2. Color Words

Later that day...

Cian’s mind wandered back and forth from her conversation with Will to the words her father planted in her head years ago. She dropped the last of the dinner dishes in the sink, comparing the actions to the situation before her.
Like the ceramic plate’s gifted to them by Wilson’s mother as a wedding present sank to the bottom of the metal basin, she felt as if she too were sinking. The hot soapy water was her fears and the metal bottom was the pit of sad loneliness she was sure to end up in if she didn’t overcome these fears. You’re selfish if you keep this baby! What are you going to do when this child comes home crying because neither race accepts them? Her brain kept those words running like a Breaking News headline, shouting at her in the loudest manner verses the stern tone he’d used to get his point across. She absently ran the damp rag across each plate, rinsing it off and carelessly dropping it in the dish drainer.

“What’s on your mind?”  Wilson’s hands slipped around her arms in a warm embrace as he pulled himself closer to her. “Nothing.” She shook her head, turning slightly to steal a kiss from him. “You’re a great kisser but terrible liar!” He mumbled against her ear before pressing his lips tenderly just below it. He continued a path down to her shoulder fueled by the breathless sighs escaping through her nose. “Cillian.” She sighed pulling away from Will just as his fingers worked at the button on her jeans. “He’s outside! He won’t come in until we call him!” 

Wilson lifted her effortlessly, sitting her on the edge of the sink as he brought his lips back to hers. Despite the growing pressure between them, he kissed her slowly to savory each second of her soft lips.

“Mommy!” They heard Cillian cry as he came through the door. Cian jumped down from the counter just as he entered the kitchen with huge tears streaming down his face. 

“I don’t want to be a zebra!” He whined, furiously swatting his tears with the back of his hand. “What are you talking about Cilly?” Wilson put his hand up to keep Cian from running to his side and babying him as she always did. “The boy on the playground called me a zebra! He said his daddy said I’m black and white like a zebra and he can’t play with me!” He sniffled, looking up at them with the widest eyes.  Cian looked to Wilson with an I told you so smirk and her hands planted on her hips. “What boy Cilly? Show him to me!” She was stopped by Wilson’s hand again. “You can’t beat up a 4 year old Cian!” He laughed, “Let me handle this.”  Wilson waved for Cillian to follow him into the living room. He motioned for Cillian to wait by the sofa as he retrieved a book from the bookshelf. He flipped through the pages as he took a seat next to his son, stopping on a page with a picture of a zebra. “How many legs does this zebra have, Cilly?”

“One…two…three…four!” Cillian counted each of them out loud.

“How many legs do you have?” Wilson asked, point to his legs.

“Two.” Cillian replied excitedly.

“This zebra has stripes. Do you have stripes?” He poked at Cillian’s cheeks and nose.

“Nope!” He laughed hysterically as the pokes turned into tickles.

“This zebra eats hay. You want me and Mommy to start feeding you hay?”

“No!” He continued to laugh as he stuck out his tongue with disgust.

“See Cilly, you can’t be a zebra with only two legs and no stripes. You are black and white but that makes you special. You know what you say the next time someone calls you a name?”

Cillian nodded, “I say, I know you are but what am I!”

“No Cillian!” Cian cut in from the doorway as Wilson laughed at their son’s response.

“No Cilly, you say Sticks and stone may break my bones but words will never hurt me! Can you say that?”

“Yup! Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!”

Cian smiled as Wilson whipped the remaining tears from Cillian’s face, scrubbing his thumb over a patch on his chin. “You need a bath mini me!”

“Nuh uh!”

“Uh huh!”

“Nuh uh!”

“You’ve been outside playing since the sun came up and I saw you scratching your butt at these three times today! You’re getting a bath!”

“Ohhhh Dad!” He whined throwing on his over his face with his best puppy dog expression.

“Bath Cilly! No woman wants to kiss a dirty man!”

“Mommy will!” He skipped toward Cian with his lips puckered for a kiss. Cian giggled, giving into his silent demand.

“Hey hey hey!” Wilson added extra base in his voice, “Lips off of my woman! Go get your pajamas together.” He playfully rubbed his son’s head as he passed him.

“You handled that perfectly, Daddy!” Her hands slid up his waist and around his back. Wilson was a good father and that she couldn’t deny. When it came to Cillian he always made the best decisions based on the best possible outcome and how he thought Cillian would benefit from it but the way Cillian came in with eyes full of tears pushed her feelings further. School hadn’t even started yet and he was already running home with tears in his eyes from being called a name.

“I handle a lot of things perfectly, Mommy. Want me to show you?” He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth gently nibbling on it as his hands made their way down her back. They felt good, warm and gentle like mid-morning sunshine heating up her skin. His need for her pressed against her stomach as their kiss deepened, making her lose all thoughts of keeping her distance from him until one of his hands accidentally rubbed against her stomach. 

“Cillian is waiting for his bath!” She tried to break away from him but Wilson pulled her back in whispering against her lips, “I see you! Try to hold out if you want. I have a few tricks that are guaranteed to break you.” He passed her, backed away licking his lips at her before disappearing up the stairs.