Sweet Baby

Seven

Seven

Shevonne decided to come with me to pick up Lettie because she was going to spend the night at my place. I knocked on Andre's apartment door and he opened the door looking at both of us before smirking. "Lettie, daddy's here." He said. I looking behind him to see her holding onto the couch cushion in her Jammies. Lettie bounced when she saw Shevonne and let go of the couch to walk towards us. Oh my God! I dropped to my knees holding my arms out. "Oh my God!" Shevonne said and Lettie fell into my arms. I held her in shock that I had just watched her first steps. Lettie held my neck and I was holding her as I picked her up. "Dada." She said. I grinned and Shevonne kissed her cheek. "She's been trying all day to take that first step. I guess she just needed some motivation." Lettie reached her arms out to Shevonne. "Mmm. Mama." She said. I was worried about Shevonne's reaction, but she seemed to like it.

"Thanks for watching her, Andre. Tell Bernadette I said thank you, too." "Yeah, I will. Don't worry." He handed me her diaper bag and we left Andre's place. I placed Lettie in her car seat and Shevonne put her diaper bag in the trunk. Lettie was kicking her legs and I grinned before going around to get behind the wheel. "Prince, you think she's gonna walk some more?" "Yeah she is. She might fall asleep here, though."

The three of us went home and I carried Lettie inside. She was awake now, and even wanted down. I let her stand on the floor and she was slowly wobbling and walking to the coffee table in the living room. "Did uncle Andre give you your bottle?" I asked as I stroked her curls. Lettie banged on the coffee table and was bouncing. Shevonne giggled and I shook my head. "Next is talking, Leticia Esmeralda." I went into kitchen to make her a bottle. "Prince, she's gonna be tall." Shevonne said. "You think so?" "Babe, she's already at your knee just about." She said. Lettie was following me to the kitchen and holding onto every wall she could on her way. I noticed her height as I handed her her bottle and crossed my arms. Lettie was looking up at me with innocent eyes as she was drinking and I gave her my hand so we could walk into the living room together. "She is." I said. "I know she is. She's gonna tower over you by the time she's ten. Good luck taking her stereo from her when she gets grounded." I smiled and put Lettie on my knee to bounce her while she was drinking her milk. I took the remote to turn on cartoons.

"She's gonna be a smart kid. I don't want to give her any punishment." Lettie laid back with her back against my chest and I kissed her temple and Shevonne came over to cuddle with us. "Has any family of hers came by?" "Nope." I said popping the P. "My dad is coming by to meet her tomorrow. He's a...he's a decent guy." Lettie pulled her bottle away to kick her legs before sliding down to stand on her feet. "She's gonna be ready to go now." Shevonne said as Lettie walked towards the TV holding her bottle. Shevonne cuddled up to me and I kissed her cheek. "Lettie Bug." Lettie turned around and gave her a blank stare. "Oooh, Leticia Esmeralda Nelson." Shevonne sat up. "That's the same damn look you give me." Shevonne said. Lettie looking confused. "Shevonne." "No. That blank stare, half eyes closed look of irritation." "Well, you interrupted her watching cartoons." Lettie turned towards the TV. "Prince." Shevonne laughed. "What? I'd be pretty mad, too." "That's the look you gave me when I asked you when you built Paisley." I cocked an eyebrow and Lettie walked over to me. Her walking still needed work but she was trying.

"I mean, it said it in the wall, Shevonne." I said. "It's the fact that she's got your attitude." Shevonne was being playful, but I don't think Lettie was grasping what was going on. "Come here, Lettie." Shevonne said. Lettie was between her knees finishing her bottle as Shevonne was styling her hair to look like mine. "Turn around, baby." She said to her and Lettie followed after removing the bottle from her mouth. Shevonne gently held her cheeks to make them sink in. "This...this is your child. Now watch." Shevonne took the remote and turned the TV off and Lettie looked very irritated. I smirked seeing the same look I had in most pictures from my childhood. "Yup, that's little me." I said as I quickly turned the TV back on.