Chapter 23
Nessa
“Nas, Puerto Rico is so beautiful,” I gushed as we pulled up to our villa.
“It’s alright,” he downplayed as he helped Nyla out of the car. “I’m just happy to enjoy it with you, but it still doesn’t have nothin’ on Miami.”
“You kept sayin’ that last summer too. You gotta start givin’ other places a try too.”
“The only thing I’m tryin’ to do in other places is be deep inside of you.”
“Get yo’ head out of the gutter, Nasir. We gonna get to that but first we do family stuff.”
“Fine, I’ll call Nina and Rafi while I bring in the bags. I don’t know what the fuck you and Nyla packed for three damn days but three suitcases a piece is diabolical.”
“Quit ya whinin’ and get to it.”
Clapping my hands to order him around as if he were a servant, I laughed at my own joke when he twisted his face up.
When he disappeared out the door, I walked around the villa with Nyla.
The villa was easily the most beautiful place I’d ever stepped foot in.
For the first time in a long time, life felt still as I took in the breathtaking ocean view.
With the balcony doors opened, the Puerto Rican breeze gently hit my face.
Aside from the view the place screamed luxury with the high ceilings, the oversized windows and infinity pool the glowed off to the side in the backyard.
“Mommy, can we get in the pool?” Nyla questioned as she pulled my hand to grab my attention.
“Not right now, but we will before we leave,” I answered. “We have to go to the family dinner tonight, remember?”
“Yes, Daddy said I have to meet some family.”
“Right! Are you excited?”
“I’m a little nervous.”
“Aww, it’s okay to be nervous. Mommy and Daddy gonna be right there. Guess who else is gonna be there.”
“Who?”
“Your nana is gonna be there.”
“Yay! I miss her so much.”
“I know and she can’t wait to see you.”
“Daddy you didn’t tell me that Nana was gonna be at the dinner tonight!” Nyla sassed when Nas walked in the door.
“My bad, lil’ gangsta,” he apologized. “I thought I told you that before we got on the plane.”
“You did not. Can we go meet her now?”
“Not yet we gotta get you ready. So, they can see the princess that you really are.”
After I’d put away our clothes for the duration of our stay, I went downstairs to make Nyla a little snack.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw Nas at the sink rinsing off fruit while Nyla sat at the table waiting.
With me being so used to doing everything for Nyla on my own, these last few weeks have been an adjustment.
Nas took his title as a father to heart, and I loved witnessing every moment of it.
He hadn’t missed a beat since it came to Nyla or me ever since he’d moved in.
It felt good to actually be able to rely on somebody and they came through.
If something ever got in the way of him being there for Nyla in any way, shape or form, I was the first to know.
I figured I’d go ahead and shower since both of them were occupied.
Gathering the items I needed for my shower, I couldn’t help but marvel at it too.
The massive shower and standalone porcelain tub had me ready to redo my master bath.
I got the water just right before I removed my travel clothes.
As I stood in front of the mirror naked, I rubbed my stomach as I became mesmerized at the fact that I was pregnant again.
No matter how many times I saw my stomach, felt Nash’s little kicks or pissed a day, it still hadn’t fully registered that I was pregnant again.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I winced as Nash started moving around. “Looks like I woke somebody up.”
Stepping into my shower, I hoped the warm water would soothe him back to sleep.
The water cascaded down my body as the tension in my body went away.
After I cleaned my body twice, I enjoyed the water a little before getting out.
After I dried my body off, I wrapped the towel around me.
I stepped out of the bathroom just as Nas entered our room.
“Can’t believe you showered without me,” he shook his head. “Here I was thinkin’ maybe you’d snuck away to get a nap in but you up here betrayin’ me.”
“Ain’t nobody betrayed you,” I giggled. “I showered so I could wake myself up because I am sleepy. However, I do not plan to allow yo’ big head ass baby to drain all my energy. I’m excited to meet your dad’s dad too. How you feelin’ ‘bout all of it?”
“I mean before I left PR after handlin’ his snake ass son we’d chopped it up a little. He checks in here and there, so it’s not gonna be awkward. How you feelin’?”
“A lil’ nervous, a lil’ excited and a lil’ tired honestly. I’m nervous ‘bout meetin’ him, I’m excited ‘bout seein’ Nina again and I’m tired as fuck, so I need to hurry and get ready.”
“Since you fucked up my opportunity to get some in the shower just know you gotta stay up for ‘bout an hour when we get back.”
“Why the hell I gotta do that?”
“Because I’m tryna get some back shots in the infinity pool while we enjoy the view.”
“I ain’t gonna lie, that was my first thought when I saw the pool.”
“I’m not ever surprised. Yo’ lil’ horny ass always got yo’ head in the clouds. Did you take Nyla’s stuff out for tonight?”
“Yes, it’s hanging on the closet door.”
“Cool. Well, you worry about takin’ yo’ time and gettin’ yo’self ready, I’ll focus on Nyla, ok?”
“Oh, you really tryna get you some cuddy tonight huh?”
“I mean that will be a bonus but I’m also just doin’ my thug dizzle as a dad. If that makes you horny for me when I do it, that’s yo’ fault but my benefit.”
He placed a kiss on my lips before sending a firm smack to my ass.
Once he was out, I went into the closet to retrieve my dress.
I don’t know whose idea it was to have a formal family dinner, but I was all for it.
The one shoulder gold dress I’d purchased had me feeling like I was getting ready to walk the red carpet.
After I had it on, I put on my shoes and accessories before sliding my feet into some sandals.
I barely cared to wear heels when I wasn’t pregnant and didn’t plan to sport them during pregnancy.
An hour later we were pulling up to Santiago Family Ranch.
I thought the villa was breathtaking, but it didn’t have shit on this ranch.
The architecture of the home spoke volume before you even walked in.
I’d never been a ‘be with a nigga for money’ ass bitch, but seeing how Nas’s family was living only made me wonder how much he was really sitting on.
As his baby mama slash girlfriend, I would never overstep and ask him about that.
It just finally registered that I was really fucking with Mr. Spend That like Desmond had called him.
“You all look so beautiful,” Nina gushed as she opened the doors for us in her red formal dress. “I know it’s all thanks to my girl, Nessa.”
“You already know we’re all styled by me,” I confirmed. “You look good as hell too in that red dress.”
“This ole thing. I just wanted to dress up since Nas made this a requirement.”
“Oh, it was his idea? Here I am thinkin’ that yo’ future in law was going to be a very challenging man to please because I thought he’d come up with the idea. Now I ain’t even surprised Nas did because I bet it was because of Nyla.”
“And it was,” Nas established as he playful mushed my head. “My baby thinks she’s a princess and I’m goin’ to do everything in my power to make sure she continues to feel like that.”
“That better be the case when it comes to my grandson too,” Nina challenged as she rubbed my stomach. “You were flat bellied and in denial that you were pregnant, and now you’re sporting the cutest little bump. I can’t wait for Nash to get here.”
“Lawd I just know between you and Nas he’s gonna spoiled as hell.”
“Better believe it, but we ain’t gonna have nothin’ on Rafi. Especially when you tell him that y’all are namin’ him Nash Javier Wilson. Y’all gonna be flooded with gifts. Speakin’ of Rafi if y’all will excuse me while I go see what he’s doin’.”
Nas grabbed a sleeping Nyla out of the car.
She’d been so excited about the trip that she hadn’t taken a nap all day, so the ride over put her right to sleep.
I nudged her softly to wake her and the way she sprung up tickled me.
Her eyes widened in amazement as she looked around.
The way her life did a complete three sixty had me loving every moment of this for her.
“There go Nana's girl,” Nina exclaimed as she reached out for her. She hugged her tightly once she had her in her arms. “It’s time for you to meet tu abuelo.”
She placed Nyla on her feet before grabbing ahold of her hand and leading her away.
As we followed behind them, my nerves got the best of me as I grabbed ahold of Nas’s hand.
The way calmness washed over my body made me look up at Nas.
He was already looking down at me and gave me a reassuring smile.
When we entered the dining room, there stood Rafi in a tux at the head of the table.
As we got closer, I noticed the resemblance between him and Nas.
“Ooh, what a beautiful family you have mijo,” Rafi gloated as he looked at all of us before his eyes stopped at Nyla. “And you must be Nyla?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Nyla smiled. “Who are you?”
“I’m great-grandpa, Rafi.”
“You can call him, G-Pop,” Nina offered.
“G-Pop? I like that, Nana. Nice to meet you G-Pop. Nana, can we eat now? I’m stravin’ all I had was fruit.”
“All y’all gave my baby was fruit?!” Nina gasped as she turned towards me and Nas. “You know I’ma handle that later. Rafi this is Nas’s lady, Nessa featurin’ your great-grandson, Nash Javier Wilson.”
“You’re namin’ him after your dad?” Rafi sighed as he placed his hand over his heart. “Thank you. Nessa it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Rafi,” I smiled.
“And it was only right,” Nas answered his question. “Now, y’all heard my lil’ big back say she was hungry. Let’s eat.”
“Girl, how was PR?” Yas inquired as she grabbed a can of paint I’d purchased to paint the nursery.
“It was so beautiful, Yas,” I gushed as I thought back on our trip. “I know we just got home but I’m ready to go back already.”
“Well next time definitely take me with you.”
“That’s if yo’ ass is off.”
“Oop. Not too much on me. Was his family nice?”
“Yeah, his granddad was cool. The only thing he hopped on the spoilin’ Nyla train too with Nas and Nina.”
“I just know Nash gonna be spoiled as fuck too, so you might as well just gone get on the train too.”
“Aht, aht, somebody gotta be the voice of reason when they try to go too far too soon.”
“Touché.”
As I grabbed ahold of my paint brush, I climbed up the ladder to pick up where I’d left off.
Just as I reached my arm over a sharp pain ripped through me.
It was so painful that it caused me to drop the paint brush to grab under my stomach.
My back had been killing me since we got back yesterday.
I figured it was from sitting up right in the plane, so I thought nothing of it.
This wasn’t something I could ignore, and when I felt as if I’d just pissed on myself I began to panic.
“Nessa, are you ok?” Yas darted to my aid as she helped me down.
“Something’s wrong Yas,” I panicked. “Go get Nas. He’s over at his house.”
As she went to get Nas, I did my best to keep myself calm by breathing.
Everything felt as if it were going into hyper speed because it went from Nas appearing at my side to me being rushed into the hospital.
I didn’t know what was going on but all I could do was pray.
Once I made it to the room, nurses and doctors swarmed all around me.
“What’s goin’ on?!” Nas barked and commanded the room.
“Sir, this baby is comin’ now,” a doctor explained.
“Wait, now I’m only twenty-seven weeks,” I urged. “He’s not supposed to come this early.”
“I understand but he is so we’re goin’ to take good care of you both,” the doctor assured.
“Nas,” I whined as he came to my side and grabbed my hand. “I’m scared, Nas.”
“It’s goin’ to be okay,” he tried to convince me. “I gotcha you, always.”
He kissed my forehead as the doctors got into position. Nash was literally at the door and only took two pushes to come out. I got a glimpse of his tiny little body before the NICU team grabbed ahold of him.
“Why isn’t he cryin’?!” I panicked as I looked between the team, the doctor then Nas. I grabbed his shirt to make him look at me. “Nas why isn’t my baby cryin’?”
He couldn’t answer me as he waited to see what the outcome would be too. There was an eerie quiet in the room then suddenly there it was. A faint tiny cry filled the room. It allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief as tears slid down my face.
“He okay?” Nas asked, his voice heavy with concern.
“He’s breathing,” one of the NICU nurses explained. “But we need to get him upstairs immediately.”
The whisked Nash away as I stayed back in the room to get cleaned up.
I was on pins and needles as I wanted to be able to see Nash.
It took about forty minutes before a NICU nurse came down with a wheelchair.
Nas helped me inside before pushing me behind the nurse.
Once we made it to the NICU floor, I became saddened to see all the babies in here.
We stopped in front of an incubator with the tiniest little human I’d ever seen.
Seeing Nash laying inside the clear incubator surrounded by wires and tubes that seemed almost bigger than he was.
I couldn’t hold back the tears as I felt a sense of helplessness that no mother ever wanted to feel.
Nas kneeled next to me as he tried his best to comfort me.
“He shouldn’t be here like this,” I whispered as the tears continued to fall. “He’s supposed to still be inside of me.”
“Baby, this isn’t your fault,” Nas reasoned as he rubbed my thigh.
“I shouldn’t have ignored my body the other day. Then you would’ve been able to get the full pregnancy experience. I ruined that for you. No holding him after birth. No bringing him home when we leave. None of this was supposed to happen like this.”
“Don’t you dare beat yourself up ‘bout something that was out of your control. You carried our son for twenty-seven weeks. You brought him into this world safely despite the circumstance he is alive. So, remember that next time you try to blame yourself. Nash is alive, baby and that’s all we can ask for right now.
“But look at him. He’s so little.”
“He’s fightin’ though. He’s way stronger than he looks.”