Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Burkeley
I had grown to learn that one of my favorite hobbies was watching her sleep. McKay was so beautiful and I could stare at her all day and night, even with the drool now threatening to escape her mouth. No other woman was topping mine.
I grabbed a napkin out of the glove box and wiped it up. And like a kid who’d just discovered their new toy, my hand went right back to my resting spot on her bump as I continued talking to Peanut who I was shocked hadn’t woken McKay up.
We were currently on our way home from Austin Peaks.
The two weeks away on her babymoon felt like a much needed reset for us.
This was our first trip together and I honestly believed it officially solidified us as a couple.
And not because she had jumped off the cliff and posted pictures of me on her page without an emoji covering my face.
Even though I couldn’t lie, that had me feeling all the love, like a nigga had finally made it.
It was all because we had said those words for real this time.
I love you.
McKay just didn’t know I’d felt that shit back when I first said those words in front of our people, but hearing her say them back had that strong feeling in the pit of my stomach moving up my chest and giving my heart a new reason to beat for more than just me.
But the top part of our trip was the reason my smile had yet to fall since our discovery the other night.
My baby girl is moving inside of my lady and I can feel her.
That had me moving with purpose like no other. I had people who depended on me coming home at night, providing a lifestyle with no worries on their end.
A family of my own.
It only took you thirty-six years, BK, but you made it to grown man status.
More movement in her bump had me cheesing as I glanced down to talk to my baby.
That shit still tripped me up the more McKay’s stomach grew. I was really out here about to have a family of my own.
“Peanut, your mama is trying to sleep. You have to chill out in there for a minute. Daddy needs her to sleep for a few more minutes.” I chuckled to myself, already sounding like a dad negotiating with their kid so we could surprise their mama.
We had twenty minutes left before hitting our street.
In the weeks away, I was able to get her workshop built along with the garden.
Mama had sent me pictures last night of the final touches of everything, including in the gazebo that was pointless this late in the season, but I couldn’t wait to explore with McKay as soon as spring came.
McKay mumbled something but didn’t open her eyes, letting me know I was still in the clear.
By the time we made it and I’d parked the truck, she was still out, making me laugh.
I made it to her side, scooping her up and carrying her inside to our bed, stripping her down to her panties and cami then tucking her in.
I placed kisses on both her lips and her bump before going to get the luggage.
I walked past the sliding doors to the back door and stood in amazement seeing my vision in person.
I checked on the front room to see who could wait until tomorrow for water and who needed it today.
I was amazed to see the notes McKay had left for Hollis and Johnni.
She even typed them out. Plant Daddy’s Care Plan.
I chuckled at the title and her including the names of each plant with a picture for reference.
I turned the light off and turned to head out when I heard her groggy voice talking to someone.
“Hey, Mama. Yes, we just got back.”
I cursed lowly, forgetting to take her phone out of the room.
“No, Mama. I told you I just woke up from my nap. I haven’t had a chance to even pee yet.” She dragged out as her voice began to trail off, letting me know McKay was going to the bathroom.
“Shit,” I cursed lowly at her mom calling. I hadn’t even had a chance to get her fresh flowers here yet.
I grabbed the suitcases and rolled them toward the bedroom, hoping to catch McKay so I could put her back to sleep for another twenty minutes.
When she came out of the bathroom, she was off the phone and making her way downstairs. So it was now or never.
“Baby, you don’t want to finish your nap?” I asked on her heels.
“I do, but I’m thirsty. I hope my chocolate milk is still good.” She rubbed her stomach just as I placed my hand on the back of her waist, holding on before she reached the dining room where the sliding doors were, along with her surprise.
“I’m sure it’s not, and no, I’m not trusting no printed date with either tomorrow or today on it. I just put in a grocery order that will be here soon.” Her wanting her chocolate milk might have just bought me some time.
“Uh okay, well I’ll get water and a snack.
I’m sure Mrs. Anna left food since they both knew we would be home today.
” This time when she stepped away, I didn’t even stop her.
There was no way I was getting around her and this snack.
I let her go ahead of me and waited until the loud ass gasp came out as McKay yelled my name.
“Burkeley! What did you do? Oh my gosh. Is that for me?”
By now she was waddling to the doors, but this time I stopped her.
“Yo, I guess lack of food and sleep has you missing sense. Was your ass about to carry yourself and my baby outside with no clothes on, McKay?”
She blushed from embarrassment as she looked down as if she’d forgotten that quickly that she only had on panties and a cami.
“Pfft…no, BK. You’re overreacting per usual.
Relax, daddy, I was just opening the door to look at it from here.
” I pressed my lips together and that must’ve been enough for her to head upstairs, returning with not only pants on but a pair of socks.
She took a seat and I hopped in gear to put on her shoes.
“BK, go faster, I’m going to miss it.” I snickered as I loosened the shoestrings.
“Baby, just like our house, it’s not going anywhere, relax.
” The excitement in her eyes had her shrieking and clapping her hands and me smirking.
I helped her up as she hustled toward the door this time, waiting for me to open it.
I slid it open, with her grabbing my hand and slowly dragging me off the porch into the backyard.
“A tree house though, BK? Like a real-life tree house. How did you know I’ve always wanted one?
Oh my gosh and it has a inside too! No, my man did big shit for me.
Thank you so much for this, Burkeley,” she gushed as we made our way inside.
There was a full living room with furniture already picked out, kitchen with her stuff already added to the cabinets and shelves.
There was even a bedroom with a bathroom.
The design was complex and not even finished.
But for now, this was the start of her workshop.
It was a mini house I had Powers Construction incorporate into a tree house.
The plan was for her to have a fully functional kitchen and all.
“I mean, it goes with your whole herbalist vibe. Besides, me and Peanut both agree Mama needs her own workspace. I don’t know what you got cooked up to produce in here beyond your tinctures, but whatever it may be, you have your area to do so.
Along with your garden playing the main part in your creations.
Happy belated birthday, McKay. Also, I promise next year the gift will be on tim—”
McKay rushing me with her lips cut my declaration short. I wrapped her in my arms just as her sweet ass moans filled my mouth.
“Thank you, baby, seriously. This is the most thoughtful gift I have ever received from a man.” I touched her belly.
“Second, my baby is in there.”
“And I already know whose idea this was to host one big ass Thanksgiving,” McKay said as we rolled down my parents’ driveway and parked behind her parents' car.
I laughed because I was almost positive it had been a team effort by both of our mothers.
“If you’re not including Anna, then you’re leaving out a key player.
I’m already knowing this was her grand plan for real.
But hey, think about it like this, one house, one stop, quicker for us to get back home and for me to finish rubbing you down,” I said just as I parked the truck, reaching over to grab her hand and kissing the back, loving the subtle cherry vanilla scent on her warm, soft skin.
McKay kissed her teeth as she blew out her irritation and her pretty browns rolled to the back of her head.
“Exactly, one house. To a pregnant woman that’s limiting my buffet plates.
This year I was excited to be hitting more than one house.
I had plans to eat at your folks and mine, then swing by Johnni and Quincey’s for dessert.
Anna and Kat hosting together this year just ruined all my plans.
” She huffed as I snorted before uncrossing her arms that she had just folded over her chest.
“M&M, it’s not though. I’m sure the spread looks the same for both houses. We can leave and come back after your first plate if you want to, to give you that double family dinner.” When the tears started, I got confused until I remembered this was a symptom of her hormones.
“Baby, if we needed to make it three trips, I wouldn’t care. Anything to make you happy. Now c’mon, so these crazy ass people can stress me out about the gender and name of our baby.”
“You mean us?”
“Nope, just me. You already know I ain’t gon’ let nobody stress you out, your mama included,” I said as I got out, now rounding the truck to get her out, saying a silent prayer for a peaceful Thanksgiving, especially since unbeknownst to us, we had combined our families for the day.
We walked in and were immediately hit with smells that made us thankful as hell. The sweet cinnamon warmed my nose while the hint of Cajun seasoning had my mouth watering.