Xai: Are you still up, pretty girl?
Me: I am. A little restless but in bed.
Xai: Why? You good?
Me: Yes. Real good Just excited about seeing you in my space tomorrow.
Xai: I am too. What you want for breakfast?
Me: Let’s just see how the morning goes. We can order something. Just don’t forget the condoms LOL.
Xai: Never again.
“Mommie,” Romi calls out. She stands in my doorway, barely holding her pillow that’s almost as big as her. “Can I sleep with you?”
“You sure can,” I say and she runs to my bed, throws her pillow on it, then climbs in. I text Xai.
Me: A little cutie just got in my bed. I’ll call you in the morning.
Xai: Bet. Good night, pretty girl.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
“Yes, ma’am. I just woke up.”
“You have to use the bathroom?” I ask and she shakes her head. I grab her pillow, adjust it next to me, and she lays her head on it. When she turns on her stomach, I rub her back lightly. This usually puts her right back to sleep. As I rub, I finish my pineapples then place the bowl on my nightstand. I plug my cell into the charging station and lay down beside her. Her big, doe-shaped eyes look up at me and I kiss her forehead. “I love you,” I tell her.
“Me too,” she mumbles before closing her eyes.
After kissing her cheek this time, I get comfortable and close my eyes. When my alarm pulls them open hours later at six, I see I have another cutie in my bed. Averi must have eased in here while I was knocked out.
Like I do each school morning, I let them sleep in a little longer while I grab their clothes and fix breakfast. Little Einsteins has a uniform policy but Fridays are free dress days and they love Fridays. Personally, I like to dress them alike but Averi hates it. She’s coming into her own style and I encourage it, within limits. For her, I grab tights, a plain skirt, and a matching red shirt. For Romi, I choose wide-leg jeans with embroidered hearts and her favorite shirt with a huge 3D heart on it.
Once their clothes are on their beds, I trek to the kitchen to get their breakfast. This morning, I take the easy route and poptwo pancake and sausages on a stick into the air fryer before grabbing their lunch boxes and placing them in their respective book bags.
Waking them up is the final step, usually after I’m dressed. This morning, I have a few extra minutes because I’m just throwing on tights and a shirt because I’ll shower and get ready once I drop them. I make myself a cup of coffee and enjoy a few sips before going back into my room. When I do, Averi is getting up but I have to wake Romi.
Thirty minutes after they’ve washed their faces and brushed their teeth, they are fully dressed, their breakfast is eaten, and we are in my car. Always perceptive, Averi notices my clothes right away. As soon as I pull out of the garage, she has questions.
“Mommie, you not going to work?” she asks.
“No. I have some stuff to do today.”
“Insurance stuff?”
“No, baby. That’s done.”
“Okay. Are we still getting our hair braided?”
“Yes. Sunday morning,” I tell her. I reached out to Trista’s sister. She was booked Saturday but had openings on Sunday. I found two cute styles on her page and she’s going to do both for only one-fifty.
“At the dresser of hairs?” Romi asks and I smile.
“It’s hairdresser, baby. But no, she’s coming to the house,” I explain.
“Is she gon’ paint the eggs with us?” Romi asks.
“No, she isn’t. We are going to color them after your hair is finished and y’all are looking extra pretty,” I tell her.
