Page 47 of To Love and Protect
Nico would make sure Gramps lived a comfortable life. He owed the man everything. His mama and Tyree had nothing to worry about either. It was only because he was such a busy body that he felt the need to worry about money. He couldn’t see himself sitting around doing nothing for the rest of his life. Besides, he and his family might be good for the rest of their lives with the money he had, but his plan had always been to create generational wealth.
Nico made his way back over to rescue Remedie from Tyree, who was currently crouched down and baby talking to her stomach.
“Cut that shit out, goofy,” Nico scolded, mushing Tyree’s head away.
Tyree stood straight and immediately put his fists up. “You ain’t the only one that can fight now. Try ya mama, not me.” He bounced around on the balls of his feet in a fighting stance for a second before his eyes grew wide. “Have you told Mama yet?”
“Nah, and you better keep your big mouth shut until I have the chance to,” Nico warned.
Tyree pouted. “Fine, but I want to be there when you tell her. Chile, she’s ’bout to be over the moon.”
Nico ignored him and looked at Remedie. “You feelin’ okay?”
She shrugged. “A little nauseous.”
“Let’s get you home.” Nico kissed her temple. Remedie leaned into him, and he could feel her exhaustion from this little field trip. “We’re gon’ head out.”
“We might as well walk out with you,” Gramps said.
They walked toward the exit, and that heavy feeling came back and nestled into Nico’s heart. Remedie must have sensed it because she stopped walking, which caused everyone to stop walking. She looked back at the gym and then at Nico. “Why don’t you buy it?”
“Buy what, cookie?” Nico asked as he brushed her hair back away from her face.
“This gym.” She waved an arm around to gesture at the space. “This is the same one you’ve been coming to for years, right? You too, Gramps? Why don’t you guys buy it and fix it up? Maybe even train legit boxers or something.” She shrugged as if she hadn’t just spewed out the best idea he’d ever heard.
Nico looked at Gramps and Tyree. “Why we ain’t ever thought about that?”
Tyree shrugged. “We were too focused on keeping you the champ. We never had space to think about nothin’ else for real.”
Gramps clapped Nico on the back as he moved around him and out the front door. “It sounds like a fine idea to me, champ.”
That it did. That little seed of an idea was already sprouting and growing in Nico’s mind. When he finally stepped out of the gym, he no longer felt sadness. In its place, hope had sparked.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
One glance around the room they chose for the nursery told Remedie everything she needed to know. Her best friend and Nico’s mother had officially lost their damn minds.
It had only been three days since they broke the news to Gramps and Tyree about the baby, and two since they told Joyce. In Remedie’s head, the math was far from mathing because why was the nursery already full of shit? They hadn’t even heard the baby’s heartbeat yet, and the kid wanted for nothing.
“This is a mess,” she mumbled as she looked around the room. Nothing was put together or in its place. They’d just been getting delivery after delivery, and Nico had been piling it all up inside the room.
She sighed and stepped further into the room before making herself comfortable on the floor. She was tired, but her stomach didn’t feel queasy for once, so she figured she could use the opportunity to sort through some of these things and get some organization going in this room.
Her focus was on the smaller boxes. She worked on opening those and sorting through all the clothes, bottles, pacifiers, and decor. Tears filled her eyes many times because she was so happy. Fear still lingered. Unanswered questions about thefuture still kept her up at night, but those things took a backseat to the pure joy she felt.
No longer was she held back by a no-good man who meant her no good.
There was no more wondering what unconditional love felt like.
Loneliness didn’t comfort her anymore.
Now, she thrived in love. She craved Nico’s touch. Her head filled with daydreams of their future together. She couldn’t even sleep if he wasn’t next to her. Somewhere along the line, she fell madly in love with Nico, and all she could do was pause and send up a quick prayer of thanks.
“You brought us together, Lord. I’m so blessed. I’m so thankful.” Remedie wiped her happy tears just as Nico stepped into the room. She didn’t even know he was home already. He’d left a few hours ago to handle some business, and she thought he might be gone until dinner. One thing about Nico, he always came home at mealtimes.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw her tears and placed a bag on the floor by the door. “Why you cryin’? Who did it?”
She giggled. That man was always ready to act a fool over her.
