Free Love Takes Time by Adrianne Byrd

day…
    â€œWell, you found someone to share the next phase of your life with,” Sterling said. “That’s a step in the right direction.” As if he would know, but it at least sounded good.
    Alfred nodded. “Right.” He stood, but almost immediately doubled over.
    Sterling dropped his apple and raced around the corner to grab Alfred by the shoulders. “Hey, hey. Are you all right?”
    Alfred caught and steadied himself against thecounter. “Yeah. I guess I just got a little woozy there for a second.” He laughed awkwardly.
    Sterling frowned, not sure what to make of what he had just witnessed. “Are you sure? Maybe you should sit back down.” He turned and reached for the stool that had clacked to the floor.
    â€œNo. No. I’m all right.” Alfred adjusted his tall frame.
    Sterling dropped his arms and stepped back. It was clear he didn’t want his help.
    â€œI’ve been running around so much I hadn’t bothered to check my blood sugar,” Alfred said with a chuckle. “I better grab a piece of fruit myself before Estelle gets on me.”
    Sterling nodded along. The explanation sounded stilted and forced. Alfred moved toward the fruit bowl. “No need to upset her,” he added.
    Sterling caught the hint. “Mum’s the word.”
    Alfred nodded and took a healthy bite out of the apple. In the next second, he made a hasty retreat from the kitchen, leaving Sterling to mull over what had just happened.
    Sterling picked his apple up from the floor and tossed it into the garbage. “It’s none of my business,” he mumbled under his breath. Just how many people did he want to add to his babysitting duties anyway?
    He returned to the fruit bowl; this time, he grabbed a banana and then strolled out of the kitchen. By the time he hit the first step on the staircase, the frontdoor opened and he turned to see his older brother, Jonas, and his wife, Toni, enter the house.
    â€œUncle Sterling!” Little Kerry shot past her parents and launched toward him.
    Before he had time to react, Kerry’s small arms wrapped around his legs and threatened to tip him over all the stairs. “Whoa. Well, look who I have here,” Sterling boasted, leaning over to give his niece a hug. “Let me take a good look at you.”
    Kerry released her death grip and stood back so she could perform a perfect pirouette to show off her beautiful orange dress. “Do you like it?” she asked eagerly. “Mommy helped me pick it out.”
    â€œIs that right?” Sterling glanced up at a beaming Toni and then back down at his niece. “I think you look beautiful.”
    â€œThank you,” she said, curtsying and lacing her fingers into his. “Do you know where Uncle Quentin is? Daddy said he was going to be here.”
    â€œHe’s around here someplace. He’s probably upstairs in his room.”
    â€œYea!” Kerry released Sterling’s hand and then shot up the stairs.
    â€œOuch. That hurts.” Sterling laughed.
    â€œDon’t take it personal, bro,” Jonas said, lugging in more bags. “Q always had a way with the ladies—of all ages.”
    Sterling moved toward the door to offer a helping hand, but was briefly delayed with a brotherly hug, followed by an awkward embrace with his sister-in-law, who still held his sleeping nephew. “Looks like he is knocked out.”
    She laughed. “I wish he would’ve slept during the flight, too. Instead he raised so much hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if the airline banned us for life.”
    â€œYou could’ve taken the jet,” Sterling reminded them.
    Toni rolled her eyes. “Wasteful spending,” she muttered. “I swear the money you boys waste on your frivolous toys.” She shook her head as she strolled toward the staircase.
    â€œWhy do you always go there with her?” Jonas asked, laughing. “You