Page 56 of Always Been You
Dyami
“ H ow is he doing?” I asked, almost timidly.
Marcos had just walked back into the living room from talking with MJ.
Today, we laid Crystal to rest with a beautiful ceremony.
It was a busy day, and I vowed to do everything I could to make this day easier for them both.
The whole gang was together, and it was so good to see everyone.
Even though it had only been a week, I had already missed everyone and grown accustomed to us all being in the same space.
He's doing okay. Just a lot of questions.” He plopped down on the couch next to me.
We were finally back home. Well, I was in Marcos’ home.
I kept thinking I would eventually migrate back to mine, but the more I stayed, the more I doubted the validity of that thought.
It just didn’t feel right at a time like this to leave.
Marcos needed my support more than ever, and in his usual fashion, he insisted that Trina stay with us, so it was less for me to keep up with.
“I’m sure. So how are you doing?” I investigated his face to gauge him.
“I’m cool. We're getting through it. The funeral made it real for us all. I’m glad he got a chance to say goodbye.”
“You know, there was nothing else you could do,” I said. He looked forward, still struggling with that fact.
“Well, it ain’t shit else I can do now but answer his questions as they come up.”
“True. Speaking of questions. I have the answer to one he will eventually ask.” I rose from the couch and went over to fetch the envelope from my purse. The results came yesterday, and I knew I had to at least hold off until after the funeral.
“What you talking about, baby?”
“This.” I brought the paternity envelope and placed it in his hand.
His head snapped in my direction when he realized what it was.
I prayed that he wouldn’t be upset with me for doing this behind his back.
I saw how much turmoil it caused him initially when he found out MJ wouldn’t be his.
He was determined to be a father no matter what.
I supported him in that but we all needed to know. MJ in particular.
“I’m sorry if you are upset with me. But everything needs to be out in the open. Especially for MJ. When the question comes up, he needs to know.” I touched his shoulder.
“You right.” He said, holding the envelope firmly between his hands. A few moments passed and he still hadn’t opened it.
“Nothing in this envelope will change the way you feel about MJ,” I said.
“I know that, but what if, eventually, it changes the way he feels about me. I didn’t do a lot of shit right in my life.
One thing I was adamant about was correcting my mistakes as a father.
So much of my identity is tied to him. I don’t know what I will do if he’s not mine, finds out about the shit, and wants nothing to do with me. ”
He spoke so evenly, I knew the thought had been running through his head on a constant replay since he found out. I scooted closer to him and placed his hand in mine.
“Look at us both. Think about how we grew up. Wouldn’t we have wanted someone to care?
Anybody? Marcos, you are MJ’s father, no matter what this paper says.
This is just a preliminary step because what could be worse is not being honest with him.
I feel like that is the only thing that could break your bond with him. ”
He picked up the envelope, began to open it, and my heart started pounding in my chest. The truth was the truth no matter what, but I couldn’t help but hope the results were in his favor.
I talked to Ma Lyn and told her what I was going to do.
I swabbed both Marcos and MJ while they were asleep.
Before I sent the results in, Ma Lyn and I held hands and prayed.
“He’s mine!” Marcos said, looking at the paper in astonishment.
“Oh my God!” I jumped up and snatched the papers out of his hands.
There it was! 99.99% that he was the father.
Thank God!
I dove onto him, wrapped my legs around him, and we rocked back and forth on the couch.
I don’t know how long we stayed there. I was so damn happy for him.
It felt like now we could close this chapter without any unanswered questions.
We could really move on with life. He ground his feet into the ground and lifted us both up.
“Shit!” I squealed, letting out a laugh. He looked into my eyes.
“Thank you.” He whispered before he kissed me.
His lips felt so damn good against me that I warmed instantly.
We never went for days without touching each other, but given the situation, I understood why we hadn’t been intimate.
Any touch after being away from him that way would tip me over the edge.
“You’re welcome,” I said breathlessly as we broke apart.
“I never would have done this shit without you. Now I can be confident in telling him the truth.”
“Has he asked about it?” I asked, trying to slip down, but he held me tightly.
“Not yet, but I am sure he will.” He began to walk in the direction of the bedroom. I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“I can walk.” I teased.
“Not after tonight. We gotta make up for lost time.” He dropped me on the bed, lifted his shirt over his head, and with his right hand, he closed the door. “You know I love you, right?”
“Yes, I know,” I said as my eyes danced over his body.
His strong chest and abs were exposed, and my eyes followed his hands as he took off his pants.
The bulge in his briefs made me salivate.
I wanted it. I reached for him, and he gathered both my hands in one of his.
He went to his knees and pulled me by the legs to the end of the bed.
“More than this pretty ass pussy. Every time I turn around, you show me that you are exactly what I need. I won’t let you down. I have been working on some shit, baby. I hear everything you said.”
His lips on my pussy swallowed my response. I lay on my back and shut my eyes tight. The simple connection sent waves I could feel throughout my whole body. He inserted two fingers while his lips attached to my clit.
“You gone let me put some babies in this pretty muthafucka?”
“Fuck, yes! Eve- Eventually.” I was trying to keep it together. The way he had my body vibrated, I couldn’t give much resistance if he wanted to. I needed him badly, and his pulling out for any reason didn’t sound good to me.
“I hear you. I hear you clearly, baby, and it ain’t shit for me to give you the world when you have already given me everything.”
***
My sleep was utterly blissful. Like I had the last few days, I was up before Marcos and MJ. I went to the kitchen to start breakfast before heading to work. I took the bacon and eggs from the fridge and started the stove with a yawn.
“Good morning.” MJ’s little voice spoke from behind me. I kneeled eye level with him and wrapped him in a hug. His hugs were the best, and luckily for me, I got one every morning.
“How did you sleep?” I asked.
“Good. Are you cooking pancakes?”
“Sure,” I said, even though I didn’t plan on it.
“You gotta work. I can cook breakfast.” Marcos came in and joined us.
“I like it when Granny and Ms. Dyami cook,” MJ said honestly, and I burst out laughing. Marcos was skilled in many areas, but cooking was not one of them.
“Damn, like that, MJ?”
I swatted my hand in Marcos’s direction. “Don’t get mad at him for being honest. I got you, baby.”
“That’s cool, because you should call off anyway. I want to have a family day.” Marcos said.
“Granny coming?” MJ butted in. I slipped away from Marcos so he could further explain. Following MJ’s recent loss, he struggled to understand the dynamics. I didn’t push anything in our relationship. I wanted to allow it to develop naturally.
“No, not today. I’m talking about our family. Me, you, and Dyami.” Marcos said to MJ.
“Will Ms. Dyami be my new mom?” MJ asked, and I turned away to the pan so fast it made a loud crashing sound as it hit the other pan on the stove. I cringed, but after a few minutes, Marcos continued.
“Dyami will be a part of our lives forever. She is my girlfriend now, but she will eventually be my wife. That will make her your stepmother, but you can call her whatever you feel comfortable with. Cool?”
“That’s cool, I guess. I still wish Granny were coming, though.” MJ said honestly.
“Go play, dude. I’ll call you when breakfast is ready.”
MJ scurried away, and I played like the eggs and bacon on the stove had all the answers to life. I wasn’t going to take my eyes off it if I could help it.
“That shit ain’t that interesting. I know you heard that.”
“Of course I did. I don’t want to confuse him. He has been through enough.” I sighed.
“Nothing about what I said is confusing. It’s the truth. I’m not letting you go. You will be mine forever. No questions on that.” He looked me squarely in the eye.
“I get it. I don’t ever want him to feel like I am replacing his mother.”
“All you have to be is you. So get on that phone and call off so we can have our family day. I want to show you something I've been working on. Something you inspired.” He pushed.
“I inspired?” I lifted my brow.
“Yes, something you motivated. So, stop stalling and make that call. Or do I have to convince you?”
I threw my hands up to stop him from closing in. He wrapped me up anyway, and I threw my head back to laugh. It was no use arguing. I had the time. I’d been going to work daily through the drama, so I deserved a day off to hang with my man and MJ.