Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Quintus’s handsome face isn’t as scrunched as it was when he first arrived but I can tell that whatever happened with Shuga isn’t good. Niya is full from her chuttery board. She’s knocked out and stretched across our laps and The Smurfs is ending. It’s time for me and my husband to talk.
“Baby, take her to her room,” I whisper. “I’m going to clean this all up.”
Gingerly, he lifts Niya and she buries her head in his chest. While he takes her to her room, I grab our boards, food trays, and his empty plate.
I wash and put everything up then wipe down my sink, counters, and refrigerator handles with sanitizing wipes.
When I return to the living room, he’s back on the sofa with his head dropped back and his hands covering his face.
I walk over to him, straddle his lap, then gently grab his hands. He allows me to lift them from his face as he lifts his head. The anguish and sadness on his handsome face hurts my heart.
With my hands caressing his face, I ask, “What happened with Shuga?”
He blows out a large puff of air then slowly shakes his head. “I have a seventeen-year-old sister,” he says and I’m sure my entire face reacts.
Because what?
“Yeah. Asali cheated on Shuga and has a child,” he explains, his tone filled with pain and anger.
“Oh my God. How’s Shuga?” I gasp, truly surprised at his revelation.
“Like I’ve never seen her before. She’s hurt, really hurt and broken. I… I just never…” he stammers, then shakes his head. “She wouldn’t stop crying and I couldn’t do shit. That nigga had a baby on my momma.”
“Was he there?”
“Fuck no,” he grits, then quickly apologizes for his harsh tone. “Sorry, kyau. I didn’t mean to?—”
“No. I know. It’s fine. You are naturally angry and I get it. I understand. This is your safe space. You can let it all out with me,” I assure him. “You don’t have to apologize to me.”
“I’m just so mad. It’s like my fucking foundation just cracked the fuck open.
All Asali did was preach to us over and over about finding a wife, loving her, and taking care of her and he couldn’t even do that shit.
Shuga is broken; he hurt her and lied to all of us.
The worst part is I don’t know what to do,” he admits, sounding defeated.
My husband, a defense attorney who never gives up, feels defeated.
All his confidence that I love has disappeared from his face.
He’s really hurting and I honestly don’t know what to do or say.
So I press my forehead to his, caress the sides of his face, then move my arms to his shoulders.
When I wrap my arms around his neck, he embraces me.
His eyes close and we just hold each other.
We remain like this for a while then I kiss him.
“There’s nothing you can do but follow Shuga’s lead.
I know Asali is your father but that’s her husband first. He’s been her husband for a long ass time, so naturally she’s hurting.
You’ve got to let her deal with that. All you can do is be there for her when she allows, follow her lead,” I say and he nods as I speak.
“What about the girl? She’s innocent and I don’t even know if he’s taking care of her or took care of her.”
“If Shuga told you about her then she knows about her. Trust me; she knows. Again, she just may not want to talk about it right now.”
“You really think Shuga knows?” he questions.
“Baby, yes,” I say and he sighs.
“This shit is just crazy.”
“I know, but from what I’ve seen of Shuga, she’s going to get through it. She’s strong,” I say, speaking the truth. Shuga is feisty, funny, and definitely strong. She raised five big ass men who love her and one who loves the hell out of me. That says a lot.
“She’s been with him since she was seventeen. Her whole life has been taking care of him and us. I know she’s sixty-one, but she’s never looked her age until today. Shuga shrank in my arms and that shit fucked with me. Hell, it’s still fucking with me. I’m worried about her.”
I peck his lips then say, “Of course you do. That’s your mother; it’s natural to worry about her, but know that today, you caught her in a vulnerable moment. She’s going to have that. Shit, she’s probably going to have a lot of those, but she will bounce back.”
His hold on me tightens and I caress his head as we embrace.
Silence develops between us and we live in it.
I don’t interrupt either. This is obviously what he needs and I’m going to give him just that.
If he wants to hold me like this all night, I’ll let him.
I love him; he’s hurting and I just want to love that pain away.
We remain like this until Niya’s little voice enters the room over an hour later.
“Daddy, you sad?” she asks and he looks up and I glance over my shoulder. She’s standing on the other side of my ottoman, rubbing her eyes. She’s so intuitive and connected with her father. I adore their relationship and bond.
“Nah, baby girl. I’m okay,” he says.
Because she’s obviously concerned about her dad, I move out of the way. After pecking his lips, I climb off his lap and sit on my cushion and she walks over to him. He picks her up and she hugs him.
While hugging him, she asks, “Are we spending da night again?”
With our schedule, on Sunday nights they usually head back to the house in Diamond Falls. She has school on Monday and they have a routine to get her ready for school. I normally stay here, then head over there Monday after work. Under these circumstances, I decide to change the plan.
“No, baby. We’re going to the house and I’m coming too. Go start putting your things in your book bag,” I say and he thanks me with his eyes. She has some things here in her room but she only has one iPad and little items that she transports between both locations.
“Can I keep these on?” she asks, about her pajamas.
“Yes. It’s still jammies day. I’m wearing mine,” I say and she beams. She climbs off his lap and practically runs to her room.
“So you’re wearing these outside?” he asks with knitted brows. “Ass jiggling everywhere? That’s a no.”
“My ass does not jiggle.”
“Yeah, okay,” he says dismissively and I laugh.
“I have a robe with this set. I’ll put it on,” I say and he smiles. He leans over and kisses me lovingly. “Thank you for coming tonight.”
“Don’t thank me, baby. You’re mine and you need me. Case closed. I’m going to help her so we can go. It’s getting late and we need dinner and to get her to bed on time.” I stand, then lean in to kiss him. “After that, I’m putting you to bed,” I say, then wink before heading to Niya’s room.
“You got it?” I ask as soon as I walk into her room.
“Got it!” she says enthusiastically, but I see her Apple pencil on the bed.
“Let’s check for everything. You check the bed again and I’ll check the bathroom.”
“Okay, but my purse?”
“It’s in the living room,” I tell her.
She finds the pen and I grab her new bigger bonnet for her braids.
Because I have a nice selection of clothes and shoes at the house, I only grab my work bag and the handbag I’m going to carry for the week.
Give me a cute tote by a Black designer and I’m all in.
My latest find is the Curves bag, so I’m rocking the chocolate one this week. I even got two mini totes for Niya.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re on the road heading to the house.
Niya’s with me and he’s solo in his ride.
On the way, Niya and I make a detour and pick up dinner from Vic’s.
I asked Niya about dinner and she said pizza, so I called in for a large, half cheese, half supreme and an antipasto salad.
When we pull up, the garage door is open and he’s standing there waiting on us.
He grabs the food and our bags and we all enter the house.
After placing everything down, we eat first.
“Go relax, baby. I got Niya,” I tell him, then kiss his lips.
“You sure?” he asks and I just purse my lips. “Alright. I’m going upstairs,” he relents then kisses Niya’s forehead. “I’ll come see you before you go to sleep.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she says, then turns to me. “I want pizza for lunch.”
“It’s gonna be cold,” I counter.
“Her teacher will warm it,” he says.
“Thank you for that, but go, baby. We got this,” I say sternly, then glare until he walks out of the kitchen.
“Okay. Pizza, some grapes, and one of your carrots and ranch,” I say as I look into the fridge.
“And my snack. I want chips and bear crackers,” she says and I grab a bag of her mini graham crackers shaped like bears.
After I pack her lunch kit and book bag, she helps me wipe down the island then we head upstairs to her room. While she takes her bath, I grab her uniform from her closet and lay it across her chair. When I check on her, she’s about to get out of the tub.
“You cleaned everything?” I ask and she nods. “Behind your ears?”
“Oh, I forgot,” she says.
“Let’s do that and your face.”
She lathers a washcloth then washes her face and hands the towel for me to do her ears. Even though her hair is secured in her bonnet, she doesn’t want to risk messing up her new braids.
When she’s all cleaned and out of the tub, she dresses in her nightclothes, brushes, her teeth and gargles, then jumps into her canopy bed. I find one of her favorite nighttime shows and turn the volume down.
“Dream sweet,” she says and I smile. I love how she says it.
“You have the sweetest dreams, sweetheart,” I say as I kiss her forehead. Then I go get her father.
“Is she asleep already?” he asks as soon as I walk into the bedroom, sounding concerned that he might have missed telling her good night.
“She’s still awake, but barely, you know how fast she falls. You better go catch her,” I tell him and I swear he’s out of the bed before I finish my sentence. Their love is so endearing and adorable. All little girls should have a father like my husband.
My eyes follow him out the door then I head into the bathroom.
I’ve mastered setting the shower, so I set both sides, undress, then step in on my now claimed side.
I’m enjoying the feel of the massaging hot water on my body when he joins me.
His strong arms encase me and we are body to body.
I relax into him and allow my head to fall back onto his chest. My eyes meet his cast down on me.
“Was she still up?” I ask.
“Barely but she was. She doesn’t even want my ass putting her to bed anymore,” he scoffs but I see the smile threatening to invade his lips.
After turning to face him while smirking, I ask, “What are you talking about?”
“I got kicked out of the kitchen and then couldn’t get her ready for bed,” he says and his smile breaks through. “My baby girl is crazy about you.”
“The feeling is mutual. We had fun today, just the girls, and I think she just wanted to continue that. She will always want you. You are her hero, her real-life chocolate Superman and she knows you have her and love her always. I love you together.” I rest my arms on his shoulders then caress his neck and head. “But what about you? Feeling better?”
His hand grips my ass then he pecks my lips. “Right now, how can I not? My baby girl is happy and asleep and my beautiful wife with her fine ass body is in my arms. Outside this house might not be what I like but right here is perfection.”
“Let me make it more perfect.”
After kissing him lovingly, I break from his arms and turn him toward the showerheads on the wall. While the water wets his skin, I lather a washcloth then wash every beautiful inch of his body. When I’m finished, he returns the favor. Then we dry each other.
“Get in the bed while I moisturize. I’m taking care of you next,” I say with my hands resting on his muscular chest. He inches closer and I step back. “The bed,” I say sternly with a smile.
I see reluctance in his expression but he relents and leaves me in the bathroom. After getting my skin right, I grab a bottle of my cocoa butter scented baby oil gel and walk out. He’s in bed sitting up with his eyes closed. As if he can sense me, he opens his eyes and smiles, hard.
“I’m like a fucking teenager when I see your beautiful naked body. And although I’m blessed to see it every day, each time is like fuck! That’s all me,” he says, then salaciously pulls his bottom lip into his mouth.
“Oh, the feeling is mutual, baby. All of that,” I say while scanning his body. “It’s all mine too.”
“Well, shit, what you gon’ do with it then?” he asks.
“Turn over, get comfortable, and you’ll see.” His head tilts slightly then his eyes narrow in curiosity. So I add, “Just please trust me.”
When he lays on his stomach, he props his head on his forearms and turns to face me. He has no idea what I have planned and not knowing has his dark eyes squinting. With my eyes locked on his curious gaze, I saunter over to him then climb on the bed, straddling his lower back.
“I trust this for sure. I can feel the heat from your sweet pussy,” he says then tries to turn over.
“Stay just like this,” I warn as my thighs bear down to hold him in place.
“Then don’t do that shit. Fuck! Gripping me with your thighs got me really wanting to turn over,” he says.
“Just let me work my magic.”
While ending the night with him deep inside is definitely on my agenda, first things first. I need to relieve some of the tension I see on his face and around his shoulder and neck area. He’s been tight since he walked into the condo hours ago.
“What’s that?” he asks as I squeeze gel onto his back. “I can’t be smelling sweet like you at the office tomorrow.”
“Why can’t you? I’m your wife. You sleep with me and you’re up on me all the time.
You can have my scent all over you. Don’t make me come to the office to see why or who you can’t smell like me around,” I say with faux jealousy.
There isn’t an envious bone in my body, and plus, he doesn’t give me a reason to be jealous.
In any room or space, Quintus only has eyes for me.
“You can come but there’s nobody to see ’cause I don’t see anybody but you,” he says. “When a real man has a queen by his side, he doesn’t fuck with peasants.”
I lean in and kiss the back of his neck, then whisper into his ear, “Good answer.”
“The only answer.”
“You just earned a good ass massage,” I tell him as I ease up to rub across his shoulders.