Page 38 of Papa's Beloved

“I can chop and stir,” I volunteer.

“You can also help plan. What do you think we should make?”

“Let’s do a fish and seafood fry with cornbread and turnip greens.”

“With mac and cheese and dessert,” Stormy adds.

“Chocolate sheet cake,” Lucia says.

“Are any of the prospects free?”

“Honda, Tully, and Flea,” Stormy replies.

“Let’s take two of them. I know one needs to man the gate.”

“I text Red to let her know we’re going shopping. I say we stop by Cauldron Cakes and pick up extra goodies,” Lucia suggests.

“Great idea,” I say.

“Are you feeling up to a trip?”

“We can one-stop the open air market. If I get too tired, I can sit at the outdoor cafe.”

“Brilliant,” Stormy says.

?

The trip to the market didn’t take long. I immediately set to work on the greens. Good greens take hours. I don’t like to cook but I know how. I take out the stems and wash them three times before adding them to a pot I started earlier with seasonings and ham hocks.

After that’s done, I help the others prepare the fish. Mama always soaked chicken and fish in buttermilk before frying. Overnight, preferably. A couple hours will do just fine. Our seafood is fresh. We have a few types of fish, shrimp, oysters, crab, and crawfish. We use crawfish tail meat tonight for nuggets. The heads and carcasses we’d freeze and save for later use.

“Crank up the music,” Lucia yells.

“Lexi, increase volume to five,” I say.

The AI increases the volume of the music playing on surround sound. DJ Snake and Lil Jon’sTurn Down For Whatstarts playing. I start dancing around the kitchen, singing into the wooden spoon I have in my hand.

Stormy and Lucia join in. By the end of the song Tawny, Athena, Kelsi and Deedee have joined us. We just finished the song when I heard a wolf whistle and turn to see Chief and Trinity. The Baton Rouge and Mother Chapter’s President and Vice President. They had someone with them I didn’t know.

I’d put him at Papa’s height, five inches above six feet. With broad shoulders and dark blonde hair. His brilliant blue eyes took everything in. I’d put him in his early to mid thirties.

“Daughter, where is my son?” Chief asks Stormy.

“They’re out back in the Woodshed.”

“Come, give your pops a hug,” Chief says.

Stormy hurries to comply.

“Something smells good,” Trinity says.

“Join us for dinner,” I say.

“We will and we’ll introduce you to the new guy, too.”

I laugh as the three men leave the kitchen.

Chapter 29