Page 6 of Her Sweetest Desires
Her body deflated, and she nodded.
“What did you have in mind?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. I’m dropping TJ off at school then taking Tristian to your moms. Once I get back, we’ll be ready to go.” Billie opened her mouth to speak, but I shook my head. “You won’t need to pack anything. Just be at the door waiting for me.”
“What am I, your puppy? You do know that I can do what I want to, right? You aren’t the boss of me.”
I licked my lips and smirked.
Billie was lucky our son was in the room with us, or I’d show her something. I caught her eye and lifted my right eyebrow. She laughed and pushed off me because Billie knew what was up. With her back to me, she pushed her butt onto me, and I laid so I could become the big spoon.
We lay like that for a while, and I could hear Billie’s thoughts.
“Say what’s on your mind, Sweets.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve had people over, and it isn’t the first time I cooked for our family. Why am I so nervous?”
I pulled her body closer to mine, then kissed the back of her neck.
“Honestly, it sounds like a phase of your grief. This holiday was supposed to go one way, but God had other plans. It’s understandable that this is hitting you this way. That’s why I want to give you a weekend where you can exist as yourself without the other hats.”
Billie sniffled, and I turned her toward me.
She fought me a little, but not enough for me to feel like she seriously wanted her space. When she faced me, I wiped her eyes and kissed her lips. We held each other’s stare for a good ten seconds before I wrapped my arms tighter around her, and she buried her face in my neck. Billie’s tears broke my heart, but she needed to get this out. After she settled down, it wasn’t long before sleep took over.
I thought about the weekend I had planned and prayed that it healed my baby’s heart like I needed.
“Hey, Ma.” I hugged my mother-in-law and stepped into the house.
“Good morning, Son. How is my baby doing?” she asked, reaching for Tristian.
He all but threw himself at his grandmother, and she laughed.
“He’s good—gassy, but good.” I set his diaper bag down and turned toward them. “Thank you for keeping the kids this weekend. I’m sorry it was so last minute.”
She waved me off then went to the recliner and sat down.
Tristian was the youngest grandchild on both sides, so he was spoiled by everyone. She kissed his cheeks and gave me her eyes and looked at the couch. I chuckled and lowered myself. Time was of the essence, but I always had time for my mother-in-law.
As she rocked Tristian on her lap, she looked at me.
“How is my baby girl doing? Is being in charge of hosting and cooking too much for her?”
I shook my head. “Nah.” She hiked her eyebrow, and I laughed. “No. She’s just missing her grandma, and she’s having a difficult time placing her emotions. That’s actually what this weekend is about. I want to help my wife get back on track so she can get her head in the game. You know your child loves to entertain, but she’s in her head, so it’s clouding her focus.”
Margaret nodded. “Don’t come back to this house with no babies on your hip,” she joked.
I tossed my head back and laughed.
“That’s crazy because TJ asked if the reason he was coming over here was because me and Billie were going to get him a brother.”
Margaret’s eyes just about popped out of her head.
She laughed and shook her head. We went over the boys’ schedule for the next few days, and Margaret let me know that my mother would be stopping over on Saturday. TJ would love that, so I knew his weekend would be full of fun. When I left my in-laws’ house, it took me about twenty minutes to get home.
When I walked through the front door, I stopped in my tracks.
“What?” she asked.
