Page 5 of Her Sweetest Desires
“I’ll cut a few slices for you to take for you, Nana, and Papa.”
TJ smiled and got back down to business.
He handled the diaper change like a champ and only needed my help with actually wiping Tristian. I laughed because that was too much for my boy. TJ was for everything but that. Once Tristian had a new diaper, TJ and I washed our hands and walked back into his room. Each of the boys had their own bathrooms because my brothers and I fought over ours growing up, and I didn’t want that for my children.
I held Tristian to my chest with one hand and pulled TJ’s covers back with the other.
“Daddy?”
“What’s up?” I tucked him in and smoothed my hand down his hair.
“Do you want me and Tristian to go to Nana’s house so you and Mommy can get me another brother?”
My jaw dropped as TJ stared at me with wide eyes, waiting for my reply.
I didn’t want to immediately react because I didn’t want him thinking he asked something wrong, but I was speechless. What I had planned for his mama could result in another sibling, but what the hell did TJ know? I lowered to my knee and looked at my son and smiled.
TJ rested on his elbow with his chin on his hand and smiled back.
“The plan is to get Mommy to relax before the family gets here for Thanksgiving. She has a big job to do, and Daddy wants her to have time as Billie before she has to be cook, hostess, mother, daughter, sister, and so on. What made you ask that?”
“Oh! That’s nice, Daddy. My friend Calvin said that if you ever go to your grandma’s house, then that means you’re getting a brother.” He paused and cocked his head. “When it’s time for another brother, can I go with you and Mommy?”
I laughed and pulled his ear.
“Going to get a brother is only for mommies and daddies, but you’ll be the first to know if we pick one up.”
TJ hugged me around my neck then snuggled into bed.
I kissed his forehead, stood, and left his room. By the time I reached my bedroom, Tristian was knocked out. I contemplated taking him back to his room but knew that he’d be up soon to eat, so there was no point in wasting my time. Just as I laid Tristian down in his playpen, Billie groaned.
I looked over my shoulder and saw that she was sitting up.
“What time is it?” She squinted to see the alarm clock.
“Not time to wake up.”
Billie rolled her eyes and flipped me off.
“No need to be an ass.” She giggled. “The boys okay?”
I nodded, kissed Tristian’s cheek, then moved across the room toward my wife.
When I reached her personal space, she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from blushing. Billie scooted over toward the middle of the bed, then patted the space next to her. I climbed into the bed on her side and sat with my back to the headboard. She scooted closer to me and snuggled against me. Billie played with my chain, and I wrapped my arms around her. For seven years, my love had been reserved for Billie and only her.
It would always be her above anybody else.
“I’m taking the boys to your mama house in the morning, and they’ll be there until Sunday.”
Before I could even finish, Billie shook her head.
“I can take care of my children and prepare the house for our families, Truce.”
“Did I say you couldn’t? You’re working yourself tirelessly because you think you have something to prove, and I get it, but I need you to recenter. Like I said earlier, I will shut all this shit down, and you won’t be hosting nothing. It’s either you let me get you right, or I’ll have Rocky book hotel rooms and set up a caterer. I’m not playing when it comes to you, Sweets. You know that better than anyone.”
She glared at me, and I gave it right back.
Billie had been looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving with her grandmother, but since her passing, Billie couldn’t settle. She didn’t think I saw it, but my baby felt like she would mess something up without her grandmother by her side. I hated it, but it was something Billie was currently working through.
