My mom entered the living room, and Mikayla ran to her. Janiyah and I thought it was important for Mikayla to spendtime with everyone in our family since they would be the ones helping us.
Mikayla loved my parents and Janiyah’s grandma because they let her get away with everything. It wasn’t that she was a bad child, but she liked to get into everything.
My mom and Mikayla sat on the couch opposite me. “What’s been going on?” she asked as she handed Mikayla a new toy she didn’t need.
“Everything. Janiyah realized how much work it is with a child, and she now understands how I felt. She hasn’t been able to write as much as she used to. It’s been an adjustment,” I told them.
“I’m sure. Tell her if she ever needs a break, she can bring this little one right on over,” my mother said as she pinched Mikayla’s cheek.
“I will. I appreciate y’all for watching her for us tonight. Are you sure she’s okay staying the night?”
My parents volunteered to help, but I didn’t want them to keep her overnight if they thought she was too much to deal with.
“Hush. You and Janiyah need this, and we will always be here when y’all need a break.”
“Yeah. I’m glad y’all are working things out. You look happier,” my father mentioned.
I glanced down at Mikayla and smiled. She had a toy in her hand and didn’t pay me any attention.
“I am happier. You know this wasn’t how we thought things would be, but I’m glad it’s happening.”
“I am happy for you both. Now get out of here because we have plans.” My mom smiled at Mikayla. My mom tried to force me out of the house as my dad shook his head.
“Luckily, my wife is waiting for me, so I’m going to go.” I leaned down to kiss the top of Mikayla’s head, then my mom’s, before I dapped my dad.
I left their house, feeling great about the night.
“I can’t believe you got me on this train.” Janiyah’s eyes lit up as she looked at me, then out of the window.
“I’m trying to impress you,” I told her as I kissed her temple.
Her eyes were on the scenery as we rode toward the mountains.
She turned back and looked at me with the biggest smile on her face.
“I’d say you were doing well so far.”
Janiyah mentioned taking a train ride for the last couple of years, but we never got around to doing it.
I felt like our first date, after not having one for months, had to be something special.
“How are you feeling? Not just tonight either.”
Our days were filled with work and Mikayla. At night, Janiyah and I slept together, but sometimes we’d be so tired we didn’t talk.
It had been a week since we slept together, and I loved every minute of it. We had sex a couple of times since we reconnected, but I knew it would be different from what it was in the past. It was enough for me, and I was just glad that she was back.
“Everything. I get moments of sadness about what happened to Monica and Trevor, especially since we didn’t talk all of the time. Other times, I feel grateful for them trusting us withMikayla. Our house has been so much brighter with her in it. I’m also happy that you and I are working on things. How about you?”
“The same things you are feeling. Also, a little remorseful, though.” Janiyah started to say something, but I stopped her. “We don’t have to keep talking about it, but I hate that I deprived you of this life.”
Janiyah grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t say that. We can’t dwell on the past. All we can do now is focus on our little blessing, and however many more blessings the Lord sees fit for us to have.”
Someone came around to give us the food we ordered. I chose the dinner train so we could see the sights before the sun went down. I also wanted us to get home earlier enough to spend some private time together. We’d been having quiet sex or quick sex since having Mikayla in the house. I wanted both of us to lose all inhibition since it would only be us.
“Is there anything you want us to do differently that we haven’t done before?” I asked Janiyah as I cut into my food. I ordered salmon with cream sauce, while Janiyah had crab-stuffed salmon.
Janiyah looked up from her plate. I’d moved across from her when the food came.
