If Only You Knew

Livin' It Up

Lee's POV

"You sure you don't want anything?"

"Huh?"

I could barely make out the confused words of my papa on the other end of the phone as me and Lester walked through the noisy mall. We were shopping for outfits for our upcoming photo shoot. The twins would be 6 months on the first and I had a specific idea in mind for our pictures.

Holding the phone tighter between my shoulder and cheek, I stopped in my tracks looking down to see why Junior was now whining.

"I said do you want like a watch or something from Dillard's while I'm in the mall?" I asked as I pulled the shade on the stroller back to see Junior scratching at his little face.

Before I had time to react Lester swiftly grabbed the infant from the stroller, hiking him up against his chest.

"What's all that for?" He questioned before wiping the few tears that were staining our son's cheeks.

"No honey I'm fine. You enjoy your day out with your family." Papa encouraged in a raspy tone before getting a good cough out.

I had to ignore that feeling in my stomach as I tried to ignore the sounds of pain emitting from the phone. As much as I wanted to I couldn't break down in the middle of the mall because my papa coughed. I had to stay strong.

"Alright. You call me if you change your mind, ok?"

"Will do baby."

We exchanged our goodbyes and got off the phone just as we were walking into Claire's. As an additional Father's Day gift, I decided we would get the boys' ears pierced.

"Hello! Can I help you all with anything today?" The short white girl with deep burgundy hair and a smiley piercing asked as she walked up to us.

"We tryna get some ear piercings." Lester spoke as he placed LJ's binky back into his mouth.

"Perfect! I could get started with that right away."

She walked us towards another section of the small store and Lester sat on the pink and purple barstools with Junior in his lap. My baby stared around the whole store with wide eyes, just nosey.

"What's this little guy's name?" The worker asked as she prepped her piercing gun.

"Lester."

"Yep, and this is Legend." I looked down with a smile to see my youngest gurgling with his fist in his mouth.

She giggled. "They're adorable."

"Thanks." Lester and I both greeted at once.

After grabbing a nearby barstool I pulled Legend from the stroller and sat him on my lap. He got excited and his little eyes lit up as he stared up at me. I looked back at him, holding his hand and pecking his forehead. "Be good for Mama today, please."

Lester laughed from his seat at my teasing. "You know that ain't gone happen. Remember what happened the first time they got shots?"

I threw my head back laughing deeply as I remembered how Legend almost ripped his eyelashes out after he got his shots. And Junior was no better. He of course threw a fit as any baby would, but for the rest of the day, he would randomly throw his fist at me and Lester. Although he was only a couple months old at the time, Lester swore he was purposely trying to get us back for letting the doctors hurt him earlier.

"Let's just hope they don't try to fight us later." I hoped.

"We'll see." Lester joked.

The worker took ahold of Junior's hand finally getting his attention. "You ready bub?"