Plus one

Chapter 22

🌹 Talia 🌹

It's the next day and today is the day I will meet him alone. Remind me again why I accepted his invitation. I don't know exactly why but whatever. Luckily Malia is feeling better today no fever or anything.

Matt came over in the morning to bring us a few sweets. And now he's playing with Malia. While I answer some calls and do some work. I have the best of friends. I don't know what I would do without them. This is also training for Matt since he's going to have twins very soon. Caroline will be here in New York City in a few days. I can't wait to have more babies around. To think of it Malia was the first baby in our group and after her, all my friends have become parents twice I guess only Malia doesn't have a sibling. Well, I should do something about it.

...

"Mama Mama look what I've drawn." I look at the picture and it's a group of people. "It's you, me, Auntie Nessa and Carolina, and Uncle Chris and Matt. Also Oliver and Atlas." She has drawn every family together. Vanessa and Chris with their children, Matt and Caroline and she even has drawn her big tummy while she's drawn us together just me and her.

"I wanted to draw Arthur too but I can't find my sharpener. Can you help me, mama?" My heart drops. I can't believe Malia wants to draw Arthur. She looks at me with puppy eyes as she waits for a response. "Yes of course. Let's go find you that sharpener." I take her little hand in mine and we walk to her room to find the sharpener. Matt is also looking for it but I think I have one in my bathroom. I searched my makeup bag for one and luckily I found it and I brought it back to my baby girl. She takes it in her little hands and she turns to the table with the drawing. Matt sits down near her and he looks at me and smiles. I smile back at him and I walk back to my laptop.

...

I finish my work for today and decide to prep a home-cooked meal for us. I take out all the ingredients that I need to make chicken soup, rice, and vegetables. I start with the soup first then I start chopping the vegetables. When I hear Malia run from her bedroom to the kitchen. "Mama Mama" she shouts.

"Baby don't run you just got over the flu. Now please don't run around the house or you'll get sick again." I say and she nods.

"I'm sorry mama. Now can you look at my drawing?" She hands me the drawing and I take it. I look and it's the same drawing but now Arthur is in the drawing. He's standing next to us. Next to me and Malia. Oh, my heart. "It's a beautiful baby. Why don't you and Matt write all the names above each person and then we can put it on the fridge. Okay, baby?"

"Okay mama" she says and runs back to her room. "Malia what did I say" I say to myself and laugh. I'm sure she did not listen to me.

...

It's a lot later now and I just finished showering and skin prepping. Now I have to find an outfit before I start my makeup. I tightened my robe belt and I walk to my closet. Vanessa, Chris, and baby Oliver came over a few hours ago. Atlas is at his grandparents' house so Malia was a little disappointed but then Matt and Chris start playing with her. So she forgot about Atlas directly.

I turn on the lights in my closet and I look at my clothes. The door opens and it's Nessa and baby Olie. "Are you looking for an outfit and you didn't tell me? You don't love me anymore. I knew having babies would change us." She says in a dramatic tone. Wiping fake tears from her eyes. I laugh and walk to her. Take baby Oliver in my arms. I kiss his cheeks ahh I missed this smell. I cannot wait to have another baby but the only thing stopping me except the father is my hard labor. I don't know if I can go through all that again. "Please Nessa can you please help me find an outfit?" I look at her with my puppy eyes. Something that my daughter has taught me.