Page 19 of What I Needed

I didn’t mean to be gone for as long as I was, but Alana had my dick in a chokehold. It was close to midnight when I entered the kitchen through the garage door, and scared Erissa to death.

“My bad. I assumed you were asleep,” I said when she jumped.

“I just got Riverlynn back to sleep. She woke up cranky and fought with all her might to stay awake.”

“Damn. You don’t think she’s sick, do you? Why didn’t you call me?”

“She doesn’t have a fever, so I don’t think she’s sick. You hired me to take care of her, so I didn’t think calling you was necessary.”

“Erissa, I’m her father.”

“The same father who had something more important to do on the first night his daughter is with a new person? She’s fine now, but if she wakes up and you don’t feel like dealing with her, I’ll be in my room.”

She pushed past me, but before she could get too far, I grabbed her arm. She turned around with her eyes narrowed, then looked at my hand on her arm and snatched it away.

“What’s your problem?” I asked.

“I don’t have a problem. I’m tired, and I’m going to bed.”

I watched her ass sway as she walked away, and I shook my head, then rubbed my hand over my face. It was only the first day, and I’d already pissed her off, although I didn’t understand why. I’d hired her to watch my daughter when I wasn’t around, so in my opinion, her attitude wasn’t justified.

It was late, and I had to be up sooner than I’d like, so I pushed thoughts of Erissa to the back of my mind and went to bed. Hopefully, I didn’t piss her off enough to quit, because her services were still very much needed.

“Damn, baby girl. All these trinkets Erissa got you make things so much easier.”

Riverlynn had everything from a diaper bag that changed into a changing station when needed to a baby monitor with a camera and screen to a personal showerhead, and everything in between. A lot had changed in the seventeen years since my sister was born.

It had been about a month and a half since I’d become a single father, and two weeks since Erissa started as the full-time nanny. Riverlynn had finally gotten used to me and didn’t have as many random, seemingly unwarranted crying spells. We’d gotten into somewhat of a routine, and it was vastly different from the life I was used to.

Each morning, I usually left between six thirty and seven. Riverlynn could sense when I was awake because she usually stirred not long after I showered. After feeding, changing, and playing with her, I took her to Erissa.

I got home around six, and so far, Erissa had cooked several times, and there was always enough to have leftovers the following day. I’d only ordered takeout twice since she’d moved in.

After the night I came in close to midnight, I’d kept my extracurricular activities to a minimum. Women hit me up all the time, but I didn’t take them all up on their offers, and when I did, we met up before I came home.

I was headed out to practice, and Riverlynn was babbling away while I changed her diaper. She still had no bedroom furniture, but I did get a changing table to set up in my room. I was too tall to keep bending over so far to change her diaper, and my back thanked me immensely.

Erissa suggested that her nursery be decorated in a ‘Melanin is Magic’ theme, and I had no preference, so I went with it. She connected with a local Black interior decorator on Flikstagram, and for the past two days, she’d come to the house to work on the nursery. It seemed to be coming together well, and she was projected to finish soon.

After washing my hands, I grabbed my gym bag and swung it over my shoulder, then picked up Riverlynn from the changing table. I kissed her chubby cheeks on my way to Erissa’s room.

“Come in,” she said after I knocked.

I opened the door, and she was still lying in bed, which wasn’t the norm. Usually, when I brought my daughter to her, she was already up.

“Hey, you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. I have cramps, so I’m moving a little slower this morning.”

“Oh, umm, do you need anything?”

“No. I’m good. I took some meds, and I’ll be fine in about thirty minutes. Thank you for offering. How is she this morning?”

I smiled as I looked at my baby girl, and she smiled right back at me.

“She’s her happy-go-lucky self. I fed and changed her, so she should be good to chill with you until you’re ready to move around.”

Erissa slowly sat up and reached for Riverlynn. Once she had her, she kissed her cheek, then laid her on the bed next to her.