30. Saje #2
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Miami, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.
A day so stunning, I wished I could have enjoyed it any other way than at a stupid ass gender reveal.
Fake smiling in front of a large group of people, especially Reason’s mother, was not how I wanted to waste my day.
My long tresses were curled to perfection, my makeup made me look like a melanated porcelain doll, and the light orange, thousand-dollar backless dress I wore draped every curve as if it had been designed specifically for me.
Diamonds glistened on my ears, neck, wrists, and even my sandals were covered in diamonds.
This was a day a bitch or nigga couldn’t tell me shit. I looked good, and I knew it.
“Excuse me, Godfrey.” I lightly tapped the back of the driver’s seat.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered with his eyes remaining on the road.
“Can you please stop at the wine store over there at the corner?” I leaned forward from the backseat and pointed at the large, neon green Wine sign.
“No problem, Mrs. St. Pierre.”
I needed a drink badly, preferably something stronger than wine, but I didn’t want to do too much. I didn’t mind being a little buzzed, just something to get me through the day.
Godfrey pulled into the parking lot, and before he could fully come to a complete stop, I was hopping out the truck. I needed to purchase a bottle fast and in a hurry.
In all the years Reason and I had been together, we had our share of ups and downs, but nothing to this extent. I blamed it on the unborn child who would soon enter our lives and make things worse than they’d been lately. Knowing this made me hate the situation more.
I scanned each aisle as my thoughts went haywire.
When I found a random bottle of red wine that had the highest percentage of alcohol, I grabbed the bottle and headed straight to the cash register.
After paying, I rushed back to the truck.
Godfrey stood there waiting with the back door open.
I damn near dived into the back seat like it was the pool.
He gently closed the door and walked over to the driver’s side as I popped open the bottle of wine.
Godfrey started the engine and then looked at me through the rearview mirror, just as I was pouring the liquid down my throat, like it wasn’t strong, like it wasn’t bitter, like it didn’t burn, and like it didn’t have the effect to control my emotions even further. I didn’t care how unladylike I looked.
BURP!
I held my chest like the loud belch was going to take me out. For a split second, I felt embarrassed about a burp accidentally slipping out, but that only lasted for so long. I had to remember this man worked for me, not the other way around.
I took a few more big gulps and realized the bottle was more than halfway done.
Just as we pulled up to the port, I decided to quickly down the rest. After tossing the bottle on the empty seat next to me, I looked around at how far Reason had gone with the decorations.
The nigga went all out like I was the one pregnant.
This was some shit that should’ve been reserved for his wife, not some random bitch.
Maybe I should’ve given in and given him a baby.
I shook away the thought in a hurry as soon as it crossed my mind.
Green and white flowers lined the bridge that led to the yacht.
No Reason’s muthafuckin’ ass didn’t hire Khésha to make these beautiful arrangements for his gender reveal with another bitch.
I could spot her work from a mile away. Her bouquets always looked like a work of art, and until this point, I was accustomed to Reason only hiring Khésha for my floral needs.
I got out of the truck and continued eyeing Khésha’s setup. I hated to admit how gorgeous everything looked, because it wasn’t solely for me. She had outdone herself, and I couldn’t imagine how the decorations on the yacht looked.
The burning sensation inside my stomach increased as I got closer to the entrance. I took my time walking, allowing myself enough time to control my true feelings. Once I reached the guest's side gate, I carefully held the rail and stepped aboard.
The first person I spotted was my father; I rushed over to him, hoping his presence alone would give me some type of comfort. What the fuck is wrong with me? I took a deep breath and immediately smiled when he turned around to face me.
“Baby girl.” His warm smile against his brown skin instantly made me feel a sense of peace.
“Hey Daddy. I didn’t know you were coming,” I admitted.
“Well, I can’t say I don’t feel a way that my one and only daughter didn’t invite me to her gender reveal. Instead, I had to hear about it from my son-in-law.”
I sighed. “Sorry.” My eyes traveled down to the glistening diamonds on my sandals. “I didn’t think this would count as a ‘real gender reveal’ since I’m not the one carrying this child.”
My father stared at me for a minute, like he was studying me and trying to figure out what I was saying. “Saje, didn’t you and Reason come up with the idea of having a surrogate together?”
I took a minute to respond. Should I be honest or keep up with this lie? “Uh, yeah, Daddy. We did… We both want this baby.”
The look on his stern face told me he didn’t believe a word I was saying. Without probing any further, he nodded and pulled me in for a hug. This was affection I didn’t know I needed. I wished he never had to let me go.