“Because you’re a baker. You bake cakes, Uncle, especially for Tete. She loves your cakes.” Aja shrugged.
“Damn you know me like that?”
She nodded. “And Tete said we’re going to get breakfast in the morning.”
“You staying at my house? I thought I had too many kids for you, Aja?” Kinga asked, just to mess with her.
In true Aja fashion she didn’t back down. “You kinda do and you have a lot of dogs, but sometimes that’s okay. Others I want to stay with my daddy and Ms. Jade. It’s quiet at home and it’s just me.”
Kinga looked at her then me before shaking his head. “You know what? I get that but take your dog with you. Don’t be leaving me extra shit to pick up.”
She laughed. “Fine, when I go back with my daddy, I’ll take Blue with me.”
That had me looking at her and Kinga sideways, ’cause when the fuck did I give an okay to a dog? “Yo, uhm, that wasn’t run by me.”
“We’re a package deal, Dad.” With that couple words, her ass walked out of the kitchen, leaving both Kinga and Rennix laughing.
“She checking shit in here, huh?” Rennix asked with a cup to his lips.
“Territory of having a daughter. You just let shit roll off your back. With sons... I hear them niggas steal your woman,” I responded.
More laughter ensued as my brother finally came out of the refrigerator with a cake. Well, a couple of cakes, it looked like he had gone on a baking spree.
“Before y’all get on that judgmental shit. My baby was still pregnant when I asked her what cake she wanted, so I made that. And I special ordered dog candles because she didn’t want basic candles.”
“Yo, you’re a fucking sap. Special ordering French bulldog candles and shit. Nigga is you cool?” Rennix asked.
Kinga waved him off just as the women joined us in the kitchen one by one. Harlem being last, holding Kysler in her arms. My eyes stayed on Jade though. She was holding the baby and enjoying it. Not to be on any chauvinistic shit, but she looked good with a baby in her arms. Of course it was my nephew, but I couldn’t help but wonder how it would be if she was holding my child…ours. With Jade, I could see a future. I envisioned a life that I hadn’t seen with my wife. Not to compare the two, but facts were facts. With Jade I saw and did things I didn’t do with Ashley. In so many words, different people got different versions of you. With Ashley I didn’t quite know who I was or what I even wanted out of life, but it didn’t matter. With her everything was materialistic and tangible. With Jade I knew who I was and what I might offer, Jade didn’t care about none of that. She didn’t give a shit about what I had or could provide, all she wanted was me. She loved me in a way I didn’t realize existed until she was in my life.My baby.We established a whole code word for when I needed to go dark or create some space, yet I hadn’t used it nor felt the need.
We sang happy birthday to Harlem and kicked it for a while longer before I was dragging Jade out of the door and telling mychild to call me when she was ready to come home. Knowing her little fickle ass, that could mean tomorrow or next week, but I knew she’d call.
The moment we walked out of the door I had Jade’s hand in mine, nearly dragging her toward the car. When I got her there, I sandwiched her between it and my body before my free hand had her face tilted up.
She gazed into my eyes before she spoke. “I missed you today.”
“Good, because I missed your ass too and I intend to show you just how much when we get to the crib.” I ducked my head and pecked her lips.
“You could have fooled me. ’Cause I swear you were trying to get something started right here in your brother’s driveway.”
I laughed then stepped back and opened the door.
I then helped her into the car before closing the door. Once I got in on the driver side, I started the car, ready to pull off. I felt her eyes, but she didn’t speak until we were a few minutes into the ride.
“I’m happy with you. Like really happy.”
“Are you surprised?” My hand went from the steering wheel to her thigh.
“Yes, but not by you. By the way, it feels like everything with us is easy and it fits.”
“That’s because what doesn’t fit isn’t supposed to happen. What’s meant is happening, love, let it.”
“Okay, but um, can you stop over there and get me a milkshake?” Her hand met mine on her thigh.
I nodded and merged into the other lane to get her milkshake.
“On another note, though… Do you see yourself ever getting married again?”
That question had my chest tightening at the thought, but almost instantly a small voice in my mind reminded me that she wasn’t Ashley.
