle Byron, I don’t want to watchStar Warsagain,” Gabriel complained, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek. I guess the little guy didn’t realize there were six of those movies when he picked out the movie. Or was it seven? “It’s boring.”
A loud gasp traveled through the flat, while Willow, Sailor, and I shared amusing glances. Byron was aStar Warsfanatic. Imagine if the reporters got ahold of that little piece of information.
From a Billionaire King to a Star Wars fanatic,I mused silently.
“Gabriel,” I heard my brother’s tone take on a serious note, “Star Warsis a classic. A form of art.” I snorted and Byron’s head snapped in my direction, narrowing his eyes into glaring slits. I’d bet my little salary, he’d make it a life mission to convert the little guy into a fan. “It is an American classic. You have to give it a chance and learn to love it.”
I scoffed at that lame explanation. That was not the way to attract children to like something.