Page 70 of Just Listen
“Okay,” I sighed. “Well, maybe you can pay the nanny.”
“The nanny, huh?”
“Yeah. Shelia works five days a week, and there’s another lady named Tia on call for the weekends.”
“Damn. You that busy to need all that?”
I gave him a look. “What you trying to say?”
He lightly chuckled. “I aint mean it like that. I’m just curious.”
“Oh. Well, basically I use Ms. Shelia more so as a helper. Usually, I’m never far away, and she’s around to make sure that I’m not overwhelmed. I can cook in peace. Do light cleaning, in between the cleaning services. Go work out. Go have a little lunch with my girls. Outside of that, she normally just tags along, while I deal with my day-to-day stuff.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll be paying that ticket from now on.”
I shrugged. “Fine by me.”
“And…just so you know…I’m here, and I’m never going anywhere. If I say it, then I mean it, because I’m a man of my word. That also means that you can lean on me too, because I understand that you being alright or not will impact my daughter. So, don’t hesitate to call me. Even if you think it’s small or insignificant.”
I nodded. “I hear you. But…you know what I’m nervous about?”
“Nah, what’s that?”
“How we’ll figure out a healthy rhythm. She’s so small…and I’m uncomfortable with the thought of you wanting to take her for extended periods—”
“I don’t want to take her from you, Jaylah. I also understand that this is a fragile time. That’s why I mentally accepted that my relationship wasn’t gonna work. I’m not finna take a fresh baby, and have her around somebody who’s got resentment in their heart. I would prefer to spend time with her in your presence. At least until she’s older.”
I squinted. “You don’t think that will be weird?”
“Nah, I don’t. Cause like I said…neither of us should be focusing on dating people or shit like that. We gotta find our footing first.”
“Hmm…I wonder, Malice. Are you saying this because you’re just sensible? Or is it because it’s me, and you don’t want to see me dating?”
He shrugged. “A little bit of both. Don’t act like you didn’t feel something when we did us. Like that shit didn’t cross your mind.”
I thought about it at least once a day, but my business wasn’t his business. “What’s your point?”
“My point is…I don’t believe in shit just happening. Khari is here, because it was me. And I didn’t hesitate, because it was you.”
Hearing that, my clit thumped, causing me to cross my legs. “Okay, I hear you.”
“Alright, since you hear me, then be prepared to get up bright and early. We gon get the ball rolling on the name change, and putting my name on her birth certificate.”
I arched a brow, wondering if he was gonna just take it upon himself to spend a night. Then when he eventually fell asleep on the couch with Khari on his chest, I no longer had to wonder.
~~~Chapter 16~~~
Sitting up in the couch, I confusingly scratched my head. I’d just woken up, and it was clearly now the next day, when I hadn’t intended on sleeping on my sectional.
The last thing I remembered was watching Malice hold Khari, while carrying on a full blown conversation with her. I was laying on my side, rubbing my feet together, truly satisfied with the picture. My baby had her daddy, and now I no longer had to rehearse the talk I was eventually going to have about his absence.
Nonetheless, while yawning and stretching, my eyes landed on Malice and Khari. He was holding her in the crook of his arm, while he moved around my kitchen, shirtless.
“Let’s see what your mama got in here to eat,” he told Khari as if she fully understood him.
He was sifting through my fridge, before grabbing some eggs, bacon, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, jalapeños, cheese, and butter.
Curiously, I sat back watching, while he cooked breakfast, with Khari in his arms the entire time. Which was impressive. Because I knew several seasoned fathers who seemingly couldn’t multitask to save their lives.
