Page 29 of Essence of his Soul

I found a bowl, filled it with water, and placed it in the microwave. The scent of hazelnut coffee drifted through the air, and I poured myself a cup, savoring the rich, warm aroma.

“How about we make something special for Mommy?” I asked, giving Tyler a wink.

“Ma Ma!” Tyler squealed, his little voice filling the kitchen with warmth.

I grabbed a carton of eggs and some veggies from the fridge, starting to prep for a couple of omelets. After filling Tyler’s sippy cup with juice, I handed it to him. He eagerly abandoned the banana, gripping his cup like it was the best thing he’d ever tasted. I took a sip of my coffee, set it down, and reached for a knife, chopping onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. As I worked, I couldn’t help but feel this deep sense of belonging. Not just to the Saunders name but to something deeper—My son.Our son.

For three days, I followed Essence’s rules—only coming over when Liz was there, making sure I didn’t disrupt her space. But yesterday, Liz and I had a long talk, and the conversation drifted to the holidays. She mentioned how much she missed her daughter and family in Denver. It took a little convincing, but I got her to see that Tyler would be in good hands and that Essence would get over it. Liz agreed, and I figured if worst came to worst and Essence tried to shut me out, my mother was ready to step in and take Tyler. But I wasn’t worried—Essence would have eventually come around.

I tossed the veggies into the skillet, letting them sizzle before cracking four eggs into a bowl. By the time I poured the oatmeal into the hot water, the veggies were perfect. I added the eggs to the skillet, and as I plated the second omelet, Essence walkedinto the kitchen.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” she greeted softly.

For a split second, I thought she was talking to me, but then I saw her beaming down at Tyler.

She bent down to plant a kiss on his forehead. “How’s my little darling this morning?”

“Ma-Ma,” he cooed, his tiny hands reaching for her.

After another kiss for Tyler, she grabbed a mug from the cabinet and headed for the coffee pot. She glanced over at me. “Want a cup?”

“I’m good, but I wouldn’t mind some sweetener,” I said, bringing the plates to the table.

She noticed the breakfast I’d prepared. “Wow, these look amazing.”

“You’re amazing,” I shot back, my tone genuine.

She smiled as she grabbed a couple of sweetener packets from the counter.

“Why don’t you sit and eat while I feed Tyler?” I offered.

She shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “How about you eat, and I’ll handle feeding him?”

“Nah, you’ve gotta work today, and I don’t. Sit down and enjoy.” I pulled out a chair for her, gesturing for her to sit.

Essence sat down, still looking amused, and took the fork I handed her. Tyler started to fuss a little, so I quickly mixed up a bowl of oatmeal, adding a touch of sugar and cold milk to cool it down.

“You better hurry up with that breakfast. Tyler doesn’t like to wait,” she teased, her playful smile making me feel more at ease.

“I see you got jokes.” I settled in front of Tyler, feeling more peaceful than I had in a long time.

Essence took a slow sip of her coffee, then turned to me with a curious look. “So, what’s on your agenda for today?” she asked, her voice casual but laced with that subtle edge of concern.

I smirked, spooning another mouthful of cereal into Tyler’s eager mouth. “I’m thinking about playing it by ear. Maybe hit the mall and pick up some females. What do you think, Champ?”

Tyler squealed, his tiny hands clapping excitedly, making us laugh.

Essence’s giggle was light, almost musical, as she dug into her eggs, her eyes flicking between me and our son. She had this way of looking at me that made it hard to focus on anything else—especially when she crossed her legs. Those fitted wool slacks showed off every curve. I tried to keep my attention on Tyler, but it was a struggle.

“Are you sure you can handle him alone?” she asked, her tone half-serious, half-teasing.

I gave her a confident grin, raising my right hand in a mock pledge. “Scout’s honor.”

She hesitated, then started listing off Tyler’s schedule, her voice filled with that motherly caution I’d come to expect from her. “He usually takes a nap around eleven. If he cries, he probably wants his rabbit, Floppy. Please give him a bottle, but make sure it’s water, not juice. And don’t forget to lock the side of his crib and never—”

“I got this,” I cut in gently, catching the flicker of worry in her eyes. “If I run into any issues, I’ll call you. And if things really go south, I can always hit upHer HighnessDorlinda Saunders. She’s got all the answers, right?”

Essence gave me a look—half-amused, half-annoyed—while I carried the empty bowl to the sink. She finished her coffee, still looking unconvinced, trying to decide if she should trust me or keep hovering over every detail.

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