Page 49 of Crown: Phase 4

He complained…joked. Yet cleaned her carefully, holding both ankles in one hand the way Nivéa had shown him. He moved with extra caution. No matter how chunky that breastmilk was making Nyla, she was still so small, and he was aware of how fragile she was. Once she was clean, he secured a fresh diaper around her and reached for her sleeper. He paused halfway through snapping it closed.

“Nah, we gon’ change this too.” Crown shook his head, remembering the smell. “That shit might be stuck to ya clothes.”

He reached underneath the changing table and grabbed another onesie. After getting her dressed in something fresh, he snapped the last button into place and finally felt like he could breathe again.

“There. Brand-new baby.”

After applying hand sanitizer to his hands, he lifted her from the table just as Nivéa stepped out of the kitchen.

“She all good?” She asked, giggling as she reached for the soiled diaper.

She loved messing with Crown, but more than that, she loved watching him figure it all out. He was a man who had never been around babies before Nyla, yet he handled her with a patience that surprised even him.

“Yeah. She tried to take me out, but I survived.”

“Whatever,” Nivéa playfully rolled her eyes at his dramatics as she headed to discard the diaper.

Crown settled back onto the couch with Nyla against his chest. Her cheek rested over his heart while he slowly rubbed her back. She was tired, but she kept lifting her head and looking around. Eventually, she released a small fuss. He quickly adjusted her, lowering his voice as he began talking to her like he always did.

Crown told her about his day. About how hard he worked. About how everything he did was to make sure she and her mama never wanted for anything. He promised her she would always have what she needed. That nobody would ever harm her or make her feel unloved. If they did, they would have to answer to him. Her tiny fingers curled into his shirt as if she understood every word, and within minutes, she was out.

Nivéa stood quietly near the dining table, watching them. Every time she saw Crown with Nyla, her heart softened. He had entered their lives and showed out.

Crown glanced toward the dining area and caught her staring. “What you smiling at, ma?”

“You. I like watching you with her.”

Crown nodded, looking down at Nyla before kissing the top of her head. This was his baby; he loved her just as much as he loved her mama. He waited several more minutes before carrying her upstairs and into the nursery. He lowered her into the crib carefully and kept his hand against her stomach until he was sure she had settled. Once she remained asleep, he pulled the blanket no higher than her waist and quietly left the room.

Nivéa was back standing at the stove when Crown returned downstairs. He walked up behind her, wrapped both arms around her waist, and kissed the side of her neck.

“You almost finished?”

“Almost. The chicken needs another ten minutes.”

“Cool. Come sit down until it’s ready.”

Before she could argue, Crown took her hand and guided her toward the couch. He sat first, pulling her down beside him. Nivéa leaned against the cushions as he lifted one of her legs and placed it across his lap.

“My feet are fine today.” She told him.

“I ain’t ask.”

Crown removed her fuzzy sock and inspected them for himself. When he saw there was no swelling, he relaxed and began massaging her feet.

“See, I told you.”

After several quiet moments of him working her ankles and feet anyway, Nivéa opened her eyes and looked at him. “Your turn. I owe you one, remember?”

Crown would’ve told her he was fine, but the thing about his wife was that she was much like him. She didn’t take no for an answer when it came to caring for him. Nivéa moved behind him and placed her hands against his shoulders, working the tension from his back. Her fingers moved slowly, finding every knot she knew he carried. She did it so well that Crown nearly fell asleep.

“How do you feel about Smoky and Tanya coming? Do you think it’ll be awkward now with all that you know?”

Her question pulled him from the edge of sleep. Crown’s eyes opened.

“I don’t know, ma.” He sighed heavily. “Shit been on my mind all day. But I keep telling myself it ain’t none of my business. It ain’t my place. And if she knows, then it really ain’t nothing for me to feel awkward about.”

“That’s a good way to look at it. I’m proud of how you’re handling this. I’m sure Smoky appreciates it too.”