Page 61 of Forgotten Deeds

“You got a problem with the burbs?” he teases.

“No, it’s just I would have guessed you lived downtown, maybe in a high-rise.”

“I used to live downtown. Not in a high-rise, but an apartment above my gym.”

“When did you move?” I wonder.

“Today,” he informs me.

“What?”

“Iris needs more room to play. Plus, she’ll be zoned for some really good schools, and the commute for you isn’t that much longer to campus than what you were doing.”

“Darius,” I say, tears welling in my eyes. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” he says, squeezing my thigh.

“Are you going to kiss? Again?” Iris pipes up from the back.

“I will kiss your beautiful mama every chance I get,” Darius answers, winking at me before turning his attention back to the road.

We reach a cute two-story colonial on the end of a cul-de-sac. Pressing a garage button now clipped on my visor, we pull inside and park next to his car. Following him inside to the sweet little kitchen I can picture us enjoying as a family, my heart feels so full it might burst.

“What’s that?” Iris asks. I hear it too—a tiny crying sound.

“Go see for yourself,” Darius says.

Iris takes off to the living room, and I chase after her—discovering the source. “A cat!” Iris exclaims.

“Your cat, as you so expertly negotiated,” Darius tells her.

“I can’t believe it!” Iris jumps up and down.

“Darius—”

“A word?” He finishes for me. “I know, I should have talked to you about it first—”

“Thank you,” I say, standing on my tiptoes and giving him a kiss.

“They do that a lot, Lucky,” Iris tells her cat—who I guess is now named Lucky.

“Lucky. I like it. Where’d you come up with the name?” I ask.

“Her eyes are blue like the good luck charm Darius gave me,” Iris explains.

“Wait, are we sure it’s a she?” I ask Darius.

“It’s a she,” he confirms. “Lucky’s around a year old. Already litter box trained,” he assures me.

Squatting down, I give the gray-and-white striped cat with bright blue eyes a little scratch under her chin. “Hey, Lucky,” I tell the cat, who’s purring like an engine. “I’ve never seen a cat with eyes like this,” I comment to Darius.

“Ojos Azules is the breed. They’re supposed to be good with kids,” he tells me.

Lucky demonstrates that trait by allowing Iris to pick her up. “Be soft. Don’t squish her tummy too hard,” I warn my daughter.

“This is the best day of my life!” Iris exclaims.

“I’m so glad to hear it. But it gets better. Let me show you to your new room,” Darius says with a sly smile.

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