spotlight
away from Tyson and Gabrielle. He was probably lying anyway, his
way of retaliating against Tyson for, what he calls, stealing Gabrielle away
from him. He wouldn’t win this time.
Chapter 12
Tyson was busy in the
kitchen cooking a Friday-night dinner for the family. Gabrielle’s
father, Henry, and her sisters, Carmen and Destiny were in town,
having just arrived a few hours ago. Rena and John, came over from
Padma’s so they could get acquainted with Gabrielle’s family and
share dinner together. Heshan also came by and was in the kitchen
playing cards with Henry and John.
The ladies were in the
master bedroom, helping Gabrielle decide what to wear to the baby
shower.
“You need to wear a dress
that shows your belly really, really well,” Carmen
suggested.
“I don’t know, Carmen. I
don’t want to look too huge,” Gabrielle said, sitting at the foot
of the bed.
“Nobody is going to be
thinking about that, sweetheart,” Rena said. “I think your sister
is right. People want to see the belly and take pictures with you.
So let’s find something that accentuates that gorgeous belly of
yours.”
Gabrielle
smiled.
“Here,” Tamera said,
walking from Gabrielle’s closet. “A black pair of leggings and a
tunic should do the trick.”
“No, I’m thinking something
a little more on the dressy side, yet comfortable,” Gabrielle
said.
“So you want to wear a
dress?” Destiny asked, browsing through Gabrielle’s
wardrobe.
“Umm...not quite
sure.”
“Well, we’ll figure out
something,” Rena said, “Even if we have to go buy an
outfit.”
“Shoot. All these clothes,
we should find something in here,” Tamera said.
Gabrielle giggled. “Yeah.
I’m sure we’ll find something.”
* * *
“What you cooking up, son?”
John asked Tyson.
“I’m making chicken
marsala, asparagus, mashed potatoes and homemade macaroni and
cheese. Gabrielle has been craving macaroni and cheese
so...”
“I couldn’t ask for a
better man for my baby girl,” Henry said, proudly. “You raised a
good one, John.”
“Thanks, Henry. I
appreciate that. And while we’re handing out compliments, I might
as well let you know that your daughter has been nothing but a
blessing to Tyson.”
Tyson smiled as he drained
macaroni elbow noodles.
“Thanks,” Henry said. “That
means a lot.”
John took a sip of water.
“Boy, I remember when Tyson first told me he wanted to be a chef. I
was speechless.”
Tyson grinned. “You’re
starting on that again, Dad?”
Henry chuckled.
Heshan stared blankly at
the table. Stoic.
John continued, “I mean, he
was just coming out of the Marines, doing manly work, you know.”
Tyson laughed. “Oh, being
a chef isn’t manly? Is that what you’re implying, Dad?” He turned
around and watched Henry and John laughing along with him and when
he did, he noticed a weird look on Heshan’s face. Tyson had noticed
before that he’d been especially quiet, unusual for him. Heshan was
usually vocal and lively, but he hadn’t said much of anything to
anyone since he arrived almost two hours ago.
“Nah, that’s not what I was
saying, son. I was trying to emphasize how huge of a career shift
that was for you. I actually didn’t think you were serious. Now, my
boy has restaurants all over the country.”
“I know you’re a proud
father,” Henry said.
“Oh, I’m very proud. And
now, he’s finally having a son of his own...a son that he’ll be
proud of as well.”
Tyson smiled
again.
Heshan rubbed his
chin.
Tyson took a break from
cooking and sat at the table with the fellas.
“I’ve never told anyone
this, because I was embarrassed by it,” Tyson said, “But years ago,
I went to the doctor to get a sperm count.”
“A sperm count?” John and
Henry said at the same time, with the same inflection and look of
shock their faces.
“Well, I was getting a
physical and I decided to get a count.”
“Why?” his father
asked.
“Because
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