Page 101 of Surrender to Love

“His pants are black, so the purple won’t look so bright.”

“Pants? Baby, he’s a dog. Not a real baby. You’re doing too much.”

“He’s a baby and it’s cold.” She picks up her little teacup poodle and brings him to her face. While holding him up, she says, “Don’t listen to your daddy, SJ. He didn’t mean it.”

“Stop calling him SJ. He’s not Shiro Junior. We have to come up with another name before he gets used to that shit.”

“We can call him Miles,” she says, then looks at the dog. “Do you like that? Miles. You like Miles?” she asks him and he barks. “I think he likes it.”

“It’s my middle name, baby,” I say, then shake my head. She’s determined to name this dog after me.

“Well, you gave him to me and I love him so much, just like I love you. He’s our first baby and he’s going to be the perfect practice until we finally have our own little baby. Then Miles can be his or her first little dog.”

“My son isn’t going to want no little ass dog like that.”

“Our son or daughter will.”

“Baby, look at genetics. You married a Bako. Chances are when you get pregnant, you’ll have a boy. Look at Mireya and Quintus. She swore she was having a girl, and look, we got Little Que, not another girl. Bako men have boys.” I lean in and kiss her lips. “Put the pants on Miles so we can go. We still have to pick up the fish on our way.”

“You do like Miles.” Her pretty ass smirks and I just shake my head.

“I like it better than SJ.”

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and we’re heading to the cabin for the night. We’ve only had Miles for a week. One late night, she got stuck on puppy videos on Skroll and has been asking for one, so I surprised her Sunday with this tiny ass dog. He fits perfectly in my hand and she loves it. He has a designer carrier, a closet full of clothes, and a mini fridge filled with organic food and fresh blueberries. Although he’s not my first choice for a dog, it’s hers, and whatever my wife wants, she gets.

“Okay,” she says, then holds the dog out to me. “Hold the baby while I go upstairs. I forgot his shoes.”

“Ay. Come on. Shoes?” I question with a frown and she laughs.

“I’m kidding. I just need to grab his pants and something for him to wear tomorrow.”

“He’ll be fine if you put him down.”

“Please. He’s still a puppy and hasn’t learned the house yet. Hold him please and I’ll be right back,” she pleads, so I grab him and he curls up in my hand. “Shuga’s going to love having a dog in the cabin,” I tease because I don’t see this going well. Shuga never let us get a dog when we were growing up. She did not want one in her house, especially her kitchen. This is going to be interesting.

“She’s going to love Miles,” Kyrah insists before heading upstairs.

Miles is so damn little I don’t know what to do with him. I need to load the truck with our bags and his shit but I don’t know where to put him. Thankfully, she’s back down in less than five minutes and takes him. While she dresses him and gets him situated in his carrier bag, I start my ride and place our luggage, the cooler for the fish, and the small cooler bag with his food and bottled water in the trunk.

When I walk back into the house, she and Miles are ready. We head to Phat Fish to pick up my order. Tomorrow’s list of people is a little bigger than last year’s because Miss Bev is joining us along with the twins’ girlfriends and more of Thursday’s friends. One thing about it, my family doesn’t turn anybody away when it comes to food.

“Damn, we’re the last ones here,” she comments when we pull into the driveway.

My brothers are all definitely here and I recognize Thursday’s Jeep. She saved her money from working the summers with Quintus and paid cash for a used one. I checked it out before she bought it and replaced all her major parts. It drives like new.

“They probably just got here too,” I tell her, then get out.

After opening her door, I unload our luggage first and she grabs Miles. As we walk toward the door, it opens and Niya stands there smiling.

“What’s that?” Niya asks as soon as she sees Miles’ carrier. Before either of us can answer her, Miles barks. “A dog!” she exclaims excitedly.

“A puppy,” Kyrah says. “I’ll take him out when we get in.”

Niya steps back and we walk in. I head to our room to drop off our bags. When I come back, Kyrah is on the sofa holding Lil Que and Niya has Miles resting on her lap. Shuga sits next to Niya playing with Miles too.

Shaking my head, I lean behind Shuga and kiss the top of her ’fro. “So dogs are allowed in the house now?” I ask and she sucks her teeth.

“Times have changed, Shiro, and he’s little and cute,” Shuga says.