Page 25 of Sunday

Whereas before she took the tests I had been apprehensive and even disappointed, I felt none of that. Surprise flooded me first, and then disbelief. Disbelief turned into hope.

“Is this really happening?”

“Yes.”

She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed a handful of tissues and pulled her off the toilet. I gently wiped her face until it was dry. I tossed the tissues into the trash, led her to her bedroom, and sat on her bed. I tugged her hand and pulled Sunday onto my lap.

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I gently rubbed her back. Sunday placed one tiny hand against my chest, and the warmth of her touch softened my heart a little. I cupped her cheek and lifted her face until she looked at me.

I brushed my fingers against her cheek repeatedly. She closed her eyes, turned her face into my palm, and kissed it. When she turned her face to me again, it was to grace me with a soft smile.

I kissed her eyebrows and the tip of her nose and gently pressed my lips against hers. She hummed softly, and my dick reacted to the vibrations. Before I lost track of what I was supposed to be doing, I pulled back. I used my thumb to outlineher lips until she gave me a soft smile, but the sadness still lingered in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared. We’re responsible for a life.”

“We’re going to be okay, Sunny. I know this is foreign to both of us, and I know that you’re scared. Hell, I am. I don’t know anything about guiding someone else’s life, making sure they have the right values, they’re mentally and spiritually strong, and full of love. I know that financially the baby will be okay, but the rest of it, I don’t know. But you know what I do know?”

She shook her head.

“We’ve both got so much love in us. This baby will never lack anything. And you and I are going to learn to be the best parents that we can be together. The most important thing, though, is we’ll love this baby with our last breath.”

I spread my fingers gently across her cheeks and stared into her eyes.

“I know that.”

“Then why the tears? We’ve got this.”

She closed her eyes.

“Sunny, I’m sorry that I wasn’t here when you first found out. I shouldn’t have been anywhere else except for by your side.”

I felt that she had erected a wall between us already, a wall that I was desperate to tear down.

“I’m okay, Cedar.”

“No. I promise that I’ll never leave your side again for anyone or anything. We’re going to get married.”

Sunday shook her head and jumped off my lap so quickly that she startled me. “We’re not. We weren’t getting married before this baby?—”

“No, baby girl. We’re doing this. I’m not having my baby coming from two separate households and confused about shit. I didn’t grow up that way, and my baby won’t grow up that way.”

“It’s not up to you, Cedar. You can be a part of the baby’s life if you would like?—”

“If I would like? The hell type shit you on? You smoking, sniffing, popping pills, or something? You gotta be out ya rabid mind if you think I ain’t ’bout to be here for mine.”

I thumped my chest hard a couple of times to show the seriousness of my stance.

Sunday’s eyes widened, and her bottom lip quivered. She tucked her bottom lip into her mouth, and her whole face turned red before she replied to me.

“Nothing. I just don’t want you to feel obligated to do anything. But we’re not getting married,” Sunday declared.

“Says who?”

“Says me. When I marry, it will be because that man loves my nasty draws, and I love his.”

I kissed my teeth and rolled my eyes.

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