If Only

1|Forever and Always

Picking up the phone to answer the FaceTime call, Nadira instantly smiled. Calling her was her husband, Quinton, from Chicago.

"Hey, papa!" She answered jubilantly. He chuckled, looking to the side then licking his lips. "Wassup, Angel face?"

She blushed, watching him smirk.

"Nothin'. I'm so excited right now I can hardly sit still." He laughed again, nodding his head. "Baby, you so propa'. 'Hardly'. So cute."  She giggled, looking down.

"Why shouldn't I be? I'm a lady. Anyway. You're coming back today! Speakin' of, what time does your flight come in? I wanna pick you up. Haven't seen my baby in forever." She rambled on.

He cleared his throat, looking at her with sad eyes.

"Uh, baby. I gotta tell you somethin' real quick." Noticing the look on his face, she closed her mouth. "You didn't cheat, did you? You said you could handle a month. That's not fair, Quinton! You promised me th—"

"I ain't cheat, Nadira. The hell I'ma cheat on your when it took me so long to getchu? I married you, mama. I got too much respect for you to do some shit like dat."  She smiled at him, remembering the night he proposed and cried.

"Okay, so why you got that look on your face?" He sighed.

"My flight got canceled, 'Di."

She frowned in confusion. "Okay? I'll book you another one. That's an easy fix." He shook his head, dreading what he was about to tell her. "There's a huge blizzard comin' this way, baby girl. Everything's snowed in. They say it's not safe to fly in or out of the Chi for the next two weeks."

Her mouth opened, then closed. "Two weeks?" She pouted, beginning to slouch. "My birthday is tomorrow. The only thing I wanted since you left was for us to spend it together," she stated quietly, her bottom lip beginning to tremble.

His face softened, feeling awful for ever leaving her. "Don't cry, Dira. Please?" She looked down covering her face so he wouldn't see her. "Did you get the box I sent?" She nodded, still looking down. She wiped her face, but it was no use. The tears kept coming. "Go get the box and open it." Getting off the bed, Nadi retrieved the box from the dresser and returned. Opening it, she laughed, taking out the plush and slightly oversized bear. On its shirt was a picture of the two smiling at each other at the church picnic.

"Press the hand," he urged. "Which one?" She questioned. "The right one," he responded. She obliged, finding the button within the soft toy.

I love you forever and always, Angel face.

"Q,..."

Nadi pouted and sniffled, holding the bear close to her. "Did you not like it? It was a li'l basic, but..."

She quickly shook her head.

"I love it, papa. It even smells like you. It's perfect. Thank you," she said softly, wiping her eyes.

He grinned, looking down and nodding. She laughed at his attempt to hide his blush.

In the distance, someone called Quinton's name. He huffed. "Baby, I—"

"You gotta go, I know. I love you. I'll see you in two weeks, I guess."

He smiled weakly. "I love you, too. Cheer up. I'll be there sooner than you know."

Sooner than you know. As if, she thought. Placing a kiss on the camera, she ended the call so he wouldn't see her cry anymore.

Sighing, she placed her phone on the charger and laid under the cover. Glancing at the bear, she grabbed it and cuddled, preparing to go to sleep. Closing her eyes, the last thing she heard was,