15. Egypt #2
“Fuckin’ unbelievable,” I muttered, sinking into the chair. Averi rubbed my back again, but I was too keyed up to relax.
The nurse came back in about twenty minutes later. “She’s stable now,” she said with a small smile. “You can see her, one at a time.”
I nearly ran to the room. Nana was propped up in bed, her skin pale but her eyes full of life when they landed on me.
“There’s my baby,” she whispered, her voice soft and raspy.
I rushed to her side, gripping her hand gently as tears welled in my eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I choked out. “I didn’t mean for dinner to go like that. I didn’t mean to upset you?—”
“You didn’t,” she said, brushing her thumb across my hand. “You have nothin’ to be sorry for. I just wanted…y’all to be family again.”
“I know,” I nodded, my heart aching. “But Nana… that’s probably never going to happen. They hate me. And I’ve tried to ignore it, but it’s real.”
She sighed. “Cleo and Isis… they been carryin’ their own pain for a long time. Some of it ain't yours to fix, but I still hoped before I go I could see y’all get along.”
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against her hand. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m serious, baby. When I’m gone, they’re the only family you got left.”
I sat up slowly and looked her dead in the eye. “No, they’re not.”
She blinked. “What you mean?”
“I got family in L.A. My girls. Serenity, Averi, Arielle…they’re my sisters.
Their kids, they call me auntie. I got Creed and Brodie, Royal…
people who love me. People who choose me.
And I still got you.” She smiled then, eyes crinkling at the corners.
“And now…” I hesitated, wiping my face. “I got someone else. Someone new.” She tilted her head slightly.
“I’m pregnant,” I whispered, the words hitting me all over again. “I’m gonna have a baby.”
Her eyes widened, and then the brightest smile broke across her face. “Baby girl…”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “I almost didn’t keep it. I went to the clinic. I was gonna…I was gonna do it, Nana.”
“Oh, honey…”
I sniffled. “I told Nasseem, and it went all bad. He said I should get rid of it. Accused me of trying to trap him. We said the worst shit to each other. I ain’t heard from him since.”
She squeezed my hand, face full of love and wisdom. “Men…get scared, Egypt. Especially when they think they ain’t worthy of something good. You hear me? I’m not sayin’ he’s right. But I’ve been around long enough to know that a man’s first reaction ain’t always his final one.”
“I still love him,” I whispered. “I wish I didn’t. But I do.”
She nodded slowly, brushing her knuckles against my cheek. “Then let God do what He’s gon’ do. And in the meantime, you take care of yourself and that baby.”
I nodded, leaning in to hug her carefully. “I want you to come live with me in L.A.,” I said suddenly. “I’ll take care of you, Nana. Whatever you need.”
“Oh, baby,” she chuckled softly. “You got a whole life ahead of you. I don’t wanna be a burden.”
“You’re not,” I said fiercely. “I miss you every damn day. I just want you close.”
She paused, then smiled again. “How ‘bout this… When the baby’s born, I’ll come stay a few months. Help you get settled. If it feels right, we’ll talk about me stayin’ longer.”
I exhaled, relieved. “Okay,” I said, wiping my tears again. “Okay, that works.”
I stayed with her for a couple more hours, just holding her hand, watching her breathe.
When Cleo and Isis finally returned, I didn’t speak to them.
I just kissed my Nana on the cheek, promised her I’d be back first thing in the morning, and left before I said something else that might give her another heart attack.
I was tired. Emotionally wrung out. But for the first time in days, I felt like I could finally breathe.
Another week had passed. Averi had flown back to link with Royal on the road, promising me she’d hop right back on a plane if I needed her. I told her she didn’t have to. I needed to stand on my own right now and I’d see her back in L.A.
I’d checked out of the hotel suite and moved into my Nana’s house full time.
Felt right. Felt peaceful. She needed me, and if I was being honest, I needed her too.
The mornings were slow and gentle. I’d wake up early to fix her breakfast, then we’d sit outside on the porch and talk like two old Southern ladies about everything and nothing.
I’d run errands during the day or hit the studio while she napped or watched her stories.
Nights were quiet. No drama. No noise. Just me, her, and the baby growing inside of me.
I hadn’t told her about the occasional cramping or how sore my breasts still were. She already fussed over me like I was made of glass, and I didn’t want her worrying more than she already was.
I was curled up on the couch in one of her soft throw blankets, my phone propped up against a pillow as I Face Timed with Serenity and Ari.
“Girl, how long you gon’ stay gone?” Serenity asked, sipping on something iced in a pink Bradshaw Luxe tumbler. “It’s been weeks.”
“I know,” I said, curling my fingers over my belly. “But I just need a little more time. Nana’s recovering, and I can’t leave until I know she’s good.”
“Well, you better bring your ass back for my studio opening,” Serenity warned with a smile. “I already got the press locked in, the vendors, everything. You better be there, Egypt.”
I held up my hand in surrender. “I’ll be there, I promise.”
Ari was lounging back in a robe, fresh out the shower from the look of it. “So, you really just ignoring Nas?”
“I’m not ignoring him,” I sighed. “I just…I’m not ready. Not after everything.”
Serenity leaned in closer to the screen. “He’s been blowing me up tryna find you. Talking about he wants to fix it, wants to explain…”
“Thanks for not telling him where I am,” I said, my voice dropping. “I’m not ready to see him, y’all. I know you think I’m being dramatic?—”
“We don’t,” Ari cut in. “We saw what that shit did to you. You needed to get away. But you can’t run forever.”
“I’m not running,” I said. “I’m… catching my breath.”
They didn’t press me any further. And I was grateful. We said our goodbyes and ended the call, and I sat there for a moment, just staring at the ceiling.
My phone buzzed again, another text from my publicist.
Paulette: Do you want to respond to the rumors about your relationship status?
I rolled my eyes and replied:
Me: No comment. Not now. Stop asking me, please.
Then I pushed up from the couch and walked outside where my Nana was sitting in her favorite porch swing, a shawl over her shoulders despite the heat.
“Hey, baby,” she said, patting the cushion beside her. I sat down slowly, the creaking wood beneath us familiar and grounding. “Sun’s nice today,” she said, squinting at the sky.
“It is.” I nodded looking up at the clear blue sky.
We rocked in silence for a while before she said, “It’s been real nice having you home.
Even if you always hog the remote.” I smiled, bumping my shoulder into hers.
“But I hate seeing you like this,” she added softly.
“You been walking around with sadness in your eyes. Don’t even try to deny it. I know you.”
I looked away, blinking at the trees. “I’m okay, Nana.”
“No, you ain’t. You’re heartbroken. And you’re lonely. And you miss that boy.”
My throat tightened. “Even if I do, I can’t just go back like nothing happened.”
“You don’t have to,” she said. “But maybe it’s time to stop avoiding the conversation.
Sometimes you just gotta rip the bandage off and get to the healing.
” I nodded, not saying a word. “Be a darling and go inside, fix me some sweet tea and a piece of that caramel cake.” she said.
“My phone’s in there too, but I left it on the charger. Let me borrow yours for a minute.”
I unlocked it and handed it over. “Don’t be snooping through my photos.”
She cackled, waving me off. “Go on, girl.”
I went inside, grabbed a Mason jar from the cabinet, filled it with ice and that overly sweet tea she loved that I could barely stomach. Then I went to her glass cake plate and cut a small piece of the cake for her and one for myself.
When I came back outside, she was rocking like nothing had happened. Handed me my phone back without a word. “Here you go, sugar.”
I didn’t think twice.
Two days later, I was coming back from the studio, tired as hell, belly a little sore from overexerting myself. I had just wrapped vocals on a track and was feeling good about it. Nana hadn’t answered my call the first time, but when I called again, she picked up.
“You want me to grab anything on the way home?”
“No, baby, just hurry up. I miss my girl.” I smiled, thinking how good it felt to be missed like that.
I got to the house about twenty minutes later, walking in with my keys jangling and the sound of old-school R&B playing low from the speakers in the kitchen. Something smelled good, greens, maybe yams, fried something.
“Nana?” I called, dropping my bag and the keys on the entry table. “You in here burnin’, I smell it all the way from the porch!”
I rounded the corner into the kitchen, still laughing, until I wasn’t.
Because standing at the kitchen counter, beside her cast-iron skillet and sweet tea pitcher…
was Nasseem. His eyes met mine instantly.
I froze and the air shifted. He had on one of those soft gray T-shirts that clung to his chest, chain tucked in, fresh fade.
His eyes looked tired but focused. Hopeful. Nervous.
Nana was smiling like the damn matchmaker she was. “Told you she’d come home soon,” she said, stirring her pot like she ain’t just dropped a bomb.
“What the fuck is this?” I whispered.
“My kitchen,” she replied, sweet as ever. “Now, go wash your hands and sit down. Both of y’all.”
I didn’t move. Neither did Nas. My hands balled into fists at my side, heart racing. Nasseem took a slow step forward.
“Egypt…” His voice alone cracked something in me I’d been trying to keep whole.