36. Dream
I was now seven months pregnant, and I was finally feeling good—better than I had in years, actually. My first five months, I was sick, but I trooped it out. The nausea was finally long gone, my energy was decent, and I was glowing in every way. Well, glowing and growing. I’d gained close to fifty pounds, and sometimes I felt like I was carrying twins. But it was just one baby, a boy, who kicked around like he was training for the Olympics.
As planned, I had been flying Jackie, my psychologist, out three times a month. The sessions worked tremendously, pulling me out of the dark space I’d been in and helping me find peace. It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny. Damier insisted on covering the fees, but I refused. He’d already done so much for me, for us, and I felt like this was something I needed to handle on my own.
Even he had started therapy with my top psychologist, as I recommended, promising to stick with it until the baby was born. He was getting better—mentally focused, more grounded—but at his core, he was still the man I fell in love with. His dark side was still there, the part of him that protected me fiercely and loved me deeply. And truthfully, I didn’t want him to change. He was who he was, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.
My circle was small, but I loved it that way. Aside from my therapist, Chanel, my mom, and Mrs. Knight would fly out regularly to visit. It was just enough family and familiarity to keep me grounded. I didn’t need a lot of friends in my new, more private life, and I didn’t miss the chaos of my old one.
The house was alive with laughter and chatter. Everyone had flown in to celebrate our birthdays—mine and Damier’s—since they were in the same week, just before Thanksgiving. It was a big deal for both of us, and with me being big pregnant, the family had all come to my villa for a week of exclusive family time.
I was upstairs in the bedroom, sleeping peacefully. The pregnancy weight had me drained most of the time, and the sound of the waves outside the house always lulled me into a deep sleep.
The door creaked open, and I heard my mom’s soft voice. “Baby girl, wake up. Come eat something.”
I blinked, rubbing my eyes as I sat up slowly. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to get up and enjoy your family,” she said with a smile.
I stretched, my back aching slightly. “Alright, I’m coming,” I mumbled as I slid out of bed.
I slipped into a cute, soft blue Chanel sweatsuit, complete with matching slides, and tied my hair up into a messy bun.
I walked through the house and found everyone in the backyard. When I stepped outside, the sight took my breath away. The sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks, while the small palm tree in the yard sparkled with royal blue lights. Underneath the tree, there were wrapped gifts in elegant paper, their bows glistening in the fading sunlight.
I froze, realizing what was happening. “What… is this?” I asked, looking around at the smiling faces of my family.
Chanel stepped forward, grinning. “Surprise! Baby shower for baby Dami!”
My hands flew to my mouth, tears welling up as I looked at everyone. “You guys didn’t have to do this!”
Mrs. Knight stepped forward, her usual composed demeanor softened by a warm smile. “Of course we did, darling. Every Knight baby deserves to be celebrated, and so does his mama.”
We all gathered around as I started opening the gifts. Everything was designer—Gucci onesies, Burberry blankets, Dior baby shoes. It was overwhelming to see how much love and thought everyone had put into this moment.
Mrs. Knight rolled over her gift, a cute Fendi stroller. “Something stylish for your stylish little one,” she said, winking.
“Thank you so much,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
Then, it was Damier’s turn. He walked over, holding a wrapped box and a soft smile on his face. “This one’s from me,” he said.
I unwrapped it carefully, and when I saw what was inside, the tears started falling instantly. It was a fleece blanket covered in pictures of me and my brother Donta.
“I want our kids to know about their uncle,” he said softly. “So, I’ll always make sure they have things to remind them of him.”
I broke down, clutching the blanket to my chest. My parents came over to hug me, their eyes wet with tears as well. “This is so thoughtful,” my mom said.
“I’m going to use this at the hospital,” I announced, still crying.
But Damier wasn’t done. He handed me another envelope, and when I opened it, my breath caught. It was Donta’s official birth certificate, listing me as his mother and making his name officially Donta Jaxton Knight.
I couldn’t hold it together. All the women were crying now, and even the men were patting Damier on the back, nodding in approval.
After the gifts were opened, the baby shower turned into an early birthday celebration. The chef brought out a massive cake that said Happy Birthday Dream and Damier , and the table was packed with party food and drinks.
I ate and danced with Damier for a while, even though my feet were killing me. He was drunk and laughing, enjoying every second of his 37th birthday.
“You made it,” I said, smiling up at him.
“Damn right I did,” he said, pulling me close.
Chanel and Hocus had brought their children, so they were eventually sent inside with baby Donta in the care of Damier’s seventeen-year-old sister, Dashae, who had fallen in love with her nephew. That left the adults to let loose.
I had to sit down after a while, my back and feet protesting. Damier joined me, still sipping on his cognac as we watched everyone else enjoy themselves.
He turned to me, his voice low. “You ready to go back to Cali?”
I nodded, smiling. “Yeah. Especially since the plan is to have the baby there.”
“Good,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “The renovations at the house are done, and the kids’ rooms are just the way you wanted them. I am going to hire Danielle to add the finishing touches since she is dying for a real job in her profession. We can just make this place a rental home and vacation spot for us.”
Danielle was Damier’s little sister as well, but she was the oldest. I met her and all his sisters for the first time on this trip, and they were a joy to be around. Danielle was in school for interior architecture, so I didn’t mind her finishing the job.
My heart warmed at his words, and I leaned into him, grateful for everything he had done to make this pregnancy as easy as possible.
That night, after everyone had gone to bed, we showered together, the water washing away the day. We ended the night tangled in each other’s arms, making love slowly and passionately, thankful for how far we’d come and excited for what was still to come.