Chapter 6
Chapter Six
“Idon’t see how a man as degreed as you are, doesn’t know how to wrap presents,” Leila said as she ripped off a piece of tape to seal the wrapping paper she was holding with her index finger.
“It’s not as easy as you’re making it look.” I chuckled, taking the gift from her lap then getting up to go put it where my tree would go once I got one.
Baby girl had gotten under one of the throw blankets on my couch and passed out on us, so I turned the T.V. down and got us a bottle of wine since she told me that she drank from time to time. We were vibing and talking so I thought that the timing called for it.
“It really is,” she giggled, taking a sip from her cup. “It’s just measuring.”
“You’ve got it mastered, so our little system works.”
“No, I need to teach you so that you can do this when I’m not here.”
I had no right, but I felt a way hearing the words when I’m not here coming from her.
She’d only been in my life and presence for two days, but I didn’t want to think about her leaving.
It could have been because of the way I found them and didn’t want to imagine them ever going back to that situation, or it could have been the wine I was drinking.
Either way, it gave me an aching feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Aight, hand me a new roll though because I know I’ll need the whole thing.”
“For this small box?” she grabbed the Louis Vuitton box that had house shoes my mother wanted inside. “Come on, I’m going to walk you through it step-by-step.”
I slid over so that she could give me a hands-on demonstration. My wrapping wasn’t as flawless as hers when I was finished, but I’d done alright.
“See, that was easy, right?” she beamed.
“It was straight,” I chuckled. “I’d still rather pay someone.”
“Oh, please.” She giggled, grabbing a pen to write ‘mom’ on the sticker then moving on to the next gift. “Are any of these for a special lady?” she asked teasingly causing me to chuckle.
Women were funny. Instead of just asking outright if I was in a relationship, she found another way.
“Naw. Right now, the only special ladies in my life are the ones I’m related to.”
“That’s shocking to me,” she shrugged, now wrapping something for my dad.
“Shocking?” I repeated with lifted brows.
She nodded. “Very actually.”
“How so?”
“Come on, Kiyan,” she grinned. “You’re clearly a catch. Attractive, educated, successful, I mean the list goes on. I was fully expecting you to tell me that one of these was for your favorite headache.”
I laughed lightly at the way she said that but shook my head.
“Naw, no favorite headache yet. I’m not really a fan of wasting my time, so if I put energy into something or someone, I expect it to become something,” I admitted. “I’m not closed to relationships, but I’m not in a rush to jump into one either.”
“So, all of this house just for you?” she motioned her hand around the room.
“For now, yes,” I nodded. “I’ll start a family eventually, when the time is right.”
“Well, when that time comes, she’ll be one lucky woman. That’s for sure,” she smiled. “I’d kill to wake up in a place like this to a man like you,” she said then quickly covered her mouth. “Wait, no, I didn’t mean that.”
“Which part didn’t you mean?” I angled my head to the side while smirking at her. “The part about the house or me?”
I watched her swallow hard before saying, “I just… the wine is talking for me.”
“True.” I chuckled, not buying it, but understanding that it was probably something she didn’t mean to say out loud. “Want some more?”
“Absolutely not,” she laughed. “We only have three more gifts to wrap and then we’re done,” she pointed and asked, “why don’t you have a tree yet?”
“I normally get it with my dad and brother, so I was waiting,” I answered, “but since you and Ava are here, do you two want to go pick one with me?”
“Oh, no, we can’t.” She held up a hand while shaking her head. “You have a tradition with your family—”
“They’ll understand,” I cut in. “You two have dealt with a lot in these last couple of days, and I’m sure baby girl could use some fresh air.”
“Kiyan, we—”
“I’m telling you it’s fine, Leila,” I insisted, cutting her off again. “They have a little reindeer farm there too. Baby girl can meet Rudolph and Santa,” I added for good measure causing her to smile.
“Fine, but if your parents get upset, you’d better let them know this was your idea and fault.”
“I got it,” I chuckled. “Let’s get these last three gifts wrapped then you can get some sleep. I want to get to the tree farm early so I can get a good one. That’s something my mother won’t be understanding about.”
“Stop distracting me so I can get to work then.” She playfully snatched a roll of wrapping paper from beside my leg.
She ended up doing the last three gifts on her own while I got the den straightened back up. When she was finished, she helped me by clearing the items she used to wrap the gifts, the trash, and our wine glasses.
After that I scooped baby girl up from the couch and walked them up to the room they were staying in, gently laying her on the bed. I noticed that the duffle bag she’d brought in was still pretty full, letting me know that she hadn’t unpacked anything.
“Are those all the things the two of you have?” I frowned at the luggage that was lined against the closet.
“It was all that I could get at the time since he was rushing us to leave.”
My jaw flexed out of habit as I continued to eye the bags. There wasn’t nearly enough stuff in those small bags for them to live off of and if he was rushing them, I knew that she didn’t have enough time to make sure they had everything that they needed.
“You don’t have to live out of bags, Leila.” I finally looked her way. “Unpack your things and put them away while you’re here.”
“I know, but I don’t plan to be in your space that long, so I figured why not just leave it in there, ya know?”
“Yeah, but you’re here now, and it will make me feel better if you’d get all the way comfortable,” I admitted. “When we figure things out, I’ll come in and help you pack all of your things back up.”
“Fine,” she smiled. “Since you’re begging me and all, I’ll put our things away.”
“Thank you,” I returned the smile. “And we can go to the stores and get whatever the two of you don’t have while we’re out tomorrow.”
Her smile faded. “Kiyan, no. Us being here is enough.”
“No, it’s not.” I frowned. “You have two small suitcases and a child’s duffle bag.”
“Right, but I grabbed all of our essentials,” she argued. “I can get laundry detergent tomorrow to wash the things we have, and we’ll be fine.”
“You’ll be fine if we get you some more things too,” I chuckled. “Besides, it’s Christmas and neither of you have anything under the tree.”
“Christmas is in three weeks, and hopefully we’re not in your way that long.”
“Leila,” I walked over and took her hand, “I thought we agreed on no hoping.”
“I know, but—”
I gently placed my index finger to her lips to silence her.
“No buts and no hopes, love. Only plans.” I smiled. “So the first plan of action is shopping, aight?”
“Aight,” she mumbled, mocking me.
“Come on,” I eased my pointer finger under her chin to lift her head so that she was looking at me then smiled again. “I thought women loved to shop.”
“I know, and I’m no different, it’s just,” she stared at me for a second before turning away and moving my hand. “My husband—he cut all of my cards off.”
My smile faded as my eyes danced around hers, trying to find a hint that she was kidding, but I got nothing and that pissed me off.
The man made them leave and took away her means to survive.
I prayed that I never crossed paths with him because there was no telling what I’d do to him.
I wasn’t confrontational by a longshot, but there was no way I could bare to even breathe the same air as a coward like him.
“So, what the hell did he expect you to do when he made you leave with his child?” I pointed toward Ava.
“I don’t know, and he doesn’t care,” she shrugged. “It sucks and it hurts that I can’t buy my baby anything for Christmas, but I’d rather us have a place to stay. And before you say it, I know you’re offering, but I’m not a charity case.”
“I don’t think you’re a charity case, Leila,” I captured her hands again, “I think you’re a trying mother going through a hard time.”
“It’s not fair to you.”
“And what he did isn’t fair to you,” I countered. “Let me make sure you and Ava enjoy Christmas. Whether you’re here or at your own spot; let me take that burden off of your shoulders and you focus on figuring the other stuff out.”
Her eyes glossed over. “What if I don’t?”
“Hey,” I cupped her chin again to make her look at me. “You’re going to figure it out, aight? I got you.”
“Okay.” She sniffled then I pulled her into a hug because she seemed like she needed it.
“And let this be the last time you cry about this,” I said when I pulled back. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“I’ll try,” she smiled. “Thank you for everything, Kiyan.”
“It’s nothing,” I winked. “Get you some sleep. I’ll see you two in the morning.”
I left the room, closing the door behind me.
When I made it to my room, I got right in the shower.
I was still fuming after learning that Leila’s husband had basically taken everything from her and said fuck them.
I couldn’t imagine ever treating my wife, the mother of my child, and my daughter like that.
Just looking into Ava’s big brown eyes had me willing to do whatever for her, then her mother—it was hard to describe the way she made me feel.
From the first encounter, I felt this pull and inclined to help her.
After she told me she was fine and only awaiting help, I walked away but every step felt heavy.