Three
I pulled my purse onto my shoulder and tightened the strings of my hoodie as Luca slipped his feet into the black slides he hardly wore out of our garage door.
With his prescription in one hand, I intertwined the fingers of my other one with his.
Together, we exited the temporary room that had been reserved for Luca’s care.
One exit sign after the other, we followed the long trail that led to double doors. Beyond the doors, we discovered more doors. Beyond those was crisp, fresh morning air. I pulled in a deep breath. Its release was as slow as its capture.
High blood pressure.
Blood clots.
While both were quite frightening, they were both curable. Both manageable. Both something we could handle and determine the outcome of. A slight change in lifestyle would be exactly what Luca needed to get his health back on track.
Less worrying.
Less stress.
Quieter moments.
Additional exercise.
Additional dieting measures.
Blood thinners.
High blood pressure meds .
We reached Luca’s truck. It was a swift reminder that I’d lost my train of thought upon hearing my husband was unwell. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d driven the wide-body pick-up. After today, I wouldn’t for another few months or possibly until he purchased a new one.
The day he got them off the lot was the only time I was behind the wheel of any of his vehicles. Dully wasn’t exactly my style. Its massiveness made me anxious, anticipating an accident with each turn I made.
I extended my arm, tugging at the passenger door. The sound of the locks pushed my eyebrows upward. I patted my pockets, realizing I was no longer in possession of the keys.
“Unlock the door,” I advised my husband.
“I’m not that sick, Ever,” he chuckled.
“What?”
“You opening doors for me, now?”
“That was the plan.”
“I’ve got it, love. I’m feeling a little better. Let me take the wheel.”
“No.”
With a shake of the head, Luca slid past me.
“It didn’t hurt to try.”
“It didn’t. You can get your own door, but you’re not driving.”
He left me standing on the passenger side as he rounded the truck to reach the driver’s side. I rushed around just as he opened the door. I closed it as quickly as he’d pulled it open. Finding humor in my silent demands, Luca shook his head.
He reached out, pulling me into his chest. I melted against him. My big baby. My big, brown bear.
Closing my eyes, I released a shaky breath. The uncertainty looming had me by the heart. But, so did the man before me. The beating of his heart reminded me that he was still here. Still mine.
“Don’t fight me on this,” I begged. “Give me the wheel, Luca.”
It wasn’t the wheel of his truck I was referring to. It was him. Us. Our family. Our lives. Our livelihood. I could manage. I just needed him to trust me. He’d taken care of everything and everyone in my world since I stepped foot into his. It was time to return the favor.
It was time to make good on those vows I swore on. It was time to be the bear. Even if I was smaller in stature and usually behind Pappa Bear, I was still a leader. A woman. A nurturer. A planner. A mother. And, a lot softer.
Sighing, he placed a hand on my head. “It’s yours, baby. I won’t fight you on this. I don’t even have the energy to. I just can’t have you opening your own doors when I’m completely capable.”
“You came to open my door?”
“I came to open your door,” he confirmed. “And, help you up.”
“Thank you.”
Forever a gentleman, he jarred my memory. Climbing up and down the mountain he called a truck wasn’t easy. One slip and I’d be on my way back inside the emergency room on a stretcher.
I lifted my head and stood on the tips of my toes. My lips landed right where they belonged. Pressed against Luca, I depleted my lungs. He refilled them before slowly backing away.
“Where are you going?” I asked, feeling way too much air between us.
“Unless you want this dick inside of you in this parking lot, baby, I suggest you go ahead and take that wheel.”
With a shake of my head, I waited for Luca to open the door again. Because I, in fact, wouldn’t have minded him inside of me, but now wasn’t the time. There were more pressing matters. Ones that didn’t involve our favorite activity.
“Up. Up.”
Luca’s assistance placed me comfortably in the driver’s seat. With the tap of a button, he ignited the engine. It roared, rattling my entire body. It was a sound one hardly got accustomed to. He made his way to the other side of the truck and climbed in as well.
I clamped my seatbelt to quiet the alarm. Luca did the same. His left hand breached the borders of my side, bridging the gap between us. Resting on my thigh, he squeezed for reassurance as I shifted the gear.
Luca’s eyes swelled as we pulled into our driveway. I didn’t bother getting the truck in the garage. There was a fleet of cars that would need to be moved to do so. The same fleet was the source of Luca’s inquisitiveness.
I swung my door open, hardly giving his thoughts a chance to register. He met me at the front of the truck with his mouth ajar and his eyebrows wrinkled. Silently, we made our way up the stairs that led to the side door.
Chatter greeted us. My heart leaped with joy. Luca led the way, headed for the small voices we’d created.
“And, Es put a bandaid on my boo boo,” Emilia explained.
“Ain’t sh– ain’t nothing right there, though.” Lawe’s voice had softened, yet his words remained reckless.
“Well, it’s an invisible boo-boo. The special kind.”
“Or, maybe ain’t nothing right there,” he reasoned.
“Un hun,” Emilia fussed, growing aggravated with his theory.
“Ion see shit,” he tried whispering.
“So,” Emilia retorted.
“Leave her alone, Lawe, and watch your mouth.”
“You heard me?” He asked.
“Everyone heard you,” Lyric, Keanu, Daddy Liam, and Laike said simultaneously.
“'Cause y’all nosey. Stay out of our business. This between me and my niece.”
“Watch your mother, nigga, like they said,” Luca cleared his throat.
“They said you fu– messed up right now. Perfect opportunity to put your big ass on your back.”
“There hasn’t been an opportunity in history to do that. History doesn’t start now, either. Keep waiting or get a bullet in that thick skull of yours.”
“Promise,” Lawe challenged.
“Pro–”
“Lawe,” Momma Laura grimaced, “Please.”
“He started.”
“Nigga, you in my house calling my daughter a liar. You started. Matter of fact, why are you here?”
“They said you had a few hours. I had to come through and give you a final glimpse of a real nigga before you went on to the Glory.”
Furrowed brows thickened on Luca’s forehead. I placed my hand over my mouth, trying my hardest not to laugh. It didn’t help much.
“Baby–” Luca belted, looking at me.
“I’m sorry– I just– I didn’t say that.”
“I know. This nigga the liar.”
Shrugging, Lawe smirked.
“What can I say? You don’t look dead enough to me.”
“I don’t know how y’all put up with this nigga,” Ledge sighed.
“You’ve known him longer than us all.” Lyric reminded Ledge.
“And, avoid him at all costs. He doesn’t know how to act.”
“He aight with me,” Laike said, kissing the skin of his teeth.
“Because you’re one in the same,” Liam concluded.
“Daddy.”
“Daddy!”
“Daddy, you’re home.”
Every one of our little ones was up and their mouths were running a mile a minute.
Luca’s legs began moving and didn’t stop until he was in front of the tallest one.
The quietest one. He wrapped his arms around Essence and planted his lips on her forehead.
She relaxed against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
I watched their embrace deepen as he began swaying her from side to side, slowly. Tenderly. Gently. Knowing exactly what she needed. It wasn’t his words that would reassure her. It was his presence. His arms around her, letting her know that he was okay. Once satisfied, Essence pulled away.
“Thank you for holding it down, Es. I owe you.”
“Get better. That’s how you can repay me.”
“Consider my debt paid in full, really soon then, baby girl.”
“I believe it.”
“Anybody want to tell me why I have a house full of folk?”
“The few hours you have left,” Lawe answered.
Ignoring him, Laura explained, “So that you won’t have to be.”
“I don’t follow.”
Lyric stood from the couch, lifting the suitcase Keanu was helping her zip along with her.
“Ever is evicting you,” she revealed.
Luca’s neck nearly snapped as he tried to find me. I wanted to hide behind the console table, but I stood my ground. Head high. Nose flared. Feet planted firmly on the ground. Chest inflated.
“Baby?”
“You’re always there… for everyone, baby.
Always. One call and you’re there. Sometimes the call doesn’t even come, and you’re still there.
For me. Your mother. Your father. Your brothers.
Your sister. Their spouses. Me. The children.
Even the children at their schools. Everyone knows they can call on Luca.
Well, it is about time Luca called on some of us.
Because I knew you wouldn’t pick up the phone, I did.
I will not sit back and allow you to suffer alone.
Neither will I allow life to steal you away from us so soon.
None of us. Though this might’ve been a minor visit today, it could’ve been your first and last visit to the hospital. ”
“See what I’m saying.”
“Shut up, Lawe,” Baisleigh yelled from across the room.
“Girl, don’t do that, na,” Kleu shrieked, entering the family room, drying her hands.
“I can’t sit back and do nothing. Neither could they.
We have a village. And, we’re going to utilize it.
You did the same for me. Nothing changes because it’s you.
You deserve to be taken care of as well, Luca.
You deserve to be waited on. To be bathed.
To be fed. To be nurtured to the highest degree. So, that’s what I’m going to do.
“I can’t do that with our little ones needing the same thing from me all hours of the day. So, we’re leaving. We’re going away. We’re restoring your balance and chasing a healthier, well-rested version of Luca. He’s not too far away.
“We must go find him, though, because he’s not here. Not anymore. We have thirty days. Just us. I’m at your service. Whatever you want. Whatever you need. Whatever, Luca.”
Clearing his throat, Luca readjusted his weight, trying to digest the new information.
“Thirty days, baby? Thirty days awa–” he paused, looking at the family we’d created, “Away from all of this? Away from them? You’re asking so much of me.”
“I never asked.”
Luca’s head lifted from Elle’s frame and landed on mine. I shook my head.
“I never asked.”
Realizing he didn’t have a choice in the matter, he nodded.
“When do we leave?”
“Now. I submitted your medications to the pharmacy the second we got the prescription. They’re ready for pickup. Lyric and Keanu were kind enough to pack our bags. We aren’t uprooting the children. They’ll stay home.
“Laike and Baisleigh will be here the first week we’re gone. Mom and Dad, the following week. My mother will be here for the third week. And, the fourth, Lyric and Keanu. In between time, Ledge, Halo, Lawe, and Kleu will help with meals, carpool, after-school activities, and weekends.”
I explained the logistics, knowing he’d worry if I didn’t.
“You’ve got this all figured out, huh?” He asked, rubbing a hand down his face.
He was still processing the fact that he’d be away from the children so long.
Luca hadn’t only spent time away from them during my postpartum battle years ago.
This felt a lot like that for me. Except the roles had reversed, and I had the pleasure of caring for my husband as he’d cared for me.
I had the opportunity to orchestrate his healing as he’d done mine.
“I do.”
Luca lowered himself to his knees. He took Leu into one arm and Emilia into the other. He squeezed their tiny bodies and kissed their cheeks.
“This feels like an intervention,” Lawe chuckled, “Put the pipe down, Brother Luca. Your kids are counting on you.”
“They need their father,” Kleu added. “You have to get yourself cleaned up. Their lives depe–”
“Kleu,” Baisleigh sighed.
“Not you becoming just as annoying as him,” Lyric fussed.
“Lay down with a dog and you get fleas,” Ledge scoffed.
“You know, I used to like you. I’m starting not to,” Kleu told him.
Luca paid them no mind. He hugged and kissed our children one after the other until he was beside me, again.
“You ready?”
“Nah, but I don’t think that’s an option, baby.”
“It’s not.”
“Then, I’m ready.”
“Good,” I responded, standing on the tips of my toes and bringing Luca closer.
I planted my lips on his, wishing we could stay this way forever. But life was happening around us, and it was best we adapted. Otherwise, it would swallow us whole.