Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
Brandy Noel
I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING with a queasy stomach and my head in the toilet.
My cellphone rang endlessly. I was so sure it was Armond calling to see what I wanted for breakfast since he left twenty minutes ago.
He insisted on the cook doing something for us, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle any aroma that usually enticed me.
I was barely keeping it together smelling the cleaning products that were often used to spruce up this place.
I wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep the day away.
It was quite unusual how I instantly felt better after throwing up the night before but now here I was unable to keep anything on my stomach. No food from the night before nor the wine; just this clear, filmy mess that seemed to never end.
I sat up and belched, then I was coughing and throwing up again.
I got up on my feet and slowly rose to stand and got so queasy I was right back over the toilet.
I didn’t know if I was vomiting from the food I had the day before or from the events that happened while I was trying to enjoy my food.
It was all too fast, and even though the adrenaline of it all had passed, it seemed like my stomach was finally catching up.
“Honeybee?” Armond called out from the entrance. I heard the slam of the front door then the footsteps that followed. Either my head was still spinning or I heard more than one set of footsteps coming my way.
“I’m in here,” I called out weakly.
It only took a few more seconds before he joined me alongside my sister and a nurse?
“Still in the same spot I left you, honeybee? That’s not good.
Look…” He sighed. “When you didn’t pick up after the third time I went ahead and called your sis then I took the initiative to call our family doctor.
This is Dr. Hanna. She’s going to figure out whatever…
” He waved his hand over me and the toilet. “…that is.”
He scrunched his face and I couldn’t help but giggle. That was short lived because it caused me to heave and burp very loudly. It smelled horrendous.
“Oh my gosh.” I covered my mouth. “I am so sorry.”
“Yeah, sis, no more liquor for you. That shit smells like a fishbowl gone all the way wrong. What the fuck?” Chardonnay said as she waved her hand to push the smell away.
I burped once more then regurgitated into the toilet.
I heard the shuffle of movement behind me and the warmth of Armond’s touch met my back as he softly rubbed it.
That extra ounce of comfort and warmth helped my stomach calm the heck down.
I still felt nauseous but not nearly as urgent as a few minutes prior.
“It’s alright, honeybee. I’m right here,” he assured.
Once I felt the tingle in my cheeks go away, I rested my head on his bicep. Chardonnay handed me a cool cloth and I wiped my face then my mouth. I mumbled a thank you and used Armond as a brace to finally stand.
Dr. Hanna’s hand met my back to help stabilize me. Armond shot her a look and she quickly took a couple of steps back.
“You can set up in the dining room. I’ll bring her in once she brushes her teeth and changes,” Armond instructed.
She simply nodded then went about her business.
Chardonnay nodded like she was impressed and followed us into the bedroom without saying a word.
It seemed like Armond liked it that way and she immediately peeped it.
I assumed she got permission to enter his room because he didn’t rebut the intrusion.
“Her closet is over there, Nay Nay. Grab something comfy and easy to take off if necessary,” Armond said, pointing her in the right direction.
“You got it,” she replied.
Armond eased me up once we entered his en suite and my hands planted on the sink. My legs were wobbly, but he held me firmly and wouldn’t let go. He slowly slid his hands around my waist and rested them on my tummy. I leaned against him and stared at us in the mirror.
My hair was messy and my face hadn’t been washed. My shirt looked like I’d pulled at it all night. My lips were chapped and I felt so unkempt I quickly shut my eyes.
“Mama, what’s troubling you? Don’t say the obvious. I saw that look just now. You think I’m ashamed of you in this state?”
“No but I am,” I replied honestly.
“Why? You’re unwell. There’s no need to feel ashamed. We all go through it,” he said softly in my ear. He kissed my head then leaned forward to turn on the faucet.
I watched him in the mirror and felt my heart grow a size. I’d never been cared for in this way. I was often made fun of and told I couldn’t handle being a big dog. I sought comfort in Armond’s eyes and he showed it in more ways than one.
He handed me a toothbrush with the paste already on then grabbed a soft bristled hairbrush. He waited for me to brush and rinse the first round out before he began stroking my hair into place.
I tried my best not to move much but he insisted on me just doing what I needed to. By the time I was done washing my face and brushing my teeth, my hair was in a neat ponytail that rested at my nape.
Chills rolled across my skin. His light touch against my shoulders made my hair rise. The little bumps putting my feelings out there in unknown territory.
Armond lifted my chin with his forefinger and made me stare at him through the mirror.
“Not me, honeybee. Look at yourself,” he said.
I did as I was told and smirked. I was beginning to look like myself again, softer, more vulnerable, more…
me. I couldn’t explain the overwhelming sensation that erupted through me.
One would call it being proud or even idyllic.
For me it was a simple word that seemed to define what Armond and I were building… peace.
Either way, the security and love in his eyes didn’t waver because of my ailment.
He didn’t judge me or make me feel silly for having an ill tummy.
He hadn’t left my side for long and the fact that he came back with not just a doctor, but my sister as well, let me know he cared and paid way more attention to me than he let on.
“There’s my queen. Beautiful and bare. The makeup and expensive runway outfits never appealed to me.
Seeing that you didn’t care too much about it either seemed to draw me to you initially.
I’ve been to plenty of yoga sessions where the instructor was full of makeup and by the time the session was over, they were on their third towel and exposed anyway.
From the moment I first saw you at the bar, you’ve been completely yourself.
Raw, glowing, and gorgeous. I love you just the way you are, Brandy. I love every bit of you,” he expressed.
Love? Have we made our way to love already? Shit if I didn’t love him.
“I love you too, Armond.”
He kissed my cheek then turned me around to face him.
“We’re going to figure out what’s going on with you then you can rest until you’re up for doing more. How’s that?” he asked.
“Sounds good. Thank you, Mon Mon. Like truly.”
“You know I’m going to take care of my baby now,” he said, then smirked. “I even bought that Icelandic water you’re always drinking too. I admit, it’s pretty good.”
“I told you,” I teased as I stuck my tongue out.
His eyes lowered and his tongue swiped along his bottom lip. My stomach got tight as heat coursed through my body, creating an inferno between my legs.
I quickly went from feeling like I would throw up a spleen to wanting him to devour me with that tongue.
I grabbed his hand then led him to his bed, where Chardonnay had laid a cute cami and sweatpants out for me.
She was stepping out of the closet with a fluffy robe and Armond nodded in approval.
I had a feeling he was about to say something had he not seen it.
He always made sure I had something warm to cozy myself up with.
“Do you need to shower, baby? I should’ve asked that while we were in the bathroom,” he said. His hand met his forehead then pushed the loose strands of his hair back into place. He was so cute when he was worried.
“I’m good, love. I took a shower before all that happened. Thankfully everything went in the toilet,” I explained.
“Very good. We will leave you to it then. If you need any help, just holler. I’ll be right outside the door,” he said.
I smiled and nodded then looked at my sister. The surprised expression on her face and her constant nodding gave all the approval I’d ever need from her. She liked Armond for me.
“Thank you, sissy,” I called out. She looked back at me and smiled before heading out.
I looked at the clothes and sighed. I threw my body onto the bed and slumped my shoulders. I still felt pretty crappy, but I didn’t want them worrying too much behind me. I was sure Armond had work he needed to tend to, yet he was here with me and had been all night.
I woke up still lying on his chest. I felt when he finally got up and kissed my head then an hour later, he was right beside me by the toilet.
He was very attentive and I appreciated it so much.
Now, I was going to see a doctor right here in his loft.
I loved that man something crazy. The way he cared for me seemed like two months were easily two years of being together.
He cared about the little moments. He didn’t flaunt his money around just because he could. He took care of everyone around him and I understood why so many people respected him. He stood on business in every single way.
Shortly after getting dressed, my cellphone rang and I finally cared enough to answer. I smiled when I noticed it was Stella calling.
“Hey, boo!” I said excitedly.
“Naw ain’t no ‘hey, boo’, ol’ heifer,” Marsha chimed in before Stella could say anything.
“Well hello to you too, hoe,” I replied.
“Mhm whatever.”
“Girl, you gon’ let me talk? You could’ve called her yourself for all this,” Stella griped.