Page 137 of Fumble Into the End Zone
Stacie smiled and caressed her invisible pearls. “Max is gorgeous, but Marcus does not have anything to worry about. He already secured his place,” Stacie said, as she caressed my stomach.
“Two times,” Kindness said.
Stacie lifted from the couch and stared at me. “One of you better name a baby after me. Another Stacie Estelle would be priceless and do the world good.”
Kindness and I looked at each other and back over to Stacie.
“Hate has entered the room,” she said, creating a popping noise with her mouth.
“Man, I’ll miss this place,” Kindness said, as we scanned my home.
I contacted the realtor to put it on the market after the Elite Bowl. From the website, she already had offers. The contractor assured us our house would be ready before the twins’ birth.
“The movie nights,” Kindness said.
“The fuck men parties,” Stacie followed.
“And the best sex of my life,” I added.
Stacie raised from her seat. “You didn’t have sex on this couch. Did you?” she asked and I shrugged.
Before pulling out of the driveway, I smiled at the for-sale sign. Great memories happened here and new beginnings. My purse vibrated but the screen on my dash said meet at our new home.
A smile adorned my face once I saw the exterior of our house complete. Things would have been done earlier, but I made a few changes after the engagement. Viewing the light brown stone and stucco with the black window frames sent my heart leaping. The large archway porch and huge windows would provide natural lighting.
Marcus stood in the driveway in a pair of gray fitted sweats and a T-shirt, holding a large bouquet of roses. The smile on his face warmed my heart because I missed seeing it. He opened my door and handed me the roses. I pulled them up to my nose and inhaled the freshness.
“What’s going on, Mr. Allen?” I said, and he chuckled.
He seized my hand without answering and I followed him around the house. A big red bow sat on the glass tinted door. Marcus pressed his thumb against the scanner, and the door unlatched. Opening the door, my mouth parted in awe. One side of the room was arranged in conversation style seating, with a pink and gold patterned couch. Mics and soft box lights were suspended in the air next to the pink chairs. On the opposite side of the room was a custom wooden desk with mics and monitors, if I wanted to switch things up.
“Baby, you did this for me,” I shifted toward him.
He kissed my forehead. “You deserve this and much more. I wouldn’t have made it without you. You carried me, Harley, and the Mia bunch. I promise I’ll do better and...”
“Marcus, I don’t expect perfection, only effort,” I interrupted.
The tightness from his face erased more as I caressed his skin. A calm jaw line and relaxed shoulders appeared. I gripped his T-shirt and pulled him down for a kiss.
I sat next to Marcus in Dr. Choice’s office as we decided to open the letters Mrs. Eddy wrote us with support.
Mia,
Thank you for being the wonderful southern woman Marcus needed, and the momma Harley prayed for. Let your mother love and spoil her rotten. They are her only grandparents she has left. You came out just fine with your momma’s checkbook. Make sure Marcus marries you and don’t let him get cheap. The greatest gift you gave me was a peace of mind. I know I’m leaving them in good hands, but you take care of yourself. It’s okay to lean on Marcus a little. He won’t break, but he is hardheaded. I left my recipe book for you. It’s in Harley‘s bottom drawer. You are the woman of the house. Remember our conversations.
PS: Help Harley with her letters. They’re labeled.
I hid my face in Marcus’s arm, overcome with emotion. Mrs. Eddy gave me the confirmation I needed to care for her babies. Marcus held me with one hand and his letter in the other. He tried reading the first line, but he couldn’t. I offered to read it for him, and he agreed.
Marcus
I love you, but Granny is tired. I was holding on for you and Harley. But Mia got you. The day you stomped into our house with your arms folded changed our lives. I’m grateful for my little chocolate hard headed baby. You brought light in a dimmed place, and you better remember that. I’m sorry about your momma. Hurtful words sometimes can’t be undone but forgiveness can prevail. You were put in a tug of war between me and Mariah. It has nothing to do with you but it’s up to you to figure out if you want a relationship with your momma. Either way, make peace with the hurt. Mia and the kids don’t deserve to carry the weight and it’s about time you stopped carrying it. Stay with the doctor and he can help you. It’s okay to have friends, not everybody is crazy. You act like your granddaddy. And you better get Mia down the aisle. I have one last wish for you and it’s living. Baby, live. It’s time.
PS: Make sure your momma gets her letter. Let Mia help you do it.
Marcus wailed as he hugged me. I caressed his back, and Dr. Choice sat two boxes of tissues on the table. After we settled, Marcus held his mother’s letter in his hand.
“What are your plans?” Dr. Choice asked.
