“I told you I was bringing my little man’s gear. He has to be fresh to death for his second birthday,” Stenton gleamed, showing his perfectly aligned teeth and pink gums.
I didn’t recall him telling me he’d be early. Perhaps it was because during that brief email conversation about my plans for this party, I’d quickly gotten annoyed at his suggestion, under the guise of an offering, of having this party at a facility. Or when I’d declined that, his subtle push to have it catered. I wasn’t raised that way. I understood that Jordan would have an entirely different lifestyle than I did coming up, but I didn’t want him to miss out on the benefit of simplicity. According to his savings account that I had access to, Jordan was already a multi-millionaire. I didn’t want to raise a brat. I didn’t want all the indulgence that came with wealth. I advised Stenton that, God-willing, Jordan would have plenty of birthdays to do the rich kid thing with. I wanted to start him off layman style.
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t recall you saying that,” I murmured as I stood holding the door open.
Stenton’s brows plucked, gesturing, Well, I’m here.
“Oh, okay. Come in…please.”
I moved aside to let him enter the apartment, getting another opportunity at his celestial scent. Stenton stepped inside, just a few feet beyond me at the door and turned to me.
“Where’s the birthday boy?” he asked with barely controlled excitement.
Trying not to get lost in that thought, I swallowed, stretched my neck and answered, “In his room, napping. You’re just in time to wake him up,” I tried to force a steady cadence to my voice.
Stenton cracked the most tender smile. “Yeah, it takes that dude at least thirty minutes to shake his crankiness after a nap.”
I knew that although he’d neglected my heart, tore it into a gazillion pieces, he adored our son. It was overwhelming and depressing to see how he doted on the little creature we created together, but looked past me.
He pivoted towards the corridor leading to the bedrooms. “Does he need a bath? I can get him up a lot faster with one of those, I recently learned.” The boyish smile that crested his face made my belly flutter.
“Do what you need to do,” was all that I could get out.
With that alluring smile in tow, Stenton gaited purposefully down the hall to our son’s bedroom. Secretly, I’d felt sorry for Stenton’s latest disposition. The season had turned horrible after Dallas. There were reports of teammates, coaches and fans being disappointed with his performance. Then Tynisha told me his drinking had increased recently. The only thing that seemed to have brightened his temperament was Jordan. He certainly didn’t smile so much when he showed up at the bakery two weeks ago.
“It’s time to get dressed now!” I heard a forceful whisper directly in my ear. I knew right away it was Angela.
After several beats, I returned, “Yeah,” expelling a long breath. “Okay.”
Nearly forty minutes later, I was dressed and walking out of my bedroom suite, buttoning the silk ivory blouse Tynisha selected in advance for me to wear. She had me pair it with light boyfriend jeans, cuffed at the ankle, dramatic gold designer jewelry, and simple strappy saddles for the house. She enjoyed playing dress up with me. She said it was only out of pity.