Should Have Kissed You at the Park

TAYLOR POV

Chris took Matthew to school so that I wouldn’t be late for my appointment with Carmen. I picked up Tammy, who was surprisingly ready to go when I got there and we headed to Carmen’s shop which was about two blocks away from my photography studio. I parked in the parking lot on the side of the building and we got out and walked in.

“Diiivvvaaa” Carmen said as we walked through the door

“Heyyyy love” I said giving her a hug

“Heyyyy chica” Tammy smiled hugging Carmen as I stepped out of the way

“T where you been girl?” she asked Tammy as they pulled out of their hug

“Girl, you know the club keeps us crazy busy, I hate that I haven’t had a chance to come see you” she said taking a seat in the chair next to Carmen’s station and I sat down in Carmen’s chair like she motioned for me to do

“So the club is really jumping huh?” Carmen said as she took my ponytail down

“Girl YES, but I have to admit I love every minute of it. UMMM, why haven’t you been by there yet ma’am?” Tammy asked Carmen

“Umm, I’m coming by there I promise”

“Yes, you definitely need to come by and party with us” I told her

“Ok, I’ll come by real soon. So Ms. Taylor, how are things with you and Chris?” she smiled brightly. I’ve known Carmen since middle school, and she hadn’t changed a bit, and that’s what I loved about her.

“They’re going great. He’s such a sweet guy. Him and Matthew have been spending a lot of time together lately. It’s actually really cute to watch them together. Chris is like a big ole kid anyway, so that’s right up Matthew’s alley. In fact Chris picked him up from the after school program yesterday and let him hang out with him at the studio for a little while since I had to work late. Then this morning he offered to take him to school and pick him up later” I replied

“Wow girl, he just might be a keeper” Carmen smiled as she combed through my hair.

Buzzz Buzzzz my phone went off with a new text message. I slid the bar to reveal the message

Chris <3: Hey babe, miss you, what you doing

Tay: Getting my hair done, miss you 2

Chris <3: Oh ok, can’t wait to see you later then

Tay: I can’t wait to see u 2, what’s up?

Chris<3: My mom will be here on Friday around 6

Tay: Ok cool, I can’t wait to meet her

Chris <3: I can’t wait 4 u to meet her 2. ttyl I love you

Tay: ok baby, I love u more

“Look at them, they haven’t been apart 2 hours and they’re already texting each other” Carmen laughed

“Shut up Car” I blushed “He was just telling me that his mom is coming on Friday” I finished still blushing

“WHAT, he’s introducing you to his mom? ALREADY? Girl, you got that boy sprung” Carmen said aloud.

“Girl Justin didn’t introduce me to your mom until we were together like 3-4 months maybe, and here ya’ll haven’t been together 2 months and you’re already meeting the mom” Tammy exclaimed

“Girl, your stuff must lined in PLATINUM!” Carmen teased

“Shut up ya’ll, with me and Chris things are different. He’s my male bestfriend. It feels like it’s been longer than 2 months, like we’ve been together for a year. I can’t explain it, I just know since I’ve been with him, I’ve been thinking about things that I have thought about in years with a guy.” I tried to explain

“Girl, you’re just in love. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, just accept it Taylor, and I have to say doll, it looks good on you too” Carmen started “I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time, and it’s long over due too” she finished hugging my shoulders.

“Yeah Tay, just embrace this moment. Girl you got a dude that loves you just as much as you love him, stop thinking so hard about it and just be in the moment” Tammy put her two cents in.

“I guess ya’ll are right, I need to just let it be and go with it” I replied trying not to blush.

“Hot damn Tammy, I think she’s finally got it” Carmen laughed combing through my hair. “I’m happy for you Tay, I’m glad you found some one that makes you smile. I haven’t seen you this happy since like senior year of high school when you got with David St.Julain” she laughed

“OMG, I remember David, I was crazy about him, we dated all of senior year and broke up right before he left to go off to college” I laughed remembering the tall, hazel eyed, curly hair, caramel skinned basketball player. “Yeah, me and David were that sickening kinda cute” I started to explain to Tammy. “You think me and Chris are bad, me and David were worse” I laughed

“Tammy, they were literally inseparable. Wherever Taylor was, you could rest assure that David was close by” Carmen laughed. “I swear they spent every waking moment together. But they were damn near best friends from 8th -11th grade. The 3 of us were like the 3 musketeers. We were always together, and then one day during the summer before senior year, we were all hanging out at Taylor’s house, and her and David started wrestling and I don’t know how or even when it happened, but he was straddling her, holding her down and tickling her, and it was like a spark went off in the middle of them wrestling. You could literally see it” Carmen explained

“Yeah, then me and David almost literally started avoiding each other for like 2 weeks, until Carmen here called us over to her house one day, forcing us to talk to each other. She told us that who better for us to be with than each other because we already knew everything about one another, and that we already had the most important part of a great relationship down pact, in the fact that we were best friends, so being a couple just came naturally for us. About 2 days later, we were a couple” I smiled at the memory of me and David.

“They were cute together. Taylor you weren’t this happy with Donovan, not even after ya’ll first got together” Carmen noted

“Yeah, well, I guess that’s because he didn’t take the time to actually get to know me, you know be friends first. I mean don’t get me wrong, at one point I did love him, but it was nothing like how I love Chris. With Donovan, I LEARNED to love him, with Chris, I’m FALLING in love with him, more and more, harder and harder everyday” I smiled just thinking about Chris.

Carmen washed my hair and stuck me under the dryer, then started on Tammy’s hair. She alternated between the two until she had finished both of our hair.

“Ok, so you’re gonna come by the club soon right?” Tammy asked her she paid her and gave her a hug

“YESSS girl, I promise I’ll come by the club one day soon” she smiled

“I tell you what, why don’t you come for something mellow and small like Sunday Brunch this week?” I said thinking about one of the new events that we were going to try.

“That sounds nice, but what is it?” she asked a little confused

“Well, Sunday Brunch is just that. We’ll be serving food and it’s gonna kinda be like an open mic night, but a little more mellow, you know with the smooth jazz music playing and stuff” Tammy explained

“Yeah, and if you come this weekend, you’ll finally get to meet Chris” I smiled

“Carmen hasn’t met Chris yet?” Tammy asked shocked by that news

“No, I haven’t had a chance to get by here since me and him got together” I replied

“Oh ok, cool, I might just have to do that then. I need see who this man is that’s got my girl’s nose wide open” she laughed giving me a hug

“Hush, Carmen. Well, give me a call if you’re coming then girl” I replied “Thanks again for taking us in on late notice” I said as we headed for the door

“Girl, anytime, ya’ll are my girls, I’ll open up for just the two of you, so we can talk how we want to” she smiled as we got ready to walk out the door.

“Ok, well, I’ll talk to you later then doll!!” I smiled as we walked out the door.

Me and Tammy left Carmen’s shop and headed to grab a bite to eat before I dropped her off at the Spot, and headed for the office.

***** 1 hour later*****

I got to the studio and walked in to a happy Monique.

“Hey Mo, what’s up? Why you smiling so hard?” I asked as I walked in.

“Nothing, just got off the phone with Tyrese” she replied

“Tyrese who? Gibson?” I asked

“Yeah, he’s coming in next week for a shoot, he said he needs some new head shots and wants to talk to you about something else” she replied still giddy

“Girl, what is wrong with you?” I laughed

“Nothhinnggg” she blushed

“That is not a ‘nothing’ smile on your face girl” I replied teasing her, then it hit me, Tyrese is her celebrity crush “Ohhh, I forgot, you have a crush on Tyrese. Girl, just talk to him, he’s a really sweet guy” I smiled “do you want me to put in a word for you?” I asked her.

“You can if you want too” she shrugged grinning from ear to ear.

“You know you want me too. Well, I’ll give him a call and see what he needs” I smiled “Anything else happen this morning?” I asked

“No that’s it really, it’s been kinda quiet. I developed a few pictures and update the portfolios, did the billing, that’s about it. How was YOUR morning?” she grinned causing me to blush

“It was nice, went to Carmen’s with Tammy, that’s about it” I smiled running my fingers through my hair then heading back to my office

“Now, you know that’s not what I was talking about. How are things with you and Chris?” she asked following behind me

“Things are….pretty good. He’s so sweet. He offered to take Matthew to school this morning since I was running a few minutes late, and he’s picking him up” I smiled

“Awww, so, they’re bonding pretty well huh?” she smiled sitting in one of the oversized chairs in my office

“Yeah they are. It’s so cute to watch them play and talk” I smiled taking a seat in the chair across from her

“Aww, that’s sweet” she said.

This for boss bitches
For money making bitches
All my ladies throw your hands in the air,
I got patron in my cup
And I don't give a fuck
The baddest bitch in the club right here.
My phone rang interrupting Monique’s statement. I glanced at the LCD to see who was calling, considering that ringtone is set for all “My girls”

“Bonjour mon ami” I answered

“Don’t you ‘Bonjour’ me, où avoir vous avez été madame (where have you been ma’am)” Cai replied. Cai was my bestfriend in Houston. I met her when I worked at the Art Institute, she was the office administrator. We hit off immediately. She knew the situation with Donovan. She was the 1st person I called the day I met Chris, so she knew how I felt about him even before we became a couple. She was the type of girl to speak her mind when she had too, but at the same time she was really shy. To know her is to love her. She was really the only person that hung out with and trusted in the city. I missed her so much too.

“I know Je suis désolé cherie.(I’m sorry) It’s been crazy around here lately” I apologized in half English and half French. We decided to learn a different language so that we could talk to each other at work and people would stay out of business. Why we decided on French I don’t know. “What’s up with you?”

“Not much, me and Will broke up” she replied. Will was her boyfriend of the last 4 years. She met him one night when we had gone out to The Lounge. She wouldn’t give into him at first, even though she was really feeling him, but he eventually wore her down. They were so cute together, and I was sure they’d end up together forever, but things happen I guess.

“Awww ange (sweetie) I’m sorry. What happened?

“He cheated on me with some toothpick ass skank. Said she didn’t mean anything to him and that he was drunk, so he barely even remembers it, so he says” she replied flatly

“Awww cherie, are you okay? I hate that I’m not there with you, you know I’d take you out for a ‘fuck em’ girls night out” I smiled

“Girl, you know me, I’m good, I’m ‘on to the next one’” she sang “Yeah, I could use one of those outings, because you know I don’t mess with these chicken heads around here like that, I just don’t trust these heffas. But enough about me, how are you, how’s my Matty, and more importantly how are things with Chris” she asked her voice sounding a lil more happier

“I’m good, things are great. Matty is Matty, being dramatic and getting bigger by the day. Chris is impressionnant (awesome). I swear I fall harder and harder for him everyday, the harder I try not too, the harder I fall.” I smile

“And how is he with Matt?” she asked concerned

“He’s awesome with Matt. I love to just sit back and watch them talk and play together. Matthew is crazy about him. In fact, the other night, Matthew told Chris that il l'aime (he loves him) the other night. I almost cried when Chris told me that, and then he said it back to him.”

“Wow cherie, that is so sweet. And how about you and Chris? How serious are things getting? I’d ask if he’s met your parents yet, but he is Justin’s bestfriend, so that’s an automatic” she replied

“OMG, they are getting there. He wants to Intorduce m'à sa maman. Et si elle ne m'aime pas ? Je quel suis gonna fait alors ? (introduce me to his mom. What if she doesn't like me? What am I gonna do then?)” I asked her in French, not wanting Monique to know what we were talking about. I mean don’t get me wrong, Mo is my girl, but she runs her mouth too much too, and I don’t need or want my business out in the streets.

“Wow, that’s a huge step. When is she coming?”

“Elle sera ici vendredi (She'll be here on Friday)” I replied

“Relax Tay, she’ll love you. He loves you, so you know she will too. She just want to see her son happy and you do that for him, and just like with Matthew, if he’s happy, then she’s happy too. Just relax and be yourself mama” she replied calming me down, because honestly, my nerves had been a wreck sense I got the text from Chris about his mom coming to town.

“Well cherie, let me get back to work, before they start complaining that I’m on the phone too much” she laughed “I miss you though. I can’t wait to see you”

“Awww, I miss you too. You should really come out and visit me, you’ll love it here, hopefully enough to move. I have more than enough room at my house, and there are plenty of single men out here.” I laughed

“That would be great, I’d love to come see you and my Matty” she replied

“How about you come next month for Justin’s birthday. Me, Tammy, and Nicki are throwing Justin a surprise birthday party, and I’d know he’d be happy to see you. I’ll send you a ticket” I exclaimed. Cai had met Justin when he came down to visit me, and she had literally adopted him as her little brother as well. They even got along like brother and sister too.

“That sounds like a plan. I’ll call you later tonight. And Taylor?” she said

“Yeah?”

“Calm down, his mom will love you okay?” she replied calmly

“I will. Je vous aime bestie (I love you bestie)” I smiled into the phone

“Je vous aime bestie au revoir”

“au revoir” I replied before hanging up. I was so excited, my bestie was going to come to town soon, and hopefully I could talk her into moving to the A!!

CHRIS POV

I was at the studio with the homies and it was already 3:30. Time had flown by so fast, and I was getting tired and ready to go. I had offered to pick up Matthew from school, so I decided to finish up the song we were working on and head towards his school. I had already called the school to let them know that I was going to pick him up and for him not to ride the daycare bus. I had planned on taking him to get ice cream and hang out at the park for a little while before going home to finish his homework and be cleaned up for dinner by the time Taylor came home. In fact, I decided to surprise her and make dinner.

“Aight ya’ll, I’m out, gotta go pick up the lil man” I said standing from the sofa and stretching my arms up so high that my finger tips literally touched the ceiling.

“You picking up Matthew from school?” Trey asked

“Yeah, then we’re going to go get some ice cream and just hang out for a lil while”

“Wow, ya’ll are really in the family mode” he grinned “that’s pretty cool, I’m happy for ya’ll”

“Yeah, I guess we are, but I do it to help Taylor out so that she’s not stressing over trying to pick him up and get home to make sure we all eat and stuff” I replied

“So what, you’re just doing it for Taylor, it has nothing to do with Matthew?” Bow frowned

“Naw, man you know better than that, I love kids, and Matthew is awesome. He’s so smart and talented. I love hanging out with him” I smiled

“Ok, as long as you’re doing it for the right reasons” he smiled back. Being a dad has changed his out look on the whole single parent thing and having kids and how what we do has an effect on our kids as well. I’m happy for my brother, he loves being a dad, and loves his daughter.

“So Trey, what’s the deal with you and Nicki” I nodded in his direction with a grin

“Maannn, I dunno. It’s crazy, but it’s like all of a sudden I’m feeling her. Like I’m loving spending time with her, you know just hanging out. I’m talking or texting her all the time and shit. Man I dunno what or when it happened, but I’m not even really tripping on it, I’m just going with it for now” he smiled

“Man, you got caught up with her, but in a good way. Maybe you should go ahead and see what’s up with that” Bow said. “C, have you talked to Mijo lately?” Bow turned to me?

“Yeah, I talked to him the other day, he’s coming down with mama this Friday, but he said he’s gonna stay a lil longer than her”

“Mama J coming to town? I haven’t seen her in a minute” Trey smiled big.

“Yeah, she’ll be here on Friday, she’s staying until Monday or Tuesday”

“So is she gonna meet Taylor while she’s here?” Bow asked

“Yeah B, she is. I know she’ll love her” I couldn’t help but smile.

“So you gonna bring her by the club this weekend or what?” Trey asked

“Yeah, but probably for Sunday brunch, definitely not on Friday or Saturday night” I laughed “but let me get outta here, I gotta go get Matty. We might come back through here in a lil while, if not, then I’ll holla at ya’ll later on” I threw up the deuce and was out the door.

About 30 minutes later I pulled up to the school and they brought Matthew out to the car. He was all smiles when he got in.

“Hey homie, how was your day?” I asked as I helped him buckle his seat belt.

“It was good, we went to gym today” he smiled

“Oh yeah, what’d you do in gym” I smiled, I have to admit I was excited that he wanted to tell me about his day, and he was over the being shy around me part.

“Nothing, some people played football and some played basketball, and some people played dodge ball”

“Oh yeah, no baseball?” I asked glancing at him

“No, not today”

“Well what did you play?” I asked him eager to hear his answer

“I played basketball, and I even made it in the basket” he exclaimed in excitement

“Oh yeah, well that sounds like a reason to go get ice cream” I smiled

“Yessss” he replied with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

His excitement made me laugh. He really was an awesome kid! I pulled up in the parking lot of a Marble Slab, parked the car and we both got out and went it.

“What kind do you want Matty?” I looked down to ask him

“I can’t see what kind they have” he replied trying to peer at the flavors on his tip toes

“Aww, here you go homie” I smiled picking him up in my arm, his feet dangling behind him so that he could see.

“I want chocolate” he replied “with strawberries”

“You sure? You’ll have to get it in a cup” I told him

“Yes” he nodded his head. I placed our order and paid for it. We took a seat out on the patio to enjoy the nice afternoon air.

“Don’t get it on your shirt, I don’t want your mom to get mad at both of that, that wouldn’t be a good thing” I reminded him

“I won’t” he shoke his head, putting a spoon full of ice cream in his mouth. We sat there and ate ice cream and he told me more about his day. When we finished up, I took him to the restroom to wash his hands, and then we got in the car and were off again. I had to run by the grocery store to pick up something for dinner, and KMac texted me to come back by the studio to redo a verse real quick, well at least a line on a verse that didn’t come out right. I knew it was going to take us a few minutes to get that done, so I asked him if he would have it ready when I got there.

When we got in the car, it was quiet for a few minutes, I turned on the radio and Matthew looked out the window and bobbed his head to the music coming out of the speakers.

“Chris, do you love my mama?” Matthew turned to me

“Yeah lil man, I do. I love your mom AND you very much” I smiled at him rubbing my hair across his head

“Do you have a mommy?” he inquired

“Yes, I do. In fact, she’s coming to visit for the weekend on Friday” I chuckled

“Will I get to meet her?”

“Of course you will, I wouldn’t have it any other way” I smiled as we pulled up to the studio and he shot me an ear to ear grin.

We got out and I took his hand as we walked into the building filled with studios. I walked down the hall to the studio that we usually use, opened the door and walked in. Everybody was still there, but Justin had joined them by the time I got back.

“Sup ya’ll” I said as I let Matthew shyly walk in in front of me. He stayed close by my leg until he saw Justin sit up from where he was laying back on the couch.

“Uncle Jus” he smiled and walked over to him.

“Hey bubba, what you doing here?” Justin smiled sitting him on his lap, even though Matthew was almost half Justin’s size.

“Chris picked me up from school, then we went to get ice cream, now we’re here” he smiled over at me as I sat in a chair next to Kevin

“Ohhhh ok. So you having fun with Chris then?” he asked playfully poking him in his side.

“Yesss” he giggled

“We’re just going to be here for a few minutes okay Matty?” I smiled over at him

“Ok” he replied

“C’mere, let me introduce to all my friend” Justin said

“This is Bow Wow, you can call Bow” he said looking at Bow sitting next to him, who looked up from his phone when he heard his name being called

“Hey, you’re in Roll Bounce” Matthew smiled

“That’s right lil man, you seen that movie, did you like it?” Bow asked

“Yes, it’s one of my favorite movies” Matt smiled “Are you in Like Mike too?” he inquired

“Yep, that’s me, I was smaller in that one” Bow smiled holding out his hand to give Matthew some dap as Matthew followed throw.

“That’s Trey, and you know Tyga” Justin finished pointing in their direction

“What’s up lil homie” Tyga smiled “I can’t get no dap today, you acting funny?”

“Nooo” Matthew laughed then walked over to Tyga to give him some dap

“Can I get some too?” Trey smiled as Matthew gave him some dap.

“C’mere Matty” I called over to him as I sat at the control table with Kmac.

“Kev, this is Matt, Matt this is Kmac” I pointed then took off my snapback and put it on Matthew’s lil head. It swallowed up his whole head.

“K-k-k-k-k-kmac” Matthew mocked making all of us laugh

“Yes sir, that would be me” Kevin smiled at Matthew, gently tugging on the hat that I had just placed on his head.

“Matt, come over here with Unk and let Chris work, okay” Justin called to him

Matthew looked up at me for approval “Go ahead, I’ll be done here in a minute” I smiled letting him walk over to Justin. He took a seat on the couch between Justin and Bow. Justin gave him his phone to play a game on.

Even when it's do or die
We can do it baby simple and plain
Cause This Love Is a Sure Thing
My phone rang, causing everybody to laugh knowing the ringtone, it was obvious, it was Taylor

“Hey shawty” I answered

“Sup slim, what you doing?” she asked

“At the studio, putting some finishing touches on this track”

“Did you pick up Matty?” she asked

“Oh shit, I completely forgot, I’ll go get him now” I teased, knowing she would panic

“Babby” she whined “Don’t worry about it, I’ll go get him” she sighed

“Calm down ma, I’m just kidding, he’s sitting right here. Do you wanna talk to him?” I asked. I know that if she hears his voice she’ll calm down a little more

“You are sooo gonna get it when I get home for that one” she laughed

“Mmm, you promise” I smiled into the phone

“Shut up, lemme talk to my baby” she laughed

“Not until you promise” I replied

“Oh I promise, you’ll get it when I get home” she laughed

“That’s what I like to hear. Hold on here he is” I laughed handing the phone to Matthew

“Hey mommy….nothing….good….Uncle Jus is here….ummm Bow, Tyga, Trey, and Kmac…..yes…..yes ma’am….ok….I love you too….bye” he replied to all her questions then handed me back the phone

“Wassup baby?”

“I thought I’d be home around 5, but it looks like it’s gonna be closer to 6-6:30. What did you want to pick up for dinner on the way home?” she asked

“Oh don’t worry about it baby, I’ll grab something for me and Matthew when we leave here” I replied

“Are you sure baby?” she asked, her voice taking a high pitch

“Yeah, don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine, just finish up what you’re doing and come on home”

“Ok, I’ll see you when I get home then. I love you” she replied

“Ok, I love you more” I said before hanging up. “Ok Kmac, lets get this done” I said turning my chair to face the control panel. I knew that Matthew was okay, he was with his uncle and my boys sure as well weren’t going to let anything happen to him.

***** 1 hour later*****

We finally finished the track. I looked over at Matthew who was half sleep on Justin’s arm.

“Lemme go, I still gotta stop by the store and pick up something for dinner, then get Matthew home and cleaned up. Damn, I should have told him to bring his backpack with him to do his homework” I said standing from the chair and taking a nice long stretch. I leaned over and tapped Matthew on his leg “C’mon homie, lets go, lets get you home so you can do your homework” I said as he looked up at me, trying to gather his surroundings so that we can go.

“I’ll see you later this weekend nephew” Justin said kissing him on the head. Matthew just nodded his head.

“Ok lil man, lets go. Tell everybody bye” I said headed to the door.

“Byyeee” Matthew waved following behind me. Everybody said bye to us one after another as we walked out the door, then out the building. We got in the car and got all buckled up and were off. I stopped by the grocery store, and decided on making some chicken fettuccine. Finally, about an hour and a half or two after pick up Matty from school, we were home. I unbuckled his seat belt for him to get out. He grabbed his back pack and one of the lighter grocery bags as I got the rest of them out heading into the house.

“Ok homie, get your homework folder out and sit up there at the bar and we’ll work on your homework while I get started on dinner. I said taking everything out of the bags and putting them away. Matthew took out his homework folder and a pencil and begin doing his homework as I got started on dinner. I turned on the Music Choice on the TV as we went about our work. Matthew occasionally asked for help with his homework.

“I’m finished Chris” he smiled closing his folder and getting ready to climb out of the bar stool

“Hey homie, come put your folder in backpack so you won’t forget it in the morning and put it by the door” I said pointing to the laundry room door as he got his stuff together.

“Can I go watch TV now?” he asked as he finished

“Naw lil man, go take your shower real quick and put on your pajamas, then you can come down and watch TV. If you take your shower now, you’ll have more time to watch TV after dinner okay” I explained as I put the noodles in the boiling water.

“Ok” he smiled running up the stairs. You could get to the second floor of Taylor’s house from either the living room or the kitchen. About 30 minutes later he came running down the stairs in some black basketball shorts and a grey wife beater muscle shirt.

“All done?” I smiled as he opened the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water.

“Yes”

“Lemme smell you” I laughed “that was fast, you couldn’t have used soap” I said surprising myself how much I sounded like a parent. He walked over and held out his arm for me to smell. I sniffed him “Now let me smell under your arms” I smiled. He raised his arm and I sniffed making him laugh and jump back

“That tickles Chris. Can I go watch TV now?” he asked

“Yeah, you can. See if Avatar’s Last Air Bender is on” I replied as he walked into the den and turned the channel.

“Yes, it’s on, can I watch it?” he called into the kitchen, just as I was browning the chicken.

“Yeah buddy, go ahead” I replied. I finished up in the kitchen and went and sat on the couch with him to watch TV, occasionally getting up to check on the food.

“Ok, girl you silly, Je vous appellerai plus tard, au revoir (I’ll call you later, bye)” I heard Taylor’s voice as she walked through the laundry room door, just as I finished putting some garlic bread into the oven

“Damn, beautiful, smart, sexy, and speaks French. I think I hit the jackpot” I smiled as she walked in, putting her purse down on the counter and making her smile

“You? I think I did. Cute, sexy, talented, dimples, freckles, and can cook. I think I just might have a keeper on my hands” she smiled wrapping her arms around my neck as I snaked my arms around her waist and leaned in for a kiss

“Mmmm, that smells good” she smiled turning around in my arms headed towards the stove “what’d you cook baby”

“I knew you would probably be late and tired, so I made Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo, and I just put some garlic bread in the oven” I replied lifting the top off of the fettuccini as she lowered her head to inhale the aroma.

“Mmm, I can’t wait to eat” she smiled raising her head as I put the top back on the pot “where’s Matty” she asked looking around

“He’s in the den watching TV” I nodded in his direction

“Oh ok” she replied turning to go in his direction. “Hey peanut butter” she smiled as she took a seat next to him on the couch

“Hey mama” he smiled sitting up on his knees to kiss her cheek

“Look at you, looks like you’re all ready for bed” she smiled.

“Yes, and I already did my homework and took my shower” he smiled

“Wow! You’re all set huh? All you have to do is eat dinner huh?” she replied.

I put the finishing touches on the plates, placed them on the table and poured the drinks. I walked in the den where my future family was “Dinner’s ready. Matty go wash your hands” I smiled at both of them. I walked over to stand in front of Taylor who was still sitting on the couch as Matthew was getting up. I leaned over, resting my hands on the top of the couch as support, leaned in and softly kissed her “I love you” I smiled

“I love you too” she replied

“Ewww, ya’ll are kissing” Matthew called out as he came out of the bathroom.

“C’mere knuckle head” I said grabbing him with one arm then carrying him to the table as he laughed and let his feet dangle behind him. Taylor laughed at us as she followed behind us. I sat Matthew down in his seat, then pulled out Taylor’s chair for her to sit in. I took a seat next to Matthew, across from Taylor. “Ok, let’s bless the table” I said as we bowed our heads.