“Mama Yara, can I hold my baby brother?” she asked.
I nodded and patted the space beside me in the now-clean sheets. Desmond helped her up to sit beside me, and I placed Romelo into her arms. She whispered secrets that she thought no one else could hear, causing everyone to laugh.
I peered up at my husband once more and smiled.
2 MONTHS LATER… LITTLE ANGEL’S ACADEMY
“You know you still have time, right? You don’t have to go back right away,” Desmond reiterated.
I was sitting in the back with Romelo, ignoring his ass. I needed to see my first babies. I wanted to make sure they were alright.
“I’m just going to take a little peek. I’m not staying, which is why you’re driving, Mr. Wilder.”
Desmond shook his head.
“Yeah, remember that while you’re inside. Also, Romelo stays in this damn stroller. You know, like I do, schools have the worst germs.” He added.
I rolled my eyes and continued to look at my baby. I sat in the backseat in case he woke up and cried. The love I felt for Romelo was unlike anything I had ever felt. Not to mention, he looked so much like Desmond; it was crazy. I wanted to cry at the thought, but knew it would only make Desmond turn the car around, assuming I wasn’t ready to be around other folks.
Five minutes later, we were pulling into our newly extended parking lot. I was still amazed by how beautiful things had turned out. We were able to add a drop-off roundabout in front of the Academy. We hired at least five more teachers and could accommodate an additional 50 kids. Desmond pulled around to the front door, parked, then walked around to the back door to get Romelo out first. Then he walked around to open the door for me, after transitioning his car seat into a stroller.
He held his hand out to help me out of the backseat, then leaned down to kiss me a few times. I couldn’t help the schoolgirl giggle that escaped as soon as he pulled back.
“Sir. I was just in the car with you.”
“I can’t kiss my wife?” he asked with a lift of his brow.
“You definitely can. In that case, I need more.”
“I’m at your service, Mrs. Wilder.”
He leaned down once more and kissed me delicately. Then pulled back to let me know he was going to park the car. I nodded and made my way inside. I used my code at the door to go inside. The moment I stepped through the doors, the front office staff rushed to meet me. I knew they wanted to see Romelo, so I kept the cover over his car seat but allowed them to look through the opening.
All the women awed and cooed before Desmond walked back in.
“Alright, y’all, let me do my walk-through. I have a few more spots to hit.” I told them.
They said their goodbyes to Romelo as I rolled him further down the hallway. I was still in awe of the changes the school had undergone. We even updated our remembrance wall, especially now that we added a few more kids. We also added programs for parents to participate in, including those for grandparents dealing with grief.
It shocked me when Veronica’s parents offered to volunteer in that sector. They had gone through the therapist that Desmond told them about and took it seriously. We all had a great relationship now, and they got Esa every other weekend. My girl was beyond excited and told everyone who would listen that she had three sets of grandparents, including my parents, in the fold.
We went by every classroom, peeking in. This place had truly become more than I could imagine. I saved Mrs. Mavis for last because I knew Esa was going to see us and want to come home. We knocked on the door, and Mrs. Mavis waved us in. The moment we walked in, Esa looked up with a bright smile, then hopped up from where she had been sitting.
This little girl had always had a special place in my heart, but now she was my baby for real. I couldn’t love her more if I tried. She ran over to me first and wrapped her arms tightly around me.
“I have something for you!” Esa exclaimed before rushing back to her desk, then returning with a picture.
Desmond leaned down to look at the picture as well. It was a family of four, Desmond and I, on the outside, with Romelo and her in the middle. She drew hearts all around us with the words, I love my family. I glanced up and noticed an angel in the sky. The tears I tried to stop earlier, I couldn’t hold them back now.
I placed a kiss against her temple and hugged her tight.
“Thank you, baby. I love you too.”
Yeah… this is the kind of love I’d sign up for all over again—stat.
The End.
