“Eat up. There is plenty,” Tasha kept saying while fixing Trae another bowl of gumbo. “Plus, I want to get y’all nice and full so that we all can talk. Y’all owe us an update. We need to know what our next move is, while we are all here. Things need to be ironed out. These kids need to be in school. I got things I want to do like live in my own house. You feel me, Trae?”

“Can we enjoy our meal just like you suggested? And can I have a few more moments to enjoy my wife, please?” Trae was fixed on Tasha.

“Of course, you can,” Jaz said.

“Thank you, sister.”

“But!” Jaz waved her hand in the air before continuing. “Tasha is right. We need to have this conversation sooner than later.”

Angel had tears in her eyes as she fixed me a second bowl with an oversized slice of cornbread on the side. “Yo, Red. You trying to kill me?”

The women had really tightened up their shit. Even the children got along well. I had anticipated hearing horror stories of the whole house bickering and fighting. But my hunch was all wrong. They obviously all got along well, considering the circumstances.

*****

Jahara, my little princess had been all over me right up until bedtime. Something was bothering me, though.

“What’s the matter, Kaylin?” Angel asked. She always knew when something was on my mind.

I heaved a sigh. “How are you really holding up? How’s J holding up?”

“Jahara is the best of both of us. She’s good. We both are good for now. You are home, and for the moment, I feel safe. I wouldn’t trade nothing for you and our life. I don’t have any regrets.”

“That’s why I married you.”

“Playa, please. You told me no at first.” Angel sat up in the bed.

“Red, quit lying on me. Why do you keep saying that? I didn’t tell you no.”

“Kaylin, stop it. We will continue this conversation another time. Tell me how much you missed me.” She slid down next to me with the slinkiness of a lioness. She rested her chin on my chest and was gazing in my eyes.

“No. I want to talk about me telling you no.”

“Kaylin, stop playing. Tell me how much you missed me.”

“How about I show you?” I had to take this time to enjoy my wife. My pregnant wife. Her breasts were pleasingly plump. Like cool, slippery water balloons between my fingers. Her nipples were hard. Then we heard a knock at the door.

“Dad. Dad.”

“Shhhh—” Red placed her hand over my mouth. “Play sleep,” she whispered in my ear. “This is my time.”

I moved her hand away. “What’s up, J?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Come on in, baby.”

“She ain’t no baby! She’s a cock blocker.”