Chapter Fourteen : Protecting What's Ours

                                    

                                          
Chapter Fourteen : Protecting What's Ours
It was a week later when Tookie finally got discharged from the hospital, and all I could think about was keeping her safe. 
Honestly, it felt like the world had been on a constant tilt since the whole Marcus situation went down, and I was still burning with anger about it. 
Marcus was gone now, thank God, but part of me couldn't shake the feeling that if I ever ran into that fool again, he'd regret it. 
Eliza handled him, and I was thankful for that, but Marcus better hope I never crossed paths with him. No one messed with my family, especially not like that.
When Trinity and I finally got Tookie home, I could breathe again—at least for a moment. Tookie was still recovering, on bed rest, and Trinity was already making sure everything was in order. 
She was a machine, keeping everything running smoothly, and I loved her for it. But the stress had barely left Tookie's face, and I could see how drained she was, even though she tried to mask it with a smile.
As soon as we got her settled on the couch, I tried to take some of the load off her, but the woman was relentless. She didn't want anyone hovering over her—especially not when it came to the album. 
The whole release had been a mess, and honestly, I didn't blame her for checking out. Marcus had ruined it for her. She had spent so much time pouring herself into that project, only to have it tainted by the chaos surrounding him. 
So when Kayla just dropped the album without warning and not on the official release date, I couldn't even be mad. Tookie didn't even want to deal with it anymore. Her mind was elsewhere, and I respected that.
I could feel her anger, though—simmering beneath the surface. She was upset with herself, with everything, but mostly with how it had all gone down. But I was glad she didn't have to deal with the music career stress anymore. 
She needed a break, and I wasn't going to let anyone, not even her, take on more than she could handle right now. The album had been important to her, but what mattered now was her health, her well-being. The babies were to priority for Tookie. Her career could wait, and if it didn't, I'd take care of it.
Packing up two houses wasn't easy, though. Tookie wasn't up to helping much—she needed her rest, and she was adamant about staying in bed. I didn't mind. I wasn't one to let her lift a finger right now anyway. 
It felt like we were running on fumes, getting everything for the move. I had a good team helping us, but it was still a lot to juggle. The moving company was running late, and I didn't have the patience for it. On top of that, the last thing I expected was to get into a full-blown argument with my dad.
That was a mess.
I'd always been the one to keep things calm with my father, no matter what. I didn't rock the boat much with him. But that day? That day, I wasn't holding back. The whole two women situation? He didn't like it, and he wasn't afraid to tell me. 
I'd been living my life for years, doing what made sense for me, and now that Trinity and Tookie were both in my life, I wasn't going to apologize for it. I didn't need my father's approval anymore, but for some reason, hearing him express his disapproval got under my skin.
We'd been talking about the logistics of moving, but it quickly shifted to personal matters, and he went off. "You can't keep living like this, Jonathan," he said, shaking his head like I was a kid again. "You're playing with fire. Do you think this is sustainable? Do you think it's good for your kids to see this kind of lifestyle? It's not normal."
I had to stop myself from going off. But after hearing him talk down to me about my own life, something snapped. "You know what, Dad?" I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. "You're right. It's not normal. But it's mine. I'm not asking for your approval. This is my family. It's my life. I don't need to defend it to you, and I'm done trying to make you understand."
His face twisted, and for a second, I thought I'd crossed a line, but honestly, I didn't care. "You're too focused on what you think is 'right' and 'normal.' But guess what? I have a life with Trinity. A life that's even more complete now with Tookie in it. And you know what? This is the only life I need. You can either accept it or keep criticizing it, but I'm done caring."
It was quiet for a beat, and I could tell my dad was hurt. But he needed to hear it. He couldn't keep judging me for living the life I chose—especially when my choices were leading to happiness. 
He didn't get it, and I wasn't going to try to explain it anymore. It wasn't his job to understand—it was my job to protect and love my family, and that's exactly what I was doing. 
There were no more traditional rules for me. The family I was building was unconventional, but it was mine, and I wasn't going to let anyone tear it down.
Later that afternoon, Tookie was sitting at the top of the stairs while Phil and I talked logistics about getting a third moving truck. I'd been so caught up in the emotional rollercoaster with my dad and the stress of everything that I hadn't even noticed her watching us. 
When she called out, my first instinct was to tell her to go back to bed. She had been getting restless, and I wasn't going to let her overexert herself, no matter how much she wanted to help.
But of course, Tookie being Tookie, she was not having it. "We can donate some of the stuff," she said, her voice drifting down from the top of the stairs. She was trying to help, trying to contribute, and I loved her for it, but she had to understand she couldn't do everything right now. She needed rest.
Both Phil and I looked up at her and immediately said, "Get back in bed." It wasn't up for debate. 
I saw Tookie pout and give Phil those puppy eyes that no one in their right mind could resist. It was impossible. But Phil? He wasn't having it. "Not working, go back to bed," Phil said, his tone stern. 
Tookie's pout deepened, but I shook my head and crossed my arms. "Don't even try it," I said with a smirk. "Don't make me get Trin."
Tookie's face lit up in mock horror, and she yelped as if the mere thought of Trinity's matriarch mode scared her. "Fine! Fine!" she called out, disappearing back into the bedroom.
Phil and I shared a look. "I don't know who's scarier in matriarch mode—Trin or April?" Phil asked, half-joking, but there was a hint of truth to it. 
Trinity had been running a tight ship since Tookie got out of the hospital. She was on top of everything, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I laughed, shaking my head. "Oh no, I heard April doesn't play that," I said, thinking about April's no-nonsense attitude. 
She wasn't afraid to take charge, especially with her growing family and everything going on with Kayla, India, and Zilla being on the road. I didn't envy April's position at all.
Phil nodded. "Yeah, we're all gonna need some vacation time soon. I feel like we're buying homes the way people buy groceries," he joked. "At this rate, we might need to start a real estate company."
I chuckled at that. Honestly, it felt like we were always moving. But in a way, that's what made us such great parents. We didn't hesitate to give our kids the best—whether it was a new home, support, or just a safe space to grow. "But that's what makes you guys great parents," I told Phil, sincerely. "I don't think my father would've done half the things you've done for your kids."
Phil smiled, nodding thoughtfully. "Thank you, son. That means a lot to me."
I smiled. "You're welcome, dad." 
And in that moment, it hit me—despite all the chaos, despite the arguments, and the stress, we were building something special. Family wasn't about perfection; it was about love, support, and making sure everyone was taken care of. I was proud of what we had—and I wasn't going to let anyone, not even my father, tear that down.