Chapter 8
“Look at this precious little girl.” My mom gushed when she opened the door for Mikayla and me.
She stepped back to give me space to enter the house.
“She’s been bathed already. Janiyah packed her some extra clothes,” I told her as I handed her the bag.
We walked into the living room, and my dad was in his favorite chair, watching the news. I sat on the couch with Mikayla and took her coat off.
“What’s up, Pops?”
“Hey, Son.”
My mom entered the living room, and Mikayla ran to her. Janiyah and I thought it was important for Mikayla to spend time with everyone in our family since they would be the ones helping us.
Mikayla loved my parents and Janiyah’s grandma because they let her get away with everything. It wasn’t that she was a bad child, but she liked to get into everything.
My mom and Mikayla sat on the couch opposite me. “What’s been going on?” she asked as she handed Mikayla a new toy she didn’t need.
“Everything. Janiyah realized how much work it is with a child, and she now understands how I felt. She hasn’t been able to write as much as she used to. It’s been an adjustment,” I told them.
“I’m sure. Tell her if she ever needs a break, she can bring this little one right on over,” my mother said as she pinched Mikayla’s cheek.
“I will. I appreciate y’all for watching her for us tonight. Are you sure she’s okay staying the night?”
My parents volunteered to help, but I didn’t want them to keep her overnight if they thought she was too much to deal with.
“Hush. You and Janiyah need this, and we will always be here when y’all need a break.”
“Yeah. I’m glad y’all are working things out. You look happier,” my father mentioned.
I glanced down at Mikayla and smiled. She had a toy in her hand and didn’t pay me any attention.
“I am happier. You know this wasn’t how we thought things would be, but I’m glad it’s happening.”
“I am happy for you both. Now get out of here because we have plans.” My mom smiled at Mikayla. My mom tried to force me out of the house as my dad shook his head.
“Luckily, my wife is waiting for me, so I’m going to go.” I leaned down to kiss the top of Mikayla’s head, then my mom’s, before I dapped my dad.
I left their house, feeling great about the night.
“I can’t believe you got me on this train.” Janiyah’s eyes lit up as she looked at me, then out of the window.
“I’m trying to impress you,” I told her as I kissed her temple.
Her eyes were on the scenery as we rode toward the mountains.
She turned back and looked at me with the biggest smile on her face.
“I’d say you were doing well so far.”
Janiyah mentioned taking a train ride for the last couple of years, but we never got around to doing it.
I felt like our first date, after not having one for months, had to be something special.
“How are you feeling? Not just tonight either.”
Our days were filled with work and Mikayla. At night, Janiyah and I slept together, but sometimes we’d be so tired we didn’t talk.
It had been a week since we slept together, and I loved every minute of it. We had sex a couple of times since we reconnected, but I knew it would be different from what it was in the past. It was enough for me, and I was just glad that she was back.
“Everything. I get moments of sadness about what happened to Monica and Trevor, especially since we didn’t talk all of the time.
Other times, I feel grateful for them trusting us with Mikayla.
Our house has been so much brighter with her in it.
I’m also happy that you and I are working on things. How about you?”
“The same things you are feeling. Also, a little remorseful, though.” Janiyah started to say something, but I stopped her. “We don’t have to keep talking about it, but I hate that I deprived you of this life.”
Janiyah grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t say that. We can’t dwell on the past. All we can do now is focus on our little blessing, and however many more blessings the Lord sees fit for us to have.”
Someone came around to give us the food we ordered.
I chose the dinner train so we could see the sights before the sun went down.
I also wanted us to get home earlier enough to spend some private time together.
We’d been having quiet sex or quick sex since having Mikayla in the house.
I wanted both of us to lose all inhibition since it would only be us.
“Is there anything you want us to do differently that we haven’t done before?” I asked Janiyah as I cut into my food. I ordered salmon with cream sauce, while Janiyah had crab-stuffed salmon.
Janiyah looked up from her plate. I’d moved across from her when the food came.
“Not necessarily.” She quickly looked down, so I knew she had something else she wanted to say.
I reached over and lifted her head. “Talk to me, baby. I refuse to lose you again, so whatever I have to do to make sure that shit doesn’t happen, I will.”
“I don’t want to sound selfish, but maybe not work so much.”
My hand stretched across the table and took hers into mine. I rubbed the back of her hand as I stared into her eyes.
“I’m already working on that. I don’t know how fast it will change, but know that it’s happening. We are in this together.”
“Thank you. I know you won’t always have control over it, but I appreciate you for trying.”
I lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Oh, my mom said if you need her to watch Kayla while you write, just let her know. What is this book about?”
Janiyah would keep her ideas about her books to herself until she completed the first few chapters.
Sometimes I helped her develop her character, and I’d named a few of them.
I never knew what they were about until she decided to share, and even then, she didn’t tell me much.
I liked finding out when the rest of the world found out.
I was in awe of the way my wife’s imagination went.
She could find the smallest thing and come up with a story. I’d never been that creative.
I listened intently as Janiyah told me her story idea, at least parts of it. We were in a semi-private area, and she didn’t want to run the risk of someone hearing.
“I can’t wait to read it.” I smiled widely as pride filled my chest.
“If I can find time to write.”
She didn’t say it sarcastically, but I knew it bothered her.
“I got you. I promise. We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay.”
Our conversations switched to lighthearted things while we continued to eat. The mountain served as the perfect backdrop as Janiyah and I talked.
“Move your fucking hand.” I smacked Janiyah’s hand away when she tried to push me back.
We’d got home from the train ride, and we both were feeling the wine we drank.
Since I knew we would be drinking, I reserved a car for us to get to and from the train station.
In the back of the car, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
We tore each other’s clothes off the minute the front door was locked.
My hand was on the back of her neck as I fucked her from behind.
“You must have forgot where home is. I can’t believe you took this good pussy from me.” I grunted as I pumped harder into her.
Janiyah’s moans echoed throughout the room as she gripped the sheets.
“Damn. I missed this pussy, wife.” I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Did you miss this dick?”
“Yes.” She dragged the word out as she released on my dick.
It didn’t take long for me to be right behind her as I came deep inside of her. I let her neck go, then rolled to the side of her.
Janiyah scooted closer to me, and I wrapped my arm around her.
“Did you enjoy yourself today?”
“I did. Thank you. I do miss Mikayla a little.”
I pushed her hair out of her face and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Not gonna lie, I do too. The house was quiet without her, but I do feel like we needed tonight. I don’t ever want us to lose ourselves with Kayla or any other children we have.”
“We won’t as long as we work together and communicate.”
We shared a kiss before Janiyah shifted to make herself more comfortable.
I stared at the ceiling as Janiyah’s breath slowed down. I didn’t have a problem communicating with Janiyah and figuring things out. I wasn’t losing my wife again.