Sleepless In South Carolina

Big Plans.(the pic above is of Elle.)

    I wake up to the wonderful sound of Elle and Braylen laughing together and the wonderful smell of what seems to be pancakes and bacon. I get out of bed to go find out. "Morning sleepy head." "Mamas head is sleepy hahahaha." "Good morning my beautiful family." "I got pancakes, and bacon saved in the microwave for you, want me to warm it up? Elle and I already ate, we tried to wait for you but you were just taking too long." "That would be great thank you baby." "Mommy look at this picture I drew." "Wow Elle that's just fantastic I love it, Braylen did you see this our daughter is going to be an artist." "I did see it isn't she amazing?" "I'm going to draw you and daddy next." Braylen sets the plate of food in front of me. "This smells so good, I think the smell actually woke me up." "Don't ever underestimate the power of Braylen's famous pancakes." I chuckle as I dig into the food.

    Braylen, and Elle stay fixated on the tv as the sponge-bob theme song blasts from the tv. I chuckle to myself. I stay in the dining room just thinking. Deep into my thoughts I feel little hands touch my leg. "Mommy I miss grandma." " I know sweetie but grandma and I are going through somethings alone for a little bit." "Can I make her a picture?" "Of course." "Ok I will." Braylen comes and sits in the chair next to me. "Can I ask you something?" "Sure shoot." "Can we get married? Go on a little get away elope, and have a mini honeymoon?" "My mom is in no condition to keep Elle." "Honey there's nothing wrong with her care taking skills she's grieving the loss of a loved one. I think it'd be good for Elle to spend some alone time with her grandma, we want her to have a good relationship with her don't we?" "Of course we do I just don't see how any of this could work." "I'll make it work baby just give me a few days to make the arrangements." "Okay Bray, and if it doesn't work out just know it's fine I don't expect it to workout anyways." "That's the spirit, be more positive Ellis everything will workout." I kiss Braylen so he will stop with the positive lecture. "That was my motivation now let me get to work."

    I look at Elle who is asleep at her kiddie table with crayons stuck to her face. I try not to wake her up from my laughter. I move her to her bed. I give her a kiss on her forehead and tuck her in. "Everything's set, we leave tomorrow." Braylen says as I run into him. "You're kidding?" "No, so you better get to packing beautiful." "Braylen, how on earth did you do this?" "I told you not to ever underestimate me." "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" "Yes but I'm always up for hearing it again." "I love you more than words can comprehend." "I love you more than life itself and I will never stop showing you it." We kiss each other and begin packing our things for our trip.

   When I'm done I wipe the sweat from my brow. It's only a few day trip but a few outfits is never enough. I zip it all up and put it by the door. I feel lips trailing along the back of my neck and I turn and see Braylen. "All finished here." "Finished with the packing...yes.." "What aren't you finished with?" "You." I press my lips against his. As the room starts to glisten with lust I hear tiny footsteps. "Mama where are you going." I follow where Elle's little finger is pointed. "Honey, mama and daddy are going on a little vacation, and you're going on a vacation to grandmas."      "I get to go to grandmas?" "Yes sweetie for four days!!!" Elle smiles one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen. "Mommy lets get my clothes!" "Okay sweetie, lets go."

  After an hour of deciding what to pack for Elle and making sure I pack everything she needs and everything she wants I decide to plop on her bed. Braylen and Elle gave up thirty minutes ago. I hear them chuckling out in the living room together. I make a few last changes and zip the suitcase up and put it next to Braylen and I's.  "Mommy whats for dinner?" "How about ice cream and frozen pizza?" I had Elle at ice cream and I knew to get her to agree to the pizza I would have to bribe a little. A little ice cream never hurt anyone. I set the oven to 475 degrees. Once everything is done we all sit down and eat as a family. Just a few years ago I could've never pictured my life this perfect. It actually scares me what lies ahead, life isn't meant to be perfect especially not for me after everything I've had to go through. "Hey babe, i'm going to go lay Elle down for the night." "Okay. Goodnight sweet baby girl." I kiss Elle's forehead.

   I decide to take a shower to calm down for the night. As I feel the scolding water hit my body I feel my body tense and relax after a moment. When I hear a noise I start to panic. A little time has passed but I haven't forgotten. I can still remember James' face like it was yesterday, and what he did to my sister and tried to do to me. I feel guilty because I would've rather took her place but then I would lose Elle and I can't imagine my life without her. The world is so wicked. I look up and see the shower curtain sliding open and I see Braylen stepping in behind me. "Room for one more?" "Always, as long as its you." He spins me around and kisses me harder than usual. I knew what he had in mind and I wasn't opposed to the idea. I kiss him back and run my fingers along his hips and trace down his v-lines. "I've been wanting you all day." "I know." I start to  grasp my fingers around his growing length. He pants as I gradually get faster. "How bad do you want me?" I ask him. He smiles a perverted grin and lifts my whole body up against the shower wall. He slowly enters me and I can't help but breath in sync with his thrusts. After 15 minutes of this we decide to take it to the bedroom.

    When we finally catch our breath Braylen runs to his secret drawer. I've never seen whats in there before but I trust him so I never thought to look. He winks at me with a silk piece of rope in his hands. "Want to do something different tonight?" I nod. He ties my wrist against the bed post and starts kissing me where it drives me wild until he can tell I can't take it. He presses into me one last time and  we both finish inside of each other. He kisses me and cradles me into his arms. "Too perfect." He breaks the silence. "It always is between us, why?" "I don't know but don't question it, we don't want it to end." " You're right. Oh shoot, 1 o'clock we gotta get to bed." "Yeah we leave bright and early tomorrow. Your mom is expecting Elle at 9:30 and we gotta be on the road by 10:00" "Alright goodnight." Braylen kisses me and rolls over. Once I know he's asleep I get up and tip toe to Elle's room. I get in bed next to her and run my fingers through her hair. Its going to be so hard to leave her after being absent for the first part of her life I don't know if I want to miss anymore.

     I wake up to Braylen's lips pressed to my forehead. "Baby what're you doing in Elle's room?" "Oh, I heard her crying and I came to help her get back to sleep." "I didn't hear her crying." "Yeah because I rushed in her so fast so she didn't wake you." "I don't know what you are up to babe but i'll let it go for now because we got a schedule to follow. Chop, chop, its 9 we gotta go." I stumble out of Elle's bed and go get dressed, luckily I layed out my outfit last night. I make sure everything is in order before I lock the door behind me. When we get to my moms shes outside gardening, I haven't seen her do that in forever. "Grandma!" Elle yells. "Elle!" Mom yells. "Ellis, how're you?" "Great." "I'm glad." "Don't be sarcastic mom." "Hey, mom." Braylen intervenes. "Hey son, too bad I didn't have only sons, your moms a lucky woman." I can't help but roll my eyes. "I'll be in the car." "Thank you again, Elle has really been looking forward to it." "Of course Bray, you've always been there for my daughter, I can only do the same for you."

       On the car ride Braylen lectures me about how I should be treating my mom. I lost track after the first few minutes. I pretended to listen because I surely didn't want to hear this again. "Where we going?" "You'll see just sit back and let me know if and when you need to pee." "Okay smart ass, will do."