Page 17 of Cuffed By Your Love
Papers stretched across the kitchen table, government seals stamped at the top. Next-of-kin boxes, pension percentages, burial instructions—all the things nobody in love wanted to think about. But I had to.
Tempest sat across from me, bonnet tilted, robe sliding off her shoulder, one hand cupped over her belly. EJ had been restless all night, kicking like he already had something to say about the whole thing.
She groaned, dragging her hand down her face. “Eli, I can’t believe you. We got a baby on the way, and you got me talking about tombstones and wills. You tryna depress me into contractions?”
I reached across and slid my palm over hers, pressing firmly against her stomach where EJ kicked. “My love, this ain’t about funerals; it’s about life. Yours. His. I can’t put this badge on every day in South Self without having this in writing. If something happens, I need to know y’all straight.”
Her eyes watered, but her chin jutted stubbornly. “You talk too calmly about it, like you know you not coming home one day, baby. Eli, he gon’ need his daddy. I need my husband.”
I leaned back in my chair and smirked a little, just to take the edge off. “Baby girl, you gon’ live to be old and gray, fussin’ at our grandkids for tracking dirt through the house. Me? I’llprobably end up in some wild shootout in South Self. You know the block don’t love nobody.”
She popped me so hard across my arm the pen flew out of my hand. “Don’t you dare say that. Don’t you dare speak that over yourself!”
I caught her wrist and kissed her knuckles. “Alright, alright. My bad, my love. But that’s exactly why we do this. So if God call me first, my queen and my son ain’t ever left wondering what’s next.”
She narrowed her eyes, lips twitching at the corners. “Mmhmm. And if you ever get slick and put butterflies or hearts on my tombstone? I swear I’ll come back and haunt your behind.”
I threw my head back, laughing. “Butterflies? Baby girl, please. You know damn well I wouldn’t disrespect you with no Lisa Frank starter pack on some granite. I’ll put a whole pit bull engraved on it just to piss you off, though.”
Her mouth dropped open before she broke into laughter, smacking my arm again. “A pit bull? Boy, I’d drag you out your sleep for eternity!”
I leaned closer, grinning. “Good. Then I’ll never spend a night without you. Sounds like a win to me.”
She shook her head, biting her lip to hide her smile. “You always gotta flip it, huh? With ya ol’ poetic ass.”
I kissed her knuckles again, softer this time. “Flip it? Nah. Just truth. My love, you my forever. Even paperwork can’t change that.”
Her laugh cracked through the heaviness, sweet and warm.
I picked the pen back up and tapped the line. “Alright then, Mrs. Edmonds. What church?”
She rolled her eyes, but her voice was soft. “Mt. Olive. Same one my mama and daddy had. But, Eli, this don’t feel right.”
“It ain’t about right, love. It’s about direction.” I jotted it down. “Okay, music?”
She tilted her head at me. “Something holy. Don’t you dare play no Johnnie Taylor at my funeral.”
I smirked. “You know he gon’ sneak in there. Old folks gon’ two-step whether you like it or not.”
She laughed, tears shining. “And what you gon’ put on my stone? You better not write no corny poem.”
I twirled the pen, tapped the paper. “Simple. Wife. Mother. Warrior. That’s you, Temp. That’s who you are.”
Her lips parted, her hand smoothing over her belly. “Warrior, huh?”
I reached across, brushed her cheek. “My love, you fight for all of us every day. For me. For him. For yourself. For your clients. That’s a warrior.”
Her eyes filled, but she smiled anyway. “Eli… you gon’ make me cry ugly.”
“Then cry ugly,” I said, kissing her hand. “I’ll still think you beautiful.”
She let out a laugh through her tears, shaking her head. “You always know how to make heavy feel so light.”
“And you,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her belly, “always know how to keep me grounded when shit hits the fan.”
EJ kicked hard right then, and we both laughed.
“My little champ,” I murmured against her stomach. “Your mama out here threatening to haunt me over butterflies, but your daddy gon’ make sure his whole world, both of y’all, always covered. Forever.”
