Leap of Faith (La Flor #1) (13 page)

Zane grabs my hand and brings it to his lips. I sigh. I really love when he does that.

“They’re gonna love you. They’re gonna love you and the girls and if they don’t and give you a hard time, well, that’s their problem. I won’t take shit and regardless of their feelings, they’ll respect you or answer to me. You and I are together and no one is gonna come between us. I’ve found y’all and I’m keepin’ y’all. Fuck anyone else.” He holds my hand tighter while running his thumb over my knuckles, not letting my hand go.

“I know we’re together, honey, but I still want their approval. I don’t want them to give you a hard time.”

“Why would someone not like you, Momma?” I hear Skylar ask from the back seat. “You’re an awesome mommy and we love you. Just do what you tell me when I’m nervous or scared: ‘It’s an adventure; take deep breaths, just have fun and hold your head up high.’”

“I know, Peanut. This is the first time I’m meetin’ Zane’s mom and I want her to be nice.”

“It’s gonna be okay. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me or Jackie, and we’ll handle it. If it’s too bad, we’ll leave. I promise,” Zane tries to reassure me.

Jackie let it slip accidentally that this family gathering is more to meet me than for Josilyn’s birthday. Josilyn had her birthday party with her friends last week and this week it’s for family. So all the sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents will be gathered. Shoot, I even think some family friends are invited as well. Jackie told me that everyone was curious to meet the girl that turned Zane’s head. He was an “I’m-never-gonna-settle-down” kinda man for years before meeting me.

Can’t say I blame him. I’d be too, if my girlfriend at the time was sleeping with my best friend while I was away on deployments and training. And then had the audacity to tell Zane he would accept the baby since it was his best friend’s. Don’t even get me started on that bitch (because she is one). If I ever meet her, I’m liable to smack her good. I’m not fond of women that can’t keep their legs closed when their men are away. It’s not that hard: be a lady, don’t mess around or have sex with someone that isn’t your boyfriend, fiancé, or husband. Respect yourself and respect your man, and, I hold men to the same standard—respect your women. Simple.

A short while later, we arrive at Jackie’s house.

Lord, have mercy.

There are vehicles parked everywhere. Every. Where. I imagine the only person not here is the president.

Oh God,
I pray,
please give me strength.

Zane, with his badass alpha male magic, finds a parking spot close to the house and we unload. Before grabbing Skylar and the food, he takes me against him and lays a good one on me.

“You’re mine, Faith. Remember that,” he says. “You’re amazin,’ strong, smart, beautiful, and you’ve done well raisin’ the girls. My family is gonna love you because I do. If they have a problem, I have no problem settlin’ it and protectin’ my girls. Got it?”

Did he just say what I thought he said? It can’t be. He’s just giving me encouragement . . . right? Yes, that’s it, I tell myself; it’s encouragement. There’s no way this wonderful man is in love with me or would say it first. He’s too much of a man’s man to put himself out like that. Even with Jake, I said it first.

“I do, honey. I got it. I’m with you and no one is gonna change that. You’re mine and I’m yours,” I reply. I give him a kiss, squeeze him tight, and turn to get the food with Rylee’s help.

“Momma, it’s gonna be okay. We got this. Just like everything else life’s thrown at us—we got this,” Rylee tells me.

Here goes . . . there’s no turning back now.

We turn from the Jeep and the four of us together as a unit walk toward Jackie’s front door. Whatever opinions that may lay ahead, we’re facing them together, as it should be. I take a deep breath and walk forward with my head held high.

Zane

I’ve fallen hard for this woman and her daughters. I just sneakily told her I loved her—something I never thought I’d do first, but I don’t regret it.

She didn’t run for the hills. Faith’s here and about to face a family gathering just for me. She and the girls are scared, but like the strong and amazing women they are, they straighten their backs and walk forward with me.

They’re willing to face the unknown and risk rejection—for me.

I’m one lucky man.

I allow myself one last second of panic when I notice that instead of letting himself in like he normally does, Zane rings the doorbell. A few moments later, the door is opened and a late-middle aged woman stands there. She’s Hispanic, about five-one, full-figured, and very beautiful. By the way she greets Zane, I can guess who she is.

“¡
Mijo! ¿Cómo estás, mi papi-lindo?
”

She reaches for his head and he bends down, allowing his mother to kiss his forehead like he was still a child. He’s definitely a momma’s boy.

She’s takes us in with her eyes, noting that Skylar is in his arms.

“Who do we have here,
mijo?
” She asks with a huge smile.

“
Mamá,
this beautiful little girl in my arms is Skylar, and this is her sister, Rylee.” He introduces them proudly. “This amazing woman beside me is my Faith. I’ve found my
one
and I’m keepin’ her.” He emphasizes by taking my hand and pulling me as close as possibly allowed by the food, and giving me a kiss on my forehead.

“Faith, Rylee, and Skylar, this is my mother, Angélica.”

“Hi, Mrs. Knight,” the girls say.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Knight,” I tell her in Spanish.

“It’s Angélica or
Mamá
for you,
bella
Faith, and
Abuelita
to you,
niñas,
” she says to my girls. “Mrs. Knight is my mother-in-law.”

She gives us each a hug and a kiss on the cheek and allows us in the door. I swear I hear her mumble, “Well, that girl’s not going to be happy,” but it’s so soft I think I might have imagined it. She walks us to the kitchen, passing by the living room, which is filled with family members watching a soccer game. If only I could escape to there, I wish to myself.

We say hi to everyone in passing and finally make it to the kitchen, where I see Jackie and Josilyn. Finally, some familiar faces.

“Did y’all bring the food?” Josilyn asks eagerly without a greeting.

“Josilyn! Where are your manners,
niña?
That’s not how we treat guests,” Angélica scolds her.

“But,
Abuelita,
they’re not guests. It’s Mrs. Faith, Rylee, Skylar and of course, Uncle Zane. I’m always at their house and they know how I am,” Josilyn replies and turns to us eagerly.

“Of course we brought the food,” Rylee tells her. “Momma made you your favorite cupcakes: vanilla with Oreo cookie at the bottom and whipped chocolate icing on top. We also brought you M&M cookies, buffalo chicken dip, and
arroz con pollo
—everything that you love from our house.” She turns to Jackie. “Where do I put these, Mrs. Jackie?”

“Put them on the counter over there,” she says. “Grab y’all some drinks and head out the back and meet the rest of the family. Faith, we have wine and margaritas, and if you really need them, I think we can find ourselves makin’ some Tequila Sunrises.”

We put the food down and I give Jackie a hug.

“Pray for me,” I beg her.

She softly chuckles. “It’s not that bad. Everyone is just dyin’ to meet the girl that changed Zane’s mind.”

“Come on. Let’s go meet everyone else so we can eat. I’m starvin.’ I didn’t get to eat breakfast at your place, since I had to work last night at the firehouse.” Zane grabs my hand and leads me outside. “It’ll be fine, baby, I’m with you.”

We make it out the door into the backyard. It’s full—I mean really
full
—of family members. Aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters with husbands, little kids running around, and an older couple are all scattered throughout the yard. We make the rounds and we’re introduced to so many people, I don’t know how I’ll remember everyone. I may have an awesome memory, but it’s just too many people.

We finally make it to the grill where Jonathan, Jackie’s husband, is speaking with a gentleman. His back is to us. When he turns around, I gasp. Now I know where Zane gets his looks and his eyes. My goodness! This man is handsome and his eyes . . . his eyes are just like the ones that look at me with such tenderness when I look at Zane. Yes, Mr. Knight has aged very well. Zane is a lucky man; he’ll still be extremely handsome when he gets older.

“Dad,” Zane says to the older version of himself, “I want you to meet my girls and my woman. Rylee, Skylar, and Faith, this is my father, Julian Knight.”

“Dad, this little girl in my arms is Skylar and this young lady is Rylee. And here on my side is my “one,” my Faith. I’ve been lucky to find her and I’m not letting her or the girls go,” Zane proudly announces.

Did he just announce that to his whole family?

“Hi, Mr. Knight,” the girls greet him in chorus.

“Oh my, now I know where Zane gets his god-like looks,” I blurt before realizing what I’m saying. “I mean—it’s a pleasure, Mr. Knight; you have a wonderful family.”

Everyone chuckles as I blush. Leave it to me to say something ridiculous.

“I know, little lady,” he replies. “His mother is a lucky lady and I am a lucky man to be blessed with such a beautiful family. Please call me Julian. Girls,” he says to my daughters, “y’all can call me Grandpa, if your mother allows.” I’m surprised at their quick acceptance.

“It’s a pleasure, Julian,” I say as he takes me in his arms and gives me a small hug. After looking at Zane and nodding, I say, “Julian, it would be an honor for the girls to call you Grandpa. Thank you.”

“Well, now that y’all have met Zane’s woman and we can see she’s not an imaginary person, let’s get everyone fed,” Jackie says.

With the introductions over, we move to get the food set out so everyone has an opportunity to serve themselves. I go inside and grab the plates, cups, and plastic-ware. The girls follow to help and grab the food we brought over to take outside with Zane’s help. He’s proudly showing us off to his family. I figure out that there are a couple people that don’t like the idea of us dating. For example, there’s an older woman I think might be a friend of Angélica, and a younger woman who I’d guess is her daughter, both are giving me the stink-eye.

I see Zane in line with Skylar, helping her fill her plate. He takes her to a seat next to Josilyn and Rylee, who are sitting at the “young adult” table. He sits her down and heads back to me.

“She’s set, babe. Now it’s our turn,” he says to me as he meets me in line and gives me a kiss.

As we’re filling our plates, I hear someone ask, “Who made the rice?”

“My sister did,” Skylar tells the young man. I think his name is Colton; a cousin.

He gives Rylee a look of disbelief. “
You
made it?”

“Yes,” Rylee replies with a blush.

“You can cook?” he asks and at her nod he dramatically cries, “Marry me!”

His demand makes everyone laugh and Zane leans into me. “He’s addicted to food. Swears when he finds the first woman that can cook as good as his mother, he’s gonna marry her. Don’t worry, he’s a sophomore in college so Rylee won’t see much of him.”

I chuckle and begin to fill my plate. When I reach the end of the buffet table, I wait for Zane and see his plate
loaded
with food. Guess it runs in the family, I chuckle to myself.

We head to the table where his parents and Jackie are sitting and find room for ourselves. Everyone starts asking questions about me and we answer them all.

A voice pipes up, “How can you be Rylee’s mother? Were you, like, fourteen when you had her? And where is the girls’ father—or fathers?”

These rudely asked questions came from the younger woman who had been giving me the stink-eye. Since her mother and Angélica are friends, it figures that she’s at our table. I’m astonished at her rudeness nonetheless, and Zane tenses.

“She’s a bitch and pissed Zane found you,” Jackie whispers to me. “For years, her mother has been claiming that she”—here she points at the young lady (and I use the term loosely)—“and Zane will marry and make my mother and her related through marriage. Don’t worry, Zane never went there with her. He only tolerates her for our mother.”