Page 71 of Caught off Guard

“Please be careful, Lena. My child is not a rag doll.”

She rolled her eyes.

“But he looks like an adorable little chipmunk with those chubby cheeks.” She spoke in a high-pitched voice and pinched his cheek before planting a kiss on his forehead. “Y’all made the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”

I wrapped my arm around Zora and CK, squeezing them gently. My mother strolled over to us, took a picture, then resumed her conversation with Mrs. Langston at the round table closest to us.

“Our mothers are like two peas in a pod. I’m surprised they let Lena hold CK,” I said to Zora, who shook her head in disbelief.

“A baby will do that to you, I guess. Let me put CK in his activity jumper.” Zora carried CK to a prepared play area on the side of the yard where countless toys lay.

She gently placed his stocky legs in a bouncy toy and walked back to me as our nanny leaned down and tickled his sweet legs. I could barely return my attention to Zora before my mother rushed to CK and almost knocked our nanny down, trying to pick up my son.

“Give my grandbaby to me,” she said.

Our nanny backed away as my mother picked him up. By now, she knew she would be fighting a losing battle if she argued with her.

“Mom, be nice to Miss Dorene.” I reprimanded her like she was three and wasn’t sharing a coveted toy.

Zora smiled, knowing we didn’t play when it came to the boundaries we set with our immediate family. CK was our son, and we wanted to raise him as we saw fit. That meant respecting Miss Dorene and the role she played in CK’s life.

As Zora and I looked over the yard of bright blue, white, and silver balloons, I tapped her shoulder. When she faced me, I kissed her glossy lips and brushed her hair out of her face.

“Speaking of kids, should I proceed with that vasectomy? I’m tired of nutting up in a condom. Who knew pregnancy sex would be so freeing?”

I sounded like a whiny child, but I was tired of feeling anxious during sex with my wife. She tempted me at all times, so I came in her a couple of times before she insisted I use condoms again. I didn’t want another slipup like the one with CK.

“Yes to the vasectomy. But it’s too late.”

My eyes bucked.

“What are you talking about?”

Zora rubbed her stomach.

“God must want the Kinney legacy to be strong because I’m pregnant again. CK will have a little brother or sister early next year. Call me Dr. Barefoot and Pregnant.” Zora smiled shyly.

I picked her up and kissed her with every fiber of my being. When I placed her back on the ground, everyone stared at us.

“How did our world turn upside down like this? We’ve gone from being active professionals to being newly retired parents. That’s a combination I never imagined.”

“When we’re old and gray, our kids will have each other. Then we can really retire. And maybe see the world.”

“We don’t have to wait for that. Who says toddlers can’t take weekend trips to Las Vegas or Paris? We’re going to make the most of this life and stay young doing it.”

“I wouldn’t trade any of this for the world.” Zora lifted her mask necklace and kissed it.

“Me either.”

Who would have thought that my new life of unexpected blessings would make me so happy? Life caught me off guard, and I was fine with that.

The End

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