Page 321 of K.I.N.: Karma Is Near

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LEVIN, HEATHER, XAVIER, AVERY & SAM

LEVIN

It was Thanksgiving morning and the hustle and bustle around my place was fucking crazy.

And when I say morning, I mean that type of morning that was damn near afternoon. But on Thanksgiving, eleven-something was still morning because people had been coming through since around 9:30, dropping shit off, bringing food, asking where shit went, moving shit I already had where I wanted it.

Catering had pulled up not too long ago with enough food to feed damn near everybody twice. Two big ass turkeys, one fried and one roasted, a glazed ham, baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cornbread dressing, string beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls and a tray of fried chicken because somebody always wanted chicken no matter what the fuck the holiday was.

Sam had already made it clear she was bringing some shit herself, and apparently everybody else was too, so at this point we had entirely too much fucking food.

Which I wasn’t complaining about.

I had liquor stocked damn near everywhere. Casamigos, D’Ussé, Don Julio, Hennessy, wine for whoever wanted to pretend they were classy, champagne, beer, shit for mixed drinks. Then I had juices, sodas and water for the kids and everybody who wasn’t drinking.

My kitchen island looked like somebody was getting married.

“Pop.”

I looked up from one of the catering trays.

Henry came walking through the kitchen with Charlene behind him.

“What’s up?”

“Where the cups at?”

I pointed.

“Cabinet.”

Charlene smiled. “Hi, Mr. Lawless.”

I looked at her.

“Mr. Lawless?”

Henry laughed. “I told her don’t call you that.”

“Yeah. Don’t do that shit. Make me feel old.”

“Sorry.” She laughed. “Levin.”

“Better.”

Charlene was a cute little girl.

Pretty brown skin, nice smile, dressed appropriate. Nothing hanging all out. Polite every time she opened her mouth.

My boy picked right.

And she was Black.

Keeping it in the bloodline.

I loved that.