Page 13 of The Lists (Not Broken 1.50)

“You okay?”

I turned at the sound of his voice. And there he was, the sweet and concerned lover. “I’m perfect. Will probably walk funny for a week. But perfect.”

My response got me his “kid in a candy store” expression. Wide eyes and giant smile.

“Only a week? Damn, I’m slippin’.”

I rolled my eyes but slid over into his outstretched arm and cuddled up beside him.

6

Family Dinner

Malcolm

I gathered the diaper bag while Ginger unbuckled Shawn from his car seat. Weekly family dinners were something my lovely wife had done before we got married, and we kept the tradition going. Collin and Sandy looked forward to seeing Shawn, and I’d lucked out and gotten probably the best set of in-laws on the planet, so I didn’t mind.

Even spending time with Dorian wasn’t unpleasant. Something had mellowed her out. After years of tension between the two sisters and Ginger trying to please that woman who’d rarely spoken a nice word to or about her, seeing them getting along made me happy. A good relationship with her sister was always been something Ginger had longed for, so having it now was like the universe had finally stopped hating her.

“There’s my boy,” Sandy said, taking Shawn as soon as she opened the door.

Only after her grandson was secured in her arms did she move to greet Ginger with a kiss to the cheek, followed by doing the same to me.

I closed the door as I followed the ladies in. “Smells great as always, Sandy.”

“Thank you, Malcolm. I cooked extra so you two can take some leftovers.”

Ginger rolled her eyes and shook her head. It was the same thing every week, and I never turned down home-cooked food. Plus, I liked the fact it took the pressure off my Ginger, leaving her free to occupy her time in other ways. Like acting out the lists. This whole thing had added another layer to our sex life, and I had to stop myself from adding more items to my jar on the sly.

Collin got up to greet us when we entered, and Dorian gave us a slight nod. With ESPN on the TV, I sat and talked sports with my father-in-law while Ginger and her sister discussed business for Jokobi Enterprises. I did my best to tune them out and focus on what Collin said. Her selling off Seth’s company wasn’t an option, like his damn piano she’d kept in storage. Shawn’s legacy, was her excuse. Lil’ Man’s DNA couldn’t be denied—he was that bastard’s biologically—but the sentimental attachments she held onto, I couldn’t understand it. The ire under the surface prickled but I pushed it down.

“Come eat,” Sandy called out.

We all shuffled to the table. Food, laughs, and good times. Marrying a friend meant I already had a great relationship with her parents. They were like an extended family even before the marriage.

“You two shouldn’t wait too long,” Sandy said as she brushed bangs from Lil Man’s forehead. He sat in her lap drinking the last of his milk after we’d finished dinner.

“Wait for what?” Ginger asked, narrowing her eyes.

“To give this sweet boy a sibling or two.”

Ginger choked on the sip of tea she’d just taken. I focused on controlled breaths and keeping a smile on my face. Sandy certainly fell into that stereotypical ideal of grandmother. She doted on Shawn and made it known—not so subtly—that she was ready for more grandchildren. Dorian shot her sister a sympathetic look before quietly excusing herself, mumbling something about needing a refill.

“You and Daddy waited a while. A long while. Why am I expected to be some sort of baby factory cranking out kids?” Her voice hitched and a slight flush crept up her neck.

She shifted her gaze from her father over to me, then back to her mother. Collin shook his head but said nothing. Ginger began rubbing her thumb along the bottom of her wedding bands. Her tell, a small but clear sign of rising distress.

“Besides,” I said, jumping in to help my wife. “We’re still newlyweds. Having Shawn out of diapers would be nice before we go down that route.”

“Waiting that long was not on purpose,” Sandy replied.

Collin reached over to give his wife’s hand a squeeze.

“Our plan had always been to have children closer together. Wait about

two years, then have the next…” Sandy paused, looked over at Dorian as she sat down again, and then back to Ginger. “You two were not always the model of sibling love because of the age gap. I just don’t want that for this little boy.” She pressed her lips to the top of Shawn’s head.

Ginger slipped her hand into mine. “Malcolm and I do want more children, Mom. We promise. You’ll have another person to spoil. Eventually.”

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