taraji h.
eight months later–late spring, early morning light spilling across the kitchen tile the kettle's whistling. the good kind.. soft, lazy, not shrill and the whole house smells like vanilla and something warm baking in the oven. i'm at the counter, stirring honey into bey's tea, watching it swirl slow like her breathing these days. behind me, i hear the shuffle of her slippers. soft steps. the kind that let me know it's her before she even speaks.
"pretty," i say, not turning yet. "i told you to let me bring it to you in bed."
she lets out a half-laugh, half-groan as she eases into the kitchen. "i can still walk, taraji."
i glance back and smile. "barely."
she rolls her eyes and leans against the island, both hands under her belly like she's holding the moon.
"you glowing,"
she raises an eyebrow. "i'm swollen."
i walk over and kiss the top of her head. "you can be both."
she melts into me, one arm looping around my waist. we stand there for a second, breathing. just that. the hum of the world slowed down.
"you sure about this?" she asks after a beat, her voice soft like she's afraid to crack the moment.
"about what?"
"telling them today. the kids. about their sibling."
i nod. "they waited long enough, and you know autumn and winter been lowkey suspicious ever since they saw the baby socks in the drawer."
she grins, rubbing her belly. we fall quiet again, just holding each other.
"you nervous?" she asks.
i shrug. "nah not really. they gonna love this baby. they already love you and this just feels right."
she exhales slowly. "it does."
i kissed her temple. "i'm about to go get them now. you want anything before i leave?"
"just come back fast," she whispers. "with all of them."
"always," i say.
i grab my keys, kiss her one more time, and head for the door. today my kids find out they got another piece of forever on the way. i grab my keys and head out the door.
****
the car still warm from the drive. spring light pouring through the windshield, soft and golden, like the kind of morning that makes everything feel new again.
i step out slow, palms still tingling from the steering wheel, nerves tapping under my skin even though i said i wasn't nervous. i lied. i knocked once, twice. then i hear them and the door swung open.
autumn's hair is in three uneven puffs and she's already got glitter on her cheeks. "mama!"
she crashed into me. winter aint far behind, eyes wide and sleepy.
"hey, babies. y'all ready?"
"ready for what?" winter asks, squinting up at me.
"surprise day," i grinned. "you'll see. go grab yall shoes"
"winter please don't ask too many questions." toya sighed.
"but it's a surprise!" winter yelled.
"exactly," toya says, moving aside to let them run out, "let it surprise you."
i open the back door of the car for winter and put her inside while autumn sat in the front seat. i got and started the engine.
"we going to get bryce?" autumn asks.
