Chapter 8
Pril
Fuck My Birth Plan . . .
I knew it was too good to be true. The last thing that I wanted to hear was that I needed to change my birth plan. I wanted to have my daughter naturally. I didn’t want to be backed into a C-section. “Well, is there still time? Like can’t she move up still?”
“Yes, of course, it’s possible.” Dr. Frog spoke with uncertainty, so I knew there was a but coming. “But I want to prepare you for if she doesn’t. I know you wanted a natural birth, and I do want that for you. We have to discuss all the options.”
Tafari wrapped his arm around my waist from where he stood next to me. He kissed my forehead when I glanced at him. “You and our little girl are going ta be fine. We just want her ta get here safely, and I want you to be fine.”
I knew he worried because of the subpar care that women of color sometimes got during their pregnancies.
It was a blessing that we had not experienced that.
Dr. Frog had been amazing all of the years that she had been my doctor.
Tafari made it known that if anything happened to me or our child that something would happen to the doctor and medical personnel.
That would put fire under me if I was a doctor or nurse to ensure that the patient got amazing care.
“Pril, your little girl is also a little underweight. It’s not a major deal right now, but I want to keep a close eye on that as well.” Dr. Frog reached her hand out and covered mine. “I don’t want you to overthink this. Let me do all of the thinking.”
That was easier said than done. “Well, I already knew that she was underweight when Amber told us how much she weighed. My Ziggy told me what the weight should be.”
Dr. Frog’s forehead creased. The confusion across her face was real. “Who is Ziggy?”
Tafari sucked his teeth. I held in my laughter at his disdain for Ziggy.
Sometimes when I came home from work, the store, or anywhere for that matter, I would ask Ziggy a question.
There were times that he wouldn’t respond.
When I checked why, I would find that someone unplugged him. I knew it was my man.
“Dr. Frog, Ziggy is our AI speaker from the rainforest. That’s her go to when she wants to know something,” Tafari said. His eyes didn’t leave me.
My doctor laughed. She pointed her finger at me. “Pril, I don’t want you going to the internet to get your questions answered. I am your resource for all of your questions.”
Tafari chuckled. “Maybe she’ll listen to you. I say that I get side eyes.”
For the rest of the appointment, we went over things that Tafari and I needed to know.
Most of the conversation I honestly didn’t pay attention to.
My mind was stuck on the fact that there was a chance that I would have to change my birthing plan.
I talked about my birthing plan with Nicole, Lacie, Mama Shayla, and my mama ad nauseam.
Now I had to go back and tell them that there was a change. I hated this for me and my daughter.
Girls’ Night . . .
“Pril, I know it’s not what you want, but like Tafari said, it’s about getting our girlie bean here,” Lacie said. “You know I wanted to have the twins naturally, but that just wasn’t in the cards for me.”
We were at Nicole’s house for our girls’ night. I loved my besties. After every doctor’s appointment that I had to check on my baby, we had a girls’ night. They would never fully know how much these nights helped my mental. This whole pregnancy, I tended to spiral.
I felt like at any time it could all slip away.
I had no real control in this. Sure, I could follow the doctor’s directive to the letter and still lose it all.
It was absolutely nerve-racking. Tafari tried to limit how much he hovered and fussed at me, but I knew that he wanted to go to my ass sometimes.
Earlier in my pregnancy when the doctor told me to limit my appointments, I didn’t.
That lasted all of three days before he logged onto my appointment calendar and canceled appointments.
He put a note on there that said for the time being I had limited availability due to my pregnancy.
I was pissed until my mama got me all the way together.
She made it known that it was not only my responsibility to protect myself and my child, but it was Tafari’s as well. When I didn’t want to listen when it came to my health and the health of my baby, he had the authority to override my decisions. I couldn’t be mad at my man for taking care of me.
“I know the only thing that matters is my baby girl getting here. I just really wanted the real mommy experience,” I told them. Disappointment soured my beautiful face.
Nicole’s head bucked back. “Bitch, I will lightly slap you. The method of birth does not take away from the real mommy experience. I don’t give a damn if your baby had to be put into another woman’s body. Everyone’s real mommy experience looks different, but it is still a real mommy experience.”
I didn’t say anything for a beat. “Why are you so damn violent? You have to slap me lightly though.”
We all laughed. Nicole rolled her eyes. “Hell, someone has to knock some sense into that head. I’m gonna call it pregnancy brain foolishness.”
“Oh, I know what I forgot to tell y’all.
” I snapped my fingers. I ignored Lacie’s comment about the confirmation of my pregnancy brain.
“Guess who the hell I saw coming out of the building that my doctor’s in?
” I paused for dramatic effect. “Derrick and his thirty-two ounce tumbler shaped wife. This nigga had the nerve to tell me that I was beautiful pregnant in front of her.”
Lacie’s eyes bucked while Nicole busted out in laughter.
“I know that bitch was mad as hell. Let me tell you how I would have punched Jordan in his face right there in front of you. You gonna tell another pregnant woman that she’s beautiful when my beautiful ass is standing next to you pregnant too?
I wish my nigga would,” Nicole said with vigor and seriousness.
“Oh, we know your crazy ass will. Jordan is the most patient man that I know because you are a lot, best friend,” I said.
Based on how she stared at me, I was about to get cussed out. “First, best friend, don’t make it seem like I’m too much to handle. I’m the right amount of handle for the right amount of man. That over and abundance man is Jordan Seasons. Act like you know.”
My hands went up in surrender. “Okay, okay! Yes, Miss Right Amount of Handle.” Let me change the subject before I get cussed out for real. “Are y’all ready to get fitted for our dresses?”
Lacie did a little shimmy in her seat. “Girl, yes! I can’t believe we got on Femi Mercer’s calendar.
You remember that gala two years ago? I tried to get on her calendar and that shit was booked out for eighteen damn months.
That’s how I know you and Tafari were meant to be.
Y’all hired the right event planning company that made shit happen. ”
She was right. Tafari and I hired Tae Smith Events and Design Firm.
Apparently, her daughter Tana was a regular at & Ish Restaurant.
Every time that the Washington, Christianson, or Smiths had a crab crack, they got their seafood from Man Man.
Connections were everything. When Tafari asked Tana to plug him in, she didn’t give it a second thought.
When we met the planner, Heaven, who was assigned to our baby announcement party, we made sure we put it out there that we wanted her to plan our baby shower as well.
Now, I had no idea that Tafari had already talked to her privately about the change from a baby shower to a wedding.
The whole time I thought Heaven was planning our baby shower, she was really planning our wedding.
I smiled. “When Heaven told me that she confirmed an appointment with her, I cried. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Your overly pregnant ass.” Nicole winked at me when our eyes connected.
I loved these women more and more every day.
There had never been a time in our friendship that I had to wonder if they had my back in any situation.
Even when I was wrong, they still had my back.
That was not to say that they didn’t cuss me out behind closed doors.
Those were the friends that you needed in your corner.
You wanted them loyal to a fault and not scared to tell you when you’re wrong.
I Didn’t See It Coming . . .
“Girl, des nails are everything. When Sheniqua told me dat you were da girl ta see, I had ta come check you out. Shit, I happy I was finally able ta get an appointment. You stay booked and busy,” my client Danika exclaimed.
She was a new client that was referred by one of my loyal customers that had been down with me since the first year that I opened. Before I had my shed, I bounced around to a few different shops and suites. None of that mattered. She rocked with me regardless.
“You are so welcome. Look, I don’t mean to brag, but I am that girl.” I worked hard to be where I was, and I would never deny my greatness. I spent hours on nail designs to perfect them.
I followed some of the top nail artists in the world.
When I saw certain designs I took pictures of them, then practiced to make them perfect.
Once I had the design down, then I put my own twist on them before I posted them.
My original designs were nothing to fuck with either.
I loved it when my ladies allowed me to freehand.
Those were the times that I really shined.
“I know dats right! If you don’t ring ya own bell, den don’t expect others to.” Danika tapped her middle finger and thumb together while she stuck her tongue out. After a joint laugh, she took out her phone to pay me. “Can I go ahead and pre-book my next appointment?”
Checkmate! I loved pre-booked appointments. It was the beginning of a super loyal client. “I sure can.”
“Okay. If possible, I jus’ want ta lock in every three weeks. If it ca’ be on da same day and time dat will make it easier fa me and my schedule,” she said.
I completely understood that. “That actually works better for me as well. Hold on, let me look at my calendar program.”
I spun my chair around and moved over to my desk where my laptop was.
I had an appointment program that allowed me to put in parameters to select the best date and time for an appointment request. I plugged in the parameters and within seconds it spit out a few dates and times that worked within my free openings.
We agreed on Wednesdays at six in the evening.
My baby girl kicked. Wait, I forgot to tell her about my leave. “Wait, before we confirm, as you can see, I’m pregnant.”
“I seen that. You Man Man baby mama, right?” She pointed at my belly.
I tilted my head slightly with a nod. I wasn’t fond of that baby mama term. “Yes, I’m his fiancée. Our wedding is in a month.”
Her eyes bucked. “Oh, excuse me. I know das right. Get me tagetha. You da fiancée not da baby mama.”
I giggled. “At some point, I am clearly going to be out, but if you are fine, all my pre-booked appointments will go over to Lenora at Polished Vibez. If your standing appointment date needs to change, you will know well ahead of time.”
Danika nodded. “Oh, I’m cool wit’ dat. Sheniqua told me dat if I couldn’t get in wit’ you den try her. Niqua said dat she was da bomb too.”
“Good, so I’ll go ahead and—”
Boom! Boom! Boom! The bangs on my door stopped my words. Both of our heads snapped to the door. When the handle shook, I turned around and looked at the camera monitor screen. That was another upgrade since Tafari and I have been together.
I wasn’t worried about whoever it was getting in because I kept the door locked while I was inside.
When I looked at the camera, my eyes tightened.
I was in a little disbelief with who I saw.
I pressed the button to speak through the camera.
At thirty-one weeks pregnant, I didn’t need this stress.
“Derrick, what the hell are you doing here?”
He looked up in the direction of the camera where my voice came from. “Pril, is dat you? Bring ya ho ass out here now. I wanna talk to you.”
My face scrunched before I turned to glance at Danika. There was concern etched on her face. “Girl, wha’ da fuck he on?”
This was so unprofessional. In all my years of business, I have never had any drama here. Now here came this nigga with bullshit. “Nigga, if you don’t get the hell out of here. I’m not coming anywhere.”
“Nah, bitch! Get yo’ fuck ass out here. All dat time we been tagetha and ya ass couldn’t hol’ on ta my babies! Man Man come along and ya baby stick!”
Derrick code-switched so much that I often forgot that he was from here. The only time his Geechie really came out was when he was mad. I guess he was mad now.
I grabbed my phone from the holder that it was on. “What the hell are you talking about? Derrick, I’m about to call the police.”
“You want me ta call dem boys? I will, shit! Niggas outcha fool.” Danika had her phone in her hand ready to dial.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Derrick banged on my door again. “Bitch, if you don’t let me in, I ga kick dis fuckin’ door down. I know ya ass was jus’ havin’ abortions. Dats why you couldn’t hol’ my babies. Ya ass was killin’ em.”
Boom! This time he kept his word and kicked the door. I told Danika to go ahead and call the police. I made a call of my own.