Chapter 15 #2
“I would tell you no more unsolicited pictures but I know you’re going to do whatever you want anyway, BK. So I’ll just say next time let me see them at least please. I have to approve of how I look in them from now on. I can’t have your people seeing me look just any kind of way.”
“I’m glad you’re learning me, M&M.” I kissed her cheek once more before snatching the fork from her hand to feed her this time.
“I thought you said you were an herbalist, M&M. You gotta shake the leaves like this.” I took her hands and moved them with mine. It had been hours since McKay had first gotten here, and after eating Cajun Alfredo together, I’d let her talk me into caring for the plants.
“I am, and although herbs are plants, not all plants are herbs. My handle and care of my herbs looks different. I told you, for a long time my supply came from a dispensary not the botanical garden. Besides, although Lily here is beautiful, I couldn’t do anything with her.
Peace lilies are highly toxic and should never be consumed, but your aloe plant is high on my list. Other than that, none of your plants would ever be used in my workshop.
They are very good air purifiers though.
I am curious why you have so many of the same type though.
Like in the class. Most plant daddies dabble with a variety of different types when they’re just starting out. ”
We moved on to the snake plant with her watching me prune the leaves first before she took over, shaking them gently.
“Of course the herbalist only sees the technicalities. For your information, they all do different things. My peace lily is my bearing of peace and self-love while my aloe vera is for healing and protection. The spider plant is for abundance and my bamboo princess is for good fortune and resilience. So yeah, they all have a different purpose here.”
“Yeah, yeah. Can I ask you a question though?”
“Shoot.”
“What got you into the plant daddy life?” I chuckled at the term she loved using to refer to me.
I shrugged as I thought about her question. I chuckled.
“I don’t have a story behind it, like oh, I grew up in the garden surrounded by all things green.
Honestly, I was online looking up low maintenance hobbies.
As you know, work consumes a lot of my time, and when I have some to spare, I pass it out to my family and friends.
But I wanted something just for me. I tried a bunch of shit before this one came easy.
I started with Lou and have been growing since.
It’ll be a year in February. I don’t know, it’s nothing major though. ” I snorted.
“Plant Daddy,” she joked, making me chuckle.
“Crack all you want but I’m the reason you’re able to play with those herbs and things. Speaking of, how are the tinctures coming? Have you found one that works for your grandpa?”
McKay groaned her irritation.
“Still coming, but okay. I’ve made a few more for him to try but they take four to six weeks at minimum before they are fully ready.
So it’s going to be a few more weeks before I can send him any.
My personal herbal remedies only took hours or overnight, so this is the longest he’s gone without anything.
That’s the only thing I hate most about my unexpected, life changing news.
Not to mention I haven’t been back to see him since telling my parents.
Life has been a little chaotic these days. ”
“Chaotic, how? I told you I wanted you to be relaxing. What you got going on that you haven’t told me about?”
“BK, you know my life still goes on outside of us, right? I can’t just relax. And you mentioned moving to my parents and now that’s all at the top of my list outside of baby shopping. Because regardless of you being here, at the end of the day, Chris will still expect that to be true.”
“M&M, while I’m here and we’re together you don’t have any outside life that doesn’t involve me.
I don’t mind repeating myself until it clicks and sticks in that pretty muthafucking brain of yours, but make this my last time saying that shit.
Your job is to relax and stop stressing Peanut out.
We—” I cleared my throat to switch my words.
“You have time, and I promise, before my so-called expiration date, I will make sure you and Peanut have a new residence. I brought it up to your parents, so trust and believe I will handle the situation. Now, what else is going on that you haven’t been able to see your grandpa these last couple of weeks? ”
I was glad when McKay didn’t fight me on this whole house situation because the more she talked about us ending, the more pain started in my chest that flowed down to my stomach, causing a nauseated feeling.
BK, it’s only been two weeks and you’ve already got it bad. Real bad.
“You. I know he’s going to want to meet you and our arrangement only said something about my parents. I know you agreed to the bonfire this weekend but that was an extra, or replacement, for one of your family functions but I—”
“Set it up, M&M,” I said, cutting her off. The arrangement talk was almost worse than the expiration date reminder.
“But… are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to meet all the connections to you. That’s another extension of getting to know McKay Marie.
I’m sure you’re not the same with each set of people and I want to know all versions of you, M&M.
So, yes, set it up so I can meet Grandpa Mackie.
” I gave her a smile, reassuring her of my position.
My goal was to insert myself into her whole world.
I wanted…needed McKay to understand us being together was my end goal.
“Thank you, BK,” she said softly as the doorbell rang. I was sure it was the foot massager I’d ordered so I could wash her feet.
I kissed her forehead before heading to answer the door, saying a silent prayer that all my attempts to prove myself of being worthy of her love were working in my favor.