7. Katniss
Katniss
A Day or So Later…
“ Y ou are doing so good, Charmin.” I encouraged my patient who currently was in the middle of a water birth. “You have a few more pushes and baby boy will be out.”
The hospital that I worked with partnered with a birthing center that offered water births. I loved it when my post was there instead of the actual hospital. At the birthing center, I was afforded the opportunity to be more personable and hands on with my mothers. I also had two patients at the most, whereas at the hospital it could be on the upwards of five.
“Kat, it hurts so bad,” Charmin whined. “Just pull him out, Kat. I promise I won’t be mad.”
I knew she was tired. There was a point where we thought she would have to change her birthing plan because the baby boy tried to come out breached. Luckily, we were able to get him in the right position. “I know, lady, but think about meeting your precious boy. Give me another push.”
I stood beside the midwife who was ready to receive the baby. With one more push and a howl, there was a loud wail released in the room. “Listen at your lil man!” My heart was full. “He’s so strong, Charmin!”
The baby was placed on her chest as she cried. Charmin decided to not cut the cord immediately. Everyone moved around the room to set it up for recovery while I tended to mommy until the placenta was out. I cleaned the baby while he laid on his mommy’s chest. She wanted to breastfeed, so after we weighed him, we would immediately introduce him to the nipple.
Hours later, mommy and son rested comfortably in their room. Baby boy Darrin did very well on the breast for the first time. Charmin was my last patient for today since my other had her baby girl early this morning. I made sure that I checked on her before I went on a break. When we didn’t have personal patients, we assisted with other births. I had another four hours on the time clock, then I could go pick my baby up from Mrs. Lina’s house where Asher said he would be with our son.
In our breakroom, there were extremely comfortable recliner seats. This medical industry could be exhausting at times. It was important to take care of yourself and get the proper amount of sleep. A tired nurse or doctor was no good to any patient in the long run. I never understood people who subscribed to the I don’t sleep or I’ll sleep when I’m dead mentality. With thinking like that, you’d be dead or burned out before you knew it.
I watched the movie on the television as I sat in one of the recliners and ate my bowl of fruit. For the most part, I tried to eat clean. Yes, I was thick as fuck. I had no interest in losing weight. However, I didn’t want to gain anymore either. My head pivoted slightly to the sound of footsteps. My eyes winched closed at the sight of Evangelina and her little friend Gavin. Both of them were annoying and messy as hell.
“Hey, Kat, girl!” Gavin greeted. “How you doing today?” That boy knew he couldn’t care less about how I was doing. They rarely spoke to me.
“Outstanding,” I responded dryly. I wanted them to get what they needed and go to the other side of the break room space. Their mere presence disturbed my spirit.
Our breakroom was broken up into three sections. The lounge relaxation section was where I was currently. There was a kitchen behind it, and on the other side of the kitchen, there were tables to eat at. The relaxation side lights were dimmed. There was a divider wall between each section, but a door connected all of the sections .
Evangelina giggled, then said, “Shit, I would be outstanding too if my baby daddy was Asher Kane.” Her and Gavin cackled like little bitches at the mean girls’ table in a high school lunch cafeteria. “Girl, how did you pull that off?”
Like there was a bell in my ear, all I heard was ringing. How the fuck? What the fuck? “What the fuck did you say to me?”
“Oh, boo! You don’t have to be secretive about who your baby daddy is.” Gavin croaked through his lips, making me want to bop him in them. “The blog blasted you, boo.”
Evangelina sneered. “Imagine me working and Asher Kane Wilson is my baby daddy.” She turned her nose up. “Girl, you’re dumb as hell.”
They left the breakroom with nothing in their hands, letting me know that their sole purpose was to come in here and disturb me. I was far from stupid. Since Asher had known about Ashtan, he’d put over eighty thousand dollars in my bank account. I didn’t understand that because we had an agreed amount. When I tried to give it back, he all but cursed me out.
I pulled my phone out and googled my name with Asher’s. There it was, big as day! A blog named Milky Hot Tea had the nerve to have an article about me and Asher as a fucking exclusive.
“Girlies and Gentlemen, do I have some properly steeped tea for you all! Now we all know Pro-baller, Superbowl ring wearing, fine ass Asher Kane Wilson who plays for the Carolina Cougars. For the years that he’s blessed our screens on football nights, he has seemingly been unattached. No one has ever been able to link him to any woman. He’s one of the most desirable men in the professional football league, but he keeps that pipe on lock down apparently. Or so we thought.
Word on those Charlotte streets are that he allegedly is attached. Not just attached, but someone’s baby daddy. According to a source close to him, his child’s mother’s name is Katniss Roland. Let me tell you, Miss Katniss is a thickem. We didn’t know you liked them thick, thick Mr. Wilson.
After a little research, we know that Miss Katniss is a neonatal nurse and doula. Her IG lets us know that she has a lil following as a #nursebae. See for yourself: ForThe_LoveOf_Katniss.
Now we don’t know much yet about the baby, but y’all know I’m on the job. So, Girlies and Gents, penny for your thoughts.
I read the article repeatedly, not believing what I read. What was even more alarming and terrifying was the pictures of me coming to work, at the store, and various places around town. I thanked God that none of the pictures had Ashtan in them. What the fuck! A source close to him! I was livid!
As far as Evangelina and Gavin, oh I had something for their messy asses. I got myself up and headed to human resources. Before I walked in, I took a second to get into character. I knocked on the door with tears cascading down my cheeks and snot about to come out my nose. I was urgently let in. Somebody is going to lose their job today. No company liked bullies.
Human Resources not only let me go home early, but she initiated a paid mental health leave. Damn right! The speed of my SUV was no respecter of the speed limit as I made my way to Mrs. Lina’s house. When I read the article, I took note that the shit came out two fucking days ago. Clearly, I’d seen Asher’s stupid ass since then and he had yet to say shit to me about this bullshit. I hated being blindsided.
I heard the mower from the front of the house when I pulled up. My feet moved faster than my thoughts to the front door. With closed eyes, I tried to steady my breathing. I didn’t want to spazz out in front of his parents again. With my best feigned smile, I knocked on the door. Seconds later, Mrs. Lina opened it with Ashtan right there beside her. My son is so fucking nosy.
“Mama! Hi!” He pushed his granny to the side before he extended his arms to be picked up. When he was in my arms, he wrapped his little arms around me best that he could.
I kissed all over his face as I had done since he was two months old. When he was born, I was scared to kiss him on the face because I thought it would give him baby acne. “Hi, mommy’s baby!” After my kisses, his greeting, and giggles, he wiggled out of my arms. “Were you good for granny?”
His head knocked side to side before he said no, then ran off yelling for his papa. “Chile, you know dat boy ain’t been a bit more good.” She told me to come in. “You look tired and hungry. Come eat.” She walked toward her kitchen.
No matter how mad I was, I would definitely eat whatever she cooked. This woman could cook her ass off.
“I am. Is Asher in the back?” I questioned.
“Yeah, you know he out der. He should be finished cuttin da grass now.” She stood in front of her stove with a spoon in a pot mixing it. “Go head and go out der.”
I did just that. I got out there just in time to see Asher locking the shed that stored the riding lawn mower. Their backyard was massive. When our eyes locked, I knew that he knew exactly why I was here. I hated that he still was sexy as hell. His locs were up in a man bun just the way I loved them to be. When he stopped in front of me, I crossed my arms over my chest and mugged him.
“Look, I’m already knowing,” he confessed with his hands held up in surrender. “I already took care of it, Fat-fat. Don’t even trip.”
I put my finger in his face, but he used his hand to gently push it down. I wanted to put it back up, but the tightness of his face told me to not push my luck. “Do you see why the hell I was fine with raising my son by myself? It’s because of this bullshit. People close to you are running their fucking mouths!”
His hand swiped his nose as he snickered behind his closed lips. “First, lower ya fuckin voice. I ain’t never disrespected you and you will never again disrespect me.” He eyed me narrowly. “Second, Ashtan ain’t none of just yours. That lil boy came from my nut sack, so deal wit dat shit. Now as far as that shit that ran in the blogs, ain’t no one close to me said shit.”
My left thick hip stuck out to welcome my hand. “Then who ran to the blogs about this? Better yet, who in the hell has been stalking me?” He acted like this was no big deal. “Do you realize how dangerous that could be, Asher?” With a grunt, I said, “I live a-damn-lone.”
“Don’t you think I know dat?” Asher walked around me toward the back door. Before he opened it, he peeked over his shoulder at me. “I told you I handled da shit. I holla at the bitch that said something.”
He pulled the door open but stopped when I spewed my next question. “So, you had some groupie bitch around our son?” I was pissed.
He closed the door before he spun on his heels to face me. “I done told you to watch ya tone wit me. No, I ain’t had no bitch around our son. An old bitch that I forgot to take off my visitor’s list popped up and saw him when I opened my door.” He paused. “I took da bitch off da list and sent her ass on her way.” He crossed his arms over himself. “Tell me, Katniss. Why you really mad? You mad dat I potentially had a bitch round our son or because you wanted ta be dat bitch?”
I rolled my eyes, then waved him off. “Get over yourself, Asher.” I scoffed, then moved around him. “I’m about to have your mama make me a to-go plate, then head home.”
I heard his laughter behind me, but it was fuck him. He could kiss my entire ass. My pussy too… Wait! Nope, get that out of your head. He is the enemy right now.
I tried to get a to-go plate, but Mrs. Lina said no. She said if I wanted to eat her food I would do it in her house. Tiara came over with her lil bean who was getting so big. We all ate together, and I had to have Asher in my damn face the entire time.
When the night ended, Mrs. Lina still gave me a damn to-go plate. Of course, Asher walked me and Ashtan to my SUV so that he could put a sleeping Ashtan in his car seat. “Alright, Fat-fat, make sure you text me when you get home.” He smacked my ass. “Don’t have me come looking for you.”
I stood there watching him walk back to his mother’s house. What am I doing? Ever since he smacked my ass the first time, he had done it every time since then. The bad part about it was that I liked it. There were so many nights after I’d left his presence that I had to use my rose. My baby daddy was fine and had dick plus mouth for days. I need to get my shit together.
The Next Morning…
“Ashtan, don’t you take your shoe off.” I fussed at my son. His little ass was a busy body like hell. “I’m telling you, Ashtan, I will pop you.”
“No pop!” This little boy put his finger up at me from where he sat on the floor like he was trying to get me told. “Mama, no pop!”
I was running late for relaxation because someone wanted to wake up at one in the morning and watch television in my bed. That would have been fine if he didn’t wake me every five minutes so that I could see something. Oh, and let’s not discuss his burst of laughter. I had to get his little ass to day care. The plus about being late was that I wouldn’t have to endure all of the parents that dropped their kids off at the same time.
I stood there patiently and watched Ashtan take his sweet time standing up from his seat on the floor. Although I didn’t have to work right now, I still planned to take him to day care so I could relax. Once he was up, he grabbed his bookbag from his cubby, then brought it over to me. “Put it on, Mama.”
After he was ready, he walked to the door first. I turned the knob and pulled open the door. “What the fuck?” I dropped the bags in my hand and grabbed my son. I doubled back into my apartment and slammed the door.
There were like five people outside of my apartment with cameras. They all caught pictures of us before I was able to pull him into the house.
“Ssh, it’s okay.” I scared my boy because of how quickly I grabbed him and pulled him back. “Mommy’s sorry.” I pulled my phone out and called his father.
He answered on the second ring. “What’s up, Fat-fat?” That was yet another thing that I decided to give up on. Gone was him calling me Katniss. Now everything was Fat-fat. What upset me was that I didn’t mind. I kind of liked it. When he did call me Kat or Katniss there was disappointment that he didn’t call me the special nickname he’d deemed for me.
“Asher, there are people outside of my fucking apartment with cameras!” I yelled into the phone, further scaring Ashtan. “Why are they here, Asher?”
I heard him tell someone that he had to go. It was close to spring practice beginning so his schedule had started to pick up. “Fat-fat, I on da way. Don’t leave da fuckin apartment. Tell my boy I comin.”
He hung up on me. “You want some of granny’s cookies, Ashtan?” He was a sucker for his granny Lina’s cookies. He nodded his head, so I went to get his cookies. While I waited for Asher, I texted my parents and Daisy. I had to convince Daisy to stay at work, but there was no convincing my father.
Every time I peeked out of my blinds, I saw the same people out there. I never thought that the whole paparazzi thing was a real thing. Well, not for professional athletes. “Aye, y’all betta get da fuck way from my baby mama fuckin doe before I fuck y’all up!” Asher’s voice was loud and angry. There was a bang on my door. “Fat-fat, open da door.”
“Dada! Dada!” Ashtan shot up and rushed to the door. He tried to pull the door open.
When I pulled the door open, Asher stepped in and picked up our son. “Aye, man, you good? Them boys mess wit you?”
Ashtan laid his head on his daddy’s shoulder. A few seconds later, my daddy’s voice registered in my ears. “I will shoot the fuck out of all you fuckas if you don’t get away from my daughter’s door!”
Ah hell! I ran to the front door and swung it open. My father stood there with a Glock in one hand and a shotgun in the other. Joe Roland was a nut on the low. You never saw it coming until you were in the thick of it. “Daddy, get in here!”
The people around continued to take pictures of the scene. “Oh, y’all think I’m playing!” With one hand my father jacked his shotgun and let off a shot in the air. The people scattered. Only then did he come toward my door.
I was about to close the door until I saw a Jeep pull in the parking lot at full speed. I guess convincing Daisy to stay at work didn’t work. When she hopped out of her car with her gun in hand, I threw my head back. “What the hell, Daisy!”
“What? I’m making sure my best friend and my god-nephew are alright.” Her attitude was so nonchalant. “You know I don’t play about y’all two,” she said after she came into my apartment and kissed my cheek.
Once the door was closed, I stood there not knowing what to do or say. My father was the first to speak. “So, young man, what we doing with this?” This was the first time that my father had officially met Asher Kane in the context of being Ashtan’s father. “I don’t want to have to come out here like this and kill someone over my daughter and grandson.”
Asher kept his eyes on me while he held our son who still had a cookie in his hand. “Mr. Roland, you ain’t gotta worry bout none of dat shit. I done called my buildin and dey got an available three-bedroom unit a few floors down from me.” He put Ashtan down who was wiggling in his arms to get down. “My realtor already getting da paperwork together.”
My head bucked back. “Your realtor is getting the paperwork together for what?” I felt like we were talking about two different things.
“Fa you, Katniss. You and my boy. You can’t stay outcha with no security,” he said with annoyance. “My buildin secure, and we’ll be close for our boy.”
When my daddy told him that it was a good look, my eyes doubled in size. “Good look! Hello, I can’t afford to live there. What the hell are y’all talking about?” With my eyes on Asher, I said, “Your building has damn valet parking and a full Starbucks in it. I can barely afford the damn Starbucks.”
Daisy and Ashtan were in their world together not giving any of us their attention. Asher rubbed his finger under his nose. I guessed that was his physical action to show he was getting upset. He faced my father. “Mr. Roland, do you mind if I speak freely to your daughter?”
I didn’t like the amused expression that rose on my father’s face. Even Daisy had tuned in. “Go ahead, young man. Just remember, I still got this gun on me. Keep it respectful.”
Asher smirked and lifted his shirt to reveal a gun I didn’t realize he had. “I keep mine, too, sir.” So everyone in my house is just carrying? He stepped closer to me. “Katniss, please don’t play wit me. Talkin bout you can’t afford to live der or some Starbucks coffee. How much money in dat account I created for you, Katniss?”
I didn’t want to answer the question because I hadn’t told my parents or Daisy about the account that Asher put in me and Ashtan’s name a week after the paternity results came back. The corner of one of my father’s eyes tightened. Now Daisy was on her feet. “Yeah, best friend, how much in that account, miss struggle bus.”
“Eighty-seven thousand dollars,” I mumbled lowly. Daisy and my father asked me to repeat myself at the same time. With my head thrown back, I repeated. “Eighty-seven thousand dollars, damn! I don’t use that account though!”
Asher crossed his arms over his chest. “Dat on you to not use dat account. You outcha trying to make it seem like you not taken care of. My boy day care fees paid up fa da damn year and I paid ya fuckin truck off.” He’s just telling all my business. “Why da hell would I put you in a spot dat I wasn’t ga pay for?”
“Wait, so this man has paid all Ashtan’s day care fees, paid off your vehicle, and put almost a hundred thousand dollars in your account, Katniss Raven?” my father asked. “That definitely sounds like a man who is willing to take care of not only his child, but you.” He crossed his arms over himself as if I had done something wrong.
“Daddy, I am not his responsibility. He is only responsible to take care of Ashtan,” I whined. “I’ll look for somewhere to move once my lease is up. I can’t afford the breaking lease fee.”
Daisy guffawed. “Girl, shut up! You just said that man paid your car off and dropped eighty thousand in a bank account. That’s more than your entire salary.” She chuckled for a little bit more. “Now, best friend, I say this with love. Get over yourself. “This man doesn’t necessarily have to take care of you, but he is willing to,” she pointed out. “No one is asking you to quit your job or anything. Stop blocking your blessings.”
I was at a loss for words. I just looked at them all. “So, because you can’t keep your bitches under control, I have to uproot my whole life and depend on you with a bill as important as my rent?”
“Fat-fat, I swear if you don’t stop playin wit me,” Asher said now with his head thrown back. When his head popped back forward, his eyes bore into me. “Do I look like a nigga dat pay somebody rent? First, da condos in my building are fa purchase only. I own my penthouse, not rent. Second, when da sale for ya condo go through, it ga be paid off wit ya name on da deed,” he let me know. He took a step closer to me, then in what sounded like a groan, he said, “Stop fuckin playin wit me, baby mama.”
You could hear a pin drop.
“Dada!” Leave it to Ashtan to cut the tension in the room. Asher picked him up without taking his eyes off me. Once Ashtan was in his arms, he kissed him all over his face to receive the reward of his kisses.
“Katniss, get your stuff together and determine what you need to pack,” my father said. “Now, I know you’re grown and the last time I let you make your grown ass decisions, but this right here, no. We are talking about your safety and the safety of Ashtan. You are not the only one responsible for that. Asher has ensured a safe residence for you and that is where you will move. Until then you can stay with us.” My daddy holstered his Glock on his waist, extended his hand to Asher for a shake, which Asher accepted, then he walked out of my apartment with the shotgun leaned on his shoulder.
I jumped when I heard the shotgun go off, then ran to the door. “I told y’all fuckas to get on! Now you need a new engine, radiator, or some shit.” From what it looked like, my father shot someone’s car in the front where most radiators were.
The person whose car I assumed it was stood there shocked. She clearly didn’t know what to do as she watched my dad get into his truck and leave. That is my daddy. A hand gripped my shoulder. From the tightness of the grip, I knew it was Asher.
“Aye, my realtor said da condo ga close at da end of next week. He’ll email you what you need ta do for da paperwork and shit. Use da money in da account to hire movers and pay your lease breaking fee. If you wanna take dis furniture you can or redecorate altogether.”
I listened to him tell me that he would take Ashtan with him to his mama house and that I could get him from there. He had some meetings today and claimed I needed to tighten up my loose ends to move. Just like that he was out the door, and I was left with Daisy.
“I guess your daddy and baby daddy told you,” she said before she bent over with laughter. I didn’t find shit funny, but Daisy would always find the humor in just about everything. When she peeked at me, she laughed harder. “How in the hell are you mad because that man wants to make sure you’re taken care of?”
After I plopped down on the couch next to her, I leaned back with my hands over my face. “I don’t want to be beholden to that man.” I tilted my head in her direction. “Daisy, I was handling business before he knew, and I still can.”
All humor left her expression. “Best friend, I need you to grow up. You were handling business alone because of a decision you made. Since Asher has reentered your life as Ashtan’s father, he continuously shows you that he’s not some pussy ass nigga, but here you are with all this stupid ass pride.” She stood up. “I took the rest of the day off. Let’s go to lunch and that shit is on your ass.”
She stomped to my front door mumbling about the money that Asher had placed in the account. When he gave me the account I was confused because I thought we had settled on a monthly amount. When I asked him about it, he claimed that he changed his mind and would rather front load an account for me. He would get a notification when the account hit a certain low funds threshold that he set. His logic was that I would never have to wait on funds for anything, and if I needed it, I would have it.
All I had to do was grab my purse and lock my door so that I could take Daisy’s crazy ass to lunch. I decided to text Tiara to ask if she wanted to join us. I really liked her. Me, her, and Daisy went out a couple of weeks ago to dinner. It was nothing but shits and giggles to say the least.
As Daisy pulled out of the parking lot of my apartment complex, I looked at it in the side mirror. So much had changed in the short time since Asher found out he was Ashtan’s father. “I guess I’ll be moving into a condo.”
Daisy’s neck snapped to turn her face to me. “Bitch, you’re not just moving into a condo. You’re moving into a condo that you fucking own free and clear! Ole good pussy having bitch!” Why is my best friend like this?