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“Yes. That’s perfect.” Mom pointed to a greased metal pan.
“This looks so good,” Kenzie said and set her wrapped dumpling on the pan, as well.
Theo, Kenzie, and Sorina were here in New Orleans for the weekend. This was the first time I’d seen them in person since my wedding last summer. Well, actually two weddings. We had a Hindu wedding in San Antonio, which was planned quickly since my mother and I agreed to have it before I was too far along in my pregnancy. And then we had a small destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas.
We’d planned this reunion several months ago, and the guys were out playing golf with Axel’s dad, who was also visiting. Luckily, we had a huge house with several bedrooms.
Axel had finished his first NFL season and led the league in rushing yards. Although his team made the playoffs, they lost in the division championships. But Axel was encouraged because it was a young team, and they’d been more successful than any of the sport’s experts and analysts had predicted this year.
I’d transferred to Tulane to finish my bachelor’s degree and completed the fall semester but took off the spring semester since I gave birth in January. I probably wouldn’t return until next fall or maybe even just take online classes because I wanted to spend all my time with my family.
“Waaaahhhh!” I heard the wail of my daughter on the baby monitor.Nap time was over, I thought to myself. Alexa Taliya Thomas was making it well known that she was awake. Not a surprise. Our baby girl was four months old and was already establishing her presence.
I quickly rinsed my hands in the sink. “I’ll be right back.”
Rushing to her room, I leaned over the crib and pulled her into my arms. “It’s okay,” I crooned, kissing her soft cheek and relishing the sweet baby smell. I was still in awe that I was a mother and had created such a beautiful child. With my amazing husband’s help, of course. She had tufts of inky black hair and wide brown eyes. “It’s okay, Lexi,” I whispered again, cradling her against my chest.
I carried her back to the kitchen, smiling when I saw Kenzie and Theo oohing and aahing over her. My mother bustled over with her arms out. “Come here, Lexi, darling.” Any chance my mother had to hold her, she would. I was happy to oblige her because nothing mattered more to her than family.
Sorina came into the kitchen with her son, Luca, in her arms, and more female cooing commenced. She smoothed down his wild black hair as his dark eyes glanced around at us. He grinned big and started flailing his arms at the attention.
Kenzie stretched out her arms. “Can I hold him?”
“Of course.” Sorina passed him off to Kenzie, who cuddled him close.
“She’ll be next,” I teased.
“Yeah, she will.” Sorina nodded in agreement. “She’s been talking about how she and Nick are ready to start trying for a baby.”
“I can hear you talking, you know. And yes, we are trying.” Kenzie smiled at Luca as she spoke to us.
I glanced over at Lexi, who was making what looked like a smile, or a grimace, as my mother sang and bounced her up and down.
Finishing up preparing the mo mo and dipping sauce, we were ready to start steaming the dumplings. I prepared the steamer, setting the heat. Then I heard the sputter and gasp of my daughter. She was about to start crying, even though my mother was doing everything she could to keep her calm. I knew she was probably hungry, since it’d been several hours since her last feeding.
I moved over to my mom, taking Lexi. “I’ll go feed her.”
Lexi’s face was twisted as though she was building up to a bawl, and I sped to my bedroom and dropped down into one of the designer leather club seats by our bay window and took out my breast that she latched on to without haste. “You were starving, weren’t you?” I murmured.
I caressed her head and smiled, thinking about how quickly life could change. Sometimes your best-laid plans didn’t pan out the way you always envisioned them. A year ago, I never would’ve thought I would be crazy in love, married, and a mother to boot. Especially to Axel. It wasn’t my original plan. At least, it wasn’t my plan for it to happen so quickly. But I couldn’t be happier, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I heard more voices in the other room, and one of them sounded distinctly like Axel’s. I guess the boys were back from golf.
Barely a moment passed when the bedroom door opened and Axel passed through. His face lit up when he spotted us. “There are my girls.”
“How was golf?”
“It was good.” He stared down at us tenderly and rubbed Lexi’s back. “But I missed you.”
Yes. We were that couple now, the ones who missed each other if we were apart for more than a few hours. “You’re so whipped,” I teased and rolled my eyes in jest.
“Damn right, I am.” He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. “And I won’t apologize for it.”
Lexi gulped and sighed, and we both gazed down at her. Her eyes fluttered slowly before they closed, and she started to doze off.
“Did I ever thank you for our beautiful daughter?”
“Yes. Every day.”
