When Hell Freezes Over Read Free Page A

daughter. “MaLeah, you make sure you behave tonight and help take care of your brother with your uncle. Now blow me a kiss ’cause you’re not about to get me wet.”
    Keaton stood up. “Hold up, Bro. That’ll never work with her, and you know it.”
    Keaton grabbed the towel and pulled MaLeah’s naked, slippery body out of the suds. He wrapped the towel around her body, pinning her arms to her side so she couldn’t move.
    â€œNow, give your daddy a kiss.”
    She smiled and gave her dad a welcomed kiss.
    Afterwards, Winston yelled, “Arnelle, you’d better get in here so you can give your daughter a goodnight kiss while she’s retrained!”
    MaLeah saw this entire scene as a game. She giggled as she looked up at her daddy. “Daddy, kiss, kiss!”
    â€œYou’re greedy, just like your momma,” he said with a smile.
    Arnelle walked in looking stunning in her ivory beaded gown. “I heard that, counselor,” she warned him. He turned to kiss Arnelle on the cheek. “Hurry up, woman, so we won’t be late.” She looked at her brother, standing there holding her daughter imprisoned in the towel.
    â€œWhat have you done to my baby?”
    Keaton laughed. “I’m attempting to keep you and Winston dry. Hurry up before she figures out this towel is a restraint and not a game.”
    Arnelle kissed her daughter. “MaLeah, we’ll be back later, so make sure you don’t drive your Uncle Keaton crazy tonight. Okay?”
    â€œK!”
    Keaton looked at his sister. “You clean up real good, Sis. You look beautiful.”
    â€œThanks. Now make sure you call if you need us, and all the important numbers are by the telephone in the kitchen. Fredrick is sleeping right now, but he’ll probably wake up in a few hours for some milk and a diaper change.”
    Keaton dried MaLeah’s body. “Arnelle, I got this! Go! Get out of here with your Man-of-the-Year.”
    Kissing him on the cheek, she smiled. “Okay. We’re out of here.”
    MaLeah yelled, “Bye, Mommie!”

 
C HAPTER 4
    K eaton and MaLeah had been watching TV for almost two hours. Dejá had called his cell phone three times, but he’d let his voicemail catch her calls. He’d been out with her several times, and it seemed like she was starting to get too attached to him, demanding more of his time.
    MaLeah sat next to him, sharing popcorn and Pepsi. Fredrick’s monitor had been silent for a while, so Keaton said, “Come on, Shorty. Let’s go check on your brother. He should’ve been up by now.”
    â€œK!”
    â€œYou’re supposed to say ‘okay,’ Shorty; not just ‘K.’”
    She giggled as Keaton took her hand and led her up the stairs. When they reached the landing, he knelt down. “Now you have to be quiet so you won’t wake your brother.”
    â€œK! Uncie Key.”
    Hearing her say “K” again made him shake his head and laugh. It would be a while before she got it right.
    They pushed open Fredrick’s door and walked over to his bed. Keaton looked down on him and ran his hand across his back. It felt unusually warm. Frowning, he picked him up and cradled his head against his neck.
    â€œWhoa! MaLeah, your brother feels kind of warm. We’d better take his temperature.”
    Keaton moved Fredrick over to the changing table, with MaLeah following closely behind. When he laid him down, he woke up crying.
    â€œHold on, little man. I’m getting ready to take care of you.”
    He removed the footie pajamas from his chubby body. Fredrick screamed louder as MaLeah looked on.
    She watched her uncle fumble with the pajamas, then yelled, “Be quiet, Freddie!!”
    Keaton softly said, “MaLeah, your brother doesn’t feel well so be nice.”
    â€œK!!”
    After removing the soaked diaper from Fredrick’s bottom, he immediately released