21. Bleek
Bleek
Inever thought I’d spend a Saturday afternoon arguing over where a rocking chair should go. Yet there I was, standing in the middle of a nursery with my hands on my hips while Eternity looked at me like I’d completely lost my mind.
“I’m telling you, it looked better over there,” I said in a sure tone.
“Malik, you’ve moved that chair three times,” she laughed.
“Because it doesn’t look right.”
“It looks fine,” she reassured me.
She folded her arms across her chest and smiled that smile she wore whenever she already knew she’d won the argument before it even started.
“You know what?”
“What?” I asked as I used the back of my hand to wipe the sweat that was on my forehead.
“I’m going to let you keep moving it until you realize it’s going to end up right back where I put it.”
I looked at the chair and then looked at her and then looked right back at the chair.
“You’re probably right,” I admitted.
“Oh, I know.”
A laugh escaped me as I finally gave up and walked over to the crib instead.
Everything was finally starting to come together.
The cream-colored curtains had been hung earlier that morning.
The dresser sat against the wall with stacks of folded onesies tucked neatly inside the drawers.
The shelves that I had spent half the day putting up were now lined with teddy bears, picture books, and little wooden blocks that our son wouldn’t even know what to do with for another couple of years.
I rested both hands on the railing of the crib and smiled to myself.
“You know, I still can’t believe we’re doing this again.”
Eternity walked over until she was standing beside me.
“I can.”
“You always wanted another baby.”
I knew my wife well, and before she even asked me for one, I knew that the request was coming.
“I always wanted another baby with you.”
I turned and looked at her.
“You trying to make me cry?” I asked sarcastically.
“You too gangster for that,” she said with a smirk.
“I sure am.”
Before I could say anything else, I noticed her rubbing the side of her stomach.
“You alright?”
She nodded.
“He’s just stretching.”
I immediately reached for her.
“Lemme see.”
She took my hand and placed it against her belly. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then a tiny kick pushed back against my palm. My entire face lit up. Another kick followed. I shook my head and laughed before dropping down a bit so that my face was level with her stomach.
“Aye, little man, you better quit beating on my woman while you in there.”
“He isn’t bothering me,” Eternity said, “he’s just practicing.”
“Practicing for what?” I asked with a raised brow.
“He tryna keep up with his daddy.”
I smiled before leaning back down. I pressed a kiss against her stomach.
“You hear me in there? You got a few more months before you make your big debut, so take it easy on your mama.”
Right on cue, he kicked again. Eternity laughed so hard she had to grab my arm.
“He gone be like you and be stubborn.”
I pulled her into a hug and then kissed the top of her forehead. We just stood there in the nursery we’d spent months putting together, imagining what life was going to look like once it was filled with midnight feedings, crying, diapers, and another little Browne running through the house.
Strangely enough, none of it scared me. If anything, I couldn’t wait.
When I looked around that room, I didn’t see another responsibility.
I saw another blessing. One thing I learned over the years was never to take those for granted.
I looked down at Eternity and couldn’t help but notice how pregnancy had softened her in all the right places.
Her hips had gotten fuller, her stomach had rounded beautifully, and somehow, she was even more gorgeous now than the day I had met her.
“What?” She had looked up and caught me staring.
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
“Malik…”
“What?” I said as I looked her deep in her eyes.
“You got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that usually gets me in trouble.”
A grin spread across my face.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Mhmm.”
She laughed, already knowing I was lying. I glanced toward the hallway before walking over and quietly pushing the nursery door closed. She looked at me and immediately started giggling.
“Malik…”
“What? Real quick.”
Her eyes got wide.
“No,” she playfully giggled.
“Yes.”
I walked back over until there wasn’t any space left between us. She tried to hide her smile, but it was already there. I reached up and gently moved her hair over one shoulder before leaning down to kiss the side of her neck. She let out the smallest moan.
“Malik…”
Before I could kiss her again, the nursery door flew open.
“Daddy!”
Maylee came skipping into the room as if she owned it. I took a step back from Eternity before shaking my head.
“What’s up, baby?”
She smiled.
“Can I go to Ava’s sleepover tonight?”
I looked over at Eternity.
“You know anything about it?”
She nodded.
“Her mama texted me yesterday.”
I looked back at Maylee.
“You already finished your homework for the week?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“Your room clean?” I asked.
Another nod.
“Yes.”
“You better brush your teeth every night over there.”
“Daddy!” she laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“I will. I promise.”
I pretended to think about it for a second before smiling.
“Aight. You can go.”
She squealed and ran over to hug me.
“Thank you!”
I hugged her back before kissing the top of her head.
“Now…”
I gently turned her toward the bedroom door.
“Next lesson.”
She looked up at me, giving me her undivided attention.
“When Mommy and Daddy got the door closed, you knock first.”
“But y’all wasn’t doing nothing,” she frowned.
Eternity burst out laughing. I looked at my daughter.
“That doesn’t matter. What did I say?”
Maylee stared at me for another second before shrugging.
“Okay…”
Then she skipped right back out of the room and closed the door behind her. Suddenly, I heard two little knocks.
Knock. Knock
“Daddy?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Come in.”
She cracked the door open just enough to smile.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
She closed the door again, and a second later we heard her running down the hallway. I looked over at Eternity.
“You are laughing too damn hard. She almost walked into some shit.”
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I can’t help it. You handled that pretty good.”
“I had to.”
I slipped my arm around her waist again and then bit my bottom lip as I pulled her close.
“Now, where was I?”