24. Malik #2
I promised I only needed five minutes, and Sametra agreed. I asked about everything from prenatal vitamins to travel safety, and her and this damn coffee. Dr. Cole answered each question patiently, clearly used to my shenanigans.
“What about stress?” I asked. “She’s in school, and with everything that’s been happening lately...”
“Some stress is normal but try to minimize it where possible. Make sure she’s getting enough rest, eating well, staying hydrated.” She looked at Sametra. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If something doesn’t feel right, you come in right away. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“He’s already got that covered,” Sametra said, squeezing my hand.
“One more thing,” she said, turning back to Sametra. “I’m going to refer you to a high-risk specialist, just as a precaution because of your age and because of the complications you had with your first pregnancy.”
My heart jumped. “High-risk? Is something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Dr. Cole said quickly. “It’s just standard protocol for women over thirty-five or with a history of pregnancy complications. Better to be overly cautious than to miss something important.”
I nodded, already mentally planning to research everything about high-risk pregnancies and the best specialists in the area.
“Your next appointment will be in six weeks,” she said, handing Sametra some paperwork. “We’ll do another ultrasound then, and by that time, the baby will look much more developed.”
As we walked out to the car, I couldn’t stop looking at the ultrasound pictures.
“You okay?” Sametra asked as we reached the car. “You’ve been quiet since we left.”
“Just processing,” I said, holding up the pictures. “We made this. Together. This little person is going to be here in seven months. That shit is wild.”
“About to be so damn spoiled,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t forget lunch. We are hungry.”
As we drove to get her lunch, one hand on the steering wheel and one holding the ultrasound pictures, purpose flooded through me like never before. A new level of purpose, of responsibility, of love, I didn’t even know was possible.
I was going to be a father. And whether it was Summer or Blaze growing inside Sametra right now, they were already the most loved baby in the world.
“There,” Sametra pointed to a food truck parked near the downtown plaza. “That’s the spot. Best elote in the city.”
I pulled up and watched her practically bounce in her seat with excitement. Pregnancy cravings were no joke; she woke me up at midnight, asking for the most random combination of food. I drove all the way across town to get Insomnia Cookies and Hot Cheetos with nacho cheese one night.
“Extra jalapenos, extra cheese, extra lime,” she rattled off her order as we approached the truck.
“Damn, baby, you sure about all those jalapenos? Little mama might not appreciate that,” I said, gesturing to her belly.
“Little mama specifically requested this,” she shot back with a grin. “Don’t blame me.”
I ordered her Elote exactly how she wanted it, with a steak burrito. I ordered the same for myself, and we found a bench in the shade. The August heat wasn’t playing fair today, but the air was crisp, decent for eating outside.
“Oh my God,” she moaned after her first bite, eyes rolling back in pure bliss. “This is exactly what I needed.”
I watched Sametra attack that corn like it was the last meal on earth, getting cheese and chili powder on her chin, completely lost in the moment.
“What?” she asked, catching me staring.
“Nothing. Just taking in how beautiful you are,” I said watching her sprinkle Tajin on her food.
“Malik, I have food all over my face.”
“I know. Still beautiful.” I reached over with my napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She blushed, looking down at her food. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously in love with you, girl,” I said, pulling out the ultrasound pictures again.
“Sometimes I can’t believe this is real. That we’re really doing this. I’m starting all over at thirty-seven.”
“Any regrets?”
“No, never. It’s just a lot all at once, good things, but a lot. The engagement, the baby, and you opening your own practice. Six months ago, I couldn’t have imagined this life. It was the furthest thing from my mind.”
“And now?”
“Now I feel like everything finally makes sense.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand, bringing her knuckles to my lips.
“That first night in the hospital, when I saw you unconscious in that bed, my entire world tilted on its axis. I felt sick, like my person was hurt. I felt like God saved you for me. That crash was so bad,” I shuddered, thinking about the photos and the conditions they came in.
“I knew right then I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to be the first thing you saw when you opened your eyes.” I brushed a curl away from her face.
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Sametra.
You and this baby we made. I can’t thank you enough for your love and giving me another chance. .”
She leaned into my touch, her eyes getting glassy. “You really felt that? From the very beginning?”
“From the very beginning. I was gone before you even said a word to me.”
“Even when I was being difficult.”
“Especially when you were being difficult. I was checking boxes and shit. Like… she’s funny. Check. Beautiful, double check. Real corny shit.”
She leaned into my touch, laughing, tears threatening to spill over. “Don’t make me cry in public, Malik Jerome.”
“Too late,” I said, wiping away a tear that had escaped. “You might hear those words again. I gotta add them to my vows.”
“Come here,” she whispered, pulling me in for a kiss, right there on the bench, not caring who was watching. When we broke apart, she rested her forehead on my shoulder.
“I love you, Malik.”
“I love you too, beautiful.”
She pulled out her phone to take a picture with the ultrasound photos, adjusting the angle the way women do until it was perfect. As I watched her concentrate on capturing this moment, I realized this was what happiness looked like. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.