RICHMOND HID IN THE CORNER off the kitchen, listening to everything that jerk Carson had said to Kay. The nerve of that bastard to show up at his home and try and make a move on his lady. Resentment knotted his stomach for the irresponsible asshole. Just as Carson exited the kitchen, Richmond collided into him on purpose. The force of the bump caused Carson to stumble back-
ward. He done tried me.
Struggling to keep his emotions in check, to keep from stomping on Carson’s fucking neck, Richmond’s hands turned to fists. Giving him an affronted frown, his lips pinched together. Certain his eyes had turned to tiny looking, evil slits, he glared at the ugly dude in front of him.
“Carson, right?” Richmond asked, fully aware that it was sorry Carson standing in front of him. What in the hell did Kay ever see in him? Not that he was cocky or anything, but he’d beat this little scrimp’s ass and wouldn’t even think twice about it.
“Yeah, I’m Carson. And who are you?”
Biting his back molars, Richmond cleared his throat. “I’m the man of the house…Richmond Spaulding.” Carson extended his hand to Richmond’s, and all he did was look down at it. “Normally I’d shake my guest’s hand, but because I’m a matter of fact kind of man, a real man, I’m not going to shake yours.”
Carson’s head jerked. “I can tell by the look on your face and your tone that you have a problem with me, man. I just came here to see my son and—”
“And you tried to make a move on my woman. Inside my goddamn house. I heard you. You tried me. Disrespected my place of living. After you see CJ today, I want you to leave and don’t ever show your face around here again. CJ has a new daddy.” Richmond thumbed himself in the chest. “Me.”
Carson’s face contorted as anger flickered his eyes. He swung. Richmond caught his fist, twisted his arm behind his back, and put him in a chokehold. Pressing his strong grip into Carson’s Adam’s apple, Richmond spat, “Graduated at the top of my martial arts class. Earned a black belt. Studied the art of ass kicking in China under famous Bruce Zen. Please think twice before fucking with me. This is a warning; you won’t get another one.” Releasing his neck, Richmond gave Carson a hard shove, and he plummeted to the floor.
Clutching his neck and coughing while on his knees, Carson glanced up at him. “Gone, man. I ain’t got nothing but re—” He couldn’t seem to stop coughing. “But respect for you.”
Glaring down at him, Richmond took a step forward. He snorted. “You better not breathe a word of this to Kayla. If you do, I’m going to make your life a living hell. Just like you did hers and CJ’s. Just like you still do hers and CJ’s. Just so you know, don’t worry about making your child support payments. She has me now and don’t need your money.” Richmond turned on his heels and walked through the den. He pulled open the sliding glass door. Without turning around to look at the scumbag, he uttered, “By the way, don’t use my bathroom. Piss outside.” His tone sounded cold and calculating even in his own ears, but he didn’t give a damn. He’d lost one woman inside this house, and he’d be damned if he lost another.
Finally, he turned his head to look at Carson.
Cupping his neck in his hand, Carson staggered to his feet and walked up to him. “This is so uncalled for.”
Richmond stepped to the side so Carson could walk around him.
Carson stepped onto the deck, glanced back at him, and dismounted the steps. When his feet hit the ground, he scurried toward the trees. Apparently barely making it, he jerked his jeans down past his hips and peed in the trees.
“Richmond!” his father Russell shouted, stalking inside the family. “They need you outside under the tent. We’re about to sing Happy Birthday to Isabelle.” Standing by his side, Russell spotted Carson pulling up his jeans. “Who’s that?”
“Nobody important. Kayla’s ex-husband.”
Russell’s brows lifted. “Did he just piss in the trees?”
“Yes.”
“Why on Earth would he do something like that when there’s a restroom right in here?” Richmond shrugged. “Please don’t tell me that the two of you had words.”
“Worse. I tried to choke the shit out of him.”
Disturbed, his father’s eyes turned darker. “I’m going to give you some advice, son, and I hope you take it. First of all, don’t be fighting over a woman. There’s plenty of women out there besides Kayla. And if you don’t remember nothing I tell you, always remember this: Carson and Kayla is going to always have a special bond because they share a child together. Now let that sink in your skull. If he’s interested, let that man be a part of CJ and Kayla’s life. Like it or not, CJ deserves to know Carson.”
Observing Russell’s facial expression, Richmond folded his arms across his chest. “How do you know his name?”
A blank expression rushed to Russell’s face. “Huh?”
“You said his name was Carson. How do you know his name?”
Russell shook his head adamantly. “I must’ve overheard Kayla say it or something while at dinner. Hell if I know. Maybe CJ told me.”
While growing up, Richmond’s relationship with his father had always been an unusual, distant one. When younger, sometimes he’d lay in his bed at night, wishing they were closer. However, over the years, as he’d continuously cheated on his mother too many times to count, they’d grown farther and farther apart. Unlike his brothers Suade and Dirk, he remembered the nights when his mother would sit by the windowsill waiting for Russell to come home. And when he never did, she’d cry herself to sleep.
However, although he was a lousy husband and just an okay father, he’d always been a great grandfather to Isabelle and a dear friend to his late wife, Salina. With that being said, perhaps it was time for him to loosen up on Russell and try and build a better relationship with the old man for once and for all.
“I’ll think about what you said. Now let me hurry up and get back outside before Isabelle makes her birthday wish and blows out the candles.”
Russell stayed put. “I’ll stay here and make sure Carson don’t steal anything.”
“Good idea, Dad.” Dad? He hadn’t addressed Russell as ‘Dad’ since he was around eleven.
For the first time in a long time, they looked at each other and smiled in earnest.
“You haven’t called me Dad in years,” he uttered, sniffling. “It warms my heart to hear you say it, son.”
Richmond arrived back outdoors just in time to capture Isabelle’s guests standing around the table singing Happy Birthday to her. Standing between Kayla and his mother, Isabelle’s brown cheeks glowed as she looked up at him, then back at the blue cake in front of her. The glittering candles on the tall “Frozen” birthday caked looked like sparkles.
Glancing around the room at the excitement on everyone’s face, Richmond couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome of his Pumpkin’s fifth birthday party. And he owed it all to Kay. Kay’s my woman, he thought, his mind drifting back to Carson and the way he’d had to choke him just a few moments ago. Bet he learned a valuable lesson.
“Time to make a wish and blow out the candles,” Kayla said, interrupting his train of thought about Carson.
Happier than he’d ever been, Richmond hefted Isabelle in his arms and held her over the cake. Closing her eyes, his precious baby girl made a wish, then blew out the candles. Applause erupted in his ears. “Did you make a wish, Pumpkin?”
Nodding, Isabelle placed her mouth over his ear and whispered, “I wished for Santa to make Kayla my mommy.”
Richmond’s heart squeezed hard inside his chest.