Chapter 17 #2
“Girl, I deserved it. I’d been screwing in her house anytime she was at work, like I was the one paying the bills.
But it worked out. My mother turned into a full-on award-winning grandma, barely letting me change a damn diaper.
I went on to finish high school, graduating in the top thirty of my class, and went to college, making the dean's list three times. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.
I did it because I wanted to show my baby that he wasn’t a burden; he was motivation. ”
She grabbed my hand in hers. “I say all this to say that I know a girl who will still go on to do great things when I see one. You’re going to be fine, Calista. And your family? They're going to be so smitten with this baby that it will make you sick.”
My laughter erupted through the tears that fell.
“What are you in school for?”
With a baby at my side, I was almost too embarrassed to tell her. “Pre-med. I’m on a full scholarship. Well… was on one.”
“Pre-med. Wow. You look like a doctor.” She grinned, causing me to smile too.
“And you’re going to keep your scholarship.
Study hard and use this baby as motivation.
I’m rooting for you, black girl. We need more representation out here.
You’ve got this, okay? You’ve given birth to one of the most beautiful babies, and I see a lot of babies.
You were destined to do beautiful things.
A baby does not end your life.” She stood. “It gives it more purpose.”
Giving my hand one more squeeze, she looked at the bassinet again. “I have to go now. My colleagues are already saying I’ve been playing favorites.”
“Thank you so much. I really needed to hear all of that.”
She smiled and made her exit.
Using the back of my hand that hadn’t been poked and prodded, I dried my tears.
The baby was here now, and there wasn’t much I could do besides try my best. I just didn’t like not knowing what was next; I liked plans.
I didn’t know what I would do in terms of childcare, merging our schedules, or handling doctors’ appointments.
I didn’t even know how to strap a baby into the car seat.
I was probably the most unqualified person to have a child, even at nineteen years old.
Soft grunts interrupted my daydreaming. Heat rushed to my neck, my stomach turned over, and my breathing grew laborious.
Still, I looked over into the bassinet. A blue and pink striped hat covered a head that looked as if it could fit in the palm of my hand.
The baby’s little button nose was red, and pink lips pursed.
Not wanting the baby to cry, I reached inside the bassinet, letting my instincts guide my actions.
The baby was lightnot feather light, not baby-doll light, but light.
This had been my first time holding my own child.
My first time even looking the baby in the face, and when I thought I’d feel nothing but disappointment, my heart burst.
Pushing the hat back, silky curls framed the baby's smooth skin like vanilla ice cream. Running my finger across the forehead, the baby’s lips turned up in a nearly smile-like way.
I wanted to inspect all fingers and toes, but I knew had no idea how to wrap the baby back like the nurse had.
I knew being swaddled brought new babies comfort, which was maybe one of five things I knew.
Vbbb vbbb vbbb
My phone was vibrating on the bedside table to my left.
A white Styrofoam cup and a pink pitcher of ice water sat beside it.
I should’ve been drinking more because the nurse last night said between the delivery and my milk coming in, I’d get dehydrated if I didn’t keep my water intake higher than normal.
I had made a mental note to make a list on my phone of topics to research so that I and this baby would be okay once we left the comfort of twenty-four seven care.
I picked my phone up while carefully placing the baby in between my legs. Shifting my gaze, I unlocked the phone while the baby continued to make cute noises.
Ma in Law
Hey babyyyyy! I haven’t heard from you! I went by that empty ass campus last week to take you to lunch and forgot you were going home for the summer.
Ain’t nobody told me nothing! I hope you’re having an amazing summer!
Sending you some funds for you to enjoy yourself with.
I know my son would have wanted you to have it.
We love you, and I’m forever rooting for my future doctor!
The text was followed by an Apple payment of three thousand dollars.
Tears pooled in my eyes again as I exited from the text thread.
I had half a mind to tell her I’d given birth to her second grandchild, but that was just one more person to be disappointed in me.
I hadn’t spoken to Leader’s family in a few weeks because I’d been trying to finish exams, move out of the condo, and get over the flu, which I now knew were early labor signs.
My goal was to catch up with them once I’d settle in Jagoda Bay at my sister’s townhouse.
I’d more than settled in the few days I’d been here.
Nonetheless, this was my mess. It was bad enough that she still hadn’t been able to see her first grandchild due to Leader’s baby mother playing baby games.
She'd been the reason Leader was spending the next almost decade of his life locked away. Had she not gotten in his car with his drugs that she’d stolen and started a fight, prompting the police to pull him over, he’d still be here.
And if he were here, he, too, would be disappointed.
I couldn’t bear the thought of one more person being upset with me, so I locked my phone screen without responding.
What could Leader do anyway? He couldn’t raise a child from jail.
Knock knock knock
“Come in,” I whispered loud enough so that the person on the other side of the door could hear me, but soft enough to not disturb the baby.
Three large yellow, pink, and blue balloons greeted me before the guest could.
There was a matching gift bag that was big enough for a toddler to fit inside.
Once the person entered, my curiosity turned into discontent.
I wasn’t sad because of who had entered, but because she hadn’t meant to enter my room.
Black biker shorts sat on her thick legs, and she wore an oversized graphic T-shirt with Selena on it, along with matching black and red Jordans.
Her fresh braids were pulled up in a half-up, half-down style, with two pieces hanging on the sides of her face.
Had I known I was gearing up to have a baby, I, too, would have gotten braids minus the boho strands.
Who was I kidding? Had I known I was having a baby, it wouldn’t have been born. I would have been right at the chop shop just like Blayke had.
“Hey, girl! Happy first Mother’s Day!” She paused. “Opp, I’m sorry! Did I wake the baby?” she whispered.
Looking down, I shook my head no.
Placing the balloons and gift bag on the couch where the father of the child should have been spending his nights, she turned to the sink and washed her hands. “I’m Pearla.”
“I know who you are. I’m Glee.”
Pearla twisted, eyes on the baby. She wasn’t cheery, but she wasn’t as sad as I was. She seemed somewhere right in the middle.
“Um… I think the other lady, the one who’s friends with my sister? I think she’s down the hall.”
I was still shocked that I’d been transported to the private wing with the lady.
Before Blayke’s parents had come, she had given me an earful about the fine-ass, dangerous-looking men on the floor.
She’d even told me the other lady had given birth to twins—a lady I now knew as one of my sister’s friends.
Glow kept her friends secluded. I only knew a few things about them due to my lurking on their social media accounts from when they posted my sister or she posted them.
I’d seen Pearla on one of their profiles and came across her social media accounts.
I’d liked her posts anytime I saw them because she was always fly.
She hadn’t posted much lately, though, and I wondered if the reason was the same reason her eyes held weight like mine.
Pearla’s brow rose. “You talking about my sister’s stepmama?”
“Uhh…”
“Discover. She was married to my sister’s gay daddy. Now she’s engaged with Metavello.”
“Metavello?”
“Yeah, my sister’s fiancé’s twin brother.”
“Oh…”
Pearla squinted her eyes. “You lost about everything around here, hunh?”
I nodded.
I was still trying to process the fact that my sister seemed to have a whole man now that called himself her husband.
I was in pain, but I knew what I’d heard before they wheeled me up here.
I’d nearly died when I went into labor, but I still remember the shock on everyone’s faces when Blayke and I walked through the hospital doors.
Pearla took a seat where the nurse had just been, keeping her eyes on the baby before looking back at me.
“It’s a lot going on, but we’re all here for each other.
That’s how it is in the moin this family,” she stated, stumbling over her words.
“But we protect our own. Everybody has a job to do, and one day, you’ll learn yours.
For now, I’d like it if we were friends.
I could use another one, and I’m sure you can too. ”
I licked my lips again, and my need must’ve been evident because Pearla reached into the Louis Vuitton crossbody bag and pulled out a Carmex. I took it, smeared some on my finger, and gave it back to her. The medicated balm felt amazing as it left a greasy film over my parched lips.
“Thank you. And I’d like that. I don’t know how good a friend I can be right now, though. I’m sure I’m about to be pretty occupied.” I chuckled, glancing down at the bundle.
“Can I?” Pearled motioned for the baby.
“Sure.”