Because He Loves Me
Dayoff For A Baby
"It's gonna be a hot one today!" Said Tiana as she went straight to the oven.
"And you're frying fritters this morning?" Naveen asked with sarcasm while drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.
"Says the man who's drinking hot coffee." She shot back with the sarcasm.
Naveen then frowned when he saw Vance's face in the paper. "This bozo is running for governor?"
"Who?" Asked Tiana, putting the fritters on a plate.
"Vance Nielsen."
"Vance Nielsen? That's Travis' brother." Tiana said. "I didn't know he was back in town."
"I know who he is." He said, not caring about the man.
"Oh you do?" She asked, serving him some fritters.
"Yes, I met him right before I left that lousy card party...or game. Whatever you want to call it. The bastard."
Tiana gave her husband a questioning look.
"Forget what I said." Naveen closed the paper. "I actually wanted to continue our conversation on-
The telephone ringing interrupted him.
"Hold that thought." Tiana got up the answer the phone. "Hello?"
"Tia! I really need you here!" Said a frustrated Charlotte.
"Is there something wrong?" She asked.
"Travis is out for the morning and Annabella really misses her godmother."
Tiana shook her head. "You didn't have to use the baby just for me to come by."
Charlotte squeaked. "I'll see you in a few?"
"In an half hour." Tiana said before hanging up the phone.
Naveen groaned.
"It'll only be for an hour or two and you don't even have to come with me." She gave him a smile.
He groaned again while taking a bite of the fritter.
Tiana rolled her eyes. "I never thought that you would end up being such a grouch."
Naveen stood up. "I am not a grouch. I only want to spend one day with my wife without having to do anything or visit anywhere." He wrapped his arms around her.
"Even if I wasn't seeing Lottie today we still had other priories to take care of such as going to the bank, doing a little grocery shopping…"
"Yes, but I wanted us to do that together." Naveen kissed her lips. "All I want is a day off with my wife."
"And we'll have just that once I'm back. By noon." She explained.
He raised an eyebrow. "Noon?"
Tiana nodded. "Mm-hm. I plan on making your favorite dinner for lunch."
"Dinner for lunch?" Naveen asked feeling somewhat puzzled. "That would leave us the rest of the day to-
"Do a little of everything." She smiled.
"Like?" He raised an eyebrow, very curious to hear her answer.
She caressed his face while answering. "You know? Talking, panza, dancing, panza, laughing, panza, singing, panza..."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "I actually like this idea." And pulled her in for a passionate kiss.
"Mmm…down boy." She pulled back from the kissing. "I have to get to Lottie's, but we'll finish what we start later." She wiped his bottom lip. "Okay?"
He kissed her hand and grinned. "Okay."
()()()()
Annabella's nursery -
"Tia I am so glad that you made it over." Said an exhausted looking Charlotte. "Annabella kept me up all night with her fussing, and just this morning as I was about to finally get some sleep, Travis left and I'm now feeling all sorts of bad."
"You know that I always have time for you, Lottie. But I thought you were gonna hire nannies?" Tiana said.
"I changed my mind at the last minute...silly me me. To think that I can take care of Annabella all by myself." Pouted the blonde
"Well you can still call for one." Tiana suggested.
"True…and I will do that later, but enough about me. How are you doing? Are ya pregnant yet?" Asked Charlotte.
Tiana shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't know."
Her friend frowned in concern. "What? Did Naveen stop sleeping with you?"
"Lottie…" Tiana started.
"I have some lingerie that would have his head spinnin'. I thought about returning them because I can't get into them but Travis had them sent from France-
"I have enough of those and we don't need them when all he does is take off them off anyway." Tiana cut her off.
Charlotte smiled while picking up Annabella. "Have ya'll at least talked about babies?"
"No and I think it's best that it remains that way. We're always so busy with the restaurant-
"Which is a hit! Tia you are the perfect person to do it. You have an amazing career, a very scrumptious husband and a new baby would be the bee's knees!" Charlotte said with excitement. "Oh Tia! You would make the most beautiful expectant mother! I will set up the baby shower! Pink for a girl and if you have a boy than we can squeeze in some pink, too..." She then stopped when she didn't hear a logic interruption from her friend. "Tia? Are you alright?"
"It's not that I'm not ready. I am. It's Naveen who doesn't seem interested or ready." Tiana said, looking down at the baby.
The blonde felt like the mother hen for once and thought to give her friend some much needed advice. "Tia, I'm going to tell you what Ms. Eudora told me about men and babies."
Tiana rolled her eyes as she already knew of this 'advice'.
"If he's ready to get between dem legs, then he is ready to be a dad." They both said before laughing.
"Lottie I'm already aware of what my mama advises. All I want is for Naveen and myself to be on the same level when it comes to making this kind of decision. Bringing a baby into this world is easy, but what if it isn't the right choice for us right now?"
"What I don't get is how did you two manage to not already have a baby after being married for three years." Charlotte said. "Are you having him wear condoms? The poor thing."
Tiana gave her a 'what are you talking about' look making Charlotte laugh. "Well they are uncomfortable! At least to me and Travis they are!"
"He's never used condoms. But we are a bit more careful-
"So he pulls out?"
Tiana sighed at her blonde friend. "Lottie-
"What? It's okay that your husband pulls out, but I would think that with Naveen being this big manly man he would shoot his royal seeds right in ya-
"Okay this is getting too personal." Tiana stopped her friend. "And in front of the baby...?" She shook her head. "We're more careful than typical married couples, okay? Let's just change the subject."
Charlotte smiled. "Okay." She then looked at the sleeping baby. "You two can always look after Annabella for a day."
"What?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, you can stay here while watching her-
"Lottie."
"For an hour?"
Tiana kissed the baby on the forehead. "She's adorable and would I love to watch her...someday. But anytime soon.
Just then, Travis and Vance walked into the nursery.
"Oh, so you hired a nanny after all?" Asked Vance, catching the women's attention. He was surprised when he realized it was Tiana. "So we meet again."
"I beg your pardon?" Tiana frowned.
He pulled his shades out of his pocket and put them back on. "Last night at your restaurant. And let's not forget our bumping into each other."
Tiana then realized who he was. "So that was you?"
Charlotte shook her head at the two. "I cannot believe that you don't recognized each other. Vance this is Tia."
He widen his eyes. "Skinny Tia? Tia-Bee? That's why you looked so familiar."
Tiana knew she saw that smirk somewhere.
"You filled out since the last time I've seen you. Wow!" He said with a smile.
Tiana rolled her eyes as she could tell that he haven't changed since leaving New Orleans almost a decade ago on a scholarship to play football. He was always very handsome, but smaller frame. Guess the football buffed him up a little which also meant that his ego was just as buff.
Travis knew that his brother was still attracted to Tiana. He also knew about their past with hers not ending so well after their last meeting together. To this day he still blamed himself for not stepping up and being a friend. He tried making up for it to this day. Even though both were married, he knew that Vance didn't marry for love and out of respect for Tiana and Naveen he had to let Vance know where he stood.
"So, are you married?" Vance asked, already knowing the answer.
"Naveen, the gentleman you had the pleasure of meeting last night is Tiana's husband." Travis answered for the princess.
"I know who he is." Said an infatuated Vance. He couldn't keep his eyes off of Tiana. "So you finally got you a restaurant?"
"Yes..." She answered, looking down at the baby. "...the best in Louisiana."
"…and the south." He finished for her. "The best service I ever had from the best woman I ever...known."
Tiana was beginning to grow a bit uncomfortable as she felt his eyes on her.
Charlotte was also well aware of the man's intentions. "Tia why don't we go to the second house?"
"Why there?" Asked Travis.
Charlotte waved her hand at him. "Come on Tia. We'll bring Annabella there and talk some more."
Vance watched Tiana as she left the room with Charlotte who was now holding the baby by her side. "I hope to see ya'll soon Tia. We got a lot of catching up to do."
Tiana didn't respond.
"She's a sweet treat." Vance said. "If she wasn't colored you'd have to have an entire football team to keep me from getting at her."
"It didn't stop you before." Said Travis.
Vance laughed a little, still eying Tiana. "It's time you get over that day, Travis. It's been almost ten years."
"And if you want to be a governor than it's best that you keep your distance." Travis suggested.
"And if I don't?" Asked the blonde man.
"Than deal with scandal, shame, Naveen's fist down your throat-
"Oh that foreigner can't do anything with me." Said a confident Vance. "So about this fundraiser..." He watched Tiana until she was out of his sight. "I think I might need some chefs at the dinner with the head owner chef giving me...I meant serving me something dark and very sweet."
()()()()
Naveen was on his way home from running errands. He would do the same routine every week such as going to the bank, doing a short rehearsal with the Five Fire Flies Plus Lou and buying his wife a bouquet of flowers. He's been buying her flowers every week since they returned from the bayou three years ago. It always brought a smile to her face and he loved doing that.
Beatrice saw the very handsome prince purchasing the flowers while she was surrounded by four men who were keeping her 'company'. "Well boys, it's time I go and meet new people."
An older gentleman caught who she was eying and laughed a little. "You won't be catching his eye. He's stuck on one woman."
"You don't say?" She was still watching Naveen.
"I do say and I don't blame him one bit." The older gentleman said.
Beatrice ignored the man as she switched her hips over to the prince, who was now walking down the side walk.
"Good afternoon, Naveen." She greeted.
"Good afternoon." Naveen said as he crossed the street.
She saw the beautiful flowers and grew jealous. "Who are you taking those beautiful flowers to? Your mother?"
"My wife." Naveen knew the woman was just another 'fangirl'. Most would make snarly comments about his gifts to Tiana.
"Well your wife must be much older than you. These kinds of flowers are for old folks." She touched one of the flowers.
Naveen grew annoyed by the woman, but kept his cool with a polite response. "Then perhaps I'm a bit old fashioned with romancing my wife."
"You're much too young to be tied down to just one lady-
Naveen stopped walking to face the woman. "Sorry to cut you off, but I have to get home to my wife who I would marry over and over no matter how old or young we are. Abinanza." He started walking down the street.
Beatrice only grinned as she rested her hands on her hips. She was turned on by his resistance and his masculinity, especially his physic. "I love a good challenge." She licked her lips before returning back over to the group of men.
"I told you." Said the old man.
"Yeah..." She stood back and pointed at a middle age man who looked to closest to Naveen. "Let's have some fun."
The man lit up a cigar and locked arms with her. "Okay, baby!" He then opened his car door her her. "Where would like to go, baby?"
"Surprise me." She answered.
()()()()
Tiana pulled the roast lamb out of the oven and was pleased at the results. Roast lamb is one of Naveen's favorite dishes along with his favorite sides roasted potatoes, creamed spinach and Cajun Brussels sprouts. Very rich meal, but that's how her husband loved his dishes. Hot and rich. Cooking was also her therapy as her past feelings returned after seeing Vance. The two shared a friendship that lead to more. She liked him while he liked her, even if he was four years older. Tiana never shared this with Naveen and planned on not doing such a thing since it was before him.
Naveen stepped in the kitchen with one arm holding a bouquet full of flowers and a medium sized box in the other arm. He inhaled the aroma of his wife's cooking and exhaled out loud. "You made roast lamb?"
"Mm-hm." Tiana put the lid over the Brussels sprouts before receiving her flowers. "They're beautiful. Thank you." She gave him a kiss before putting the flowers in the vase that already had fresh water in it.
"I decided to take care of everything while you were at Charlotte's. Took a little longer than I planned but got everything done. And I am pleased to come home to you preparing dinner even if it's only two-thirty." He sat the box on the counter.
"What's in the box?" Asked Tiana.
"Something from my parents." He pointed at the Maldonian symbol.
She grew curious about the package as she placed the plates on the table. "Well aren't you going to open it?"
"I would much rather eat this delicious looking meal you just made" Naveen licked his lips as he picked up a fork.
"Well you better wash those hands." She suggested as she placed handkerchiefs on the table.
Naveen took this as an opportunity to take a hold of his wife by the waist and pull her on his lap. "Or you can feed me?" He grinned at her.
Tiana raised an eyebrow. "You've got hands that work just fine."
"Oh pretty please with Maldonian sugar on top?" He flashed her his pearly white smile.
Tiana leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. "You really want me to feed you?" She gently took the fork from his hand.
Naveen was getting aroused by his wife's sensual way of handling the fork that he didn't even hear her question. "Yes?"
"Well…" She picked up the Brussels sprout with the fork. "…you need to wash your hands because I'm not doing it." She dropped the fork in the plate and saw her husband's mouth drop open. Surprised by her actions.
"You are bad." He said.
"What's new about that?" She grinned.
"But I bought you flowers." Naveen pointed out.
"And I cooked dinner." Tiana also pointed out with her hands on her hips.
Naveen gave up and stood. "I will wash my hands." And slapped her on the behind before going over to the sink.
"That's all I wanted from you." She laughed before taking a seat at the table.
"What? No dessert?' He asked.
"I thought that I was your dessert." Tiana said.
"Achidonza." Naveen kissed his wife on the neck. "When did I get such a naughty wife?"
"Since the night you took away my virginity." She joked.
()()()()
After the meal, the two made their way up to the bedroom where they spend the rest of the afternoon. The thought of a baby never left Naveen's mind since their conversation about it. He first thought the idea wouldn't work well in their lives, but the more he thought about it, the more he really wanted to be a father. A smile cracked on his lips as he thought about his wife carrying their child. Tiana with a pregnant belly looked beautiful in his eyes.
"What are you smiling about?" Tiana asked her husband.
Naveen looked over at her. "Thinking of how wonderful life would be when you're carrying our son."
She was surprised to hear his response. "You want to have a baby?"
He grinned. "Yes...I mean, unless you changed your mind-
"No, I'm also ready." Tiana grinned back.
Naveen caressed her face. "Then let's make our baby."
()()()()