Precious Stones by Darrien Lee Page B

dry.”
    Keilah cut a slice of red velvet cake and said, “You guys can use the dishwasher if you want to.”
    â€œThanks, Auntie,” Danielle replied.
    Valeria walked into the kitchen with Neariah, who was lying against her chest. “Keilah, I think Neariah’s ready for bed. Do you mind if I take her upstairs and give her a bath?”
    â€œI don’t mind at all,” Keilah replied as she leaned down to give her daughter a kiss. Neariah immediately reached for her. “You want your mommy?” Keilah asked her baby girl as she briefly took her into her arms. “Your grandmother is going to get you ready for bed, okay?” Keilah kissed her daughter’s cheek and quickly handed her back to her mother-in-law. “I’ll be up to check on you two shortly. Have fun.”
    Valeria headed down the hallway with her granddaughter and said, “Take your time, sweetie. Neariah and I are going to spend some girl time together and have a spa night.”
    Keilah finished off her piece of cake and handed the saucer to Danielle before going into the theater room. The men were watching the last quarter of the football game when Keilah crawled into Ramsey’s lap and laid her head on his shoulder.
    He immediately ran his hand over her thigh and said, “You look sleepy.”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œIs Neariah in bed?”
    She kissed his neck and said, “Her grandmother is giving her a bath.”
    Malachi glanced over at the couple and sarcastically said, “You two need to get a room.”
    â€œMind your business,” Luke replied, defending his sister’s public display of affection. “You’re just jealous.”
    â€œPlease! I’m not jealous! I have women,” Malachi announced.
    â€œThat’s your problem. You’re not eighteen anymore. You need to get your house in order and settle down and stop sleeping around with a bunch of loose women,” Luke reminded him.
    Malachi drank some of his beer and said, “I will when I’m ready, and I’m not ready yet.”
    Keilah took her husband’s hand as she stood. She looked at Malachi and said, “I understand where you’re coming from, Malachi, because not many women can handle your strong personality or antics, so you’re going to have to take your time to find Mrs. Right. You need to let me pick your future wife. I’ll pick someone good for you.”
    â€œYou done lost your damn mind,” Malachi replied with a laugh, and he watched Ramsey lead Keilah out of the room by the hand. “Where are you two going?”
    Ramsey turned to his brothers-in-law and said, “I’ll be back. I want to tuck my wife in bed and check on Neariah.”
    Luke smiled at the couple as he took a sip of his beer. He couldn’t be happier that Ramsey had married their sister. He was the ideal man to handle her. They were a perfect fit, and there was no doubt that Ramsey was in love with her.
    â€œTake your time, bro,” Luke called out to him.
    In the game room the couple found Lucas concentrating on a video game, while Danielle was painting her younger sister, Paris’s nails. Target had been hanging out with the teenagers, but as soon as his owners entered the room, he stood and started wagging his tail. Keilah and Ramsey had a short conversation with the teens about sleeping arrangements. Danielle and Paris would share a small bedroom off the game room, while Lucas would camp out on the sectional’s hide-a-bed. Before going upstairs, they stepped out on the patio, where they found Marion enjoying one of his large cigars.
    â€œDad, I thought you were going to quit smoking.”
    Marion turned to his son and raised his hand and said, “My New Year’s resolution is to cut back a little bit, Scouts’ honor.”
    Keilah gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, “Good night, Pops.”
    â€œGood night, sweetheart.”
    Upstairs they