33. Baby
BABY
Everything was just spiraling out of control. Love’s mama was rushed into the emergency room thirty minutes ago, and he’s been pacing the floor since we got to the waiting room. Not even I could calm him down.
“Love, please sit. You making me nervous,” His auntie Delia scolded him, rubbing her fingers across her forehead.
“Why they ain’t tell us anything yet?’ he blurted out, waving his hands. “The fuck they doing to mama back there?”
He started to walk towards the counter, but his auntie called his name. “Love Hamilton, I said take a seat!”
Huffing out a breath, he ran his hand down his face in frustration before stomping to the chair beside me. “You ain’t have to yell at a nigga in front of company.”
She dismissed him. “Boy, please.”
Spreading his legs to get more comfortable, he grabbed my hand. I knew this wasn’t the time to admire the way his muscles bulged outta his t-shirt, but I couldn’t help tracing my eyes up his torso, then back to his face. He caught me in the act when he fixed his eyes on me, and smiled knowingly.
I tried to hide my blush, but he pulled me closer. “I know this not what you expected. I appreciate you being here, but you ain’t got to stay.”
Crossing one leg over the other, I leaned my head against his chest.
“I’m fine,” I whispered, peering up at him apprehensively, “...unless you want me to leave?”
I know he invited me to come with him, but that was before his mama had to be rushed to the hospital. I wouldn’t wanna intrude on something so personal.
“Nah,” he admitted. Chills ran down my spine when he bent to kiss my forehead. “I need you here.”
The look in his eyes had me damn near melting in my seat. He’d always been able to tell me so much with just one glance. I was just about to open my mouth to speak when someone walked up on us.
“Family of Trisha Hamilton.” The doctor scanned the room. Love stood up, me and his auntie Delia right behind him.
“That’s my mama. What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m Doctor Taylor. Your mom’s blood sugar was below 60 when she was brought in. It was a good thing you got to her when you did because it’s possible she could’ve slipped into a diabetic coma,” he proclaimed.
“Diabetic coma? I ain’t know she had diabetes.” Love turned his attention towards his auntie. “You knew about this?”
She putting her hand up. “Trish never mentioned anything to me.”
The doctor looked back and forth between them. “It’s not unheard of for someone to not know this until symptoms arrive. As of now, we’re just trying to make her comfortable and monitor her closely.”
I put my hand on Love’s shoulder for support.
“She gone wake up though, right?” he asked with worry in his voice.
The doctor smiled sympathetically. “Your mother should be fine. She’s resting but, as I said before, we’re gonna monitor her closely.
She’s been moved to room 235. You can all go on up.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask the nurse at the front desk.
” He gave us a curt nod, then walked away.
As soon as he was out of our line of sight, Love pulled me into his arms. I wrapped mine around his shoulders while he held me tightly.
“It’ll be okay,” I whispered, caressing the back of his head.
His breath was hot on my neck as he exhaled deeply. It broke my heart, the way he was clinging onto me. I may be the one thing holding him up right now.
“You heard him. She’ll be okay, Love.” I moved back to cup his face with both hands. Looking down at his mouth, I leaned in to kiss him.
“Ready to go?” I asked, smiling sweetly. He nodded.
His auntie was already heading to the elevator, so we followed her with our hands intertwined together. Once we got on, Love hit the button for the second floor, then leaned his head back against the wall. I felt so bad for him. He was hit with so much today.
“How the hell I missed something like this? If I would’ve caught it earlier...” his aunt’s voice drifted off as she thought out loud.
“Nah, this was all on me. She was at my crib longer than she was with you,” he spoke, his face filled with regret.
I interrupted.
“I know it’s not my place to offer my two cents.” They both looked over at me. “But I don’t think neither of you should blame yourselves, it won’t solve anything.”
“Yea, you right,” Love admitted, squeezing my hand. “Just gotta figure out what to do once she wakes up.”
His auntie held her arms up in prayer. “Jesus, give us strength.”
The doors opened, and we walked out. It was a waiting room right across the hall from the elevator, so I tried making my way there before Love gently tugged on my arm.
“Where you think you going?” his eyebrows raised as he asked.
I pointed towards the room. “In there.”
His head shook slowly.
“Nah, you coming with me,” he urged, looking at me over his shoulder.
“This is too much, Love. I’d rather wait in there,” I told him, moving outta his hold. “Spend time with your mom.”
I loved being near him, but he needed to do this alone.
He gave me an apprehensive look. “You gone be good?”
“I’ll be fine,” I reassured him, smiling.
“Alright,” he responded, giving me a kiss. “I won’t be gone long.”
Turning on my heels, I made my way inside the room. I forgot to call auntie when I got off from work, so that’s what I did as I waited. She was concerned of course, but I told her she ain’t got anything to worry about, especially when it came to Love. I was in good hands.