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“Are you nervous?” Wisdom asked, palming my tiny baby bump. Since the first positive pregnancy test, I’d been walking on eggshells, praying everything would be okay. I can admit that it’s been hard to enjoy my pregnancy the way I should have because I was full of worry. It took me weeks to even tell my girls because I didn’t want to get everyone excited for nothing. We’d suffered a miscarriage shortly after our engagement, and it had sent me into a depression. Wisdom reassured me that our time would come, and there was no pressure. I still felt like a failure because I knew how badly he wanted children of his own.

Granny Lula started making me this smoothie that’s supposed to jump-start fertility, and within a couple of months, we got a positive test. I thank God for Granny because she prayed with me every day and allowed me to cry on her shoulders. I hadn’t told anyone else about the miscarriage out of embarrassment, but she’d sensed something was off with me. Now, here we were at our second appointment to make sure our little bean was growing on track.

“I’m just anxious to hear the heartbeat more than anything.”

“Everything will be just fine. I have already told you about stressing my baby out. Any fears you have, lay them on me so I can carry those burdens on my shoulders.” He kissed the top of my head just as my doctor walked in.

“Alright, it’s time for my favorite part! I made sure the gel was warmed up, so we’re going to take a look. Just make sure the measurements are correct and see how strong that heartbeat is,” Dr. Sulmar explained. This was only my second OB appointment, so it was the first time we’d get to hear our baby’s heartbeat.

The moment the gel made contact with my belly, I tried my best to remain calm. We’d prayed for this, and I had faith this would be our moment.

“Oh,” My head jerked in her direction because I didn’t like the sound of that.

“What’s wrong?” I watched as she stared at the screen intensely. Wisdom squeezed my hand to calm me down. I could hear him whispering a prayer for the both of us.

“Do you hear that?” She asked, as she turned up the volume on her computer. This unfamiliar galloping sound reverberated through the room. I held my breath as the most beautiful sound pierced through all of my worries. There couldn't have been a more powerful sound than that of the life growing inside of you.”

“Why does it sound like that? Like it’s pumping double time?” Wisdom’s question broke me out of the trance I was in. Dr. Sulmar smiled brightly as if she’d been waiting for us to ask.

“That’s the reason for my “oh” a moment ago. You see this right here?”

She pointed to this little gray mass on the screen?” I was clueless as to what I was looking at, so I nodded my head, waiting for her to explain.

“This is baby A in the front, and this right here is the “oh”. Apparently, you got the two for one special. Baby B decided to make their presence known.” She was so elated while I felt as if I was going to pass out.

“Wait, so you’re saying we’re having two babies?” I thanked God Wise was able to form words, because I couldn’t bring myself to do anything besides sob.

“That’s right, daddy. You all are having twins and from the looks of it, they will be identical. Do twins run in your family?” Her question stumped me, but I nodded in response.

“She has twin aunts on her mother’s side.” My mind was blown, so once again my husband had to answer on my behalf. My eyes were glued to the screen as I listened to my new obsession. Two heartbeats.

“Are-are they okay?” The words came out as a whisper.

“I’m going to take a few measurements to make sure everything is on track. We were originally basing your weight on one baby, so I’m going to make sure it’s all accurate.” She seemed confident so I allowed her to do her job while I processed what was going on.

Wisdom leaned to place a kiss on my temple, and I was so grateful and overwhelmed.

“Alright, mama. The babies are measuring well. Baby A is slightly bigger than Baby B, but this is standard in most twin pregnancies. You’re thirteen weeks along and our goal is to get you to at least thirty-two weeks. There’s no real reason for concern, but because you’ve suffered a miscarriage, I will be monitoring you closely.

You won’t be on bed rest or anything, but I want you to be cognizant of your physical activities. No heavy lifting, no strenuous labor. Try to take breaks as much as you can so you aren’t on your feet for more than a couple of hours at a time. Again, these are just things to be mindful of. Both babies have strong heartbeats, so I’m confident we will have a happy, healthy pregnancy. I’m going to print your ultrasound photos.

I want to see you back here in four weeks, so make sure you schedule your next appointment with the nurse’s station. Congratulations, you two. If you need me, please don’t hesitate to call me. In the event of any emergency, go to the ER then call me. Have a great rest of your day.” She handed the envelope with our photos in it to Wisdom then shook both of our hands and then left out of the room.

“Our moms are going to lose their minds when they find out.” Wisdom gazed down at the pictures in awe. I couldn’t help but to start crying again because this felt like a dream. Placing my hand on my belly, I prayed over my babies. Thank you, Lord. Wisdom stood in front of me and then held my face in his hands. He swiped my tears with the pads of his thumbs.

“We did it, mama. I told you it would happen for us. This year is going to be everything we’ve dreamed of and our babies will be in our arms before we know it. I got y’all for life and even after that. I’m proud of you, ma.” He kissed me softly then deepened the kiss.

“Ummm,” I moaned into his mouth. Since being pregnant, it took very little to get me hot and bothered. Just watching Wisdom get ready for work was enough for me at times. I wore no panties, and I could feel my nectar dripping down my lower lips.

“This is why you have a belly full of baby now. Stop playing with me like I won’t fuck you right here in this doctor’s office. I still owe you for earlier anyways.” I bit down on my bottom lip to keep my moans under control. Wisdom’s hand reached between my legs as he rubbed his fingers up and down my slit.

“Damn, baby, that pussy is leaking. let me get a taste.” Wisdom turned to lock the door then pushed me back on the bed. My senses were heightened from the excitement of it all. We’ve done it in public a few times, but never anything as risqué as this.

He took a seat in the doctor’s chair then spread my legs apart. Wasting no time, he dove face first into my love box. My back arched the moment his tongue swiped up my lips.

“Oh,” There was nothing for me to grab ahold to, so I didn’t know what to do with my hands. Wisdom showed me no mercy as his head thrashed below. Swirling his tongue, he made sure not to miss a single drop of juice leaking from my hole.

“Baby!”

“Ummm, ummm, give me all of that good shit. Feed yo’ man.” Using two fingers, he inserted them into my canal. He continued to French kiss my lower lips while stroking against my g-spot. That familiar tingling sensation caused me to twist on the bed.”

“Unt unh, bring that ass here. Don’t run from me.” Pressing my legs into my chest, Wisdom sucked the orgasm right out of me. I could barely breathe from how powerful it was. My man was blessed in the dick department, but his head was lethal. I knew I would need to go home and take a power nap after this.

“I can’t believe you just did that!” I shrieked, praying no one heard me moaning in passing because I tried my best to control it.

“You weren’t complaining when you were cumming all over my face, so I don’t want to hear none of that shit. Now bring ass on because I’m tryna dig all in your guts before I head back to work.” My pussy throbbed at the mention of him fucking me.

“Yes sir!” I giggled as he helped clean me off then fix my dress back on my body. I scheduled my next appointment at the front desk and got into the car with my husband. He always drove me to my appointments, then dropped me off back at work. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it back today. Luckily, all of my scheduled appointments had been taken care of for the day. Plus, my employees were all really talented, so I never had to worry about my clients receiving bad service.

“Did you finish your food earlier? I know you mentioned you wanted chicken cheesesteak from Big John’s, I can stop by there if you want.” A smile was plastered on my face because I swear food had become something like a love language to me. Wisdom brought me lunch all of the time since I’d opened the shop.

While we rode to the sub shop, I texted the girls a picture of my ultrasound. The only people who knew about my pregnancy up until now was my mother and Granny Lula. I wanted to get confirmation that everything was okay before I told everyone. I fully expected then to cuss me out, but it was worth it. We passed by Vibez on the way and my mind started reminiscing about the time I’d spent there.

“Do you miss it?” Wise inquired.

“No. It was fast money, but I hated the person I was during my time there. I’ve grown so much as a woman, and I would never want to go back. It’s honest money so there’s no judgement, I was just so broken, you know?” When I think about how much my life has changed since Wisdom entered my life, I feel so much gratitude.

In my mind, love wasn’t worth having so I never even tried. Wisdom stepped in and changed everything around me. He loved me out of darkness and gave me a new outlook on love and relationships. Now here we are married and expecting twins. Love was more powerful than I ever could have imagined.

When I pulled out my phone, I smiled at the text messages in the group chat.

Lissa Pooh: Bitch! You’re about to be a muva. Aww, I’m so happy for you sissy.

Bestest Yani: I’m doing this girl’s hair while bawling my eyes out. I love you so much! I’m going to be an AUNTIE.

Fav Ren: Congratulations Pooh. That’s what happens when you buss it open for a real one! That Graham sperm is potent as fuck.

Charity: Welcome to the mommy club! I can’t wait to love all over them.

Fav Ren: Wait? Does that say baby A and B! Friend!! That’s two babies!

Yaya: Omg, I’m so happy for you. You got me over here sobbing. I love you, cousin!

Ty: Aww, congratulations, beautiful. You deserve this and so much more.

Tear streamed down my eyes as I read all of their messages. If I knew nothing else, it’s that we have a solid village. Our babies would be surrounded by immense, unconditional love.

“Why are you crying, love?” Wisdom’s face held concern for me. My baby stayed ready for action when it came to me.

“These babies have turned me into a crybaby.” Wise gave me a look and I burst into laughter.

“Don’t do me like that. I wasn’t this bad before I got with you. I used to be a bona fide savage out here.” We laughed about my transformation often. He called me a spoiled princess, and I loved that for me. This was my soft girl era and I embraced it to the fullest. Whatever issues came my way, I confidently faced them, knowing my man stood in front of me, ready to protect me at all costs.

“I’m reading the messages from the ladies. Everyone’s excited about our new additions. I’m nervous, but it feels good to be able to celebrate these milestones. I’m praying for a healthy pregnancy and I’m doing my part to ensure it.” My hand rested on my belly. This journey tested my faith in ways immeasurable ways, but in my heart, I knew we’d be okay.

“We’re blessed to have a supportive family, but even if it were only the two of us, we’d still be okay. I’m glad you’re trying to enjoy your pregnancy as much as possible. I see the worry in your eyes, and it breaks my heart. Regardless of what happens in life, I’m here for the long haul. Every battle you face, I’ll be right by your side.” His big hand covered mine.

“You and our babies will get through this, and we will have two healthy and happy children. I agree you need to take care of yourself; however, I won’t allow you to walk on eggshells either. What God has for us, is for us. Hold your head high and enjoy the journey we’re on. We’ve got this.” Growing up, I heard my grandmother talk about having a man who leads. Of course, I assumed she meant financially, but as I’ve gotten older the meaning has taken on a different meaning. Wisdom showed me the meaning of a true leader. He supported my dreams, loved on me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and affirmed me daily. He did things I hadn’t realized I wanted or needed in life. Providing came naturally to him, but so did listening and compromising. We bumped heads often, but each time, he showed how a real man communicates. All I’ve ever known was arguing and fighting. It took a while to break those habits, but Wisdom made his boundaries clear.

He used to piss me off so badly in the beginning because he refused to argue with me. In my mind, aggression and toxicity were expressions of love. He shut that shit down quickly, showing me how easy it was to simply use my words to express myself without all the extra stuff. I’ve grown so much in the time we’ve been together and I’m grateful for his patience with me. He saw something in me worth fighting for even when I pushed him away.

***

“O h, fuck! Hold on, baby!” I reached back to press my hand against his stomach. My knees were growing weak as he delivered power strokes from behind.

“Am I hurting my babies?” His gentle tone made my smile.

“No, but I don’t want to cum yet,” I whined. I wanted to savor the moment for as long as I could.

“Naw, you got me fucked up. You’ve been strutting your sexy ass around me for days without letting a nigga touch the pussy. You’re about to take all this dick until you can’t anymore.” My body shivered. I’d been so nervous about the pregnancy I’d been holding out on him. The sexual tension in the doctor’s office was a build-up from the last few days.

“Oh, yes, daddy!” Wisdom held me by the waist as he fucked me senseless. My stomach tightened and I embraced the feelings washing over me. Since I’ve been pregnant, I felt insatiable at times. The moment I woke up in the morning, I craved him in the worst way.

“Am I too deep, love or do you want me to go deeper?” My juices dripped down my inner thigh in response to him hitting the spot that drove me crazy.

“Go deeper!” I moaned, clearly on the brink of insanity. I’d promise him the world as long as he kept fucking me.

“Let me in then, mamas. Arch that fuckin’ back the way I like it.” He smacked my ass, then spread both cheeks apart. I bit down on the pillow in front of me to mask my screams.

“Tell me how this dick feels, pretty. You want me to pull out some or are you going to take this dick for me?” My juices dripped down my thighs to the point I almost thought my water may have broken.

“Ugh! Ima take it, baby. I promise!” My stomach muscles tightened as I rained all over him.

“That’s my girl, I want it all.” I panted, enjoying the pleasure my husband delivered to my core. This man has the type of dick that will have you hiding in bushes, and I swear if he ever gave it away, I’d cut the shit off.

We made love for a few more moments before we were cumming together. My energy level hasn’t been the greatest since I’ve been pregnant and sex with him made it even worse. Wise carried me to the bathroom then sat me on the counter while he ran the water for our shower.

My husband still worked out faithfully and it showed in the definition of his muscles. My mouth watered making me want to lick him like an ice cream cone.

“Close your mouth. I’m not even about to play with you. I still have a few stops I need to make and if you keep staring at me, we’ll both be passed out in the bed.” I personally thought it sounded like the perfect plan.

“I love you, Pretty. Do you know that?” Wisdom stood in front of me with his hands placed on both sides of me.

“Yes, you make sure to tell me every single day.” It took a while to get used to his affectionate ways, but now I couldn’t get enough. If he went too long without telling me he loved me throughout the day, it made me sad. I’m addicted to his love in the worst way. I craved his love and attention like an addict.

“And I’ll continue to do so for the rest of our lives. You’re the greatest gift God’s ever given to me outside of our children. It’s my job to remind you how much of a blessing you truly are. Don’t you ever forget that,” he insisted, kissing my forehead while I cried silently. The way he gave love overwhelmed me at times because it’s something I’m not used to.

“Don’t cry, baby. You know I don’t like seeing you upset.” He hooked my chin with his index finger, placing a kiss on my lips. The moment Wise’s soft lips pressed against mine, I relaxed in his hold.

“Your babies have made me an even bigger crybaby than I already was. I love you so much, Wisdom. I’m grateful to be going on this journey with you. There’s no one else I’d want to share these moments with. Thank you for loving me the way you do. Even when I give you a hard time, you never give up on me.”

“And I won’t. You and these little ones in here own my heart. You’re mine forever; I’ll protect what we have with my life.” My heart leaped as I stared into my husband’s eyes. He found a way to make me love him more and more each day.

After he helped me wash up in the shower, he redressed the bed for me to sleep. Wise has always been incredibly helpful, but now that I’m pregnant, I’ll admit that I have milked it for all it was worth.

At this point, I didn’t even put on my own shoes anymore. My plan was to take a nap for a few hours to rest my body, but my ringing phone had other plans. Looking at the clock on my phone, I realized I’d only been asleep for about 45 minutes. That in itself gave me a straight attitude because I hated my sleep being interrupted.

“Hello,” I answer the phone groggily.

“Hey, baby girl, are you at home?” a shocked expression flashed across my face when I realized who was the other than the line. My father had gotten a little bit better when it came to communication, however, he still didn’t call as often as I would’ve liked him to. Honestly, he didn’t bother me too much because I was used to it by now. Something would never change.

“Yes, I’m here. Why, what’s up?” I asked, reaching over to the nightstand to turn on my lamp.

“I’m outside, Can you open the door for me?” I glanced around the room, skeptically as if he could see me.

“You mean you’re outside of my house?” Very rarely did my father make pop-ups, especially because we live so much further out than he did. He visited the house a few times since he moved, but not very often.

“Yes, I tried to call you earlier, but you didn’t answer, so I thought I’d show up. I wanted to talk to you about something.” My nerves started getting the best of me. Whatever he wanted to talk about might be something serious, which scared me even more. I prayed to God he wasn’t about to tell me he was dying or something like that. The last thing I needed right now was added stress or bad news.

“I’m on my way down,” I informed him, before he could reply. Swinging my legs over the bed, I slid my feet into my house slippers. I said a silent prayer that whatever he had to tell me wasn’t too bad.

By the time I made it towards the door, I felt winded. These babies were wreaking havoc on my body already, and we were barely halfway through this pregnancy. The minute I pulled back the door, I examined him from head to toe. He appeared to be in good health from the outside, so I can only assume that this was either an emotional or internal issue.

“Hey, daddy,” I greeted him with a hug, then stepped back to allow him to enter. He didn’t break up alcohol, which was also another good sign. Lately, it seemed that he was either drunk or high whenever we did cross paths. My mom moving out had really taken a toll on him, but I didn’t feel bad at all. He brought this on himself, and he had no one else to blame.

“Hey, baby girl. I’m sorry for waking you up but I really need to talk to you.” I followed him into the living room before taking a seat on the sectional. My feet were slightly swollen from the walking. I had done it earlier today, so I propped my feet up on the couch.

“What’s going on? It sounded like an emergency. Are you okay?” I fired off a series of questions.

“I don’t know. This whole thing with your mom has really got me stressed out. Every time I try to sit down and talk with her, she makes an excuse to avoid me. I thought if I let her leave for a few days or even a week, she would have a chance to calm down, but now she’s acting like she’s never coming back home,” he stressed, dragging his hand down his chin. A part of me wanted to laugh, but I knew this wasn’t the time for that.

“Well, daddy? what do you expect? Did you think that she was just going to sit around forever while you cheated on her behind her back? I love you and all but let’s be real here. You and mom have been married for years, but how many of those years have you been faithful to her?” I questioned. The guilty look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

“It’s complicated. I never set out to intentionally hurt your mother, but at the same time she knew what type of life I lived before she got with me. She never had a problem with it before, so I don’t understand what caused the sudden change.” Baffled. That was the only word that I could use to describe my current state of mind. I couldn’t believe this man was sitting here confused about why his wife no longer wanted to be with him anymore.

“Situations change; people do too. I can’t really make any excuses for her but I’m sure she probably assumed this was something you would grow out of when you got older. No offense, dad, but you’re too old to be doing stupid shit like this. If you can’t keep your dick in your pants, then you have no business being married in the first place. Why are you trying to hold onto her so hard if you have no intentions on doing right by her?” I posed the question, knowing he probably didn’t have an answer himself.

“I know you probably are looking at me like I deserve this and you’re right. However, it doesn’t change how I feel. Your mother is the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I can’t see my life without her in it,” he admitted. Truthfully, this is the most romantic I’ve ever heard him speak of my mother. I had convinced myself the relationship was nothing more than a business because that’s how they carry themselves. I rarely see them show any affection towards one another unless their drunk or in front of company.

“Words mean nothing if they’re no actions behind them. If you truly love her and wanted to make this marriage work, then you would get your shit together. You can’t ask someone to sign up for a lifetime of hurt and think they won’t want to leave. Maybe you should consider therapy. Lord knows it’s done the world of good for me.” The fact that I’m even sitting here suggesting therapy proves that it’s working.

I’ve always been the type of person to run for my problems, but now I’ve found a more constructive way to communicate my feelings. Some scars from my past were still present. However, I’ve come so far from where I was. A lot of people in the Black community look at therapy as some type of stigma when we really need it more than anyone. Sweeping trauma under the rug doesn’t provide any healing. All it does is leave unhealed wounds to fester and grow even larger.

“I don’t know how I feel about that therapy mess. I don’t like the idea of having a stranger in my business, telling me what to do or judging me,” he vented. Of course, I expected nothing less because he knew nothing about therapy or what it actually entails.

“So, what are you willing to do to get your wife back because it doesn’t seem like you’re ready to change?” I spat. He woke me out of my sleep with the impression that he had something important to talk about. To me this was something that could have waited until tomorrow.

“It sounds to me like you don’t think I deserve a second chance,” he called out. He’s damn right I definitely feel that way, but it wasn’t my decision to make. Ultimately, if my mother wanted to take him back, it was her choice. All I wanted him to do was recognize that he needed to work on himself before he focused on a relationship. Otherwise, they would just end up in the same place they are in now.

“Daddy, I love you, and a part of loving you means that I have to tell you the truth. You’re one of the reasons why it took me so long to be in a relationship. For years, I watched you disrespect my mother, thinking that that’s what all men do in their relationships. I’ve watched her pace the floors, checking her phone and sitting by the window waiting for you to come home. Crying in the wee hours of the morning when you let the sun beat you home.

I vowed that I would never allow a man to treat me that way. When I met Wisdom, all I could think about was the tears, I saw my mother cry over the years. I refused to open my heart up to have it broken by the man that I trusted. That’s the example that you set for me. You are an amazing provider and a pretty great dad, but you’re a shitty husband.” My words probably came out harsher than I intended it, but I hope the message resonated within his soul. There was no point in sugarcoating this shit because it wouldn’t get any better.

“Damn, I’m not even sure what to say.” He sighed, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I think the best thing you can do for yourself is figure out what you really want. It’s time for you to grow up, Dad. Mom is a grown woman, so if she wants to be with you then she will be, but ask yourself if you would put up with this if the shoe were on the other foot?” he sat there in silence for a moment.

The two of us had never had such an intense conversation before, but I hope that helped. It felt good to express some of the feelings I have been holding in for years. I thank God every day that Wisdom did not give up on me because I never would’ve had the opportunity to be loved by such an incredible man. A lot of times we stand in the way of our own blessings, because we’re holding our future accountable for our past traumas.

If nothing else, therapy had taught me the importance of healing. I could’ve easily damaged Wisdom, and our relationship because of the scars I carried in my heart. My father never told me much about his childhood but from the little bit I did know, he possessed his own set of scars. He’ll never be the man he needs to be until he addresses the issues inside of him. He’ll continue to leave a trail of hurt behind him until he does.

“Do you think I should give up on my marriage and let your mama go?”

“Only you have the answers to that. I believe in my heart that you love mama, but love is an action word. I can tell you I love you all day, but if I never show you, then, what would you believe?”

“I never imagined the day that I would be coming to my daughter for advice. You’ve grown into an amazing woman. You’ve always been street smart, but now I can see just how much you’ve grown. I’m sorry I haven’t been the man you needed as an example. I’ve been so selfish over the years, and now I’m realizing just how much damage I’ve caused.

All the women in my life are upset with me and I deserve it. This time apart from your mother has really opened my eyes to see how badly I fumbled with my family. I thought if she loved me, then she would never leave me, but I haven’t been holding up my end of the deal either. We’re supposed to become wiser with age, but even I can admit that I have some growing up to do.” His head dropped. Like I said before, I felt no sympathy for him. Accountability is necessary for anyone to grow.

“I’m not upset with you. I love you regardless of the mistakes that you’ve made because no one is perfect. However, it’s time for you to make some changes in your life. You’re about to be a grandfather to these babies, and I need you to set a better example for them than you did for us.” I rubbed my belly, thinking about the two growing babies inside of me. Although I wanted them to stay in there for as long as possible, I couldn’t wait to meet them.

“I have let you down more times than I can count and I’m sorry for that. When I see the way, your husband loves on you, it makes me realize how much I’ve messed up. I’m happy you were able to find happiness because you deserve it. I haven’t been here for you the way I should be and that’s my fault. I’m not going to make any promises to be better in the future. I’m going to let my actions speak for me this time.

“I love you, Toots. You’re going to be a great mom.” He stood up to hug me, so I held my hand out for him to help me up.

“Toots, you’re barely pregnant and you’re already doing the most.” he chuckled. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a smile on his face.

“Oh, I’m milking this pregnancy for everything it’s worth. Blame my husband because he spoils me.” I shrugged. It was no shame in my game. I loved the attention my husband gave me, and I didn’t hesitate to ask for whatever I wanted.

“You are something else.” My father hugged me before rubbing his hand across my belly.

“If your papa doesn’t get it together, you guys are going to have a step-grandpa,” I spoke to my belly. His face scrunched up in irritation, but I didn’t care. He should’ve thought about that shit before he decided to be a fuckboy.

“Really, Toots? That’s how you feel?”

“I’m just letting my babies know so they won’t be confused in the future.” I smirked, knowing I had hit a nerve.

“Naw, no, I’m not going for any of that. I’m getting my wife back before this year is over,” he declared. I’m not the one he needed to convince but I guess only time would tell.

“I love you, daddy. If you ever need me, I’m here. Just try not to need me when it’s my nap time.” I giggled, but I meant what I said.

“Whatever, silly girl. Let me get out of here. There’s still a few stops I need to make before I head home.” He gave me a knowing look. All I could do was shake my head, because Keso Jackson was hardheaded as hell.

“And you wondered why I never listened growing up. Clearly, I got it from you.” I huffed, pushing him towards the door. I was in the mood for a smoothie, some chicken wings, and a real nap now.

“Touché, I’ll take that. Take care of yourself, toots, and don’t work that man too hard.” If he only knew how hard that man was working me. I laughed to myself.

“Take care of yourself. Have a good night.” After closing the door, I shuffled my way into the kitchen to make a snack. Wisdom texted me to tell me he loved and missed me, causing me to smile wide. As women we tend to settle for less than we deserve because we believe that’s all that’s out there. It’s better to be alone than to allow someone to treat you less than you deserve. I don’t think I’ll ever stop being thankful for the man in my life. His love healed a different part of me every single day, and I will continue to show my gratitude for being blessed with a real one.