It was Saturday, and I’d taken the day off from the demands of being a business owner to focus on just being a mother. So far, we’d woken up, had breakfast, and gotten ready for the day. Precious wanted to play, so I was letting her do that.
Since she’d gotten them all right, I set the cards to the side and found myself simply watching her. I couldn’t look at her without thinking about Perfect. It’d been three days since he found out about her, and I hadn’t heard a peep. He hadn’t popped up like a weirdo trying to force his way into our lives. I sighed, realizing that I was kind of disappointed about that. But then again, could I expect much from a man who had disappeared for years? Running away was what Perfect wasperfectat. From day one, it was my baby girl and me against the world, and I’d made peace with that.
But Port just had to come bombarding his way back into my life. His persistence made me forget all the work I’d put in. Every time I laid eyes on him, I fought against the urge to be wrapped in his corded arms. He was not safe or good for me, no matter how attracted I was to him. No matter if my body constantly ached to feel him, I had to put my lust to the side and see the facts. We couldn’t depend on him to be here.
I glanced up at the door when the doorbell rang. Climbing to my feet, I walked over and stared through the peephole. I gasped when I saw who was on the other side. Had I just conjured him here? My heart began to race, and all the reassurance I’d just given myself dissipated.
He rang the doorbell again, making me jump. Taking a deep breath, I yanked the door open and came face-to-face with his genuine smile. He stood there casually, wearing a crisp pair of light-washed jeans and a Solaire Suns jersey with white block walkers. Instead of diamonds, he wore gold necklaces and rings with a watch. His cologne was a sultry, woodsy scent that instantly sedated me.
“Surprised to see you here,” I said while folding my arms over my chest. It was my attempt at being unfazed. I couldn’t let him know his presence was affecting me, because then I was definitely not getting rid of his ass.
His smile disappeared. “I don’t know why. I already told you what was up with me. Matter fact—” He abruptly stopped speaking to brush past me and let himself inside my house. I rolled my eyes as he marched right over to Precious. “Hey, Pretty Pea,” he said in a low voice, like he was in awe of our daughter.
I closed the door and leaned against it while watching them. Warmth spread from my heart straight into my bloodstream when he opened his arms for her, and she didn’t hesitate to collapse into his arms. The most peaceful look ever settled on Perfect’s face while he hugged her. When he released her, she lifted one of her blocks for him to play with.
Leaving the door behind, I went to the loveseat and folded my legs underneath me. I felt the heat of his gaze before I acknowledged he was looking at me. “What?”
“Done being a meany?”
I chuckled. “Nobody is being mean to you.” I shrugged. “It’s been three days; I just figured you ran again.”
He shook his head and began playing with Precious’s ponytails. “You will learn to trust me again. I told you I came back for you. Finding out about our daughter was the icing on the cake.” He glanced up at me. “I know we’re meant to be now. There is no running away. I’m here. Y’all are my family.”
I wanted to hate every word out of his mouth, but I didn’t have it in me. “You never even gave us a chance, so how are you so convinced that I’m who you want?”
“A nigga didn’t need years to know you were the one. Trust me. That month when I first came home was all I needed to see. You were willing to accept me at my worst. You opened your home, arms, and heart to me, not even knowing what you would receive in return. You became my heart, El. I know I left, but I’m back now, and I want the opportunity to remind you of what you already know.”
“What’s that?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“That we’re meant to be together.”
I developed the worst case of cotton mouth, but I somehow fought against it to speak. “You didn’t have to leave. You were already perfect.”
“But I didn’t feel like a man.” He paused, then said, “What was it SIR said? Guess I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the right one.”
My eyes watered a little hearing him say that. It was at that moment I decided to forgive him, but then he hammered it into my heart when he pulled a Hershey’s kiss from his pocket. The silver foil made my heart race. It was our code when we wanted to make peace with one another.
“Give me another chance to be the man you need and deserve.”
The tears I was trying my best to hold in began to cascade down my cheeks. I nodded while trying to wipe them away, but he had me feeling so emotional. I fought so hard to keep him out, and what was the point? If I was honest, knowing that he was back and willing to fight for me was enough for me.
Port sat Precious on the floor and stood to close the distance between us. He held out a hand, which I accepted. He yanked me from the couch, and I crashed into his warm embrace. At first, my body tensed, but when he applied pressure, I allowed myself to melt into his hardened frame. I wrapped my arms around him, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free.
“Ohana,” Precious said, coming to wrap her arms around our legs.
We couldn’t help but laugh. “How she know what that means?” Perfect asked in awe.
“Oh, we have a little brainiac on our hands, and she lovesLilo and Stitch.”
“Hell yeah,” he said excitedly before scooping her up and spinning her in a circle. He looked genuinely happy to be here. Idownloaded the sound of their giggles and prayed this wasn’t a mistake, that this really could be the beginning of a beautiful life as a family.
“Okay, I came because I wanted to take you and Precious shopping.”
“Shopping? For what?”
He shrugged. “Groceries, clothes, shoes. Shit, whatever y’all need.”
At first, I started to tell him we were good, but then I remembered that baby girl was rapidly outgrowing her clothes and shoes. It would be one less thing for me to worry about if I allowed her father to contribute, so I nodded. “Okay, cool. Let’s do it.”
