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“She’s truly the best,” I whined. “I hope this one follows her lead. My baby is such a good girl.”
“What you say they said about the second born?”
I tossed my head back in laughter. “Let’s not even mention it. I’m still trying to get over the fact that we’ll have not one, but two whole children. What the world is going on?”
“A lot of fucking, Aeir. That’s what’s been going on,” he reminded me.
“Shut up.”
“Let me grab the towels so we can get out. She won’t stay in there too much longer by herself.”
“I know.”
I waited while he exited and grabbed two fluffy towels. After wrapping himself in one, he opened the door and wrapped me in the other. I shut off the shower and stepped onto the mat to dry off my feet. Once they were completely dry, I slid my feet into the slippers I kept right next to the shower. I hated touching the cold, possibly dirty floor fresh out of the water.
“I followed you into the shower, desperate for your company, completely forgetting that I’m not home and I don’t have shit over here but the clothes I wore.”
Stuffing the space between my top and bottom row of teeth with my bottom lip, embarrassment flushed my cheeks. I could feel my face stinging from the smirk that was forming.
“Well, you kind of are home and there kind of is a section of undergarments in my closet that might fit you. I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” He smiled. “You fucking know. Did you buy them for me or what?” He pulled me into his arms, kissing all over my face.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Kind of. I’m not sure.”
“You know, Aeir. Don’t do that. Admit you were missing your man and was waiting for him to get his shit together and come find your stubborn ass.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Malachi.”
“Yeah, aight. Keep that same energy when Aussie goes back to sleep tonight.”
Rolling my eyes, I watched as he took off for the closet. Seconds later, he stepped out in a fresh white tee from the pack I’d purchased him along with new briefs and black Versace slippers I’d managed to snag on sale.
“Ugh,” I gagged, forging my distaste.
“Don’t hate, Aeir. You bought the shit.”
“For me.”
“Yeah, if that’s the lie you have to keep telling to make yourself feel good, then fuck it. I look good inyourshit, then.”
“Go help the baby. I need to blow dry my hair and order the food. I’ll be out in about fifteen minutes.”
“Alright.”
I didn’t have much hair on my head after cutting it. Drying was easier than washing it now. Tonight, it didn’t need to be extremely dry. I didn’t want to drip all over the couch or the floor. When I reached that point, I’d most likely stop and join them in the living room. I was anxious to spend the night watching the movie that made Aussie smile each time she heard her mother’s name called. Secretly, I believed it was the reason she loved the film as much as she did.
Read Anna’s story today on ghuffington.com.
EPILOGUE
Nature station was hardly competingwith the sounds of the birds and the winds of The Peaks. Pacing the grounds, I watched Aussie from afar as she made a mess of her new plants. Her attempt to repot them by herself wasn’t going as planned, but I wouldn’t ruin her confidence by telling her that.
“Would you like Mommy to help, baby?”
“No. I’m fine.”
The little warrior in her refused to give up. I admired her resilience. It reminded me of someone I knew.
