“You know you the one I want?” I asked, leaning over for a smooch.
She obliged with a grin. “Of course, I do. You the one I want too.”
“Damn right. Let’s eat.” I took El’s hands in mine. “Lord, thank You for this food we are about to receive. Bless the hands that prepared it and the mouths that receive it. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Amen. Will you feed me?” El asked. I rolled my eyes, but I scooped up a forkful of macaroni and placed it to her mouth. “Mmm, that’s so good,” she moaned.
“I wouldn’t know,” I teased before I scooped up collard greens next. We went on like that with me feeding her until she was full, and honestly, it was so satisfying to me. Like there wasn’t anywhere else in the world I could imagine myself being than sitting on the back patio of our home, feeding my pregnant wife. Life was perfect.
A few months later. . .
“Sweet dreams,” I whispered to the twins. After being breastfed until they were satisfied, they were down for a nap. I sighed in relief because while I loved everything about them, mama still needed a break. Having a four-year-old along with two newborns was not for the weak. One of them was always in need of something, to the point that I didn’t even work at my shop anymore.
Perfect was my only client, and I couldn’t wait for our sons, Chosen and Chance, to get older. I was definitely going to be their personal barber too. They were three months old and coming into their features. I pouted, looking at faces identicalto Precious and Perfect. I guess I was only good for carrying his little gremlins because none of them wanted to look like me.
After admiring them a little longer, I backed out of their nursery and closed the door softly. I sighed in relief and headed for the kitchen. Perfect looked up when my shoes came shuffling into the room. “Hey, Princess,” he said with a grin.
My stomach turned, watching him pop open the can of sardines. The smell of fish immediately made me want to gag, but I held it together. He had been going on for the longest about making us one of his prison set-ups, and somehow, today ended up being the day.
I took a seat at the island beside Pea. She was too busy coloring to pay me any attention. I leaned over to kiss her cheek, then sat upright. “Hi, babe. That’s a lot of ingredients.” I noted after eyeing everything he had laid out on the counter.
“Oh yeah, this is a masterpiece, baby. It’s lots of layers to get the perfect flavor.”
He kissed his fingers like a French chef, making me laugh. I decided to let him do his thing. I got up to head out of the kitchen, but Perfect’s panicked voice stopped me. “Wait. Where you going?”
I shrugged. “I was going to sit on the couch and watch a movie until you’re done.”
He gave me puppy-dog eyes and pouted. “Do you have to sit out there to do it? I want you to be in here with us.”
I couldn’t help but oblige. He looked so cute, and as much as he complained about me being spoiled, he also had his ways about him. The smile on his face when I came back to sit at the island with my iPad made any reason to complain leave my mind. This was exactly where I wanted to be.
I opened the Amazon Prime app and got a little excited. I hadn’t had the time to watch a cheesy romance in a while, and I kept seeing people talk aboutFinding Joy, so that was my watch.I plugged in my headphones, then started the movie. Within minutes, I was chuckling and could tell I was going to love this. It warmed my heart to see more true romance movies featuring beautiful women who looked like me being created.
Perfect stole my attention from the movie when he set the bowl of food in front of me. It looked like rice and noodles mixed with the fish and some kind of beef sausage. I glanced at Pea when he set a bowl in front of her too. While he was busy fixing a bowl for himself, I went to the freezer and pulled out a bag of chicken nuggets. I had a feeling I knew how this was about to go.
Sitting back at the island, I waited for him to come over. He pressed his hands together and smiled. “Okay. Dig in, ladies.”
Pea didn’t waste any time as she picked up her spoon and scooped out some rice. She took one bite and threw the spoon down. “I don’t like it, Daddy,” she told him honestly.
I held in my laugh because his eyes were on me next. “Okay, well, your turn, Princess.”
I gulped because the smell of the fish already had me hesitant, but for him, I shoved a spoonful in my mouth. I chewed slowly and could admit it was very flavorful, but the fish was ruining it for me. Before I knew it, I was gagging and ran to the trashcan to spit the food out.
“Wow, y’all really going to sit here and disrespect my cooking like this? I’m appalled.”
He picked up his bowl and stomped out of the kitchen. I felt a little bad because he genuinely looked hurt, but at the same time, some meals needed to stay in prison. There was no way this was the best he had for seven years. I felt sad even thinking of him having to bear with this for sustenance.
Turning to Pea, I asked, “Want some chicken nuggets?”
She nodded excitedly. “Yes, please, Mommy.”
I smiled because I expected nothing less. I popped the nuggets in the air fryer, then got her out a juice box and thebottle of honey mustard for her meal. When the air fryer beeped, I put the nuggets on her plate and set it all in front of her.
She was satisfied, so I went to look for Perfect. I found him in the backyard, rolling up a blunt. Going back into the kitchen, I went to the pantry for what I was looking for, then went back through the living room and out onto the back patio with him.
He pretended not to see me by blowing smoke in the sky, which made me laugh. Walking closer, I held out my hand. When he glanced at it, I opened my fist to show him the Hershey kiss sitting there. He squinted at me. “Fine. I forgive you for disrespecting me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I plopped down on his lap without permission. He wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt grounded when he buried his face in my side and inhaled deeply. His eyes were closed, and all I could do was admire his handsome face. I needed to be careful before I was waddling around here again. He would surely knock me up again if I let him.
