Page 68 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

“Of course not,” Ethic replied. He kept his cool, but he felt panicked because there was something off about this request. She had called Nyair. This visit was intentional. Her eyes held uncertainty.

He gave Nyair a look of pure fear as he bypassed him. When Ethic glanced back, he searched her body language for a clue. Did she know something? Had she felt something? Had a memory come back?

“I’ll go check on True,” he said.

“Thank you,” Alani said sweetly. “Close the door some, please.”

That request fucked him up.

Close the door? In his house? He felt the disconnect as he obliged, pulling the door halfway shut behind him.

He would have been a bitch-ass nigga to try to listen outside the door, so he made his way to the nursery, all the while praying. The problem was, he didn’t know what he was praying for.

He wondered if Alani had exhaled when he left the room. He wondered if he scared her, and if she had called Nyair to come save her. Whatever Alani was about to say to Nyair had the potential to ruin him.

He walked into the baby’s nursery and found Mara sitting in Alani’s rocking chair.

“You’re really good with her,” Ethic said, peering curiously at Mara as she pushed back and forth, while True rested against her. “Do you have children? I guess I just assumed you didn’t because you’re so available for us.”

“Oh no, no kids,” Mara said. “Something about the responsibility has always terrified me. Having to feed them and teach them and keep them safe. God forbid if something ever happened to them. I wouldn’t be able to live with that. So, I’m the rich auntie. I’m very good at that role.”

Ethic chuckled and folded his arms as he leaned against the doorframe.

“She’s so beautiful,” Mara said. “She looks a lot like Bella.”

“She does,” Ethic agreed proudly.

“You look tired. Is there anything I can do to take something off your plate?” Mara asked, frowning up at him as she rubbed circles into True’s back.

“You’re doing everything I need you to do. Taking care of my wife and my baby,” Ethic’s tone was appreciative, endearing.

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Please don’t hesitate to ask. It must be hard to care for everyone, and not have anyone to care for you. Where do you go when you can’t be strong?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never not been strong,” Ethic replied.

Mara bit her bottom lip, and a smile spread wide across her face. “Okay, Mr. Okafor. We all have our moments,” she teased. “A blind man can see that you’re strong. Everybody deserves to slip sometimes. If you ever need a soft place to land. Just know, I can take care of you, too.”

Am I fucking tripping? Ethic thought, brow lifting in astonishment.

Mara was so professional that he almost thought his arrogance was leading his thoughts. Any other woman and Ethic would have thought she was throwing pussy his way. Or maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t gotten his dick wet since before Alani had the baby that had his mind in the gutter. He loved his wife dearly, but he was still a man, and to not notice Mara was to pretend the sky was not blue. He didn’t want to read too much into it and make himself look foolish, so he let it ride.

“I’m good. You do more than enough,” Ethic said.

“You mind if I take her?” he asked.

“Of course,” Mara said. “Daddy’s here,” she cooed as she stood and handed True off to him.

Ethic received love in human form. He remembered when he hadn’t believed in God, but this little doll was breathing proof that someone was pulling strings upstairs.

“You make beautiful children,” Mara said, scoffing.

“This is all Lenika,” he said, unable to pull his eyes away from True.

“When you get some time, I’d like to go over Alani’s course of treatment,” Mara said.

Ethic glanced up. “I got time now.”

“Well, I know she’s doing well physically, but I think it might be wise to invest some time into mental health services,” Mara suggested.