Page 46 of Going for Three

“We’re going to be okay,” she affirmed. She tucked my hands against her chest and stared up at me with confidence. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? TheLordis the everlastingGod, the Creatorof the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strengthto the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young menstumble and fall; but those who hopein theLord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

It sounded like poetry. “What’s that?”

She smiled. “It’s Isaiah 40:28-31. We may not understand why God does the things He does in our lives, but we can trust that He’s always at work, always looking out for us, always strategically moving pieces across the board like the most skilled chess player. God will renew your strength in due time, and you will return to the league. Better than ever.”

The more she talked, the watery my eyes became. Charm was more than I could ever hope for. I sniffled, trying to keep my tears at bay but eventually failed miserably. I puckered my lips and leaned closer to her. When her lips landed on mine, I closed my eyes. And even though it was late at night, I swore I felt rays of sunlight toast my skin. The longer I allowed myself to soak in it, I realized it was the love I was surrounded by.

When I was finally ready to release her lips, I opened my eyes and noticed how vibrant every color in the room seemed. Charm’s gaze traveled down to our beautiful baby boy, confirming what I already knew. This was worth it.Theywere worth it. And with every ounce of willpower in my being, I was going to make sure they knew it.

Two Months Later…

I inhaled deeply seconds before my eyes fluttered open. One by one, parts of my body started to come alive. Within seconds, I realized I was alone in bed. A yawn had me stretching as I lifted my arms in the air. Tossing the covers off my legs, I slid into my house slippers then walked over to the window.

The blackout curtains were tightly closed, so moving to the switch on the wall, I pressed it for them to open automatically. While light slowly started to filter into the room, I went into the bathroom to empty my bladder, wash my hands, then handle my morning hygiene. By the time I walked out, I had my bonnet off and my face shining like a glazed donut.

Curious about where my boys were, I walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway. Halfway to the living room, I could hear chatter coming from the TV. When I rounded the corner into the open space, I found Kianis playing the game. Keanu was lying on his chest, fast asleep. My cheeks plumped up as a blush soaked through my skin. This was what made my heart melt every day for the last three months, and I looked forward to it constantly.

The desire to join them made it overwhelmingly difficult to remain so far away. Kinga paused the game when he saw me. A smile lit up his low eyes.

“Nice to see you, sleepy head,” he teased lightheartedly.

I giggled and laid across the open space beside him on the sectional. He puckered his lips for a kiss, and I couldn’t stop myself from granting his wish. Euphoria sprouted in each of my nerve endings. A smile spread across my face as we separated. He kissed the middle of my forehead, anchoring me in this beautiful moment.

“Hi.” I rested my head on his shoulder while resting a hand on Keanu’s back. “Everything good?”

I felt him nod. “For sure. I know you were up late with KK, so I didn’t want to wake you before your body was ready. You slept well.”

“Yeah, I did,” I replied, thinking he was asking me.

He chuckled. “Oh, no. I’m saying I know you slept well. You were snoring all night. That’s another reason we came out here.”

I bumped shoulders with him. “Boy, whatever. You still love it here.”

“I’d be a fool not to.” He returned to playing his game. “Are you hungry?”

I thought about it before replying. “No. Not right now.”

“Okay. Come here. I want to show you something.”

He paused the game again then set his controller down on the couch. He laid KK down with gentleness. I nearly cried when he let out the cutest little sigh.

“Little nigga was drooling all over me,” Kinga fussed with a grin.

“My poor baby is exhausted. I think he just had gas last night.”

Kinga shook his head as he stood. “Causing hell because you got gas is wild.”

I burst into laughter because I had to agree.

“Come on.” He grabbed my hand then led me toward my secret room.

When we entered, he flipped on the lights. Peace instantly fell like a blanket over me. This room would always be my pride and joy. He walked me over to a space on the wall that used to be empty. Now, he had a portrait of me in beautiful and vibrant oil paints.

I gasped, covering my mouth. “Did you get this commissioned for me?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, lovingly admiring the artwork with me.

“Nah, I painted it.”

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