Page 61 of Dreaming

She watched as he took pictures from all different angles. He cropped several and uploaded them to his family group chat.

“Our folks will be here soon. They were running for the car but I told them to take their time. After all, your water broke and you were ready to go the minute we walked in the hospital. Your mother said to tell you there’s a limit to efficiency.”

Nia shook her head. “No. There’s not.”

“I agree. I’m glad it was fast. It was beautiful but…I was terrified. I-I wasn’t expecting blood. I thought something went wrong.” He swallowed hard. “If I lost you, I think my heart might stop beating.” He bent over the bed, his hand on her cheek. “My beautiful puzzle box.” Davi gurgled and he smiled. “Did you hear that? So cute. It’s just so cute.”

A few minutes later, she started to drift off.

He took the baby. “You sleep, Nia. Just rest and I’ll watch over you.” She heard him settle in the chair and tell his daughter, “You’re as pretty as your mommy and I love you so much. Can you say Daddy…?”

* * *

They lived in Dennis’ home because he had a lot more space for them, family visits, and security staff.

Nellie walked into the kitchen with a freshly bathed Davi, kissing her face repeatedly. Nia took the bottle of breast milk from the warmer and wiggled it in front of her little girl.

“Hungry, princess?”

“Let me feed her, darling. You haven’t eaten yet.”

Cedric came in from the back yard and called, “The three prettiest ladies in the entire world, bundled together like fine diamonds. Is that my granddaughter? Hmm? My little Davi?”

He bent to give her a kiss and Davi snorted. He stroked her head. “Ah now, you wrapped me even tighter around your finger.” Straightening, he kissed Nellie and held Nia’s head to kiss her temple. “You did good, Nia.”

“Thanks. Your son helped…a lot.”

Chuckling, Cedric shrugged. “Clock in, be ready to work.”

“An excellent philosophy.”

* * *

Nia knew she’d put everything off with Nicki long enough. Her sister had been cooling in a luxurious safe house for months.

Each time she considered confronting her while she was pregnant, Nia felt a sick panic deep inside herself that made Dennis shake his head.

“We wait, Nia,” Dennis would tell her. “That woman shouldn’t be your priority. She earned a time out and she wasn’t doing shit else with her life anyway. You put her first for a long time. She can wait on you for a change.”

She and Davina had their six-week checkups in mid-October and she knew it was time to get the confrontation with her little sister over with so she could put it behind her.

Leaving the baby with her grandparents, Nia showered and changed into clothes that made her feel confident.

Dennis was on the same page. He waited for her in their bedroom wearing a tailored suit and one of his most expensive watches.

He watched her while she got ready.

Slipping into decadent lingerie that her husband loved buying her, a custom dress in black and silver that accentuated her positives and downplayed the softness from the baby, and matching designer heels, Nia knew she looked expensive.

Her full wedding ring set added to the effect. Her engagement ring locked together with her wedding ring like an intricate puzzle. The result was breathtaking.

Diamond studs, her new pendant, light makeup, and a watch she never would have bought herself completed the look.

Turning to Dennis, he smiled. “Yes, Nia.”

He walked around her and picked up her perfume. When he gave it to her, her eyes had widened in shock. It was a custom blend designed by a perfumer in Paris.

“One of a kind,” he told her. “Just like you.”

---