Sweet Baby

Five

"Prince, I really think you should go on tour. It's in your contract you know." The president of my record label said to me over the phone. I had Lettie asleep on my chest while we were in bed and I was stroking her hair. "Not this year. Next year for sure, but not for a little while." I said softly trying not to wake my daughter up. She had just fallen asleep after crying from teething. "Well, how long next year? You're not doing your contracts and that's pissing me off, Prince." I rolled my eyes and shifted a little. "April to July. It'll be an overseas one. That good to you?" Lettie shifted and tried to grabbed a fist full of chest hair. "Good. That'll be good. It can be for your new album which is doing quite well." He said. I smirked. "I never let you down. You know that." I replied. "Good. I'm glad we got a tour for next year, Prince. I'll get the countries emailed to you." "Cool. Talk soon." I hung up the phone and sat it down beside me so I could hold Lettie with both hands.

"Daddy doesn't wanna leave you, baby." I said stroking her hair. I looked down and saw her grinned in his sleep. I gently stroke her cheek knowing she was teething. "You'll be done soon, Princess. Just a few more months." The phone rang but I've become a pro at answering it on the first ring. I put the cordless phone to my ear. "Hello?" "Hey, Prince." It was Shevonne. I smirked. "Hey, what you doing?" "I'm at mama's house. Do you mind if I come over?" "No, actually I was going to call you later to see if we could talk. I got some news." "Perfect. I'll be over in.........yes, mama I'll tell him!" I laughed a little. "Mama wants to babysit." I looked down at Lettie. "She can babysit tonight if she's free." Shevonne relayed the message to her mother. "Yeah she can. So we'll be over in a couple of hours." "Sounds good, Shevonne. Just come to the bedroom. Lettie's taking a nap and I'll take one, too." Shevonne giggled. "Okay, see you two soon." She said. We ended our call and I sat the phone down but laid Lettie next to me and propped my head on my elbow just stroking her nose and chin. I very gently laid my head by her and closed my eyes.

I felt a hand gently shake me awake and I opened my eyes to see Lettie staring at me with her large eyes. But behind me was Shevonne and she was smiling at me. "Hey, sleepy head." She said. I smiled. "Hey." I stretched and Lettie was sprawled out on my bed like she worked a twelve hour shift. I sat up and Shevonne walked over to pick up Lettie. "Go grab a shower and we'll be in the living room. Does she need anything?" I got out of bed and stretched again. "Mm, a teething ring. I got some frozen fruit for her in the freezer. Usually when her gums are numb she's ready for some purée. Shevonne stroked Lettie's hair back. "Okay. See you in a little bit." I saw her glancing at my stomach which made me a little insecure. Maybe I didn't look good. I really needed to hit the gym again.

I went to my bathroom to take a shower and fix my Mohawk before getting dressed as comfortable as possible and walking into the living area. Shevonne and her mother were feeding Lettie. My daughter squealed when she saw me and Shevonne and her mother turned to me. "Hey, everybody." I said as her mother fed Lettie some banana purée.

"I'll take it from here. Shevonne." Her mother said. Shevonne stood and walked towards me. "Can I talk to you?" She asked. I nodded and walked outside with her. "What's up?" Shevonne was standing close to me. "I found some information on Muna." My eyes could've fallen out of my skull. "What?" I asked. Shevonne took my wrist and lead me to her car. "Mama does social work and I asked her to do some research on Lettie's mother." Shevonne pulled a portfolio from her back seat and handed it to me. "I...I know her mother is a touchy subject, but...there's some information you need to know."

Shevonne shut the door of her car and I was standing there holding the portfolio in my hands like it was a diseased animal. I didn't want to look at it. Shevonne took it and I followed her inside. In the indoor light she was staring at my face. "You're pale. C'mon...I'll read it to you." She spoke so softly to me. She took my hand this time and we walked to my bedroom where we could sit on the bed and she opened the portfolio. There were lots of pictures of Muna, and worst of all there were even mugshots. I looked away and closed my eyes. "Prince..." She one stroked my wrist.