Page 74 of Book Bae

She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath as she tried to even out her breathing. “No, I didn’t. I’m smarter than you.”

“Is that right?” I asked, reaching up for her hand. When she gave it to me, I pulled her down on my lap and wrapped my arms around her.

“Mhm.”

“How?”

“Because I know that they have a lot of energy to burn after being cooped up on that flight for so long. Therefore, I’m letting them come out here and run off all their energy. They’ll be tired in no time and ready for their naps.”

“We’ll see,” I muttered, nuzzling her neck as we watched Malaika toddle after Malachi. He was running and then stopping to let her catch up. Once she did, he would tickle her, she would plop onto her bottom, fall out into a burst of giggles, and then kick her feet. We had removed her shoes in the car on the ride home, so she was barefoot. Malachi would tickle her feet whenever she kicked them, and then he would get up and run. She got up and chased him, and they did it all over again.

Myraj moved from my lap and lay on her side on the blanket with her head resting in my lap.

“This life we live is so blessed and rewarding. I remember there was a time when I traveled to book shows, lounges, and all over the world with just my girls. I recall thinking that although I was surrounded by my girls, at times, I was incredibly lonely. Now look at me, traveling all over the world with my husband and my kids.”

“You still have time with your girls.”

“We do, but it’s good to see us all in happy, healthy relationships and thriving.”

“Even Yashika,” I declared, laughing.

“Yes, with her hood rich self. I’m just glad that Antoine got out of the life and used his money to invest in a business for the two of them,” she stated.

Antoine had gone back to school and gotten a degree in graphic design. He had a consulting and graphic design business, and he had helped Yashika start her online sex toy business.

“Me too. That could have turned out really bad for your girl.”

“Praise God it didn’t.”

“Has she said anything else about quitting her meteorologist job?”

“No. She loves it there. She has no problem earning two incomes, especially since they don’t have any kids.”

“That’s cool. As long as they’re happy.”

“I know that I am,” she mused. “Isn’t it amazing how beautiful life can be when we get out of God’s way and let Him have His way?”

I chuckled and replied, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

She laughed and looked up at me. “No, sir, you weren’t.”

I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Well, I’ve been trying to tell you that I love you.”

“You tell me that every day, sir, sometimes multiple times, and I will never get tired of hearing it. More importantly, I’ll never grow tired of you showing me either.”

“And I’ll never grow tired of showing you. In fact, don’t you think it’s time we put those two down for a nap. I’ve got some showing I want to do.”

“Does it have anything to do with that scene you were working out last night in the hotel?”

“It’s got everything to do with that scene.”

She jumped up from my lap so fast and scooted the baby up from where she had tumbled in the grass again. “All right, guys, it’s naptime.”

“I don’t want a nap, Mommy Myr. I’m a big boy, I don’t need naps like Mal. She’s a baby,” Malachi whined, which was expected.

“We all need naps, honey, even Mommy Myr and daddy needs naps, and we’re about to take one, so you have to also. Nobody will be awake to watch you.”

“Can we call Mai?”