Page 26 of Falling for Autumn
“Not yet. That’s what I’m building between us, Autumn, a lifetime of love, security, promises, and forevers. I’m not in this for the short-term, but for the long haul. So chill out and let a nigga build his family one brick at a time.”
“Oh, okay. I’ma let you be great, Mr. October Rasaun Patterson.”
“Thank you. Now let’s head over here and pick out a pumpkin for our li’l punkin.”
I shook my head and laughed at him. After we selected pumpkins, I set Auburn at the table with the tiny pumpkins they were handing out to the little kids. She commenced decorating it with the stickers that had been provided. I turned my attention to carving out my pumpkin while October did his creation.
“Wow. I knew you were an artist, but really, Toby? Did you have to show out the way you did?” I asked after I finished with my pumpkin.
“What’re you talking about, baby?”
“I’m over here with my little pumpkin, thinking I did something, and here you are with Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin.”
October laughed. “Quit tripping, baby. You did a good job with your black cat pumpkin.”
“It’s not a black cat, Toby. It’s supposed to be a wolf.” I pouted as Auburn started crying, and October laughed.
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” I asked.
“No more stickuhs, Mommy.”
“Here,” he replied and passed her the extra pack he had purchased for her.
“Now, about my so-called black cat. It’s a wolf,” I repeated.
“Oh, my bad. It kinda looked like . . . well, I can see where you tried to . . . uhm, well right here you at least . . . damn, baby.” He burst out laughing at my stricken expression.
October squeezed my thigh and kissed my lips before he dropped one on Auburn’s forehead, who sat between us. She leaned into him and yawned.
“I told you that you were sleepy.”
She looked up at me and pouted before she got out of her seat and climbed onto October’s lap. October set his paintbrush aside and wrapped his arms around her while bouncing her.
“You okay, sweetness?” He kissed the top of her head, and she smiled and nodded. She had my whole heart jealous, but itdidn’t last too long. The way this man interacted with my baby and treated her with tenderness had me wanting to throw my panties at him.
“You’re not slick. Why didn’t you tell me you were about to show out like that? I would have saved my paint-by-numbers skills. I’m sitting next to you and the Great Pumpkin looking like a fool.”
October laughed. “Baby, there’s nothing wrong with your pumpkin.”
“It doesn’t look like yours.”
“Tell you what, baby. We can put my pumpkin on your stoop and your pumpkin on mine.”
“That’s something I can get with.”
“Spoiled ass.” He kissed me again.
“Mommy’s punkin is pwetty.”
“Thank you, baby,” I replied and kissed the top of her head.
After October finished his pumpkin, we grabbed some apple cider and walked back home. Auburn had fallen asleep in her stroller.
“You gonna head back to my place or yours?”
“We usually go to mine. We can go to yours tonight. You got something special planned?”
“I cooked. Let me feed you, ma.”
