“Yes, my beautiful wife.”
Three years later
“Damn girl, every time I see your kids I’m jealous. Only you are lucky enough to have the two kids Drake says you can have in one go. Twins, a boy and a girl your first time out. Then on top of that, they’re gorgeous, they look like they should be in a freaking commercial or some shit. Oops, sorry, you don’t think they heard me do you?”
“No, they’re too busy taking down their father. They love to climb on him as if they’re scaling a mountain. Besides, Justin and Drake have already dropped that bomb while we were packing. It was a little chaotic and the twins have said that and the f word more times than I care to count.”
“That is one dang fine mountain they are scaling. I thought the grey hair would make him less fine, nope, still one fine looking man that belongs on a billboard. What was Justin cussing about? I thought he was happy you all were moving back to Chicago. I distinctly remember you calling me and crying about that.”
“It wasn’t about us moving, it was him trying to help with the packing with the kids being underfoot. Sorry about calling so late blubbering to you. It’s just, Justin was so happy it was a bit of a blow. I had thought he’d be a little sad, you have no idea how late I stayed up torturing myself over the decision. When Drake and I set him down and told him, you would have thought we had given him the keys to a Ferrari or something. By the way I still think I have a right to be cranky about Drake giving him the Saab for his birthday. We had, supposedly, discussed it and agreed to wait until he got his first degree. Fine, he needs a car, but Norman drives him most everywhere as it is—he doesn’t need his own car.”
“Come on girl, he’s sixteen now, he’ll be seventeen in a few months. Of course he’s happy he’s not having to answer to mom and dad for every little thing. Plus, having that big ass house all to himself is gonna be sweet.
And like I said, you need to let it go. So Drake managed to get talked into buying Justin his own car to learn to drive in. He will never be a spoiled brat and he’s worked hard; he’ll get his degree in a few months. Drake has apologized a half dozen times, holding a grudge ain’t better than holding onto your husband.”
“I guess, I’m glad Norman is staying with him. Norman will make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble. You’re right, I’ll let it go, I will. I have to, it’s done, me bitching about it is stupid. I’ve missed you.”
“Of course I’m right, I missed you, too. It was nice visiting you in Boston but it wasn’t the same. Girl, he ain’t gonna be getting in trouble. It’ll be all good. Besides, now he knows he wants to work for NASA, he knows he’s gotta be clean to get clearance, so he’s gonna behave. You worry too much.”
I snort, I can’t help it. “I’m not the worrier in this family, that’s Drake. You just don’t have to hear him and deal with him in worry mode. When he found out I was pregnant with twins I thought he was going to come unraveled. I swear I don’t think I ever walked more than the six block walk I did every day for exercise with him or Norman at my heels. I know I never got to carry anything heavier than five pounds.
Then when the kids came he baby-proofed the house so much I couldn’t open a door or cabinet for almost a month. I swear the only reason I agreed to a nanny was so he would leave the house and he wouldn’t hover so much.
I know Justin will be good. I was afraid he would become a nerd who was into nothing but books, and I guess it just threw me how easily he avoided that. Although that’s really MIT at work, his mentor there was clear that they have found those working in groups have more success than those working for hours on end alone. I’m glad he’s found a group of friends and he’s settled, but if it weren’t for the kids, I’d probably be wailing at the loss of someone to take care of.”
“Yeah, the first time Denzel didn’t want to hold m
y hand I cried for hours. They grow up, they’ll still need you, just in other ways. So, what’s Drake gonna do with the properties he still has in Boston?”
“Drake only has two houses and the small building with the rentals. Between Justin settling in, the babies, and him wanting to be hands on he never ended up working as many properties as he did here in Chicago. I think he also figured out before I did that I wasn’t happy there. I never quite settled in and it never felt like home, which is why we’re back in Chicago after only three years. He’s going to sell the houses and keep the small building like he did with the building he has here in Chicago. We’ll still be visiting Boston from time to time like we did, spending summers here.
Thank you by the way, for working out so well in taking over the management of the building for Drake. He was saying just the other day you’ve done so well you’re due for another raise.”
“Girl, please, I have one of the coolest jobs ever. I know you put in the word for me and I’m not going to fail you or Drake, ever. He already pays me better than I’ve ever been paid before. But I ain’t going to turn down extra money. That’s cool, I liked Boston, but yeah, it was obvious you didn’t like it there. It was way different from Chicago, a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there, either. You gonna let me tag along with you again?”
“Of course, if you want you can come, it always felt better when you and Denzel were there.”
“That’s so cool, I still can’t believe you all have a freaking jet so big. Now that’s the way to travel. Okay, girl, I need to be getting home. Give me a hug.”
Griffin and Christina notice Latisha is leaving and scramble for a hug from one of their favorite people. Christina starts crying and I snuggle her close. Bedtime, I mouth to Drake. He nods and swings Griffin into his arms, Griffin immediately wants down. He’s a fiercely independent child and hates to be carried. Even if he wasn’t the spitting image of his father, it wouldn’t take a person five minutes to figure out he was Drake Hawthorne’s son.
The next hour is a battle of wills as we go through bath time. An attempt at reading a book is quickly given up as the kids are not to be soothed by our attempts to wind them down. Griffin struggles to keep his eyes open and Drake disappears as I’m tucking Christina back into bed. Drake turns on the sound machine and they immediately droop. It’s been a life saver in the past, I sag with relief at how quickly it works.
Pulling me behind him, Drake closes the door. Picking me up, he carries me into our room across the hall from the children.
“Are you sure we should leave them in the same room? Maybe we should have tried harder to put them in separate rooms.”
“Too much change right now, sweetheart, they’d hate us. Let’s give it another few months and maybe we’ll try again. You look tired, have a bath and I’ll tuck you in for an early night. I’ve got some paperwork to finish up on.” With a kiss on my forehead, he’s pushing me toward the bathroom.
“Drake?” I stop him with a hand on his chest.
“What’s the matter?”
Leaning against the wall, I swallow hard, searching for the strength to look him in the eye. Embarrassed about what I’ve been thinking of saying for the last few months. I can’t believe it’s taken so long to get up the courage.
“Hey, Ria, talk to me. What’s the matter?”
“Do you still find me attractive? I know I’ve put on some weight with the babies. I’ve talked to Meredith and we’ve talked about the menus and I’m going to be using the gym more. I’ll take it off soon.”