Page 105 of Jaeda

“Thanks, y’all.” His smile was bright as he spoke. “It still doesn’t feel real, man. I’m really about to be somebody’s daddy.”

Hershel slapped his back. “It doesn’t become real until you hold them for the first time. If you’ve never fallen in love at first sight, you will when you hold your child. It’s the strongest thing you’ll ever feel.”

“Not you being sappy, Daddy,” Kalia jested.

He playfully mushed her head.

“Does that mean I’m gonna be an auntie or an uncle?” Jaiden asked, causing all of us to laugh.

“You’re gonna be an uncle,” Steel told him.

“Is the baby gonna have to listen to me ’cause I’m the oldest?”

“Don’t you be out here bossing my baby around, man. I’d hate to have to hem you up.”

Jaiden put his dukes up. “I can fight back.”

“I taught you how to fight, my boy. You think you can beat me?”

“Don’t worry, Jaiden,” I said. “We can jump him. Right, Kalia?”

Steel waved us off. “I can take all three of you. You forgot I’m trained for this? Kalia ain’t gonna help y’all. She already says she’s too pretty to fight.”

She giggled. “And I am! Pretty girls don’t fight; we call the police. In this case, I’ll call Aunt Mia or my cousins. I might be inclined to break it up for the right price.”

Steel rolled his eyes. “I don’t know where you got this hustling spirit from, like you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

She shrugged. “If I’m ever down on my luck, I know how to make something shake.”

We all shook our heads as a knock appeared on the door. It opened, and Quaid stepped in with several bags in his hands. He’d offered to make a food run, and nobody turned him down. He placed them on the counter, prompting Kalia and Jaiden to vacate their space in search of whatever he brought. After washing his hands, he came over and kissed my cheek.

“How are you feeling, Ms. Tavia?” he asked.

“A little sore, but not too bad.”

He looked down at a sleeping Emelie in my arms. “She’s beautiful. You literally spit this one out. She looks just like you.”

“You wanna hold her?”

“Oh, I don’t wanna impose.”

My mother shook her head. “It’s no imposition at all. Go on and get that practice in,” she added with a laugh.

I turned and placed my baby sister in his arms. Every time I saw him with a baby, my ovaries were on fire. My mind would flood with thoughts of what our children would be like. Would they look like me or him? Would they have our mannerisms? Would we be a family of visually impaired people? The thought made me giggle internally.

Emelie opened her little eyes and stared up at my man for a moment.

“I know she didn’t just open her eyes for you,” Steel said, clearly offended. “I’ve been begging her to look at me.”

Quaid chuckled. “Clearly, the babies in your family love me, man. I told you I’m gonna be the new favorite uncle.”

Steel kissed his teeth. “Whatever. Aye, y’all do look good with a baby, though.”

I looked at Quaid, and he looked at me, both of us grinning.

“Don’t get any ideas yet,” Steel warned us. “I better see a ring before I see a baby bump.”

Quaid shook his head. “Pot, meet kettle.”

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