"I'm not perfect
So I try every day and I grow a little bit
Read a little more so I can educate my fears
Reap for my soul and cleanse my spirit
Pray cus I'm ready for the bloom of the sea
Peace and serenity is all that I need

Sometimes we fall in love
Love is always enough

Sometimes we fall in love
Love is always enough…"

Cleo Sol – "Why Don't You"

The words couldn't be correct.

Surely, she misheard him.

Sabine ran outside to find Erik with venom in his voice and a rabid dog stance toward Calista on the patio.

Not his son? Deuce? That arrogant, swagger-heavy, talented, loveable skater punk with the sharp tongue, and big-hearted love for Erik and Marina?

Sabine knew it was true when Calista couldn't look the boy in the eye. When Erik took off after Deuce, instead of running by his side to stop the child, she stayed behind to comfort Marina. And confront Calista.

"Why?"

That single painful word was all Sabine could blurt out as Calista rubbed Marina's back. Puffy red eyes and a trembling lip met Sabine's stunned gaze.

"I made a terrible mistake."

"Come inside," Sabine said ushering in the distraught mother and weeping daughter from the chilly air.

"Why did he run away?" Marina asked.

Her tears looked like tiny crystals on her cheeks.

"He's upset," Sabine said.

They went into the family room and Calista sat on the wide sectional with Marina draped over her lap. She comforted her daughter as best she could but Marina kept getting worked up.

"He belongs to Daddy too, right? Right?"

Calista stood up.

"I'm going to take her to her room."

"Go ahead," Sabine said.

She watched Calista lead Marina up the stairs with wobbly legs. When they were gone from view, she grabbed the house phone and called her Dad at the restaurant.

"Papi, Deuce ran away from Erik's house. If you see him please keep him there. Erik ran after him—"

"What happened?"

Papi's voice sounded stressed with the news.

"Something awful has happened. He found out that Erik isn't his father."

"What the hell? What? How did this happen?"

"I'll tell you later. I just found out myself. Calista is here at the house with Marina. I'm going to go look for him, check for his regular spots he might go to. Please call me or Erik on our cells if he shows up. He is devastated and…it's a big mess, Papi—"

"Okay, Mija,….shhh…shhh…don't you lose it right now. Your Mom is here with me, I'll let her know."

"Thank you…um…my cell is ringing. I'll hit you up soon."

Sabine ran into the kitchen and grabbed her phone from off the island counter.

"You find him?" she blurted out to Erik.

"No, I'm still out here looking."

"I told my Dad to look out for him. I'm going to go out now too. Calista took Marina upstairs."

"Have her stay there in case he comes back to the house."

Sabine could hear pain and fear in Erik's voice.

"I'll call his friends on this side of town," he said.

"Ok. We'll find him. Don't worry."

She swiped her phone and texted her brother. He was hanging at their parent's home to do laundry for free. Leaving him a message, she thought of one more person to contact.

Colin.

"Hey, what it do…?"

"Colin! Can you please come to Erik's house right now?"

"I can, but why?"

"It's bad…Calista came over here…she and Erik got into it again, and Erik told her that he knew that Deuce wasn't his son!"

"Shit."

His voice.

Something was off about Colin's voice.

"Deuce ran away and Erik is looking for him. I'm about to go out search for him too. Calista is here with Marina—"

"I'm on my way."

"Colin, did you know?"

Sabine heard Calista making her way back down the stairs.

"I'd rather not say over the phone. Text me if you find Deuce," he said.

Sabine slipped her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. She grabbed a pair of her sneakers by the garage door.

Calista approached her wringing her hands and looking, even more, worse for wear.

"Marina?"

"I got her into bed for now."

"This is so fucked up. Why did you do it? If you loved Erik so much, why would you have a baby with someone else?"

"I did love him. I still do. So much…but…"

Calista grew flustered.

"Sit down," Sabine said.

Calista sat on the edge of a loveseat in the main living room. Sabine sat near her. The woman's hands shook and her eyes darted around the room trying to focus on something. Sabine felt anger in her heart, but she also felt a deep sadness for Deuce. The deceit. The lying. All the harm this woman brought to her own family. Erik too. Was all that cheating and disrespect he did just retaliation against his ex? Punishment for her transgression? Sabine felt a strong sense of pity for her. To be in love with someone who didn't love her back. Stooping so low and tricking a husband with another man's offspring.

"Erik and I were in the middle of another breakup and I started seeing someone. I thought this new relationship might be something substantial. But he wasn't Erik. I tried to be with someone who reminded me of him…I couldn't get over him no matter who I dated. I got pregnant by this other man and he didn't want me or my baby. I found out he had impregnated two other women while he was with me. Then Erik came back into my life and I just…I wanted him. I loved him so much and I wanted us back together…so I told him I was pregnant with his baby. He married me. Deuce's biological father is Black too, so I didn't think anyone would question what Deuce looked like. I don't know how Erik found out—"

"You didn't give him a choice or chance to—"

"I loved him! He loved Deuce! That's all that mattered to me!"

"Your son is out there losing his damn mind because you only thought of yourself. I swear to God if anything happens to that boy-!"

Calista burst into tears. Clutching her face in her hands she rocked back and forth in her seat.

"I didn't want this to happen! I didn't want this to happen! Please, God, don't let anything happen to my baby…"

Sabine scooted over and put an arm around Calista. No matter how she felt, Sabine had to recognize a grieving woman when she saw one. Grieving over her son. Grieving over her ex. How out of control would Sabine feel if she lost Erik's affections? His loving was larger than life. He was protective. Possessive. A big fluffy marshmallow when it came to his children and her. Nurturing and generous with his time and resources. She would probably go a little bonkers herself if he left her.

But she wouldn't pass off a child that wasn't his to him.

Sabine sat with Calista until she heard the doorbell. She walked to the front door.

"No word?" Colin asked as he rushed inside.

"No—"

"What is he doing here?"

Calista stood up and glared at Colin.

"I'm here for Erik."

Calista shook her head and ran up the stairs. Sabine stared at Colin. Stared him down to his core.

"Are you Deuce's father?"

Her stomach tensed.

They shared women before. Colin was Black. He had easy access to Calista if he wanted her.

"I'm not his father."

Sabine exhaled loud and gripped her waist.

"I'd never do anything trifling like that, Sugar."

"Do you know who the father is?"

"I had some suspicions. I mentioned it to Erik after Deuce was born. This is my fault. I should've kept my mouth shut. I just didn't want my boy going out like some punk. He never said anything to me . I assumed he had some tests done, so I thought it was all good and just me being paranoid about some rumors."

"Rumors?"

"About Calista and…Reggie Hardwick."

"The football player? The one in rehab?"

Colin nodded.

Sabine shook her head.

"I'm going."

She grabbed her keys.

"I'll look south of here and linger around the house," Colin said.

She nodded and went to the garage. Taking the jeep, she drove around to the high school and the skate park, then drove back North to hit up other spots. Erik texted her to say he was heading back to the house. None of Deuce's local friends heard from him. Deuce's phone wasn't on so Erik couldn't track him with it.

It was going on eight at night.

She drove around several blocks and finally stopped by the taqueria.

"Find him?"

Belinda came from around the counter.

"No."

Papi strolled out of the kitchen pulling off his work apron. He had his keys in his hand.

"I drove around already. I didn't see him anywhere…" she said.

Belinda's eyes lit up.

"Deuce, baby…where have you been?"

Sabine's mother ran to the entrance and threw her arms around Deuce.

"I didn't know where to go…"

His eyes were swollen and his hair was a wild tangle of curling wavy tendrils. The boy just crumbled and pressed his face into Belinda's chest weeping. Belinda ushered him to a nearby booth and made him sit while he bawled. Sabine texted Erik.

"I have you, Deuce. You're here with us now…" Belinda soothed.

"I-I-I-don't…I don't know what's happening. My Dad said I'm not his—"

"You're his," Belinda said softly rubbing his hair.

"Everything is a big lie. Everything!"

They all sat with Deuce as he tried to calm down.

"Go wipe your face with cool water in the restroom," Belinda said.

Her eyes stared out toward the entrance.

Deuce made a sad trek to the restroom as Papi balled up his fist and tapped it on the table.

"These fucking people—" Papi hissed.

"Cedro…" Belinda's head nodded toward the front.

Erik stormed in with relief in his eyes. A few seconds later Calista entered with Marina. The moment they saw each other the hackles rose up again.

"Why did you bring them? You had no right to come to my house like that—"

"You will not destroy me again just because you have money—"

"You center everything around yourself—"

"Stop it!" Cedro shouted.

Sabine flinched and her mother stood up from the booth to stand by his side.

"Deuce is in the restroom with his guts ripped out and Marina is right here in front of you crying and you two selfish idiots can't even see what you're doing?!"

"Cedro…" Belinda whispered holding onto Papi's arm.

Cedro reached for Marina and pulled her toward his wife as Deuce crept out of the restroom. Erik ran to him and hugged him. Calista went up to him and smothered him from another angle.

"Get off me!"

Deuce jerked away from them both.

"You ruined my life!" he screamed at Calista.

"Deuce…" Erik said reaching for his son again.

"You don't want to pay for me…I'm just a bill every month—"

"That's not true!"

"Don't touch me. I hate you both!"

"Deuce, stop!" Marina wailed.

"I'm taking them home with me! We'll sort this out tomorrow," Calista snapped grabbing for Marina.

"You're not taking them anywhere. It's getting late. They'll stay with me and then I'm calling my lawyer in the morning to take of what I should've done fourteen years ago."

Deuce tried to make a run for the door but Erik blocked him.

"Deuce! We're going home and I'll explain everything—"

"I don't want to talk to any of you!"

Calista pulled Marina toward the exit and Erik put an arm out to stop her.

"You're not taking her anywhere!"

"I'll take her and my son!"

"Both of you just stop! Just stop!"

Sabine's mother stalked over to Calista and twisted her hand away from Marina. Belinda reached for Deuce's hand and guided him back with her behind Papi.

"None of these children are going with either one of you!" Belinda shouted.

Papi stepped in front of Belinda when Erik moved toward her still reaching for his kids.

"No," Papi said firmly.

"They're coming home with us," Belinda warned.

"You can't just kidnap my children like this," Calista lamented clutching onto her purse.

"You both don't get to have them right now. Look at them. Traumatized. At each other's throats instead of tending to their needs. They'll stay with us—"

"For the rest of the weekend," Cedro finalized, backing Belinda up.

"You can't do this…Erik…they can't do this."

Calista stomped her foot.

Belinda turned her attention to Erik.

"You have full custody right now so they are legally under your guardianship. Will you allow us to take them so we can calm them and eventually figure all this mess out?" Belinda asked.

Erik's eyes looked watery and weary. He glanced over at Sabine.

"Let them take them," Sabine pleaded with her eyes and not her voice.

Erik stepped back and his shoulders slumped.

"Okay," he said.

"This isn't right-!"

"Calista. Shut. Your. Mouth."

Belinda's words froze the woman.

"This isn't about what you or what Erik want. You can sue us later if you feel wronged, but I'm taking these children and putting them to bed."

Belinda guided Marina and Deuce out of the restaurant. Cedro lingered behind.

"Sugar, bring some clothes for them, things they'll need for school too," Cedro said.

She nodded.

"Calista, go home. If Deuce or Marina want to talk to you later, then I will allow them to call you. That goes for you too Erik. Give them time to come down from this news. If we get to the house and they want to talk or come to either of you, I will bring them."

Calista closed her eyes and her body shook. Fresh tears rolled down her face.

"I love my children," she uttered with the sound of defeat laced in her tone, "I made an awful mistake and I've been paying for it a long time. I didn't want him to know…I didn't want anyone to know…"

"Go home. Call a friend over to be with you. Get your head together. Okay?"

She nodded. Her eyes brushed over Erik's.

"I didn't want him to know, Erik. Colin made you go behind my back. Didn't he?"

"I had a right to know."

"He loves you. That's all you needed to know…ripped his heart out…that's what you did! Ripped all our hearts out."

"You…"

Erik raised his hand to his face and balled it up trying to contain his anger.

Sabine laced her fingers with Erik's and pulled him toward the exit.

"Let's go," she whispered.

They both staggered out. Walking toward the tri-level they were silent together. Every now and then Erik would give a shuddery sigh and Sabine squeezed his hand to keep him in touch with her presence. Entering the house, Sabine pulled him to the family room and made him sit while she made coffee for them both.

"I'm glad they're with your parents."

Sabine handed him a piping hot mug of a freshly roasted blend and sat next to him.

"You knew all this time?"

Erik nodded.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Erik's cell buzzed. He pulled it from his pants pocket.

"Colin," he said.

"I forgot to hit him up."

"I texted him."

Erik swiped a message on his phone.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow."

Sabine sat with him and they sipped coffee. They drank and Sabine waited for Erik to open up. He seemed lost in his thoughts as he sat quietly.

"I'll take these," she said when both their mugs were empty.

Sabine cleaned the mugs and put them away. Standing in the kitchen she waited a few minutes to gather her own wandering mind. What words of comfort could she give him? He carried the truth with him for years and years. He loved Deuce. She saw that evidence every single day. He treated the child no different than he did Marina. Deuce had all his mannerisms. The bulk of his personality was shaped by having Erik as his father. She and Deuce were exactly the same. The only difference was that Sabine knew she wasn't Papi's biological child. But that didn't change or color her love for Cedro Moreno. That was her father forever. Erik had to know that although Deuce was upset, he still loved him, even through his shock and rightful anger at learning the truth in such a dreadful way.

Sabine returned to Erik's side. Eventually, they both had to use the restroom and she thought maybe he wasn't ready to talk. She was going to suggest that he go lay down, but then he cleared his throat and wiped his eyes.

"We lusted after each other. We fought…"

Erik closed his eyes and took another deep breath.

"I slept with her after a long absence and then I was told I was going to be a father. Like I told you before, I did what I had to do."

Sabine nodded and stroked his arm encouraging him to continue.

"Then one day, out of the blue, Colin comes to visit me while I'm doing a commercial in New York. I had just moved to L.A. with Calista and Deuce. I was getting into the groove of being a father. I was being all adult and shit. Earning a living. Paying for everything. Taking care of a wife and a little dude, buying my first real house…"

Erik's dimples ticked up when he smiled at the memory. Sabine squeezed his hand again.

"Colin just shows up. I thought he wanted to surprise me just to hang out like we used to. Once I married Calista, I just cut off a lot of socializing just to be with her and Deuce. Seeing Colin made me want to cut loose for a bit. For old time's sake."

He released her hand and rested it on his leg.

"We got to chopping it up in my hotel room and he says, 'Yo, there's some talk floating around about Calista'. I thought he was going to tell me about some jealous gossip about her career, or some other stuff. He mentioned a man's name—"

"Reggie Hardwick."

Erik blinked a few times.

"Colin told me when he was here."

"Oh. Yeah. That dude. I'd seen pictures of him with Calista. But she was being photographed with a lot of guys. It's Hollywood. It's the whole celeb and sports machine. I thought nothing of it. I was busy dipping and diving myself. When she and I got back together I believed it was some inevitable prelude to another make-up and possible break-up session. Colin said he was hearing from some other Pro athletes that Reggie was dropping babies in quite a few women. He told me that I might want to check and make sure Deuce was mine."

Erik stared at her.

"I wanted to sock him in his jaw so bad at that moment. I knew she was dating a bunch of high-profile men to get back at me. Tryna get me jealous. There were some overlap gaps between me and Reggie but that's how it is in closed circles. I never thought she'd fuck a man and trick me when she got caught out there. She would get an abortion before coming to me…that's what I believed in my gut. But then…"

"You got suspicious."

"Yeah. Colin's words fucked with my head real heavy. I start looking at the boy real different. Tryna see me in him. He's mixed so I knew he'd probably come out much lighter than me. Hair less kinky maybe. I know how phenotypes and genotypes work. He looked like her. We could all see he was Black so it was all good. Then… I got online and looked at pictures of that clown. He already had two kids, and they didn't look like him at all. It just festered in my gut. Deuce was about nine months old when Colin pulled my coattails. I waited until he was a year old before I had him tested. I waited until Calista was out of town and I went to three different reputable testing facilities. They all came back the same. He wasn't mine."

Erik exhaled loudly. Sabine held his hand again.

"Things were beginning to unravel by then. I was traveling heavily, winning a lot. New endorsement deals flooding in like crazy. Calista was fussing with me that I wasn't around to help her…I was tired of her and all my doubts about the baby had me tapped out mentally."

"Why didn't you leave her then? You could've escaped all of this heartache if you confronted her right away."

"I was going to leave her. Had the DNA papers in my hand notarized and everything. I was going to fling it in her face and just jet…"

Erik waved his right hand in the air. He shook his head then clasped his fingers together.

"I had my bags packed and in my car. I was sitting in the house waiting for Calista to show up from a Spa Day. My body was so hot with anger that I was sweating. I was so fucking livid."

"You had a right to be, Erik. Anyone would be."

Sabine held his hand on her lap. He leaned toward her.

"I kept listening out for her car to pull into the driveway. Deuce was on the floor with a bunch of toys I put down for him to play with. I couldn't even look at him. Just kept seeing faces of other men laughing at me. Every little sound I heard, I thought it was her. I was amped to jump down her throat… but then… Deuce…he crawled over to me and put his hand on my leg and pulled himself up. He reached up and touched my face and said "Dada" for the first time and I knew right then and there. That was my child. I didn't care that Calista tricked me, had actually cheated on me with Reggie for a moment when she couldn't decide what to do. I didn't care about the gossip and rumors anymore. I knew Deuce's biological father was a piece of shit, and I couldn't let him go be with a man like that. I loved that boy. I held him first when he was born. I gave him my name. That's my son. My son. Mine. You hear me?!"

"I hear you."

Sabine stroked his face.

"He's got to know that my love for him is solid because—"

"Because he's yours," she said.

"No matter what…"

Erik broke down then. Sabine held him.

"For years I wanted to tell him the truth. But I was afraid. She could take him from me and let Reggie be in his life. The man had fucking problems. Drug addiction. Babies everywhere. Assault charges. I couldn't let Deuce be part of any of that. That nigga was in the news all the time on some bullshit. Then we had Marina. Time just kept passing and I just wanted to forget. I didn't even tell Colin because I was embarrassed. Ashamed of what Calista had done. I wanted to pretend it wasn't true."

"Is that why you took so long to finally get a divorce?"

He wiped his eyes again.

"Yeah. I kept waiting for Calista to use the truth against me and take him. Marina was my blood and the courts had to be fair to me. But with Deuce…I had no clue. That's why I've been seeing my lawyers these last few months. Looking at my legal options with going for permanent full custody."

"Baby…I wish you would've told me. I could've helped you—"

"You have your goals to focus on. You didn't need this on your head too."

"Me and Deuce are the same."

"We just keep hurting him and Marina and I just want it to stop."

"What did your lawyers say about custody?"

Erik sat back on the sectional and stared up at the ceiling.

"Laws have changed over the years so there are two things in my favor to help me be recognized as the legal parent. I signed the birth certificate binding me legally as the father. Plus, there's the fact that he was born during the marriage. My lawyers think I have a good case to go against her even though I'm not related to him by blood. Deuce wants to live with me and I provide the best living situation right now. Shit…I just wish Calista would've told me the truth from jump."

"Would you have married her if you knew all the facts?"

Erik looked at her.

"Yeah. I would've for Deuce's sake. We may have eventually divorced sooner, but I couldn't let that boy have a shaky upbringing. I would've still given him a chance. Let him have a real family. I had feelings for his Mom. It wasn't love but it felt close enough at the time. She would've been in a bad way had I not done it. I heard that two of Reggie's six other kids are in juvenile homes right now. One was taken by CPS from another mother. Deuce wouldn't be in that situation. Ever. Not while I'm here. I gave him a life. I've been so scared for him. All these years. Worried about her taking him away. I just got tired tonight. Fed up with her throwing her lies around. I wanted her to know. I was going to tell him but in my own way. Alone. I wanted to prepare him and Marina for what is about to come. I can't have her parents around them. Calista had her reasons for doing this, but I don't trust her to make good decisions that are best for our children. She's still self-centered. I don't think that will ever change."

His breathing eased up.

"Why don't you go to bed? I'm going to pack up some things for Deuce and Marina and head on over to my parents to check on them."

"Can you tell them—"

"You don't have to ask Erik. I already know."

"I'm sorry this went down like this."

"It's always a circus with us. I'm getting used to it…I think," she joked.

He gave a heartfelt smile.

"You'll be okay while I'm gone? Should Colin come back over?"

"I'm a big boy. I'll get my mind right."

"I'll call you with an update before I go to sleep. If you don't answer, I'll leave a text message."

"Thank you."

Erik reached over and bear-hugged her.

"It's going to be alright," she whispered in his ear.

She watched him make his way up the stairs before she left the house. She took the jeep again and checked her cell at a stoplight. The Moreno house looked quiet from the street with the porch lights off. Sabine entered her parent's living room with soft footsteps.

"Hey, baby."

Belinda sat on the couch next to Cedro. The tv was on playing a random police procedural. She could see Marina was fast asleep curled inside a thick blanket on a loveseat in their den.

"How are they?" Sabine asked.

"Confused. Sad. Deuce is in Robert's room. He won't come out."

"He say anything?"

Cedro rubbed his chin.

"He's still shocked. We check on him…let him know he's in a safe place to talk when he's ready," he said.

"How is Erik?" Belinda asked.

Sabine plopped down in front of them crossing her legs.

"He told me everything. Colin told him that there were rumors about Calista and an NFL player that were true. She got pregnant by this man and tried to fool Erik so he'd marry her. Erik waited until Deuce was a year old and had some tests done. Not his baby. But he loved Deuce and didn't want him to be with his real father because the dude is bad news."

"Who is he?" Cedro asked.

"You ever hear of Reggie Hardwick? From the Raiders?"

Cedro and Belinda closed their eyes.

"He was just on the news with some assault charges," Cedro whined.

"What a nightmare," Belinda grumbled.

"He stayed because he wanted Deuce to have better. He was scared for a long time that he had no legal backing to challenge her for anything."

"So he put up with an unhappy marriage," Cedro muttered.

"For the kids," Belinda added.

"He's not perfect. He did a lot of bad things himself. But I understand why he stayed with her," Cedro said.

"You think he's awake?" Sabine said.

"I don't think he'll be able to sleep tonight. Marina was with him for a little bit, but he sent her out. She's all over the place…thinks that they'll be split up because Erik isn't his Dad."

Sabine stood up.

"I'm going to go try and talk to him…if he's up."

She took off her sneakers and padded down the hallway and knocked on Robert's bedroom door.

"Deuce, it's me, Sugar. Are you up?"

"Yeah."

"Can I talk to you? If you don't want to talk it's okay. I just came from your Dad's house. He's thinking about you. He's worried too. I know this has been an awful night for you. I'm sorry this all happened …"

She waited.

He stayed quiet.

"He loves you Deuce. Your Mom loves you too. Adults fuck up. They fucked up. But for good reasons—"

"How is lying a good reason?"

Sabine placed her hand on the doorknob. She turned it and was surprised to see it wasn't locked.

"Can I come in?"

"You're supposed to wait until I say yes or no before you bust in. Dang."

His eyes had that sly smart-ass look to them, and the smirk on his face was pure Erik as he sat back on her brother's twin bed.

"Smart mouth—"

The smile that crept on her face dropped when she found herself bursting into tears. Deuce sat up abruptly as she swiped at the door to close it. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you crying?"

"Because of everything. This shitty…"

She shook her head. Deuce stared down at her hands.

"I feel numb," he whispered.

"Me too. I was going to come in here and tell you that not all families are built on blood. Sometimes its horchata and tacos," she grumbled.

He smiled.

"I was going to tell you that I know what it's like to be raised by a man you are not related to biologically…but it's crap. I had the truth on my side from the beginning. Your Mom wanted to be with your Dad. She was with someone else and made you. She wanted you. She wanted your Dad too. She was facing a big problem alone and chose Erik to save her. And you."

"You know who my biological Dad is?"

"Erik mentioned someone. He can tell you about him. Or your Mom."

"I want to hear it from you. Who is he?"

"They should tell you—"

"I want to hear it from you. You don't lie or hide anything. You'd make it real. Nothing feels real right now."

"He was someone your Mom was dating when she broke up with your Dad. He's a football player."

"What's his name?"

Sabine bit her tongue.

"Please. Just tell me."

"He's not someone…"

Deuce's eyes pleaded with hers.

"No one ever tells me anything. I'm tired of it, Sugar."

"Reggie Hardwick."

Sabine saw the slow realization trickle across his face.

"My biological Dad wasn't worth a damn either. We both lucked out when our Mom's leveled up. Sorry…poor taste."

"Nah, it's true."

"You two okay?"

Cedro stuck his head into the room.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"See? At least Papi knows w'sup," Deuce joked.

Sugar slapped his hand.

Cedro walked in and Sugar scooted over on the bed so he could sit.

"How are you feeling now?" Cedro asked.

"I'm scared, Papi. I'm scared nothing will be the same. I'm scared my Mom will take me away because I'm not his and she can get lawyers to make that happen—"

"Deuce…Deuce…stop. Nothing will be the same because now everyone knows the truth. And ultimately, the truth is what was needed. You see her?"

Cedro pointed to Sabine.

"That is my daughter. I'd move mountains and whole seas to protect her, take care of her, and make sure she knows how much her Mom and I love her. She's my child. I raised her. Put clothes on her back. Food in her greedy belly, and taught her to take no shit from nobody—"

"Language!"

Belinda stood outside the doorway.

Cedro held out his hand and Sabine's Mom stepped into the room and stood near him taking his hand.

"You are Erik's son. Period. You have your Dad's name. He gave you that. There's pride in your child carrying your name. This truth, this unpleasant truth will only set your family free to be honest about what is best. And what's best Deuce? Making sure you and Marina are together, loved, and cared for. Your parents will have to make that happen no matter how much they dislike each other. You make the family you want to make Deuce. I did that with Belinda. With Sugar. And now with you and Marina. You are part of our family now. And guess what? We'll move mountains and seas for the both of you too."

Deuce closed his eyes and his lips became a thin line. Sabine crawled up the side of the bed and hugged him. He became a limp noodle in her arms.

"I'm going to put Marina in Sugar's room," Belinda whispered.

Cedro nodded and put his hand on Deuce's back. Sabine stared at her father and he wiped a tear from her eye.

"Horchata and tacos, Mija?" he chuckled.

"Like you said, Papi. Family is what you make it."

###

Erik called Calista to check in with her.

The conversation was curt. Just threats of lawyers from her side. He couldn't deal and hung up. Then he called her back.

"I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight over the kids. Deuce is my child. I don't care about Reggie. I raised my boy. He acts like me and he knows I love him."

"Have you talked to either of them yet?"

"No. I just get text messages. They're fine—"

"You were going to surprise me in court."

"I don't want to talk about courts or lawyers right now. That's not important."

"I'm tired."

"I am too."

"You were the best thing for him."

"I know."

He could hear the tears in her voice.

"The way he looked at me Erik…I was so caught up in just being right…I just wanted to fight back…show them that I cared about them just as much as you. I saw those papers and I couldn't let you beat me. You and Sugar sit down there in your fancy beach house with my babies and play house and I'm here all alone looking like the awful parent. The big bad witch with the trash parents…I couldn't let that go."

"Calista. Get some sleep—"

"You always win. You always win Erik. It's not fair. You give Deuce the best life. You treat our daughter like a Princess. That's all I want for them…"

"I know. Get some sleep. Let's talk tomorrow? Maybe go to lunch and just talk like sane adults? Help me fix all of this Calista."

"Okay. Okay."

"Tomorrow then. No lawyers. No anger. Just us working this out."

He hung up and padded down the steps in his striped pajama bottoms. He was compelled to make more coffee, but he felt his body crashing from emotional turmoil. The house alarm chimed and he heard the chirps of the alarm system turning off. The door flew open.

"Deuce!" Erik cried out.

The boy ran to him and almost knocked him over as he wrapped his arms around Erik's waist. Marina tumbled in after him and her arms draped across her brother's back.

"They wanted to come back over here," Sugar said locking the door behind her.

Erik bit his lip and cradled his son's head. Deuce's reddened eyes greeted his.

"I'm your Dad. Nobody else. Erik Stevens Jr. That's who you are. Understand? Nothing changes. Nothing."

"It still hurts," Deuce said with a shaky voice.

"I know it does."

"Shut up! This is our Daddy!" Marina shouted into Deuce's back.

"You right baby girl," Erik said.

Deuce threw an arm around Marina.

"Talk in the morning?" Erik asked.

Deuce and Marina nodded.

They allowed Erik to kiss their foreheads and they went up to their rooms.

"What happened?" Erik said.

Sugar tossed her purse on the dining table.

"We talked. Then he asked to come here to be with you. He called Calista and talked to her. They both did. I think he wants to process it all under the same roof as you. Not away somewhere. He may want to talk again later. It's past midnight—"

"I don't care. He can talk to me at three in the morning if he wants."

"My Mom was putting Marina in my room and he walked in there. They talked by themselves without us being with them, and then he asked to come here…ahhh…Erik…babe…"

Sugar kissed his face and threw her arms around his neck.

"A small bump in the road," she whispered.

He kissed her and they held hands walking up to the second floor.

"I'll get ready for bed, but you take your time with them," Sugar said leaving him on the landing as she climbed up to the next floor.

Erik walked into Marina's room. The light was on but she wasn't there. He strolled across the way to Deuce's room. She was tucked under the covers with her brother. Her arm was thrown over his waist.

"She won't leave," Deuce said, that old annoyance in his voice.

"Papi told me to be there for you, so I'm here," she said matter-of-factly.

"That was figurative…nevermind," Deuce said rolling his eyes.

He didn't make her leave, so Erik knew he did need her there. He sat next to them, then rolled his big body onto the bed and leaned on his elbow.

"I'm sorry, Lil man. I wanted to tell you everything."

"Mom said the same thing."

"It doesn't matter anymore because we are all related through me," Marina said.

She brushed back a braid and moved her arm so that she could crawl over Erik and push him closer to Deuce. She pulled Deuce's right arm and placed it around Erik's stomach as she dropped her arm on top of Deuce's.

"Such a goofball," Deuce grumbled.

"I love you Deuce," Marina said.

She kissed her brother's arm. Instead of making a face or a rude noise, Deuce stared at her for a long time.

"Goofball," he said. But Erik saw the boy's lip tremble.

"Go to sleep, it's late," Erik said.

He stayed with his children until they both fell asleep. Sugar found them all piled up like kittens in the morning.

###

Erik checked his cell phone and ordered another oaked Chardonnay.

Calista was late.

This was nothing new, but an hour had gone by. He texted her for a third time. Called her house and cell phone. Erik swiped Sugar's number.

"Hey. How's it going?" Sugar said.

"Are you running?"

"No, me Deuce and Marina are skateboarding…no jumping like that Deuce! We're going to eat at Papi's right now."

"Did Calista call the house? She's not here yet."

"Nope. She might've called when we left, but that was only ten minutes ago. Want me to go back and check?"

"No. Go eat with the kids. I'll hit you up later when Yvette gets there."

He hung up and decided to order appetizers. Potstickers and Spring Rolls. He sipped his wine and kept staring at his phone.

Calista's avatar finally popped on the screen.

"I just ordered the first course," he said.

The voice on the other end surprised him by how they sounded. He was ready to cuss until the words he heard sank in. Erik jumped up and left the restaurant immediately dialing 911 as he ran.