Another Chance

Understanding

Omniscient POV

He entered the room still holding onto the moment he just had with Eissa. The memory of him falling asleep with a faint smile on his face. His heart swelled with love—both for his son, daughter, and for Janet, who had been and were the anchor in his life. He found her sitting on the bed against the headboard on her phone. 

"Hey," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Janet turned her head, her eyes lighting up as they met his. The tension that had lingered for weeks—gone. They had finally talked really talked—about their fears, their needs and wants, and the unrelenting pressure they both felt as parents. Things that they faced as husband and wife. It was a small step towards rekindling what they thought they had lost. 

"Hi," she replied, a shy smile breaking across her face. As soon as she spotted him, she put her phone on the nightstand. He could see that she had taken a shower and looked a little more refreshed, relaxed. He sat next to her. 

"What did Eissa want?" She inquired. 

"He umm told me he missed me. Wanted me to read him a book." 

"I was gonna say. It took you a while."

"I think he's going to be a little bookworm, just like his mom." Janet chuckled, her heart fluttering at the warmth in his voice.

"Maybe." She laughed lightly. They exchanged knowing glances, the playful banter that once flowed easily between them returning as if it had never left.

"Yeah he hugged me and told me he loved me."

"Well he does. You know that. He's been missing you."

"Yeah I just didn't realize. I've been missing out these last few months. It's amazing how forgiving kids are."

"Listen the important thing is that you realized it, and you're here now."

He looked at her thinking her words over. "It's amazing how forgiving you are."

"Well if you stopped messing up, this wouldn't be a thing." She teased yanking his shirt.

"Wow...I know you not talkin?" He mused. 

"Hey we've moved on, remember?" She smirked. 

"Mhmm." He bit his lip watching her eyes sparkle. "Did I hear Isabella crying? Is she good?"

"She was crying. She's sleeping now. She just had a dirty diaper."

"That's good I hope I didn't mess up too bad."

"It's not too late babe." He took her hand squeezing it.

"How do you feel about yourself? You know since having a baby. Are you adjusting okay?" He moved where he was more comfortable on the bed, closer to her.

"I'm okay." She shrugged at his question. 

"You sure? Do you think that you have any post-partum depression? I just want to make sure that you're okay."

"No, I don't think it was that. I think it was just stress from...well you know."

"Yeah. Damn! I'm sorry baby. I just wasn't thinking and being an ass. I know it now." He paused waiting almost like he wasn't sure how to approach or even ask his next question especially since he had made an ass of himself. He knew then that he was asking out of selfish. "How do feel about us being intimate?"

"I know you want to," she replied, her tone softer now. "It's just hard right now. I don't feel like myself."

Darius nodded, understanding, "I get that. Listen I'm not rushing."