Four hours in the studio with three complete tracks sent to Jahlil. By now, she knew he was sleep ahead of his rigorous training schedule. The two kids she left in their beds should’ve been asleep too. As she crept into the bedroom empty of her sleeping giant, the rustle of the sheets took her mind off of Jahlil and to the long body on Jahlil’s side.
Emani tiptoed over to the bed, finding Andrew and Sanaa cuddled up and peacefully sleeping. She smiled softly, kissed them each, and tiptoed to the bathroom. After showering and getting dressed in pajamas Jahlil bought her that she had yet to wear, she crawled in and wrapped her arms around both of them.
“Love y’all,” she hummed.
Andrew snugged into the pillow and muttered, “Love you too.”
She didn’t know how long she stared at them in awe that this was her life until she fell asleep. But when she woke up hours later, it was to Sanaa gently touching her face.
“Good morning, Naa,” Emani hummed.
“Morning, Mani,” she hummed back. “What time you get home last night?”
Emani turned her head and yawned. “This morning.”
“Were you making music?” Sanaa quizzed.
“I was. You missed me? I missed you,” Emani shared, opening her eyes to find Sanaa in one of her wigs. She laughed slightly and shook her head. “I can see you went into my beauty room.”
“Mhmm. I missed you last night and Drewy told me I couldn’t bother you so I went in the hair,” Sanaa shared. “I want to be just like you.”
Emani finished laughing to herself, realizing she had the wig on under her bonnet all night. “I don’t want you to be like me. I want you to be better.”
“Are you going to teach me?” Sanaa quizzed.
“Of course I will.”
“You promise?” Sanaa asked, yawning.
“I promise.” Emani’s eyes found the clock and the empty side of the bed. Andrew, without question, was in the gym training via facetime with Jahlil. “We have two more hours to sleep. Let’s sleep and then we’ll go to the bakery before school.”
An hour and a half of sleep, Emani was up brushing teeth and wigless hair. She helped Andrew put an outfit together and had them loaded up and on the way to the bakery for pastries and juice. Everyone was fed, dropped off and she was back in the bed, Jahlil on Facetime with her phone resting against his pillow.
“I listened to that shit all morning. It’s so good, E. So good! You know what, it’s up! Like it’s been up, but it’s up up,” he cheered.
She tiredly smiled. “I’m so excited, I just can’t show it because I’m so tired. I came in this morning and our kids were in our bed knocked out. I think they’ll be back tonight.”
Jahlil smiled. “I’m sure they will be. As long as they’re out when I get home.”
“Boy please, you’re not putting them out,” Emani sassed.
“We’re going to need a bigger bed. Andrew is almost as tall as I am. Keep your eye on him though. I gave him his phone back, I don’t want no bullshit off of him.”
Emani yawned. “I hear you. Listen, disappointing you is one thing, disappointing me might kill him so he’ll be fine.”
“You will too, hang up and get some sleep.”
“I want to be cuddled but cuddling always comes with being poked,” Emani laughed. “I love you, Savage.”
“I love you too, Rose. Get some sleep. I’ll have Aunt Violet do pick up.”
Emani didn’t reply, already knocked out. Jahlil chuckled. “Sleep good.”
37 /JAHLIL
The voicethat left his body was strained. His eyes were closed and frustration drenched over his being. The loss was tough but the loneliness was a stark reminder of the seven years he’d spent in the dark.
“I need you.”
