She made their plates consisting of eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh fruit before sitting at the table with him.
“Tablet off, baby.”
Wallis pushed his tablet away, and she turned it off before saying grace with him and digging in. She picked at her food while she watched him, and when he was halfway finished, she asked, “Do you want to see…your daddy again today?”
The way his eyes lit up told her he wanted it more than anything before he could even nod his head. She had a hard time calling Biggie Wallis’s father because she wasn’t even sure Biggie would claim Wallis. The last thing she wanted to do was crush her baby’s feelings if Biggie decided to go ghost again. But the way Wallisknewwho Biggie was made her want to be upfront with him and pray for the best.
Wallis was still so young, so she never really had a talk with him about his father. It surprised the hell out of her that he even knew what to call Biggie.
“He’s coming to get us soon, so finish eating so we can get ready.”
Wallis nodded, enthusiastically before digging in, making Tuesday smile through her growing anxiety.
It had only been a couple of minutes since Biggie texted her that he was outside. Currently, she stood locking her door and holding onto Wallis’s hand.
Noticing Biggie’s black truck by the curb, she slowly walked toward herAcurato grab Wallis’s car seat. Nerves danced around her body, and she had to keep reminding herself to take deep breaths.
Biggie startled her when he appeared at her side and grabbed the car seat from her after she had taken it out.
Before she could say anything, Wallis waved his little hand and chirped, “Hi!”
Biggie smiled down at Wallis and held his large fist out for a dap.
“‘Sup, lil man?”
Unsure of what to do with Biggie’s fist, Wallis patted it once before hiding behind his mom’s pant leg.
Tuesday giggled while Biggie shook his head.
“He’s gon’ have to hang wit’ me more. Don’t even know how to dap. How old is he?”
He turned and walked toward his truck, causing Tuesday to rush after him with Wallis in tow.
“He’s two. His birthday is March seventh.”
Biggie nodded before opening the back door.
“How you put this in?”
Tuesday instructed him before they got Wallis buckled in. As soon as they climbed in the front seat, and Biggie pulled away from the curb she asked, “Where are we going?”
“I found a clinic. Figure we can swing by there before going to the park or something. What does he like to do?”
Tuesday was surprised that he wanted to go to the clinic, but in a good way. Judging by his reaction yesterday, she thought for sure she would have to convince him to step up, but he seemed more willing than she initially thought.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I know this is a lot.”
He nodded.
“It is. Ain’t gon’ lie…you have my head fucked up. But I know I can’t be mad at you. You ain’t know how to find me. If he’s mine, which, for the record, I can’t really deny him. He looks just like me, but what I mean is if he’s mine I wish I could have known him from conception.”
“Me too,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes again because he had no idea how badly she wished for that as well, but she was so grateful he came to find her because Wallis could have come out of this never knowing his father. “He likes the park. He likes going to the movies, too. He’s young, but he sits still if it’s something he’s interested in. He’s a good kid. He was really excited about seeing you, so I’m sure whatever we do he’ll love.”
Biggie nodded, and they fell into a comfortable silence. When they finally pulled up to the clinic, he found a parking spot but didn’t turn the car off right away. Finally, he glanced at her profile.
“How was your pregnancy? Was it hard?”
A laugh bubbled up and spilled out of her.
