Chapter 36 Aaliyah
AALIYAH
The air off the lake had a soft chill, but the sun was warm enough to make it feel like early summer instead of March.
Fabe sat a few feet away on the blanket, stretched out in a white tee that hugged his chest and gray sweatpants that hung loose on his hips, laughing as Junior kicked and cooed on my lap.
Watching them did something to me that I couldn’t quite explain. I had wanted this type of easy paced peace with Rah for so long. But he was always moving, always chasing something. Now I realize he wasn’t just busy; he was busy living two separate lives.
But Fabe’s love and patience wasn’t performative. His love didn’t demand anything from me. It just existed. It was stable, safe, and real.
Foreplay started way before the bedroom with Fabe. It was in the way he constantly kept his hand on my lower back, or the way he rubbed my thigh absentmindedly while talking to the baby.
Rah’s love had always been loud, while Fabe’s was quiet. He didn’t rush me when I flinched at kindness, and he didn’t take it personal when I needed time to trust it. He just kept showing up until I believed him.
“Look at you, lil’ man,” Fabe murmured, grinning as Rahzan chewed on his pacifier. “Actin’ like you got teeth already. Slow down, champ. You want some real food, don’t you? You tired of that baby food? You ready for some real food? I told your mama it’s time to give you some real shit.”
I chuckled. “You talk to him like he understands what you’re saying.”
“He does,” Fabe shrugged. “He just can’t talk back yet.”
I watched Fabe, realizing there wasn’t a single piece of him that wasn’t proud to be here. He was in this for real, not just playing stepdaddy. He was being Rahzan’s father in every way.
I was sipping my iced coffee, smiling at the two of them, when I saw Priest, Essence, and Elijah.
My stomach dropped, and my hands tightened around the cup.
They were a few yards away, walking toward us. The moment I’d been dreading was really happening.
Solae’s mother had reached out to Fabe last week.
She told him she thought it was important for Rahzan to know his siblings and for them to know him.
I didn’t know how to feel about that. Part of me wanted to say no, to protect myself from the judgment I expected.
But Fabe had insisted that Solae and her parents didn’t see me like the side bitch that had caused so much havoc in their daughter and grandchildren’s lives.
He said her mother had even told him that Solae agreed to this meeting.
Still, my nerves were a mess. Rah never told me I was the side chick, but clearly, I was, and I had been the reason their family was torn apart.
Solae’s mother said she couldn’t come because she didn’t have the energy that day, so Priest offered to bring the kids. And from what Fabe told me, Priest had been solid since Solae turned herself in. He had been helping her parents, showing up for them and the kids.
Now that I was seeing it with my own eyes, I understood what Fabe meant. The kids clung to him like they’d known him forever. Elijah pointed at the water, laughing as Priest leaned down to listen. Essence had a hand around his arm, like she already felt safe with him.
When they reached us, Priest gave Fabe a short nod. “What up, bro?”
“Glad y’all made it,” Fabe replied, before greeting the kids. “What’s up, E? What’s up, Princess?”
Essence grinned wide, showing the little gap in her teeth. “Uncle Fabe!” she squealed, running straight into his arms. Elijah wasn’t far behind, dapping him up like a little man.
This moment was so ironic. I was only meeting Rah’s kids now, after everything that had happened. It was surreal… and a little sad.
Both of their eyes landed on Rahzan, so they acknowledged me. Essence gave me a bashful, “Hi,” and Elijiah waved while staring at Rahzan. I smiled and told them both hello.
“He’s so little!” Essence gasped. “Can I hold him?”
“I wanna hold him first!” Elijah argued, already reaching toward the baby.
Essence frowned, lightly pushing him out of the way. “No, I saw him first!”
Their back-and-forth made everybody laugh. Priest crouched beside them, telling them, “Y’all gotta chill. You gon’ make him cry and then neither one of you will be able to hold him.”
Smiling, I handed Rahzan to Essence, who held him like he was her new favorite doll. She studied him for a second, then glanced up at me, furrowing her brows. “So wait,” she said, looking between me and Fabe. “You’re his mommy?”
I smiled nervously. “Yes, I’m his mommy.”
Essence blinked, clearly processing it. “But Uncle Fabe’s your boyfriend?”
Fabe laughed under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Yes.”
Essence turned to Priest, whispering loud enough for all of us to hear, “So, how she make a baby with my daddy but be Uncle Fabe’s girlfriend? I’m confused.”
Priest bit his lip, trying not to laugh, and even Fabe snorted. My cheeks burned, but I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped.
Fabe looked at me, smirking. “Guess we got some explaining to do.”
I shook my head, still smiling despite the awkwardness. “Yeah, we do.”