Page 25

Germayne

A year later . . .

“Why are you sitting here staring at the building? Unlike me, you got to walk our son to his kindergarten and first-grade class.” Cha-Cha’s snappy tone cuts into my thoughts, causing a smirk to upturn my lips.

Pulling my gaze from the school building, I turn to see Chaniya’s fuller than normal face with a pout present. Chuckling, I lean over and kiss her lips to try and soften the aggression she’s feeling right now.

“Mm,” Chaniya moans.

“Mhm. Chill. You know I love your fake mad ass. You’re lucky I let you ride along because you’re supposed to be resting.” Pulling away from the school, I head home to kill time until it's time for pick up.

“Tuh. This isn’t my first rodeo, Germayne.”

“Yet, it's mine from this stage, so I ain’t trying to hear what you’re talking about.”

Chaniya and I brought a baby into the world two weeks ago, and yes, I’m including myself because I refused to let anyone other than me cut Chaniya open. Thanks to our son’s stubbornness and refusal to come out, Chaniya had to have a cesarean because he didn’t tolerate the Pitocin well.

“Leaving me at home with a screaming baby is sheer nasty work, Germayne Malone. I thought you loved me.” I drop my head when Chaniya’s bottom lip quivers because it’s the precursor to her tears.

Had someone other than myself delivered Geovanni, I would send them the bill for the damage they caused Chaniya’s hormones. Yet, it’s impossible to blame myself unless I start from the beginning, and I’ll never regret a moment of fun that led us to this point.

“Never doubt for a moment that your love has always been my motivation, Chaniya Malone. There will never come a day where your pleasure isn’t my reward. To love you is to always take care of you, even when you don’t like it.”

The moment I found out that Chaniya was pregnant with my baby, I ran to the jewelry store to purchase her engagement ring.

Three weeks later, the two of us were married in front of a judge with Caleb, Nana, Grandma Jolene, Ma, and Dad as our witnesses.

Wasting money on a lavish wedding for everyone but the two of us to enjoy didn’t seem worth it to me.

When I told Chaniya we could have a big reception and begin searching for our forever home, she agreed.

“It’s not fair, though. I missed kindergarten and now first grade. What’s next, his high school graduation?”

“Come on, Cha-Cha. C is only on first grade, day one, and you’re already advancing him. Please calm down. How about I give you a massage when we get home? Then I’ll let you rest all day while I take care of Geovanni. How does that sound?”

“How? He has to eat, and you?—”

“You have milk on reserve for him, so he’ll have to do like his old man and have a forced break from the titty. It’ll give us another reason to bond.”

“You’re crazy.” Chaniya giggles.

“There’s my Cha-Cha. Pretty ass,” I say, causing a blush to fill Chaniya’s cheeks.

“I want to thank you all for coming. Your support is something we’ll never be able to repay,” I swallow to push the lump forming in my throat back into my esophagus.

“It's okay. Take your time,” Chaniya whispers while rubbing my back lovingly.

This is a monumental moment for me and our little family as a whole, yet I can’t seem to sequester my emotions to speak the words flowing freely in my brain.

“Come on, Dad. You’re embarrassing me and Geo,” Caleb tells me while holding his little brother.

Thanks to Caleb, our entire household and family call Geovanni Geo because Caleb swears it's fitting and cooler than always calling him by his whole name. At Caleb’s age, we acquiesce without changing his mind or debating his logic.

Giggles come from Chaniya and Ma, who are standing guard to ensure Caleb doesn’t drop Geo or hold him incorrectly.

“Can you hurry, Dad? I want to show Geo the tree house before Grandma Adele takes him back,” Caleb urges.

“My bad, C.” I apologize before returning my gaze to the crowd of family and friends waiting patiently for me to continue.

“I thought my life would be mundane and full of bedhop—never mind. When I met Chaniya, I thought her only role was to keep me away from the claws of she who shall not be named. Yet, the spark in her eyes, the radiance within her smile, and th?—”

“Man, if you say another poetic thing, I’m walking out,” Desi interjects.

A rebuttal is on the tips of my lips before something flashes in Desi’s eyes that causes me to let him off the hook. More than my life changed in a year, but that’s a story for a different day.

“Let me get to the point . . . Meeting and pursuing Chaniya opened me up to an unexpected blessing. It’s amazing how you can pursue love with one person, and God opens a window in Heaven to grant you a two-for-one special.

Falling in love with Chaniya meant opening my heart to loving Caleb.

Loving Caleb meant more than anything I’ve ever imagined.

From our first introduction, before he even knew his mama was mine, I decided to tether my heart to him.

Today is possible because the City of Ribax couldn’t stop what was already in motion.

Let me reintroduce you all to, . . . Caleb Germayne Malone. ”

A thunderous round of applause echoes around the room as our family and friends celebrate Caleb’s official adoption with Chaniya and me.

“Finally! Can we go now, Dad?” Caleb asks.

“Go on, Son. Be careful with your brother, though,” I say, smiling.

“I got you, Dad. Besides, Mommy already threatened to whup me if anything happens to Geo.” With that, Caleb walks away with Ma hot on his heels.

“Was it worth it?” Chaniya whispers when everyone starts conversing amongst themselves.

“Are you saying it wasn’t?” Hiking my brow, I pull her into my arms while staring into her eyes.

“I’m asking you. If you had to do it again, would you change anything?”

“Mhm. I wouldn’t have let you walk away the first time we met. It didn’t take me three times to know that love was what I wanted from you. Nevertheless, it’s an inconvenience I’ll erase from our story before sharing it with our grandchildren.”

“Hm. You are a mess, Germayne.”

“Nah, a mess is what I’ll forever cause to anyone who seeks to disturb your peace. With me, your crown will never shift.”

“I’m heading upstairs. Find a reason to kick our people out.”

“What about the boys?”

“Give Caleb a melatonin and Geo some of that good breast milk. Both remedies are like a charm for them. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

“Say less, Cha-Cha.”

Wordlessly, I head to the kitchen to heat a bottle for Geo and obtain the sleep aids for Caleb while pondering fake excuses to get rid of our full house.

I’m sure shouting my dick is on fire wouldn’t do the trick, especially given the people in attendance.

However, desperate times might mean desperate actions. Yeah, that’s it. Go big or go home!

“Aye, I hate to be this guy, but y’all came, y’all saw. I hope you conquered it because it’s time for y’all to go home. I got two kids to put to sleep within twenty minutes, so let’s get a move on,” I loudly speak after reentering the family room where everyone is.

“Huh?” Essence questions.

“Go one, go all. Home must be in your immediate future because it's time for me to ring my wife’s bell.”

Chaniya might kill me for the measures taken to get to her, but I’m hoping the dick she’ll be getting after six long weeks will keep her from crashing out.

If not, I’ll try again until I get it right.

After all, I have lost time to make up for.

Time waits for no one, and at this point, neither will the backup in my dick.

The End!