Page 67 of Quiet as Kept

“There’s definitely something a little bit magical about Jackson Island. I love it here.”

“I love it here too. Don’t be surprised if you walk into one of the local hair salons and see me working in there.” I giggled. “You’re laughing, and I’m serious. How much is the rent on a one bedroom here?”

“I don’t know, but if you’re serious, I’ll find out.”

“Find out for a two bedroom apartment. I’m moving down here too,” Granny said.

I dissolved into giggles. “You too, Aunt Bobbie? Y’all gonna need a three bedroom place?”

“Nah, I’mma just stay in the little house we’re staying in now,” Aunt Bobbie told me.

Once I finished decorating or redecorating or whatever the Port Jackson house, we decided to keep it. Now, family members who came to visit stayed there if they didn’t want to stay with us. On the rare occasions that Jayla visited the girls, she usually stayed there.

“If you guys are playing with me, you better speak now or forever hold your peace. Because Kept builds houses for a living. Don’t have me have him start on one.”

We laughed.

“Let me check on the rest of the guests.” I stood and walked away from the table.

I circled the deck twice, speaking to people and adding my two cents to conversations, but I never ran into my husband. I went into the house and walked through it twice as well and didn’t see Kept. Once I knew he wasn’t on the back deck or in the house, I knew exactly where he was.

I exited the front double doors, and there he was on the bed swing.

“Back where it all began,” I teased.

He beckoned when he saw me. “Right. The place where you first gave me the good-good and fucked my mind completely up.”

“And you fucked the mattress completely up.” I walked over to him and stood between his open legs.

We laughed together. He lifted my T-shirt and kissed my small baby bump.

“Hey, baby girl.” Kept’s voice was so soft, and his touch was so gentle.

I placed my hands on my husband’s head. “I love you, boo. You’re so good to us.”

He kissed my stomach again. “I love you too. You’re so good for me, Xa. I had a track record of picking the wrong damn women. Then you came around, and your heart was so pure. I had to make you mine.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“I’m glad I did too.”

We held each other silently, enjoying our quiet time together.

After a few moments, Kept spoke.

“It’s too quiet. Where is Duncan? You know we have to keep an eye on his little ass at all times. He’s just like Destin, a little hellion.”

“Um, not too much on my son, or my daughter. He was in your mom’s lap the last time I saw him. You know he doesn’t play the radio about his GiGi Vivienne.” I bent my head and kissed my husband’s lips. “He’s like his daddy that way. He doesn’t play about the people he loves.”

Kept pulled me onto his lap. “Never have. Never will.”

And then his hand was on my baby bump, and his lips were on top of mine.

The End