Chapter 12
London and I had another kid free day since Paris had gone with one of her friends.
We decided to keep things low-key. Our first stop of the day was the grocery store so we could get some food to meal prep.
Since she’d mentioned it, I thought it’d be a good idea for me to try it too.
I spent most of my time outside of work at her house, so some days, I didn’t have time to do anything else.
With meal preparation, I could stop ordering out or going somewhere for lunch.
I also could prepare dinner, so all I would have to do was pop it in the microwave.
“What kind of things would you want to eat during the week? You can do all three meals or the ones where you struggle more.”
“I can’t see myself making eggs ahead of time, so breakfast is probably out. Maybe some sandwiches for lunch, some beef and chicken for dinner. And probably tuna and chicken salad for salads and sandwiches.”
I wasn’t a picky eater, so it wouldn’t be hard to pick some things out that would be easy to make.
“You know you can boil eggs the night before and eat them with breakfast, or put them in your salad,” London suggested as she pushed the shopping cart.
We had been going up and down the aisles, picking out things for both of our houses. I told her to add stuff to my cart for her and Paris whenever they came over. Since I had moved into a bigger spot, they visited a few times, but we found it easier to stay at London’s whenever Paris was around.
London picked up the little things Paris liked to snack on.
We had been trying new things with her. I loved watching her little face scrunch up when she tried something she didn’t like.
It was the cutest and funniest thing. She looked like a combination of London and me, and some days I couldn’t get over having a little girl in the world.
“You know what, that’s a good idea. I didn’t think of that,” I responded.
We were in the aisle with nuts and stuff, so London grabbed a can of peanuts and some almonds. She mentioned that almonds were a good snack when I didn’t want much or didn’t have time to eat something else.
“I can’t forget these,” I said as I held up the bag of sunflower seeds.
“Of course you can’t.”
We continued down the aisle, and London grabbed a couple of packs of cookies and some snacks for the people in her office.
“Don’t act like you ain’t gonna get a big ass bag of M we were just trying to spend as much time as we could together and with Paris.
My mother was in the middle of fussing with my father about his sodas when she noticed me.
“Genesis?” She left my dad where he was and walked toward us.
“I don’t know why you are fussing with him. You know that’s an argument you won’t win,” I joked when she got close enough, then hugged her.
She hugged me back, then put a little space between us.
“It doesn’t matter if I’ll win or not.” Her eyes darted toward London, and she smiled. “And who do we have here?”
My dad came up behind my mother and smiled at London and me. I could tell by the expression on his face that he approved of her.
“This is London. London, these are my parents, Cynthia and Grant Lancaster.”
“Paris looks like you but also like Genesis,” my mother said. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She pulled London into her arms and hugged her tightly. She whispered something into London’s ear, which caused London to smile.
My father stood next to me as he waited to greet London. I was happy that my mother seemed to like London already.
“Nice to meet you, London,” my father said when my mom released her. He shook her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you two as well,” London said.
“Where is Paris?” my mom asked as she looked around like Paris could be anywhere in the store without us.
I should have known she would ask about Paris.
“She’s with one of her godmothers. She wanted to spend some time with her, and since Genesis and I needed to do some shopping, we figured it was the perfect time,” London informed my mom.
“Nothing like having a village,” my father said.
The four of us stood in the middle of the aisle talking for a few minutes. My mother made London promise that she and Paris would come over for dinner one day.
When they walked away, we continued getting our stuff. Both of our carts were full when we reached the registers, and I paid for it all even though London insisted I didn’t have to.
The cashier mentioned how cute we were as we bickered about paying.
Once we left and had everything loaded, we headed to my house to drop off my groceries.
When we were done, we headed to London’s house. Hannah told her she would drop Paris off later in the evening, so we’d have a little more time to ourselves.
“We got all of that food but didn’t get anything for dinner,” London said as we put away her groceries.
“We sure didn’t, but we could make something real quick with the food you got. Or we could order something,” I suggested.
“Ordering would defeat the purpose, but I could go for a salad and pizza.” London giggled.
“Salad and pizza it is.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and placed the order.
While we waited, we went into the living room and turned the television on.
I had my arm wrapped around London as she leaned into my side.
“What made you decide to keep Paris when you didn’t know you could give her a father?”
“I wasn’t sure if I would get the chance to have a baby, and I always wanted one.
My dating life had been pretty nonexistent after my ex moved away and with me working more.
In the beginning, I thought about not keeping her because I didn’t want her to grow up without a father.
It wasn’t until I first heard her heartbeat that I was confident in keeping her and that I would give her the world so she’d never feel that lost. I also knew I had my father, and he could give her the tools she needed just as he’d given me. ”
“As fine as you are, I’m sure you would have found another man.
” I kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad you didn’t, though.
I couldn’t imagine another man being in yours or Paris’s life.
If I would have seen you with someone else, I probably would have tried to sabotage your relationship. ” I laughed.
London giggled, but I was dead serious.
“You would do that?” she asked as she looked up at me.
I didn’t know what I would have done if I saw London and Paris on the streets with another man. Granted, I didn’t know how to find her, or about Paris, until our date, but I was certain that London was made for me.
“Damn straight.” I placed a soft kiss on her nose.
“I’m glad that didn’t happen.” London smiled at me.
Paris had come home a little after London and I had dinner. When it was her bedtime, London gave her a bath while I waited in her room so I could read her a bedtime story.
Once Paris was tucked in and sleeping, London and I went into her room so I could tuck her in too.