Page 28 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

Twelve

Klarity

T he feeling of soft kisses and his low baritone voice in my ear woke me from my slumber.

I couldn’t tell you how long I’d been asleep because time here seemed to run together.

I was waited on hand and foot by not only Royce but his family as well.

A service I’d never experienced and probably wouldn’t ever again once I left.

“Wake up, My Baby, you leaking milk.”

Hearing that caused my eyes to shoot open. I fell asleep once I ate and didn’t remember waking for shit. I sat up and my entire shirt was soaked in milk. I’d totally forgot that I had a fresh newborn. I was so damn tired it didn’t register.

“Shit! Aight, give me a minute to wash up.”

“I got you covered.” He pointed to a bowl of water with a rag in it.

I had to hand it to him. For a crazy man, he did things I didn’t think he would.

He noticed things about me before I could and whenever I thought things would get tough, he was right there.

I’d had the most carefree couple of weeks with him since I’d stepped into adulthood and that was seventeen years ago. The life he lived really was easy.

“Where’s Essence?” I asked letting him slip the shirt from over my head.

“Sleeping. I just changed and fed her. All she does is eat, sleep, and shit. How long she supposed to keep doing that?” Royce asked. A small grin appeared on my face. He was a first time dad and it showed. He had no experience whatsoever.

First time dad… Klarity, you are just as crazy as him now. These aren’t his kids!

“She’s going to do that for a few months. She’ll be more active as time goes on. Where’s CJ?”

It seemed like I hadn’t seen my son since we got here. Every time I turned around, he was gone some damn where having the time of his life. He had no care in the world for me. He was breaking my heart the way he didn’t stick around long enough for me to see his little handsome face.

“He’s in the kitchen eating with my mama. She just made breakfast. You want to try and walk out there or stay in here and eat?”

“I can walk, Royce. I prefer not to right now, but I can. It’s discomforting.”

“Then you gon’ stay yo’ ass in the bed and wait until you’re able to walk comfortably. We ain’t taking them chances.” He started to wipe me down and clean me up. My milk was producing faster than I thought by the day.

“Royce, I have to move around a little, but I don’t want to sit down. We can go to the kitchen. I want to check on my baby anyway. He acts like he don’t even know me,” I complained.

“That ain’t the case. My parent’s been wanting grandchildren for the longest and now that him and Essence are here, they won’t let them breathe. CJ be with Pops all the damn time.”

“Does he give him a hard time? CJ can be pretty active once he warms up to someone. All that introverted shyness goes right out the window.”

“I never seen it. He been open from the jump with me. Maybe he do that shit ‘cause he know you’ll baby him. Kids always put on for they mama. That shit worrisome as hell,” he said shaking his head. He handed me a sports bra and I slipped it on followed by the shirt he extended my way.

I snickered at his response. He had CJ figured out that fast. That went to show how observant he was. If anyone else had this opportunity, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t step as hard as Royce did. I was seeing how rare he was in everything he did. His actions were just as loud as his words.

“Although that’s not true, it might be for him. He’s seeing things he’s never seen before. This isn’t our typical scenery. I do thank your parents for taking him off my hands for a while though. Starting over with Essence has been exhausting.”

“Trust me, I can see it. If you’re up to it, I needed you to come outside for a minute. Just to get some sun on your face and fresh air. Can you do that or is the walk too long?”

“Stop asking me that. I told you I can walk, just don’t walk so damn fast. I still need to hold onto you.”

He smiled saying, “Hold onto me? Sounds like I’m needed more than you put on.”

Shaking my head, I knew he was going to take my words out of context.

He hadn’t failed to do it since I met him.

I lowkey found that shit to be cute. I swung my feet to the side of the bed and slowly stood.

He helped me to the bathroom where I cleaned myself up a little more.

Fifteen minutes later, I was making my way to the kitchen.

When I walked in, CJ’s eyes lit up. He looked so much like Cojak it wasn’t even funny. He was due for a lineup and some braids. His wild hair was beginning to look messy and untamed.

“Mommy, Mommy!” he screamed as he ran to me. I returned the same wide smile and hugged him tightly. It took Royce to put him in my arms, but I didn’t mind.

“Hi baby boy. You done switched up on me and stopped loving me. I don’t like that.”

“ Unt unh , Mommy. I love you.” His little hands cuffed my face as he planted kisses on my cheeks.

“Aye, that’s my wife you kissing, Lil’ Man. Don’t get too attached,” Royce jested.

“Leave that boy and his mama alone. Always butting in they business. Klarity, it’s good to see you up and walking around. Are you hungry?” Ms. Iris inquired. She had it smelling good up in here.

“Yes ma’am, I am. After I come back in, I’ll eat. Royce is taking me outside for a few minutes. We left Essence in her bassinet. Here’s her monitor so you can keep an eye on her if you don’t mind.” I placed the baby monitor on the counter and turned the volume up.

“I don’t. Go ahead and do your thing. I’ll have y’all plates fixed for you when you return,” she said wearing a smile from ear to ear. I didn’t understand her excitement about watching the baby but then again, the entire family was happy just to have us here.

Nodding, Royce and I took the long walk to the front door that would’ve taken seconds if I was healed and full of energy. I was already tired just from the kitchen to the door. Thankfully, Royce held me tightly so falling wasn’t an option. He opened the door but suddenly stood in front of me.

Looking up to him had become something to enjoy.

With locs hanging loosely, his hairline shaped up along with his beard, his thick brows, his dark eyes, and that one vein that popped out in the middle of his forehead was a sight to see.

As much as I hated to admit it, this man was slowly but surely dragging me across the line to be his.

I knew it had a lot to do with my hormones, but it was beginning to feel genuine as well.

“I don’t know if that nigga ever did something like this for you before, but I couldn’t let you go without being shown you’re appreciated. I got you some push gifts. Everything is yours and, in your name, so can’t nobody take this shit from you.”

My face was already tilted up to him so him stealing a kiss from me was bound to happen.

His kisses were gentle as they could be.

I felt safe in his arms and that shouldn’t have been a problem, but it was.

In two simple ass weeks, he was starting to replace Cojak, and I wasn’t sure if that was the best thing.

Royce was just as loony as my kids’ father, but Royce was who I’d rather tolerate.

This man was breaking my walls down before I could even get them up all the way.

His forceful acts for me to accept him was working in his favor.

After he broke the kiss, he took a few steps back pulling me forward.

Once I was outside completely, he moved to the side.

Imagine my surprise to see not one but two damn cars wrapped in bows.

One was pink and the other blue. It didn’t make sense to me.

I only pushed out one child this go ‘round. However, I didn’t complain.

Silent tears fell as I eyed the luxury cars.

I’d seen plenty through Serenity and her parents but to have them for myself was mind blowing.

Royce was making it so hard to ignore him and just wait out my six weeks.

The showering of affection hadn’t stopped since he barged in my crib.

He was spending money on me and the kids like we were his for a lifetime.

In a matter of two weeks, I went from questioning where the next round of bill money would come from to not having to worry about a thing. This was surreal to me.

“What the hell, Royce? Why would you do this?”

“You just had my daughter and brought me a son. I know you didn’t think I was gon’ brush that off.”

“Is that why there’s two cars here?”

“Yup. I wasn’t there for CJ’s birth, but it ain’t nothing to make that up. It’s more inside. You trying to see?” He wore a smirk that said he had plenty money to blow and would do more if necessary.

I nodded and he helped me over. Once he opened the right side doors, there were designer bags that filled the space from the front seats to the trunk.

This was more than a damn push gift. He was showing me what my life would be like with him, and I had to admit his way of communicating had my full attention.

“The S Class is packed out, too. If you need or want something else, tell me.”

“What the fuck, Royce? What the hell is wrong with you? I don’t need all this shit. All I did was have a baby.”

“Nah, you had my daughter and for that I’m forever grateful. I’ll do anything you ask me as long as you don’t take my kids from me.”

I saw the seriousness in face and heard the sincerity in his voice.

I’d corrected him a thousand times over about my children and he still ignored me and claimed them as his own, not once did he say otherwise.

To anyone that listened, I was his wife, and we shared two kids.

Whether I challenged that or not, no one would believe me from the way he behaved.