Page 35 of Through the Fire

“What ifnothing. You’re not spiraling about this. You’re going to put on your big girl panties and get ready for that waddle because you were the one willing to spread your legs open like a bagel and let me lather my cream cheese all up and through that pussy. We having a baby. He or she is going to be healthy and cute as hell just like their mama then I’ma do the shit again so we can have two under two.”

Her cheeks flushed from my words, but it got the reaction I wanted—a laugh. Hearing the sound calmed my racing heart. She finally began to bounce on her toes.

“You ain’t have to say it like that, but you’re right.” A slow, wide grin spread across her face. “We’re having a baby. I don’t know about two under two though. Let’s get the first one here and acclimated first.”

“Baby steps… Besides, it won’t take you that long to get acclimated with my dick once you drop off baby number one. We both know you’re like a dope fiend when you’re off my dick. You be scratching and glitching for a fix.”

Island popped me on the arm, making me laugh.

“I’m just playing, baby. Thank you, though. You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

She ruffled my curly hair. “You’ve made me the happiest woman alive. I thought dealing with death was my biggest challenge, but I’m realizing it will be giving birth.” She palmed my hand. “None of this would be possible if you didn’t fight for me.”

“When I said I’d go through the fire with you, I meant it, baby. I got y’all until I got nothing left to give, and even then, I wouldn’t be done ’cause I’d give my life.”

Her eyes watered before she sniffled. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Fight one of this life’s hardest battles to have me. Now, you never have to fight another battle alone. I’ll be holding your hand through every step of this journey.”

She smiled widely. “Oh, I know you will be. Is it bad that I already have a list of names?”

I shook my head. “Not at all, but I’m not naming my baby no bullshit.”

“Are you going to be team boy or girl?”

“I wouldn’t mind having a son.”

Island wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her chin on my chest.

“I want to have a daughter so we can team up on you.”

I couldn’t help but smile listening to all the ways she was looking forward to a house full of girls. It would be a headache for me, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I’d still give them all of me. I honestly couldn’t care less about gender. I only wanted a healthy baby that I could raise with a woman who wouldn’t treat them like shit to serve herself. Knowing I didn’t have those doubts about Island had me excited to give this fatherhood shit another spin.

I’d learned some tips and tricks along the way. Things I was never able to learn from my father because I never knew him. My greatest accomplishment was knowing my children would never be able to say those words. I would be with them every step of the way holding hands, knocking niggas out, wiping away tears, celebrating, and so much more.

I continued talking with Island about the future before we headed back outside to the party. Surrounded by love was reward enough for fighting for this love. Island was irreplaceable. I would never have to learn that the hard way.

As I watched my baby girl dance around the yard while Island held my hand, I felt a stillness in my chest. We’d gone through the fire and got terribly burned. The smoke was thick and nearly suffocated us to death, but we found something in the midst of the blaze—the ability to use each other for oxygen. That neat trick would be what kept us breathing until our last days. With the ashes of our old lives, we created something new and beautiful, something indestructible because it didn’t come from this world. It came from God.

Until We Meet Again…