“Things are good,” was my response to Terrell. Surprisingly enough, my dad and I actually made a good team. I had things under control when he got here and I believe that earned his respect. He had his office down the hall where he worked without interfering with the role he’d put me in here.
From the corner of my eye, Sam standing to her feet with the little one in her arms caught my attention. I assumed she was heading upstairs to put him in his crib. Maisha stood next and then came to the door. “Coming to bed?” she asked Terrell, leaning against the frame.
He yawned and then placed his hands on the armrests of the chair, hoisting himself up. “Normally, I’d chill out here with you for a while, but between working today and then driving up here, I’m beat.”
He didn’t have to explain; I was ready to hit the sheets, too. “It’s cool. I have work in the morning, anyway.” I stood and stretched. “I’ll only be there half the day, so I should be back around noon; one at the latest.”
Terrell gave a nod and then followed me back inside. The living room lamp went dark and I walked to the stairs off memory. Terrell and Maisha were already up the steps and headed into their room. After a whispered “goodnight”, they disappeared behind the closed door.
Before heading off to bed, I stopped in to check on Anthony, making sure his monitor was on after pulling his blanket up a bit. He was knocked out, snoring and everything. I touched his hair and he smiled in his sleep, bringing one to my face as well.
“Night, son,” I said quietly, and then eased his door shut.
I found Sam sliding beneath the comforter, resting on her side, facing the doorway as I entered.
“I didn’t expect you to be up here for a while. Usually you and Terrell stay up half the night doing God-knows-what when y’all get together,” she said with a grin.
“Nah, not tonight. He’s tired and I have to be up in the morning.”
I slipped my t-shirt over my head as I crossed the room. Right after tossing it into the hamper, I hit the light switch and got as close to Sam as I could. Warm hands flattened against my chest, fingers spread, heat moving all the way through me. I took her waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead as she settled against me.
“It’s nice having them here, isn’t it?” she said, exhaling as she did.
I nodded. “It is—wish I could convince them to move closer.”
“Like you did to your mom and dad?” she asked with a laugh.
I dug into her side lightly with my fingertips, making her yelp much louder than she should have into the quietness that filled the house.
“Okay, okay… I’ll shut up,” she whined, doing her best to pry my hands away from her. I wouldn’t budge, though.
“One more word and I’m going all in—armpits, feet, neck—all in,” I warned playfully, knowing how much she hated to be tickled.
“But it’s not like I’m lying!” she protested, still laughing a bit. “You did do a little convincing to get your parents here, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”
I brought her close again and she came willingly.
“You make it sound like I called and begged them to come,” I said, smiling at the thought of it.
“No, I never said you begged. You just… mmm… strongly suggested that they consider relocating.”
I was quiet.
“I mean, you pulled the grandkid card and everything,” she said, bursting out laughing when my hand went underneath her arm this time, moving my fingers as she tried to pull them away.
“Stop! You’re gonna make me wake everybody up, AJ!” She could hardly catch her breath.
“Who’s begging now?” I asked, chuckling myself when she started laughing so hard sound wouldn’t come out.
She screamed again, thrashing her legs and feet wildly as our covers were kicked to the floor.
“You done?” I asked when I finally set her free.
Exasperated, she stared while trying to catch her breath. I thought she’d given up, but then a pillow came out of nowhere, knocking me in the side of my head.