and adjustable garters.
“Glorious, we also brought over some champagne and caviar to celebrate your anniversary,” Kev said brightly before I could say another word.
He knew how much I loved these delicacies and I thanked him.
“Let’s toast!” Handing Paulette over to our nanny, Kevin grabbed a bright red bag that sat atop of the pile. Inside was a bottle of Moet Chandon and five beautiful crystal champagne flutes. Setting the flutes on our dresser, he popped the bottle with ease and then poured us each a glass.
“People, I can’t drink this,” protested Kashunna. “I’m on baby duty.”
“Have some,” countered Jaime. “Boss’s orders.”
Mr. Controlling! How I loved him! It didn’t take much to twist our party-loving nanny’s arm. Everyone crawled onto the king-sized bed. The babies sat contently on Kashunna and Ray’s laps.
“To Gloria and Jaime,” toasted Kevin as we raised and clinked our glasses.
We each took a sip of the bubbly as the happy babies looked on.
“Glorious, what’s that on your wrist?” asked my sharp-eyed best friend.
A sheepish smile splayed on my face. “A tattoo.”
“I have the same one,” chimed in Jaime, twisting his left wrist to display it.
Proudly, we both showed off identical hearts that were intersected by the infinity symbol. Toi et Moi forever. While Kev and Ray were honeymooning, we decided to get them inked. To remind us of our eternal love. Since my near-death birthing ordeal, there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about God giving me more than the gift of my beautiful children. He had given me once again the gift of life. In truth, we were more than just a toi et moi . Along with Kevin, Ray, Kashunna, and Ty, we were a family. I would love them all till the day I died. I’d learned that forever is more than a word or a measurement of time; forever is a place in your heart where your loved ones will always dance even when you’re gone. As I soaked in the people so near and dear to me, the beautiful truth hit me. Forever was happening right now. A tear of happiness flickered in my eye.
“What are you two lovebirds doing to celebrate?” asked Ray, breaking into my rapturous thoughts.
“We’re having a picnic on the beach with the babies. Come join us,” replied Jaime.
“Count us in!” said Kev with a big smile.
Our first anniversary fell on a Sunday, so none of us had to work. Well, at least go into an office.
Jaime continued. “And I’m taking Gloria out for dinner tonight.”
Kev kissed the top of Paulette’s head again. “Aww, are Mommy and Daddy leaving my two cutie pies all alone?”
My sensitive Paulette, who sometimes suffered from separation anxiety, was on the verge of tears, but leave it to Kev to tickle her just in the nick of time. She burst into a fit of laughter. There was nothing more beautiful than a baby’s laugh. Although my husband didn’t agree with that.
Jaime’s sultry voice mingled with her laughter while his eyes held me fierce. “And I also have a special surprise for my wife.”
My ears perked up. This was news to me. I traced his strong stubbled jaw with my hand. “Really, darling? And what might that surprise be?”
“Something sparkly?” crooned Kevin.
“Maybe.” My gorgeous husband eyed me sheepishly.
“Tell me!” I pleaded.
He playfully tugged my long braid. “Angel, a surprise isn’t a surprise if I tell.”
Tingles rushed to my core. I was definitely looking forward to what he had in store. I even had an idea.
*
The early September weather couldn’t have been more perfect. We were having an Indian summer. The temperature was in the low eighties, and the gentle ocean breeze offset the hot, beating sun. We’d all gathered on a large blanket, close to the very spot where Jaime and I had made endless love time and time again. The two of us often joked that there was a permanent outline of our bodies etched in the sand.
Come in the water with us,” begged Kevin a
“Glorious, we also brought over some champagne and caviar to celebrate your anniversary,” Kev said brightly before I could say another word.
He knew how much I loved these delicacies and I thanked him.
“Let’s toast!” Handing Paulette over to our nanny, Kevin grabbed a bright red bag that sat atop of the pile. Inside was a bottle of Moet Chandon and five beautiful crystal champagne flutes. Setting the flutes on our dresser, he popped the bottle with ease and then poured us each a glass.
“People, I can’t drink this,” protested Kashunna. “I’m on baby duty.”
“Have some,” countered Jaime. “Boss’s orders.”
Mr. Controlling! How I loved him! It didn’t take much to twist our party-loving nanny’s arm. Everyone crawled onto the king-sized bed. The babies sat contently on Kashunna and Ray’s laps.
“To Gloria and Jaime,” toasted Kevin as we raised and clinked our glasses.
We each took a sip of the bubbly as the happy babies looked on.
“Glorious, what’s that on your wrist?” asked my sharp-eyed best friend.
A sheepish smile splayed on my face. “A tattoo.”
“I have the same one,” chimed in Jaime, twisting his left wrist to display it.
Proudly, we both showed off identical hearts that were intersected by the infinity symbol. Toi et Moi forever. While Kev and Ray were honeymooning, we decided to get them inked. To remind us of our eternal love. Since my near-death birthing ordeal, there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about God giving me more than the gift of my beautiful children. He had given me once again the gift of life. In truth, we were more than just a toi et moi . Along with Kevin, Ray, Kashunna, and Ty, we were a family. I would love them all till the day I died. I’d learned that forever is more than a word or a measurement of time; forever is a place in your heart where your loved ones will always dance even when you’re gone. As I soaked in the people so near and dear to me, the beautiful truth hit me. Forever was happening right now. A tear of happiness flickered in my eye.
“What are you two lovebirds doing to celebrate?” asked Ray, breaking into my rapturous thoughts.
“We’re having a picnic on the beach with the babies. Come join us,” replied Jaime.
“Count us in!” said Kev with a big smile.
Our first anniversary fell on a Sunday, so none of us had to work. Well, at least go into an office.
Jaime continued. “And I’m taking Gloria out for dinner tonight.”
Kev kissed the top of Paulette’s head again. “Aww, are Mommy and Daddy leaving my two cutie pies all alone?”
My sensitive Paulette, who sometimes suffered from separation anxiety, was on the verge of tears, but leave it to Kev to tickle her just in the nick of time. She burst into a fit of laughter. There was nothing more beautiful than a baby’s laugh. Although my husband didn’t agree with that.
Jaime’s sultry voice mingled with her laughter while his eyes held me fierce. “And I also have a special surprise for my wife.”
My ears perked up. This was news to me. I traced his strong stubbled jaw with my hand. “Really, darling? And what might that surprise be?”
“Something sparkly?” crooned Kevin.
“Maybe.” My gorgeous husband eyed me sheepishly.
“Tell me!” I pleaded.
He playfully tugged my long braid. “Angel, a surprise isn’t a surprise if I tell.”
Tingles rushed to my core. I was definitely looking forward to what he had in store. I even had an idea.
*
The early September weather couldn’t have been more perfect. We were having an Indian summer. The temperature was in the low eighties, and the gentle ocean breeze offset the hot, beating sun. We’d all gathered on a large blanket, close to the very spot where Jaime and I had made endless love time and time again. The two of us often joked that there was a permanent outline of our bodies etched in the sand.
Come in the water with us,” begged Kevin a
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