Page 42 of Night and Day
“That’s right. You can’t be afraid of success.”
“Don’t be afraid of success,” she repeated with a yawn, as he disappeared into the adjoining bath.
Tamika waited a few minutes before dragging out of bed and went to the drawer that held Anton’s T-shirts and stumbled upon a three-pack of baby onesies.
Busted.
She held up the package and smiled. He’d fussed at her for spending money on baby items too soon, and now she’d discovered he had sneaked and bought some, too. According to the image on the label, one was gray and white striped, the white one had a purple elephant on the front, and the third was designed with yellow giraffes all over the entire outfit. She rummaged through the drawer but didn’t find anything else for a baby. Of course not. She was actually the weak one, pouring over online catalogs and constantly adding items to her wish list. She really, really wanted a girl and hoped she and her daughter could have the same close relationship she and her mother did before she passed. She already knew the name she’d give her. Camela.
Tamika blinked back tears mixed with pain and joy and slipped the package back in place underneath Anton’s clothes. She pulled on one of his white T-shirts and entered the bathroom. He was still in the shower, and she listened to the water run as she examined her hair. Once she’d snuggled up with him last night, she’d been too lazy to get out of bed to get her satin cap, and her hair had paid the price for her decision. Tunneling her fingers through her dry, messy hair, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. She might wear a hat today instead of making the effort to fix it.
She grabbed her toothbrush and started brushing her teeth. A moment later, Anton stepped out of the shower.
“I see you bought some onesies,” she said, arching a brow.
Anton paused in rubbing his skin dry. “You went through my shit?”
Tamika laughed. “I wasn’t going through your shit—well, not on purpose. I was looking for a shirt to wear, and I saw the onesies tucked under your shirts.”
“I need to find a new hiding place,” Anton muttered, wrapping the towel around his waist.
“No, you need to stop buying baby clothes, like you told me to do. We don’t know if we’re having a boy or girl yet.”
“That’s why I bought unisex onesies.” He tapped the side of his head with his forefinger, and Tamika rolled her eyes. “And you’re one to talk.”
“What do you mean?” she asked innocently.
He came up behind her and lanced a reproving look at her in the mirror. “You think you’re slick hiding your packages, but I saw the bag on top of the shelf in the closet. Did you forget I’m tall? The bag was sticking out behind your hat box.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tamika said around her toothbrush. She scrubbed her teeth harder.
“You don’t know anything about a six-pack of booties, a yellow T-shirt for athree-year-oldthat says, ‘My Mommy is the Best,’ baby sandals, or—”
“Carter’s was having a sale! Get off my back, okay?”
Anton laughed. “I knew you weren’t going to stop.”
“Whatever. You’re as bad as I am.”
Anton slipped an arm around her waist and cradled her belly with his palm. “Do you feel anything yet?” he asked.
She finished up and ran the brush under water. “Not yet. From everything I’ve read, it’s unlikely I’ll feel the baby flutter anytime soon.” At her doctor visit last Friday, she learned she was nine weeks pregnant.
“When do you want to tell your dad?” He kissed her shoulder through the shirt.
“Soon, maybe later this week.” Her father wouldn’t be pleased, and she wasn’t ready for his judgment yet. She wanted a little more time to enjoy this happy period with Anton.
As she rinsed with mouthwash, he remained behind her, watching.
Finally, her eyes met his lighter ones in the mirror. “You look deep in thought. What are you thinking about?”
He closed both arms around her and brought his face beside hers, so they were cheek to cheek. She leaned back into him.
“Marry me,” he said, never taking his eyes from her.
Tamika drew a sharp breath and blinked. Then she laughed uneasily. What was he doing? What was he saying? “Because of this?” She placed her hands on top of his on her belly.
“No. Because I’m crazy about you. Because I love you. Because I want to build a life with you.”
