“And what do you think you’re doing?” Her hands were on her hips and her head was cocked to the side.

“Sitting on the couch. I am allowed to sit, right? You want me to get bed sores?”

“Girl, you only been on bed rest for a day. Two tops. How in the hell are you going to get bedsores?”

“I’m good, Auntie. Just waiting on Trae and the boys.”

Reluctantly, she turned around and disappeared. I sat there for almost an hour getting more restless by the minute. Just when I grabbed my phone to call Kay, I heard the key turning the lock.

The front door opened, and my boys came in first, followed by their father. That was the most beautiful sight in the world. My little men and my Big Daddy were home.

TRAE

I was still mad, but I enjoyed seeing how the boys doted all over Tasha who was propped up on the living room sofa. “Ma! Dad took us to the park,” they said as they rained kisses all over her face.

“Did y’all eat?” she asked. I could hear the suspicion in her voice. None of the boys responded. “Um hmmm. I know your dad let y’all eat junk food. You don’t have to tell on him.”

Seeing my boys with Tasha made me realize how much they loved their mother. Hell, I was madly in love with her, and our marriage was worth trying to save. I was really trippin’. After I seriously thought about it, I felt stupid. How in the fuck can I let a dead man ruin everything I’ve built? My wife and children are here with me, my baby girl is on the way, and I am free. Fuck is wrong with me? I should be fighting for my marriage.

Tasha kissed the boys all over their dirty faces. “I missed y’all. But y’all are all so dirty and smelly. Ewwww!”

The boys thought that was so funny. “We been with Daddy at the park, Ma,” Caliph reminded her.

“We raced on fast bikes and shot some hoops!” Kareem bragged.

“You did?” Tasha sounded happy and amused.

“We had so much fun!” Shaheem added. “Ma, I’m glad my dad is back and he’s glad to be back, right Dad?”

“Me too, baby,” she said.

“Me too!” Kareem and Caliph chimed in.

Looking over their heads, Tasha smiled gratefully at me. “Time to take your baths, guys. It is way past your bedtime.”

After I made sure the boys were down, I made my way to our bedroom where Tasha was. We both were quiet, as if we didn’t know what to say to each other.

Tasha spoke up first. “Bae, that bitch Mari called here. She wants to start shit between us, and I’m not going to let her.”