Page 44 of Falling for Autumn
“Come on. I already cooked,” I informed him begrudgingly.
“What you got, baby?” October grabbed my hand behind my back and followed me into the house. Before I closed the door, Itook one final glance back onto the street and saw the girl sitting in her pink Barbie Jeep. She sat there watching us. She started her ignition and pulled off.
Something felt off in my spirit, but I chose to believe my man while sleeping with one eye open.
“Wash your hands, and I’ll fix your plate,” I instructed.
“Okay. Where’s my baby girl?”
“She’s upstairs asleep in my bed.”
“We’re gonna eat up there?”
“Of course.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No. I didn’t have much of an appetite.”
“How about now?” he asked, kissing my forehead.
“I can eat.”
“Since you worked hard and cooked the meal, how about you go upstairs and relax? I’ll fix our plates.”
“Okay.” I agreed and headed upstairs.
I sat on my bed for several minutes just staring at Auburn. “Mommy promises not to hurt you, punkin. No matter what heartache I go through, I won’t let it affect you. You know why? Because you deserve nothing but the best.”
I leaned over and kissed the top of her head before lifting her in my arms.
“Let me set these plates down so I can see her.”
“Okay.”
I kissed her some more as he set the plates down and then the two bottles of soda before he returned to my side. October’s face lit up as he took Auburn from my arms, and she murmured, “Toba,” sleepily.
He bounced her. “I missed my two favorite girls so much these last few days. Swear, I thought I was about to go insane,” he whispered while watching me.
October crooked his fingers at me, and I went to him.
“There’s a lot I need to share with you, baby, and I will. Just give me time. Tonight, I want to bask in the feeling of home.”
Hearing him call this place, us, home watered the seeds of love in my heart. It made me full, and I fought the tears of joy that wanted to bubble up and over. He kissed me deeply after shifting Auburn to his other arm.
“I love you, October. Don’t hurt me.”
“I’d rip my own heart out before I hurt you, baby. I love you.”
“Don’t hurt my baby either.”
“What I tell you about that?”
“I want to believe you, but this woman keeps popping up. She’s the only reason that I doubt anything you tell me right now. And that baby is innocent and doesn’t deserve to be hurt. I can take a broken heart, but I’m not doing that to Auburn. She’s getting used to you. She lights up when she sees you and sometimes cries for you when you’re away. I can’t do that to her.”
“What did I tell you about the games? I’m all in, Autumn. If you can’t see me, then I don’t know what else to tell you. What do I need to do? Sign her damn birth certificate? Fine, make the appointment, and I’ll be down there. ’Cause you’re not kicking me out of her life.”
Those tears I tried to stop streamed down my face, and he pulled me in close again. Kissing my forehead and then my lips, he stared into my eyes.
