Chapter 8
The sight of Iskyiah sleeping peacefully in his bed made Moolah’s heart soar.
He’d forgotten what it felt like to be in her presence, but now that he was reminded, he had no intentions of letting her go or forgetting again.
Last night had broken a barrier between them, and he knew it was only up from there.
He swaggered over to the bed and dropped down to a knee.
After working out early this morning and then taking care of some business, he’d showered and checked in on a sleeping Brooke before coming straight back here to lay eyes on Iskyiah.
He watched her sleep peacefully for a minute before he kissed each of her eyelids, then her pouty lips.
Her eyes fluttered opened, and when her gaze focused on him, she smiled.
“Morning, my baby,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Good morning.” Iskyiah rubbed her eyes with her dainty fists.
Moolah found everything she did so adorable.
“It’s time to get up, love. We have a long day ahead of us.”
Her brows pulled in as she sat up and looked around sleepily. “Long day? What time is it?”
“Just after seven.”
She groaned. “I have to get Brooke ready for school.”
When she moved to get out of bed, Moolah stopped her. “Let her take the day off. I have a day planned for my girls.”
A slow smile filled her face. “Your girls, huh?”
“Figure it’s time me and lil mama get to know each other better.” He shrugged.
“And that couldn’t wait until the weekend?” Her brow hiked up playfully.
Moolah shook his head. “Nah.”
His baby knew well enough that he wasn’t about to take no for an answer, but he saw her mind working, trying to decide if this was really a good idea. She looked at him skeptically. “I was going to look for jobs today, since someone fucked up my last opportunity.”
Moolah chuckled. It was a weak argument. They both knew it. He pulled a card out of his pocket and dropped it on the bed beside her. “You ain’t gotta work no more.”
She gawked at him. “Uh, yeah, I do.”
Moolah shrugged. “Whatever, Sky. Work or don’t work.
Do what you want, but that card ensures you ain’t gotta work a day in your life ever again if you don’t want to.
My point is, you ain’t gotta work today, and you ain’t gotta look for work today.
Take some time off. When the last time you been able to truly sit back and just chill? ”
Iskyiah bit her lip as she looked down at the comforter. Finally, her eyes met his again, and she said, “Never?”
The way she worded it like a question caused him to kiss the palm of her hand and then the back of it. “Aight. So, get up and wake lil mama up. I’ll wait for y’all downstairs. Y’all got thirty minutes to get ready.”
He kissed her nose before he stood up.
“What you got up your sleeve, boy?” she asked, her eyes shining brightly.
“Get ready, Sky. Oh, I left your outfits for the day in the bags,” he said as he pointed to some bags on a love seat in the corner of the room. Moolah exited the room.
He walked through his house and busied himself with confirming all the details of the day and swapping his shirt. He ended up at the front window, gazing out of it. By the time the women of the house entered the living room, their ride pulled up.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said as he appraised their attire.
Brooke was dolled up in a purple princess dress with some sparkly shoes that were mismatched. Iskyiah had on a purple T-shirt that said Mommy of the Princess with some curve-hugging jeans. His purple shirt matched hers, but it said Daddy of the Princess.
Iskyiah read his shirt and smirked. “Really, Lah?”
“Really, but lil mama ain’t the princess my shirt’s speaking of.” He kissed her cheek and then her lips, careful not to do too much in front of Brooke. She giggled, and he kissed her a few more times before he looked at Brooke. “How you this morning?”
“Good. Mommy said I don’t have to go to school.” She beamed at him.
“Yeah, I got a whole day planned for us. You ready?”
She jumped up and down excitedly. “Yeah!”
Moolah grabbed Iskyiah’s hand and opened the front door. “After you, m’lady.”
He bowed to Brooke, and she giggled before she stepped outside. Her squeal let him know she spotted their ride for the day.
Iskyiah eyed him suspiciously before she looked outside. “Oh my God. Lah, really?”
He grinned as he locked up the door and faced the horse-drawn carriage. It was fit for a princess, complete with a driver dressed like a damn butler.
Moolah kissed Iskyiah’s head lovingly before he led them to the carriage.
“Good morning. I’m looking for a Princess Brooke,” the chauffer said.
Brooke raised her hand excitedly. “That’s me!”
“Glad I found the right place. Now, time is of the essence. We have a lot to accomplish today. First, we need to do something about those shoes. Let me guess. You lost one at a grand ball, which made for the mixed pair you’re wearing today?” the chauffer asked.
Brooke clung to Iskyiah’s arm and beamed up at her. Iskyiah nodded in encouragement before Brooke answered.
“How did you know?” She played along so well. Though she looked just like Charles, Moolah saw nothing but Iskyiah in her. It took him back to all those years ago when they first met. He couldn’t help but smile.
After a few minutes of back and forth banter, they were able to board the carriage.
Once they were off, Iskyiah leaned into him. “Thank you for this.”
He responded by squeezing her thigh. She had no idea this was just the beginning of a very long day.
When they made it to the mall, Moolah led them into a princess store where they did pedicures and manicures for children. Brooke looked hesitant as they entered the shop. She glanced at Moolah and then looked up at her mom. “Mama, I just got my nails done with Auntie Sophie.”
She flashed her pink nails at them. Moolah stepped in before anyone could panic. “It’s all good, lil mama. They do makeup here too. You wanna get your makeup done?”
Her eyes lit up. “Can I, Mommy?”
“Of course.” Iskyiah laughed as a worker came over and introduced herself to Brooke.
After Brooke was squared away, Moolah bent down and asked, “You bring that card I gave you this morning?”
“Yes.” She hesitated in answering him, but she knew she couldn’t get away with not responding or lying.
“Good girl. Go blow some money.”
Her eyes grew. “What? No. What about Brooke?”
“I got her. Go ’head and shop, my baby. This day is for you too.”
Iskyiah looked reluctant. “There was this Skims set I been having my eye on . . .”
“Go crazy. No limit.” He smacked her ass, and she giggled.
“You’re sure?”
“Go. Call me when you’re done. Me and Brooke gonna be good. I need to bond with my daughter.”
Iskyiah shook her head but didn’t correct him.
He liked that. He knew he couldn’t push things with Brooke like he had with Iskyiah.
Brooke was a stranger, and consistency and time would determine their relationship, but he had no worries.
Brooke and Iskyiah were meant to be in his life.
He knew it like he knew he would make a hundred thousand dollars before the day was done.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips before she pranced out of the store. He smiled as he watched her go before he got comfortable on the small pink chairs where he could still keep an eye on Brooke.
With his phone in his hand, he took care of some business, texted Teyanna and his uncle, and scrolled on social media.
“Where’s Mommy?” Brooke asked when she was finished getting her makeup done.
He appreciated that the place didn’t go overboard and make baby girl look too grown or no shit.
She had some glitter around her eyelids and some pink stuff on her lips.
They’d even done her hair in a tight bun at the top of her head.
“I told her to go spoil herself. You cool wit’ that? Or you wanna go get her?” He wanted to make sure she was comfortable.
Brooke thought about it for a second. “No, it’s okay.”
Moolah stood and ushered her over to the checkout counter. After he paid, the employee said, “Don’t forget, Princess Brooke, you must find your tiara before the day is up.”
Brooke’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll find it. I promise.” Moolah grinned at her enthusiasm before he reached out for Brooke’s hand. When they were out of the store, she asked, “Now what?”
He glanced down at her shoes. “We gotta fix that shoe situation, no?”
She nodded seriously and lifted one of her feet. “I wondered why they were the same shoe but different colors.”
“Let’s go get you your lost shoe, princess.”
Brooke skipped beside him. They made it to a designer shoe store catered to kids, and the worker knew exactly who they were as soon as they entered. Moolah spared no expense for the day.
“Oh, Princess Brooke. I hoped you would stop by today. I found your shoe at the ball and wanted to return it to you.”
She produced a sparkly shoe from behind the counter. It matched one of the shoes Brooke had on her feet.
“Thank you!”
“Why, of course,” the employee said, and then she frowned. “Oh, but we must do something about that other shoe. Hmm, . . . let me see.” She snapped her fingers and then pulled another shoe from behind the counter. “This should do it!”
“Wow, thank you!” Brooke said in awe.
Moolah loved that his carefully crafted plan was all coming together so smoothly for Brooke.
“Of course. You have a good day now!” The lady waved at them. Moolah nodded at her. He’d already paid for the shoes, so their business there was complete.
Next, he led her to a jewelry store where he let her pick out a tiara and some earrings.
Then, they went to a kid’s clothing store, and then a toy store.
By the time they were finished, Moolah had so many bags in his hand, he wished he’d hired someone to simply run bags back and forth to the carriage from the mall.
As they walked toward an ice cream shop, Brooke asked, “Are you going to marry my mommy?”