Page 132 of Smoke

She laughed. “As if I expected you to be anywhere else.”

“I’m glad you know. I gotta get my time in with my girls.”

“They are really gonna call you Big Papa now.”

I chuckled. “I know. I’m never gonna live this shit down. It’s cool though. Those are my babies, even if they ain’t my babies, and nobody can tell me any different.”

She swiped a tear from the corner of her eyes. Anytime I spoke about the girls, she got emotional. I loved them just as much as she did. I chose to be here, and I had never once regretted that decision.

“Come on,” I said, opening the door. “Let’s go get our girl.”

I got out and grabbed the car seat, then rounded the car to get her before we headed inside. The whole ride to the NICU floor, I could tell she was nervous as hell. She told me before that she worried about how Juri would adjust… howwewould adjust. All we could do was pray on it and hope for the best. When we entered the room, the nurse was rocking Juri and gently patting her back.

She smiled. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully. “She just had her feeding, so she’s good to go. Are we excited to have her home?”

“Very excited,” Romi said, setting her purse down. “It’s been a long time coming.”

“It really has. I’m sad to see her go, but I’m so happy she’s in a good space.”

Juri let out a small burp. The nurse stood and handed her to her mother. Romi snuggled her against her chest, placing tiny kisses to her forehead. She slightly opened her eyes and peered up at her face.

“Hi, baby,” Romi cooed. “Guess who gets to come home today! Your sister is gonna be so surprised to see you when she comes home from school. I can’t wait for you to see your room. Daddy did such a good job…”

I realized that was the first time she’d actually referred to me as Juri’s daddy. That shit touched a nigga’s heart. I stood there grinning, and she matched my smile. I moved into Juri’s line of sight, and her eyes opened a little more.

“Hey, Daddy’s baby,” I said, kissing her cheek. “Let’s get you dressed so we can dip outta here.”

Romi laid her back in her bassinet before removing her little hat and onesie while I fished her outfit out of Romi’s purse. One thing Juri seemed to hate was putting on or taking off clothes. I was sure it was because she was cold, but she would be fussy from start to finish. Romi made haste in putting on her outfit.

As I was getting her situated in the car seat, her doctor came in to speak with us. She went over the basics, what to expect, and what to look out for while we were home before handing over the discharge papers. After the nursing staff said their goodbyes, we hopped on the elevator and headed down to the bottom floor.

Romi was all smiles as she watched me hook Juri into the basin of the car seat. She was shocked when I rolled up to her house in a brand-new truck a while back. I told her if I was going to be driving us around, I needed something a little safer than the muscle cars I owned. I bought a second one and took my time learning how to install the car seat she’d been gifted at her baby shower. Now that shit was a headache. It was an all-in-one with so many features that I was ready to throw that shit across the yard. I got it though. Juri would be safe and secure no matter who she rode with.

Romi settled in the back seat with baby girl, with the biggest smile on her face. Her eyes held so much love in them it reminded me of the way my mama looked at me and my siblings… all of them. One thing I could say about all my dad’s baby mamas was they loved each other’s kids like their own. That was one thing I didn’t think about when I decided to pursue Romi, and it should have been among the first. Three women and two men raised me, and there was never a lack of love. For as long as this woman wanted me, Kori and Juri would never have a lack of love either.

“Hey, Mr. Devin!”Kori exclaimed as she climbed into the back of my truck.

I told Romi I would pick her up today so we could keep our surprise.

“Hey, lil’ bit. How was school? You had a good day?”

“I had a great day. Did you have a good day?”

“I had the best day,” I said truthfully as I pulled out of the pickup line. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“You have a little surprise at home.”

“I love surprises! What is it?”

I chuckled. “It’s not a surprise if I tell you.”

“Well, let’s hurry up and go home so I can see it.”

“I got you.”

The whole way back to the house, she tried to get me to give her a hint to what her surprise was. She guessed everything in the book but the right thing. She thought it was a puppy, a new Lego set, a new playhouse, and so many other things. By the time we pulled into the driveway, her excitement was on ten. Her grandparents and Renay were here, probably spoiling Juri with attention.

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