Chapter 52
Calida
The sound of Shawn talking to himself came over the baby monitor. I stretched up to give Mal a quick kiss on the cheek before easing out of his embrace. He rolled over and hugged a pillow in my absence. That action brought a smile to my face.
I picked up his discarded shirt off the floor and slipped it on as I exited. Shawn’s bright blue eyes and smiling face greeted me when I entered his room.
“Mornin’, baby boy. Did you sleep okay?”
He bounced up and down in his crib, calling my name until I picked him up. After a quick diaper change, we headed down for breakfast. Malcolm walked downstairs as I was wiping the sticky syrup from Shawn’s hands.
“Good mornin’.” He walked over, gave me a kiss on the top of the head, and ruffled Shawn’s hair on the way to the kitchen.
“Mornin’. There’s some leftover pancakes and bacon in the microwave.”
He popped a pod in the coffee machine. “Aw, baby, you made me breakfast,” he said with a smile as he pulled the plate out.
I unbuckled Shawn from his high chair. “Nope. I made him breakfast.” I gave Shawn a quick kiss on the cheek before setting him free. “You’re just lucky he left you some.”
Shawn made a beeline for Mal. Soon as he was picked up, Shawn reached for the bacon on Mal’s plate.
“I see. You didn’t want me, just my food. That’s cold, man. Used by a toddler.”
As soon as he was put back down, Shawn scrambled over to the couch and enjoyed his prize. Mal and I laughed as we watched him sit back and cross his legs at the ankles when he sat to watch the cartoon program. Malcolm settled down at the table to eat while I continued to clean up the mess Shawn made.
“Can you keep an eye on him while I take a quick shower?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Good ‘cuz I need to get dressed and then get him dressed so we can head out.”
“Where ya headed?”
“Home.”
The sound of utensils hitting the plate stopped. Shawn laughed at something on the TV. I looked in his direction first then over to Mal who’d gone back to eating his breakfast.
“Your sister called. We are apparently going on a double date tomorrow, so I need to get more clothes. I only packed a few things.”
The tense, disappointed look he’d had on his face quickly got replaced with a look of relief, followed by confusion.
“How does she assume we don’t have plans of our own?”
I laughed. “Well, she did start the conversation with asking if I had plans, and when I answered no, she made them for me. Well, us.”
Mal took a sip of his coffee. “That is no big surprise.”
After drying my hands, I strolled over and wrapped my arms around his neck. “It’ll be fun. Besides, now that she’s feeling better, I think she wants to get out while she can. It’ll be harder when she has two.”
He brought my hand to his lips. “If you say so.”
∞∞∞
An hour and a half later, I stood in my room packing while the boys ran around making as much noise as possible. The sound of Shawn’s infectious laughter grew louder. Moments later, he and Malcolm burst through my bedroom door. Shawn’s arms were out by his side as Mal flew him around.
“Crash landing.”
Mal plopped him down on the bed, right on top of the bag from the lingerie store. Shawn did a quick flip to his stomach, and the loud crinkling noise of the bag drew his attention. Shawn started hitting the bag so that it made noise again. He giggled each time, as if it was the best thing in the world.
“The simple joys in life,” Mal said. He had the biggest grin on his face when he sat on the edge of the bed and started hitting the bag along with Shawn.
I watched, waiting, hoping Mal wouldn’t read the label on the outside. When I’d originally packed, I’d left my new purchases behind. I’d chickened out after convincing myself that parading around in underwear would result in a horribly failed attempt at being sexy. However, I’d bought them for him, so he deserved to see me in them. It would just be done without any sort of sexy modeling on my part.
Shawn dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed. Mal looked down at the items. I grabbed for them, but he was closer and quicker. The smile on his face grew bigger when he held up the lacy, boyshort panties.
“You weren’t supposed to see those.”
“Why not? I like these.”
I yanked them out of his hand. “I’m sure you do. But they were supposed to be a surprise.”
Shawn picked up the thong and put it on his head, grinning proudly at his accomplishment.
Mal pulled them off. “These are mighty nice as well. Mighty nice, indeed. I can already picture you in these, the matching bra, and a sexy pair of high heels. This is good stuff. So, when do I get my surprise?”
Shawn’s chubby fingers reached for the underwear. Once he had them back, they again went onto his head before he crawled over and climbed into the open suitcase. I picked him up and sat him down on the floor, removing the thong from his head in the process.
“I bet you are excited.” I involuntarily glanced down at Malcolm’s crotch. “And if I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Mal jumped up off the bed and scooped up Shawn before he could escape out the door. He let out a gleeful squeal when Mal spun him around.
He walked over and picked up the boyshorts out of my suitcase. “I’d love it if you’d surprise me with these tonight.” With a quick kiss and a playful slap to my ass, he and Shawn were off.
When I got downstairs, the two of them were on the floor wrestling. I put the suitcase down quietly then propped up against the wall to watch. Mal laid on his back, pretending to fight Shawn off while Shawn climbed on top of him. Malcolm was such a kid, but it worked in his favor. He was a good father to Shawn. Father. He’d easily stepped into that role. Willingly. And without being asked. Certainly, an unexpected occurrence, but watching them together I knew Shawn couldn’t have a better man to call dad.
“One, two, three, you’re out,” I said.
“What? This is rigged. Quickest count ever. I could have taken him.” Mal laughed as he sat up.
I walked over and picked up Shawn and lifted one of his arms in the air. “Not rigged. My baby is champion fair and square.” I gave him a series of quick kisses on his neck and tickled his belly, sending him into a fit of giggles.
“Uh-huh, sure. I want a rematch. And you need to be in proper ring girl attire.” Mal added and gave me a wink.
“Why would I need that? I’m the ref, not the ring girl.”
“Call it incentive for me to throw the match so Lil’ Man can retain his title.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Any excuse to have me barely dressed.”
Mal stepped closer and slid his arms around my waist. A delicious smile spread across his face. He leaned forward, and his lips brushed against my cheek when he whispered, “Can you blame me?”
I involuntarily shuddered. He stepped back, laughing as he took Shawn from me. “You get everything you need?” he asked, looking over at my suitcase.
“Yeah, um, there’s a second one upstairs still that needs to be brought down.”
“‘k.” He sat Shawn down before dashing off up the stairs.
I took a seat on the floor next to Shawn, who had busied himself with his plastic building blocks, and reached out to straighten a few flyaway strands of his hair. “Whatcha say, kiddo, you up for a few more nights away from this place?”
I knew I was. Coming back after time at Malcolm’s made this house less appealing. With most of my secrets exposed, the comfort and security I’d once had within the confines of these walls had morphed to more of an oppressive weight. Just driving through the gates, the pressure of it settled in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Malcolm came back down the steps, carrying the larger suitcase with ease. He said nothing as he picked up the other one and headed out the door. Shawn began to fuss when I picked him up, unhappy I interrupted his building.
“How about we take them with us?”
I put all the blocks in the large plastic bag, zipped it, and then gave it to him to carry. That seemed to appease him a little as he worked to unzip it.
“Woah,” Mal said, stopping short from running into us when he reentered the house at the same time I tried to exit. “You got everything?”
“Yeah, I’m going to grab his cars. Could you—”
“Get him buckled in?” He smiled and gave me a wink.
I laughed and nodded. “Thanks.”
He gave me a quick kiss and the two of them ran off. Malcolm flying Shawn through the air as they headed to the door.
When we got back to Mal’s place, I carried a sleeping Shawn up to his room while Mal took our bags. I turned around in circles when I entered the master bedroom but didn’t see my luggage. The sound of a door being opened got my attention. Mal came strolling out of the water closet.
“Where are my suitcases?” I asked as he walked over to the sink to wash his hands.
“In the closet.”
I headed over to the large master closet. Inside, my suitcases sat on a completely empty side aside from three brand new packs of hangers. Mal had all his clothes and shoes, surprisingly, neatly arranged on one half of the space.
“You can hang up stuff if you want. You know, just in case you don’t want to have to keep digging through your suitcase while you’re here.”
I glanced back over my shoulder at him. “I thought you’d have this filled.”
“The chest of drawers is empty, too. I took the dresser because it had more room.”
I looked over at the tall piece of furniture that stood against the wall next to the closet. “You left me space?”
Mal put his hands on my hips and pulled me back against him. “You sound surprised.” He gave me a kiss on the top of my head. “I told you this place is for us. When you’re ready. But, like with the decorating, I figured it’d be easier to plan ahead. Less adjustment needed that way.”
I turned around and wrapped my arms around his waist. He responded without hesitation, encasing me in warmth and security.
“This is my favorite place.”
“The closet?”
“Your arms.”