Still Here

Chapter Two

"Hey, baby," Keanna chimed, kissing Aubrey's cheek as she entered. "How are you?"

"I'm good."

Aubrey looked down at the two suitcases Keanna had in her hands and scratched his head. What did they think they were doing?

"Nice suitcases," he said.

"Thanks," Keanna laughed. "You know what this is right?"

"Is that why you were calling me?"

"You would've known that if you'd answer my messages. I texted you like 50 times too," she said.

"Hi, Daddy," Shiloh giggled, grabbing onto Aubrey's leg.

"Hey, baby girl." Aubrey scooped up his 5 year old daughter and peppered kisses all over her face. "How are you?"

"I'm going to kindergarten!" she squealed, kissing Aubrey's face back.

"Really? Wow, you're growing up!" Aubrey looked at Keanna who just smiled.

"And because you're growing up, we want Daddy to be apart of it, right?"

That was code for "we're moving in and never leaving".

Shiloh wrapped her tiny arms around Aubrey's neck and suddenly his whole mentality changed. He didn't have a choice now. His daughter meant the world to him and if he's going to keep her, he has to keep Keanna. She is the mother.

"There's plenty of room for all three of us," Keanna said, admiring how large the living room was.

"Never said we were runnin' outta room, baby," Aubrey replied.

"I mean, with your producing career and everything, you definitely have a lot of money and-"

"Keanna. Don't make me mad in front of Shiloh, please," Aubrey begged. "Are you hungry, princess?" He rubbed Shiloh's cheek with such love and tenderness.

"Do you have any dino nuggets?" Shiloh asked, almost in a whisper.

"Of course." He glanced at Keanna and those suitcases. "Want me to get those?"

"You go make your dino nuggets, baby. Make me some too." Her smile lit up the room.

"Alright then."

Aubrey sighed and walked to the kitchen with Shiloh in his arms. He sat her on the sleek granite countertops and took out the bag of dino nuggets.

"How's my baby? What's going on besides kindergarten?" he asked, placing some nuggets on a pan.

"Nothing," she whispered.

"Nothing?" He flashed a smile at Shiloh and she giggled.

"Yeah."

"How's Mommy?"

"She's good."

"Good, good. Is she working?"

"Yes. With Kendrick."

Aubrey put the pan in the oven and narrowed his eyes as he closed the oven door. "Kendrick?"

Shiloh looked down at the floor as if she had said too much. Aubrey walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Baby, who's Kendrick?" he asked.