Page 88 of Always Been You
“Good morning.” MJ’s little voice spoke from behind me. I kneeled eye level with him and wrapped him in a hug. His hugs were the best, and luckily for me, I got one every morning.
“How did you sleep?” I asked.
“Good. Are you cooking pancakes?”
“Sure,” I said, even though I didn’t plan on it.
“You gotta work. I can cook breakfast.” Marcos came in and joined us.
“I like it when Granny and Ms. Dyami cook,” MJ said honestly, and I burst out laughing. Marcos was skilled in many areas, but cooking was not one of them.
“Damn, like that, MJ?”
I swatted my hand in Marcos’s direction. “Don’t get mad at him for being honest. I got you, baby.”
“That’s cool, because you should call off anyway. I want to have a family day.” Marcos said.
“Granny coming?” MJ butted in. I slipped away from Marcos so he could further explain. Following MJ’s recent loss, he struggled to understand the dynamics. I didn’t push anything in our relationship. I wanted to allow it to develop naturally.
“No, not today. I’m talking about our family. Me, you, and Dyami.” Marcos said to MJ.
“Will Ms. Dyami be my new mom?” MJ asked, and I turned away to the pan so fast it made a loud crashing sound as it hit the other pan on the stove. I cringed, but after a few minutes, Marcos continued.
“Dyami will be a part of our lives forever. She is my girlfriend now, but she will eventually be my wife. That will make her your stepmother, but you can call her whatever you feel comfortable with. Cool?”
“That’s cool, I guess. I still wish Granny were coming, though.” MJ said honestly.
“Go play, dude. I’ll call you when breakfast is ready.”
MJ scurried away, and I played like the eggs and bacon on the stove had all the answers to life. I wasn’t going to take my eyes off it if I could help it.
“That shit ain’t that interesting. I know you heard that.”
“Of course I did. I don’t want to confuse him. He has been through enough.” I sighed.
“Nothing about what I said is confusing. It’s the truth. I’m not letting you go. You will be mine forever. No questions on that.” He looked me squarely in the eye.
“I get it. I don’t ever want him to feel like I am replacing his mother.”
“All you have to be is you. So get on that phone and call off so we can have our family day. I want to show you something I've been working on. Something you inspired.” He pushed.
“I inspired?” I lifted my brow.
“Yes, something you motivated. So, stop stalling and make that call. Or do I have to convince you?”
I threw my hands up to stop him from closing in. He wrapped me up anyway, and I threw my head back to laugh. It was no use arguing. I had the time. I’d been going to work daily through the drama, so I deserved a day off to hang with my man and MJ.
Chapter 41
Terror
We had a bit of a drive, but I knew in my heart that Dyami would want to be a part of this special day for her best friend. Chubby was doing it. He was proposing to Chante. So, as we hugged the highway on our two-hour drive, I was avoiding questions from Dyami like a ninja.
“I’m calling Chante, and her ass didn’t go to work either,” Dyami said from the passenger side.
“Shit been crazy. She probably needed a break, too.” I looked in the rearview mirror and gathered a sleeping MJ before I continued. “I can’t thank y’all enough for what y’all did for the funeral, from cooking to picking out outfits. I wouldn’t have gotten through this shit without y’all.”
Dyami’s hand reached out and caressed my thigh. I picked her hand up and pressed it to my lips. “You know we would do anything for you. I’m just glad it was a beautiful service.”
