Chapter 16
Lyric sat on the couch pumping breast milk while the twins slept peacefully nearby. It was hard to believe they were already a month old and had been home for two weeks. Looking back, the last month felt like a blur, but it had easily been the best month of her life.
Before giving birth, she had worried herself sick about postpartum depression.
Between everything she had gone through during her pregnancy, the drama surrounding the baby shower, and the fear she felt while the twins were in the NICU, she was convinced motherhood would be harder than that.
Instead, she found herself completely obsessed with her daughters.
Most days consisted of feeding them, changing them, pumping milk, and watching them sleep. It wasn't exciting to anybody else, but Lyric loved it. Every little movement made her smile. Every coo, every stretch, and every yawn reminded her how blessed she was to have them.
After getting the last of the milk out, Lyric disconnected the pump and carried the bottles into the kitchen. Once they were labeled and stored away, she started cleaning the pump parts while the girls continued sleeping.
Halfway through washing everything, her phone rang on the table. Lyric glanced down at the unsaved number on the screen. Normally, she would've ignored it, but motherhood came with so many random calls from doctors, specialists, and insurance companies that she answered anyway.
"Hello?"
The second Lyric heard the voice on the other end, regret immediately washed over her. Her eyes rolled toward the ceiling, and she smacked her lips.
"Man, what the fuck do you want?"
"I was trying to see if I could come over." Vonte replied.
"No, and I don’t know why you think shit sweet… You was only there during their birth because I was in too much pain to put you out. And I told yo ass when you popped up to visit, that I still wasn’t fucking with you.”
"Lyric, come on."
"No. Leave us the fuck alone,” she spat.
"Man, you can't legally do this shit."
"Do what?"
"Keep me away from them. I signed the birth certificates. Them my kids too."
"Nah, Vonte Jr., your baby. Now stop calling my phone."
That comment must’ve really pissed him off because after a few moments of silence, he snapped.
"You know what? You lucky I'm already stopping my sisters from beating your ass for what you did to they car."
"What?" Lyric laughed.
"You heard me."
"Please! Pretty please! Give them the green light. I'm not pregnant no more, and I will walk all dem hoes down."
"You swear you so tough."
"Nah nigga, but you know I ain’t no bitch. So, please don’t send nobody off.”
After ending the call, she immediately blocked the number and tossed her phone onto the couch.
The twins were still sleeping peacefully in their bassinets, and just looking at them instantly improved her mood.
Whatever drama Vonte wanted to bring into her day could wait because, currently, she had bottles to finish cleaning and two little girls depending on her.
Lyric went back to what she was doing, moving around the kitchen while keeping an ear out for the babies. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
She dried her hands on a towel and headed for the door. The moment she pulled it open, she found her mother standing there with two oversized gift bags in her hands.
"What's that, Ma?" Lyric asked.
"Nothing for you. They for my grandbabies. Where they at?"
"In there sleep."
Cady immediately headed toward the bedroom when the doorbell rang again.
"You get that while I wake them up."
"Ma, do not wake them up."
Shaking her head, Lyric walked back toward the front door and pulled it open.
"Hey cousin," Kenya smiled.
"Hey fav."
Just like Lyric, Kenya had recently given birth. In fact, their daughters were only five days apart.
"How you feeling?" Kenya walked in and asked.
"Tired."
"Same."
The cousins laughed before getting comfortable on the couch. A few seconds later, Cady emerged from the bedroom carrying one of the twins while the other rested against her shoulder.
"Ma! Why would you go in there bothering them?" Lyric groaned.
"Girl, shut up." Cady rolled her eyes before turning to Kenya.
"Anyway, where Zamaya?"
"At home with your sister."
“You know what, that's a good idea. How about you do the same?” She pointed at Lyric.
"What?"
“Go do something. Go eat. Go ride around. Go turn up."
Lyric looked at Kenya who shrugged her shoulders before turning back to her mom.
"Say less."
With that, Lyric headed toward her bedroom to freshen up.
Standing in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but smile at her reflection.
Before giving birth, she had been convinced it would take forever to feel like herself again.
Instead, the weight seemed to have fallen off easily.
Not only could she fit back into all her clothes, but she honestly thought her post-baby body looked better than it did before she got pregnant.
Her waist was smaller, her curves were sitting right, and for the first time in months, she actually felt like getting dressed.
After digging through her closet, Lyric settled on a fitted sweatsuit and a pair of Mikes. Once her hair was touched up and a little lip gloss was applied, she gave herself one final look in the mirror before nodding in approval.
"Yeah, I still got it."
A few minutes later, she walked back into the living room where Cady was still sitting on the couch holding one of the twins while the other slept peacefully in her bassinet. Lyric walked over and kissed both babies on their foreheads before looking at her mom.
“Call me if they start acting up.”
“Girl, if you don’t get the fuck out our face.”
After grabbing her purse and keys, Lyric followed Kenya out the door. Rushing to escape the cold, they jumped inside in an attempt to stay warm.
"So, where we going?" Lyric asked.
"I know everybody at the Rink. You wanna slide through?"
"Shid, I don't care. I'm just happy to be back outside."
"I know that's right." Kenya laughed.
"Matter fact, we about to find the twins a stepdaddy." Lyric pulled down the visor and smiled.