As I sat there, the weight of the truth settling over me, Ermias padded into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. I shut Facebook down and ignored her. I would hate for her to continue being persistent about a man who didn’t give a damn about her.
“Morning, Mama,” he yawned.
“Good morning, and happy sixth birthday, baby boy.” I stood and met him halfway, pulling him into a hug. “You’re just growing up on me. Are you ready for today?”
Zyro had booked an indoor water park in Love Grove just for Ermias. His and my side of the family were invited.
My son beamed up at me, his crusty eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes! I can’t wait to go to the water park!”
“Good, now go wash your face while I fix your breakfast.”
Ermias scurried away, bringing me to snicker. Zyro had stayed at home last night, so he could be sure everything was perfect up there. Mahlia had stayed the night at his house. She was grabbing the cake. They were determined, just like I was, to make this a special birthday for Ermias. Zyleek was calling him nephew, and his kids and Ermias called each other cousins.
Instead of just toast, I fixed him pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He couldn’t have all that fun on an empty stomach, and toast wasn’t going to cut it.
A call came in on my phone, and when Ermias came back into the kitchen, I answered and propped it up.
“Happy birthday, my boy!” Zyro loudly said. “You’re a man now, right?”
I rolled my eyes playfully while Ermias nodded and replied, “Yes.”
Zyro nodded. “We’re getting everything ready for you. Your cousins are ready.”
“Okay!” Ermias mumbled with a mouth full of pancakes.
“Get on the phone, mama.” I slid over, and he licked his lips when I came into view. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you. You look good, too, with that fresh cut,” I told him.
Zyro ran a hand down his waves. “Well, you know… My woman likes this type of shit, and she can’t seem to stay off me when I’m fresh.”
We laughed. Ermias looked over at me with big eyes.
“My bad, homeboy! Your mama has that effect on me.” My face warmed. “Let me get off this phone ‘fore it turns into some other shit,” he chuckled, pulling at his chin hair. “I love you, Eriss.”
That caught me off guard because we hadn’t said that yet.
“She loves you, too!” Ermias replied for me. “Don’t you, Mama? Say it back.”
“I…I love you, too, Zyro. It’s only been a short time, but I wasn’t expecting you to say it first.”
He snickered. “I’ll see y’all later.”
“Okay,” I squeaked out, and ended the call.
I put the phone on the table, and couldn’t help the flutter in my chest. Zyro had said he loved me, and it had taken me completely by surprise. I glanced over at Ermias, who was grinning from ear to ear, clearly pleased with himself for prompting me to reciprocate.
“Mama, you and Zyro are in love, right?” he asked me in his tiny voice.
I ran a hand through his curls affectionately. “Yes, baby. I think we are in love. Zyro is very special to both of us.”
Ermias nodded with a serious expression. I wanted to laugh because he was so young to be so serious. “I like having him around. He’s fun and takes care of us.”
I pulled him into a tight, well-needed hug. ‘That’s because Zyro is a good man, Ermias.”
EPILOGUE
After two years, I was finally doing it. Ermias and I were moving in with Zyro. He’d been so patient with me. When Zyro said he loved me, I not only heard it, but I felt it. It was a love that enveloped me, a love that I had come to cherish and rely on. Zyro had shown me what it meant to be truly loved and to be protected. He showed me he’d stand beside me through thick and thin.
