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My baby seemed to be warming up to him and him to her.
“Time to wake up, sleepy head,” Kari said, kissing my eyelids. “Lunch is ready.”
“I’m awake, I’m awake.”
I turned to face her, finding a smile on her pretty face. I was so happy that even though she possessed Slim’s genes, she looked just like me. Had she looked like him, it would have been a hard reminder of that man.
“Did you have a good nap?” she asked.
“I did.”
“I bet,” Ahmad said. “You were snoring loud as hell.”
I sat up and looked back at him. “I don’t snore.”
“That’s a lie. You heard her, right, Rabbit?”
She giggled. “You did snore, Mommy.”
I playfully grabbed her and tickled her. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
She erupted in a fit of giggles as she struggled to get away. I’d forgotten all about the soreness of my arm until she jerked it a little too hard.
“Ouch!”
“I’m sorry, Mommy! I’m sorry!”
“It’s okay, baby. Mommy was doing too much.”
As I held my arm in pain, I heard Ahmad’s footsteps approaching. He appeared in front of me with a glass of water and my pain meds. Twisting off the cap, he shook one into my hand and handed me the glass.
“Have you been taking these?” he asked.
“Not today. I felt okay.”
“You gotta take it easy, Bunny.” He took the glass and handed it to Kari. “Can you put this on the table?”
“Yes, sir.”
She carefully walked into the kitchen. Ahmad bent down and wrapped his arm around my waist to help me up from the couch. As I stood unsteadily, I looked up at him, meeting his eyes. For a moment, we stared at each other. His eyes drifted to my lips as he brushed one of my locs from my face. His grip on me tightened and he held me closer.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I whispered.
“I can’t admire you?”
“I thought you couldn’t stand me?”
He chuckled. “You’re still a beautiful woman, Bunny. I’m not blind. Come on. Let’s get you fed. You shouldn’t take those meds on an empty stomach.”
He led me over to the table and helped me into the chair. Kari took a seat next to me. Leaning over, she sweetly kissed my arm.
“Is that better, Mommy?”
I smiled. “Much better. Thank you, baby.”
Ahmad brought over a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches followed by bowls of homemade tomato soup. I chuckled. When he asked Kari what she wanted for lunch, this was her selection. He had groceries delivered and let her help him make everything. Before I’d fallen asleep, I’d watched him teach her how to make the soup.
Kari was making a mess, and I could tell his OCD was bothering him, but he held it together. Maybe kids weren’t able to cure things like that, but they could absolutely make you face it head on.
