Chapter 30 #2
The men headed outside, smoked, and kicked the shit while Nouri and Layla put finishing touches on the food.
Yanna, Troi and Maya helped set the table, while Kian hung on to everything Nouri said in Farsi, as if he could understand the language.
By the time the men finished smoking, the food was ready to be served.
Nouri had purchased a 12-seater dining set, praying for times like this.
He hadn’t expected it to come so soon but sent a silent thanks to his God for answering his prayers.
He sat at the head, while Layla occupied the opposite end.
Each of his children and their significant others was seated.
Kian sat perched on his lap, and Layla had already expressed her jealousy about how Kian seemed to not even be worried about her.
“I’d like to bless the food before we eat if that’s okay with y’all.
” Nouri questioned, and everyone nodded in agreement, bowing their heads and closing their eyes.
During his talks with Layla, Nouri learned his sons had learned and studied a lot of Islamic prayers from Kalil.
He already knew Maya was well versed and hoped his in laws were receptive to learning, so he commenced to bless the food in Farsi.
Ending with, “Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu.”
“Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu,” In the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end Maya, Onyx and Kas repeated. Nouri could’ve died from happiness in that moment. The fact that he didn’t deserve such joy made him cherish it that much more.
Everyone commenced eating, and Nouri suggested they go around the table and discuss what was new in their lives.
Kas filled everyone in on his upcoming projects, while Onyx gave them updates on the label.
Troi discussed the growth of her pet food company, and Yanna bragged about her newly appointed position as Label Manager at WCMG.
Logan talked about his company, FLMK Industries, and how Maya was helping him scope new projects.
The conversation at the table flowed so effortlessly, no one outside of their circle would’ve been able to tell there was once turmoil.
Nouri baked Persian walnut cookies for dessert, which Kian seemed to really enjoy.
The conversation somehow shifted to sports betting when Yanna suddenly felt a strange cramping sensation in her uterus.
“Oof,” she uttered, catching everyone’s attention at the table.
“Ladybug, you alright?” Layla inquired.
“I don’t know, I--- ah!” Another cramp tightened in Yanna’s womb, taking her breath away. “I think… I think I’m having contractions and---” Her heart rate sped up as she felt a gush of liquid saturate between her legs and drip to the floor. “Oh, my God!”
“Oh, yo God what? What the hell wrong with you?” Kas questioned, bewildered as to why she was acting so strangely.
“Kas, I think she’s in labor,” Maya stated.
“I am, and my water just broke,” Yanna confirmed.
“Oh shit. Call the fire department!” Kas yelled.
“The fire department?” Onyx questioned. “Nigga, let’s get her to yo car.”
“Do we have time for that?”
“Yea, her water just broke, and the hospital is only about fifteen minutes away.”
“Okay, Yanna boo, come on. Can you walk to my car?”
“Yea, Yea, I got, uhhh! I got--- I got it.”
“I don’t know, Kas, her contractions are coming kind of fast. We need to get her to the hospital ASAP!”
“Let’s get her in the back seat, and Nouri, you gone have to drive them so I can drive my mumma. Is that cool?”
“Yea, I got them. Go ahead,” Nouri confirmed.
They all scurried from the house and rushed to get Yanna into the back of Kas’ Trackhawk and secure her the best they could. Onyx jumped into his car, and they all skirted out of Nouri’s driveway en route to welcome the new addition to the family.
“Ahhhhh, what the hell?!” Yanna screamed as a pain so intense ripped through her uterus, she thought it’d kill her.
She prided herself on having a high pain tolerance, but this type of pain was otherworldly.
She’d arrived at the hospital two hours prior, her labor progressing so fast the medical team had to scurry and get ready.
“Push, push, push, there you go, Ms. Munroe! Two more big pushes like that and we’ll have a new baby,” the nurse informed softly.
“Two? I can’t do it, no, hell no, cut me open or something, I’ve been in here for hours.
No, I want to go home.” Sweat was pouring from her forehead, and she felt exposed.
Yanna knew childbirth was supposed to be beautiful, but she just wanted it to be over.
“Kas, tell them to cut me open and get her out.”
“I’m not telling them to cut you open, Yanna boo. The nurse said two more contractions, and she’ll be out. You got two more in you, I know you do.”
“No, I don’t! If I did, do you think I’d be asking you for help right now? Why can’t you just give me what I want?”
“Okay, Jaiyanna, another contraction is coming. I need you to push for me. Hard and strong, you got this.”
“I don’t got this! Kasra, please, I don’t want to do it again. Make it stop. Make them knock me out or something!” Yanna demanded, the pain ripping through her body causing tears to cascade down her face.
Unsure of what else to do, Kas kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed behind Yanna. He guided her head to his chest while lovingly massaging her skin. “Come on, push for me.”
“Big push, Mom, push, push, push!”
“Ahhhh, my God! I said, make it stop, not climb up here behind me. You did this anyway, I hate you so baaaaaaad!” Yanna screamed as her body quaked and she began to feel faint. Troi, who’d been standing right next to the bed, placed a cold cloth on her head to ease the discomfort.
“No, you don’t, you love me. Tell me you love me, Jaiyanna.”
“I… I love you. I’m sorry, I don’t hate you. I love you.”
“I know.” Kas placed a kiss on her temple.
“It hurts so bad, Kas. I feel like I’m dying.”
“You not dying, my heart, you’re creating life. You’re doing the most heroic shit in the world.”
“I am?”
“You are,” Kas assured, smoothing hair from her face and placing kisses on her damp skin.
“Alright, last one is coming. We need one last big push, Mom, you’re doing so well.”
“Just one more. Take a deep breath and give me a big, strong push.”
“Ahhhh!” Yanna pushed as hard as she could. “It burns, Kasra. Why is it burning?”
“Because you’re bringing our child into the world. Keep pushing so I can see my daughter. Push for me.”
An animalistic growl roared from Yanna’s small frame as she balled her fist, pushing with all her might.
“Here she comes! Mom, do you want to reach down and grab her? Dad, you can help.”
“Okay, okay.” Yanna nodded. Kas placed his hands on hers, and together they pulled their daughter into the world.
“Beautiful baby girl, congratulations!” The doctors and nurses cheered and congratulated, supporting the baby on Yanna’s chest while Kas climbed from the bed so he could cut the cord.
“Oh, my gosh.” Troi beamed, tears of joy falling as she ogled her new niece. “Congratulations, Yanna, you’re officially a mother.”
“Kasra Leyla Zaman. You’re so beautiful, look at you looking just like yo mumma.” Kas was completely captivated by his baby girl, taking in her scent as he gently caressed her skin.
It was magic hour, and he and Yanna were having skin-to-skin time with their new bundle of joy.
They were in awe of her, neither of them believing they’d created something so beautiful.
She had a head full of curly hair, reminiscent of her father’s.
Olive skin, almond shaped eyes, and a button nose identical to her mother’s.
“She’s perfect.”
“Of course she is, she’s my junior.”
“Unh uh, when I suggested we name her after you, we agreed you wouldn’t do that.”
“I know, but that was then. Looking at her now, she’s definitely my junior.”
“Kassie.”
“Hell nah. We calling her Junie, my lil’ June Bug.”
“See, I should’ve named her Onixx like I wanted to at first.”
“That was never going to happen. Was it Junie? Uncle Onyx can give his own baby that name, ain’t it?” Baby Junie made a noise sounding like she was actually answering her Father. “Yea, yo mumma out her mind, ain’t she? We stuck with her, though, because we love her too much to cut her off.”
“Don’t bad mouth me to my baby.”
“See… all she do is talk. She gone be yo best friend though. Most days she gone get on yo nerves, but at the end of all of them, she’s gone be the only person you want around.”
“I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered.”
“And she’s funny too. You could be having a bad day, and she’ll randomly say some shit that’ll make it all better.”
“Kas.” Yanna crooned, and baby Junie made another tiny noise.
“What you say, Junie? Why haven’t I married her yet?
Oh, because we had a lot of growing up to do.
Both of us needed to get right, needed to deal with a bunch of childhood trauma…
something you’ll never know anything about.
We went through it, and we got through it, so now I don’t know, Junie, what you think? Should I put 25 on yo mumma’s finger?”
Like they’d been rehearsing for this in the womb, Junie made another noise.
“Yea? I should? I think you’re right, June Bug.
” Kas reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.
It had been hidden in his closet for weeks, and he’d finally taken it out to reveal it at Nouri’s but hadn’t anticipated Yanna going into labor.
“My heart, my soul, my love, my legacy… I’ve already given you every piece of me.
The only thing left is my last name. I think we finally got this shit right, Jaiyanna, so if you’ll have me.
There’s nothing more I want right now than to make you my wife. ”
“Oh my God, are you serious?”
“Serious as hell. Marry me.” Kas flipped open the box, revealing the 25-carat pink diamond engagement ring.