Epilogue
Grai
“Ahhh!” I screamed when a pain rippled down my spine, jolting me from my sleep.
I felt Poppa jump up and turn on the light without pause. “What? What is it, baby?”
He placed a knee on the bed to hover over me. I shook my head, trying to speak, but the pain was nearly unbearable. Warm tears scurried down my cheeks. I tried to regulate my breathing but failed miserably.
“Something’s not right with the baby,” I expressed between sharp pains.
Poppa wasted no time hopping up to get dressed.
He grabbed my robe, then laid it on the bottom of the bed before trying to help me up as best as possible.
The thought of having to go down the steps had me ready to cry, but the second he had my robe on, he scooped me up.
I sighed in relief, allowing my fingers to cling to the fabric of his t-shirt.
Mama Dee was in the hallway when we passed by. “Can you stay with the boys, Ma? I’m taking Grai to the hospital,” he called over his shoulder without stopping to hear her answer. We both knew what her response would be.
He took his time going down the stairs so as not to disturb me. He rushed us out the door and down to the car. I used the back of my hand to wipe my forehead when he placed me in the passenger seat. My hand went to my stomach, trying to erase the inky feeling at the base of my spine.
Poppa had the car kicking up dust seconds later.
He held my hand the entire time he drove.
I could see his lips moving, but I couldn’t tell what he was saying.
Somehow, I knew in my heart that he was praying.
I decided to join him because I could tell something was wrong.
We were a month away from the day I was to be induced, but my body was acting like this had to happen now.
My husband made it to the hospital in record time.
He carried me straight into the sliding doors.
“Hey, we need help! My wife is in pain, and she’s eight months pregnant,” he called out to anyone who would listen.
He paused when he realized no one was sitting at the receptionist’s desk.
“What the fuck?” he mumbled to his self.
He placed me carefully into an empty seat. The waiting area was like a ghost town. “I’ll be right back, baby. I’m going to find someone to help us.” Just as he got ready to head down the hall, a petite white lady came from the back. “Excuse me, we need some help,” he spoke.
I swear to God, this woman continued to organize the desk as if she didn’t hear him. Poppa lifted his fist to pound on the window. “You got me fucked up. I know you heard me say my wife needs help!” His voice was deep and gravelly.
The woman sighed, then rolled her eyes. If I weren’t in so much pain, I’d walk over there and smack the shit out of her racist ass. She handed him a clipboard. “Fill this out, and someone will call her back.”
He slapped the clipboard out of her hand, sending it clattering to the floor. “No, go find a fucking doctor now. My wife is eight months pregnant, and she’s in pain. We don’t have time for no muthafucking paperwork!” he barked.
I tried to regulate my breathing, but there was so much going on—the woman being difficult, Poppa and I both knowing something was wrong.
I never thought I’d be one of those women to experience child labor discrimination, yet here I was, feeling more terrified than I ever had before.
This could end very badly for me as a woman of color.
“Sir, please don’t make me call security,” the woman said with fear in her eyes.
“At this point, call them muthafuckas if that’s the only way to get someone other than your racist, paper-thin hairline having ass in here.”
My baby was pissed, and I wanted to calm him down, but this was serious. I only felt a little relief because I had someone to fight on my behalf. When it came to our child and me, Poppa wasn’t playing. If the lady knew better, she’d do what he said.
I hollered out in pain again. “Lyrix . . . ” I cried, reaching for him.
He rushed over to me and dropped to his knees.
Now that he was facing me, I could see the fire in his eyes.
There was a vein running down the middle of his forehead that I wanted nothing more than to erase. “I’m scared,” I admitted.
He tucked his lips, pulled my forehead to his, and sighed. “It’s going to be okay, baby. I’m walking out of this hospital with you and our baby. I promise you that.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Will you get some fucking help? I know you see she’s in pain!”
Before anything else could be said, Dr. Brighton came from around the corner with a concerned expression. I sighed in relief when I saw her. “What is going on out here?”
Poppa stood quickly. “Something is wrong, and this lady is being a racist bitch who would rather treat us like we’re not human.” He pointed at me behind him. “Like my wife isn’t in fucking pain right now.” Spit flew from his mouth because of how upset he was.
Dr. Brighton lifted her hands to calm him down. “I will deal with her. For now, tell me what’s going on with your wife.” She smiled. “I’m happy you two tied that knot. You’re about to need it.”
They both came over to me. “She’s in pain. She was supposed to be induced in a month.”
She dropped to her knees in front of me. “I’m so sorry for the way you were treated. I promise to look after you personally. Let’s get you to the back and figure out what’s going on.”
Poppa lifted me and carried me to the waiting stretcher. That white bitch had finally paged for some assistance. I held tightly onto Poppa’s hand when he lay me down. “Please don’t leave me,” I begged with teary eyes and a hoarse voice.
He bent down so we were eye to eye. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
I knew he was dead serious. They were going to have to pry the man’s hands out of mine. I was pushed down the hall, and Poppa remained in step with the stretcher. I think Dr. Brighton allowed it because of what we’d just gone through in the lobby.
Everything kind of ran together for me after that because I was still in pain.
Eventually, Dr. Brighton was able to discover that the baby’s heart rate was dropping, and I had to be rushed into an emergency C-section.
While they prepared a room for the surgery, my husband dropped to his knees beside the bed.
“Heavenly Father, I come to you humbly, asking that your healing hands meet my wife and daughter in the room. May you bring forth new life on this day to bless our lives with your favor and to be a reminder of your love. Of your faithfulness. Loan me your strength to fight for my family. Cover Grai in your comfort. Remove any seeds of fear that may have been planted. Meet us here today, Lord; that’s all I ask. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
When he lifted his head, I saw tears covering his cheeks. He was broken, but I could also see his fierceness. Poppa would burn this hospital to the ground if anything happened to me. “Promise me you will take care of the boys if anything happens to me.”
He stood to his feet with a scowl and used the back of his hand to wipe away his tears.
Bending over, he pointed in my face. “Let me tell you something, Grai Mercer. You are not fucking leaving me. Nothing is going to happen to you except for the fact that you will come out of that operating room as a mother of three instead of two. Stop fucking playing with me ’cause I’m not in the mood right now. ”
He marched over to the door in search of the staff, not even giving me a chance to utter a word.
I gulped down whatever I thought I was going to say because he’d just told me what was what.
If I weren’t in pain, my pussy would’ve been soaking wet at the way he straightened me right on out.
Seconds later, he returned right on the heels of the staff.
They all kept looking over their shoulders nervously.
I could’ve told him to ease up on them, but I didn’t.
I was going to let him lead in this arena because we’d already been played with.
If they knew he was going to be on their asses, they would handle me with the care and concern I deserved.
The last thing I remembered before being wheeled out of the room was Poppa making me a promise.
“I will be here when you wake up, Bubbles.”
“You are so perfect,” I heard a deep voice rumble. “I can’t wait to give you the world.”
I tried to open my eyes, but it felt like they were cemented shut. I huffed in frustration because I wanted to know what was going on. I didn’t know how many attempts I made at opening my eyes before I was able to crack them open.
I flinched from the bright light of the beaming sun. Feeling began to return to my body, and I felt a log of heat pressed up against me. My eyes rolled to the right to find Poppa lying beside me on the bed. But what held my attention was the tiny ball resting on the center of his wide chest.
“She’s here?” I croaked.
Poppa hadn’t realized that I’d stirred. I saw relief cover his face as his body deflated. He nodded with a smile. “Yes, Sienna is here, and she’s perfect.”
I smiled, hearing that we had indeed produced a baby girl. Everyone automatically assumed it was a girl, so we never found out the gender during my pregnancy. Sienna Sarah Mercer was named months ago, and my heart imploded on itself because of the love I already felt for her.
“Can I hold her?” I asked through a trembling voice. I could already feel myself about to cry. I’d finally gotten my girl. And boy, was she already a handful, from finding out about her existence to her birth. I could already tell there would always be a story to tell with this little girl.
Poppa carefully laid our five-pound, curly-headed chocolate drop baby on my chest. I began to sob, feeling complete and whole.
Things got terrifying for a minute there, but I was so thankful for my husband.
Thinking back to how he fought for me, I turned to look at him.
“Baby, thank you so much for fighting for me. I don’t know if we would’ve been here without you. ”
I saw a flash of anger roll across his face before Sienna sighed, and he smiled in response. “I will always fight for you. You are my other half. There is no me without you.”
Before I could respond, the door came open.
Loh, Ace, and Mama Dee were the first ones through the door, followed by my parents and sisters.
They all sighed in relief when they saw me up and alert.
My mama came closer. “Oh, thank God. I am so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.
I have never been so afraid in my life,” she admitted.
She was crying, and her voice was shaky.
My father had to tuck her into his side for strength.
“Me either.” I glanced up at Poppa. “But I was blessed with the best husband in the world.” I couldn’t imagine how things would’ve gone had this been Drey’s child.
Who’s to say the nigga would even be at the hospital with me?
I lifted Poppa’s hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. Thank God for moving on and forward.
“Wanna meet your baby sister?” Poppa asked the boys. They both nodded and came closer. I could tell they were shy by how stiff their movements were.
“She’s so tiny,” Ace said with stars in his eyes. He lifted a finger to twist one of her little curls. I could already tell he would be a fierce big brother. He dropped his hand onto my shoulder for comfort, making my bottom lip poke out.
Loh curled her little finger around his pointer finger. “I love her so much already,” he said with tears in his eyes. They began to fall shortly after.
Poppa pulled me closer to him and kissed the side of my head. “We all do.” I knew my baby girl couldn’t have hit a better lottery on a father or brothers. I knew they would adore her the same way they adored me. “Thank you for my baby, Broccoli Head,” he teased, causing us all to laugh.
I smiled up at him. “It was an honor.”
I sank into the bubble of love surrounding me. My eyes grew heavy, but I wasn’t afraid of the darkness on the other side. How could I be when I knew right on the other side of my nap would be everything I ever wanted? Everything I never thought I would have.
A husband, lover, and friend who didn’t play about me.
Two beautiful, intelligent, and compassionate sons.
And now a perfect baby girl to complete the song of my soul.
The chatter of everyone admiring Sienna was the perfect soundtrack to fall asleep to.
I was already anticipating when I opened my eyes again.
The girl who dropped out of high school, had two teenage pregnancies, and got her heart ripped from her chest, had found her happily ever after.
If God could do it for me, I can’t imagine the love He has out there for you.
The End