My mom got up and made me a to-go plate since I didn’t finish my food. I was glad she did because I knew I would be hungry by the end of the night.
After I said my goodbyes, I went to my car and called the lawyer. Luckily, he was still in the office, so I headed his way. It didn’t take long for me to sign the papers. First thing in the morning, I would go get my wife and Mikayla and bring them home.
Mikayla and I were on the floor playing with some building blocks I purchased for her when the doorbell rang.
“I got it, Grandma!” I shouted to my grandmother, who was in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if she was expecting company, but I knew she was in the middle of fixing food.
I looked down at Mikayla when the bell rang again. I picked her up because I didn’t want to leave her unattended.
“I wonder who it could be.” I tickled her belly as we walked to the front door.
My stomach fluttered when I opened the door, and Arsel was on the other side. I licked my dry lips when he smiled at me. He wore a skullcap, a black coat, boots, and sweatpants. Most of thetime, his attire consisted of sweats unless we were going on a date or scrubs when he worked.
“Are you going to let me in?” He smirked like he knew I was admiring him.
I rolled my eyes and stood back. I heard him chuckle as I put Mikayla down.
“What brings you by?” I asked when he entered the living room.
For a few seconds, he stared at Mikayla, then focused his attention on me.
“Janiyah, who was at the do—” My grandmother’s words halted when she spotted Arsel. “Arsel, hey.” She walked over toward him as he stood and opened his arms.
“Hey, Grandma. How are you?” He hugged her, and they held each other for a few long seconds.
I knew my strained marriage affected their relationship as well, and I hated it.
“I’m good, baby. What brings you by?”
Arsel looked at me, then sat back down. “I came by to talk to my wife.”
The way those women be on social media screaming, “my man, my man,” Arsel was themy wifetype of guy. I loved that for me when things were better between us.
“Well, alright. I’ll take the little one with me to give you guys some privacy.” Grandma bent down to pick up Mikayla. “Let’s see if we can find a little snack.” She lightly pinched Mikayla’s cheek, and she squealed.
She was such a happy baby, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I would take on the responsibility either way, but Mikayla made it easy.
I tucked my legs under my butt and got comfortable. I was nervous about what Arsel had to say. Maybe he was ready to end our marriage since I signed the papers and didn’t talk to himabout it. Or maybe he found someone else since we were apart for months. He still wore his ring, though, but I knew that didn’t matter to some women. I bit my bottom lip and stared at the floor while my thoughts spiraled. I wasn’t trying to get a divorce; I just wanted him to compromise.
“Baby, you good?” Arsel put his hand on my leg.
I cleared my throat and looked up at him. My pulse quickened as he stared at me. “I’m okay.”
Him calling me baby was a good sign, and my pulse raced every time he said it.
“I came by to tell you that I went to the lawyer’s office and signed the papers last night.”
My posture stiffened because I wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“What made you change your mind?”
“I never actually made up my mind either way. I admit I got nervous. This is a big step for us. It’s also the reason why we aren’t in the best place right now. I also know that it is the right thing to do, not just for her, but for us.” He placed his hand on my knee and gazed into my eyes. “I want you and Mikayla to come and stay at the house. I need you to come home, baby.”
The look in his eyes made my stomach tighten. All this time, I wanted him to ask me to come back home, and now that he had, I wasn’t sure of what to do. Would he have asked if we didn’t have Mikayla?
“Are you sure about this?”
He glanced away for a second, then turned back toward me. His hand rested comfortably on my leg.
