Page 50 of A Taste of Grace

Being Married

After I droppedGrace off at her home, I relieved Mama of her caregiving duties and checked in on my girls. They slept like angels in their twin beds. I got ready for bed then texted Grace as I did every night.

Me:

Sleep well.

Within seconds, she responded.

Grace:

You too, honey. Please kiss my little girls for me.

Me:

I will. Sunday is our big day! *smiley kiss emoji*

I cheesed hard.

Grace started calling me terms of endearment last week. I didn’t correct or tease her about it. She also said “my” or “our” when she referred to Hannah and Esther. I enjoyed it greatly and couldn’t wait until we shared our growing devotion even more openly.

Sunday morning, Grace arrived at my house around 7:30 a.m. to fix the girls’ hair and get them ready for church. We decided that our arrival with the girls at Haven of Hope and Blessings would be our first public appearance as a couple. We knew that Grace would be the center of attention that day since we would announce our engagement and marriage plans.

She brought her dress over in a Macy’s garment bag and had her silk-pressed hair up in big pin curls. She kissed me on the cheek and entered the kitchen, where she placed her bag over an empty bar stool. Hannah and Esther ate a hearty breakfast of biscuits, eggs, and bananas.

“Good morning, girls.”

“Good morning, Mommy Grace.” Esther jumped from her chair and hugged Grace.

“Eat your breakfast, sweetheart.” Grace waved Esther back to her seat and smiled as she poured a glass of juice and took a big sip. “Are y’all almost ready for church?”

“Yes!” They wiggled their bodies and raised their hands.

“Daddy says today everybody is going to find out that you’re going to be our mommy.” Hannah smiled, revealing her missing teeth.

“That’s right, angel.” Grace nodded my way.

I moved behind her and held her waist as she set her glass on the table. Even dressed down and with her hair undone, Grace glowed.

“Are you and Mommy Grace going to be married?” Esther asked the question innocently after taking a big bite of her peeled banana.

I was confused by her question since every day and night we talked nonstop about Grace moving in with us after becoming my wife.

“Yes, sweetheart. I told you that.”

“No, Daddy. Esther is talking about mommies and daddies playing and kissing under the sheets. Being married.” Hannah’s serious face caught me off guard.

Grace coughed into her hand and shifted behind me, turning her back as she opened the refrigerator. I ignored her and focused on my daughters, who stared at me like I had stolen something.

“Who told you about mommies and daddies playing and kissing under sheets?”

“Maw Maw. That’s what they do on TV. Be married.”

“That’s cute.” Grace returned to the table and picked up her glass of juice.

“Really?” I jerked my head her way, not believing she was encouraging mybabiesas they talked about sex.

They were much too young to know about such things.

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