out of here. I will call you later on.” He barely made it to the door before Shyla blurted out she did like kids.
“Alright, alright Zackary, I do like kids. Are you happy now?”
Of course he was happy. He had a smile as wide as the Atlantic on his face but she couldn’t see it because he hadn’t turned back around. When he did she smiled. As he walked back to the table she could see that his face hadn’t changed. His eyes were still dark with anger.
He sat back in his chair facing her. “I love kids in fact. I love them very much and someday I plan on having one or two, or maybe even ten.”
“Then why? Do you have a problem with men with kids?”
“Why in the hell would I have a problem with men who have kids? They have to get her some kind of way.”
“You’re deliberately making fun of this situation and trust me, sweetheart, trust me, it’s not funny from where I’m sitting.” His eyes were cold. He was angry.
Shyla tried to laugh it off. “No. I guess it’s not.” She saw that he was serious. He wasn’t just talking to be heard.
He shrugged his shoulders. “A bad experience or something?” he said more calmly.
“No.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “Okay look. My reaction wasn’t to the fact that you have children. Yes your comment threw me.”
“But why would it?”
“Why wouldn’t it, sweetie?” He started to say something but she put her hands over his month. “Wait.” She shook her head, not wanting him to speak. “Please let me finish and then you can have your say,” he nodded and she released his mouth. “I have known you for longer than a year and not once, at any point in time when the two of us were together or the four of us together have you ever mentioned you had children. Not once. Not even on the beach in Jamaica.”
“Hold up. What happened on the beach in Jamaica?” Felton asked looking at his friend and business partner for answers.
“And why haven’t I been told?” Spoke his wife.
“Sshh! And furthermore,” she threw her hand directing to her cousin.
“Essence, sure as heck never said anything about your babies when we talk, so how am I suppose…”
“Back up, back up,” he waved his hand back and forth from Shyla to Essence. “So you and Essence talk about me?”
“Boy. Ugh,” she smacked her teeth at him.
Felton sat back in his chair and started laughing. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
Zackary licked his lips. “How often do you discuss me? What do you say?” He was really turned on by this. It meant he had a chance.
“We are talking about your children right now. I’m hardly going to entertain you with conversations me and my cousin have. Let’s stick to the subject, shall we?” She pouted. She had already said too much. The last thing she wanted was for him to know that she had been talking about him. His ego wouldn’t be able to handle it. “I’ve never even seen them and you’re here like a fixture, so what’s up with that? Enlighten me, Mr. Trellis.”
“Oh,” he blushed.
“Yes oh.”
He pulled her hand in his. “I hadn’t realized I never mentioned my girls.” His eyes softened as did hers. “They are at Napa Acres with my family most of the time and I get there every weekend or someone brings them to me, but we’re always together unless I’m working.”
“But they weren’t with you in Jamaica.”
“The Jamaican trip was a gift from my parents just for me. They said I needed the rest. And I did, but I spent two weeks with the girls afterwards.” His eyes had softened even more. She could tell that he adored his children
“Poppa Zack,” she nodded while smiling her beautiful Colgate smile that he loved so much. “It fits.”
“Thanks.”
“So Poppa Zack, do you have any pictures?” She went back to eating her meal.
“What proud poppa wouldn’t?” using her word. He smiled standing, taking his wallet from his pocket and handing it over to her. Then he unclipped his cell from his waistband and handed it over to Essence. “I don’t have nearly enough. I make sure I take them everywhere I go.”
Shyla began sifting through his wallet. She gasped. “You never said they were twins, Zackary.” She elbowed him playfully. He and Felton shared a surprised look. “They are so beautiful. What are their names?”
“Zaria and Zhaniya, my beautiful princesses.”
She continued to flip