Chapter 16 #2
“You said that for both of your grandchildren,” Rylee argued as she sat in her mother’s chair while her mother installed a new set of braids in Rylee’s hair.
“You said that with Nova, and she came after her due date. Said the same thing about LJ, and he did the same. My stomach dropping really means nothing, Mama.”
“Mmm-hmm, whatever.” Her mother adjusted Rylee’s head. “Just keep your head still so I can finish these braids. The last thing we need is you going into labor with a half-finished head.”
That was three days ago, and still no signs of labor for Rylee.
Braxton Hicks had just started to happen here and there—like as Rylee stood in one of the aisles in the baby store that evening and as she and Xander made their way to the car—but nothing she wasn’t used to, nothing any different than with LJ or Nova.
“Let me get that bag, Snoop,” Xander insisted, taking quick steps toward Rylee. “Over here struggling.”
“Struggling?” Rylee laughed. “This bag has baby towels, Xander. Stop it.”
“Don’t matter,” Xander said, reaching for the bag. “There’s a lot of baby towels in there. Too many.”
“Trust me,” Rylee debated. “There is no such thing as too many baby towels. You’ll see.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Xander replied. He curled his fingers around the bag’s handles and stepped in front of her, stopping her with the toe of his sneaker just nudging hers. “Give it to me.”
The two had intentionally matched sneakers—Xander’s idea. Whenever they went out to run errands or to hang out just them two, he insisted they wear the same footwear or matching colors.
It was his thing.
And Rylee thought it to be so cute.
For their errand that day, they stopped by a baby store in Brooklyn to pick up some last-minute things. Pacifiers, baby towels, swaddling blankets, and socks. Things they didn’t put on their gift registry—a registry that had been cleared out by their friends and family.
“What you thinking about for food?” Xander asked, taking Rylee’s hand as they walked through the parking lot, headed for his truck. The truck was the most spacious of their vehicles, and as Rylee got bigger in pregnancy, she favored room and either insisted she take his truck or he drive her in it.
“Tacos?” he asked next, as they neared his truck. “We can pick some up, take it back to the house?”
Rylee’s deep dish dimples appeared, highlighting her smile.
“Since the kids are at their grandparents, we can eat them with nothing on in the kitchen,” Xander added, briefly sticking his tongue out. “You know, the way tacos are supposed to be enjoyed.”
Rylee hollered a laugh. “You silly.”
The mention of the kids being away and them having the brownstone all to themselves made her recall the conversation she had with Liz a few weeks prior. The conversation about the house in Greene Gardens. A house Xander had not brought up since showing her a picture of it.
As Xander opened the door, Rylee was struck with a sudden impulsive feeling she was shocked to be feeling in that moment.
But they were alone, it was still a little early in the evening… so why not?
“Can we go somewhere else before we get the tacos?”
Xander held his hand out for her to take so he could help her step up and into the truck. “Sure. Where you tryna go?”
“The house,” she answered. “In Greene Gardens.”
He jerked his head back so hard it could have fallen off if he didn’t have a neck holding it up.
“Here,” she said, smiling. “Close the door and get inside.”
She didn’t have to tell Xander twice. He wore his confusion from the time he closed her door to his walk around the truck to get into his seat on the driver’s side.
The moment he closed the door, and as he placed their shopping bags in the back seat, Rylee turned to face him.
“You came up in my therapy session a few weeks back.”
Xander held her attention but said nothing.
“And… so did the house,” she added. “And Liz suggested I take a trip out there to see what you see.”
“Okay…”
“I was going to wait until after the baby arrived, but we don’t have the kids here and you said it’s not that far from Brooklyn, right?”
“Not too far at all,” he answered, nodding. “Right.”
Though he was doing everything to keep his cool, Rylee could see the cautious excitement on his face. She could hear it in his tone too. His voice was deeper, words slower to leave his mouth—which was so not Xander.
It melted her heart seeing him try to be composed when he clearly wanted to be excited.
That made it all the more important for them to go right then and there.
So at Rylee’s insistence, they took off in the direction of Greene Gardens.
As they drove, Xander’s awe was palpable. He couldn’t keep to himself how excited he was for Rylee to see the place as they got closer.
The ride was smooth, no traffic. It was the other side of the expressway that was bumper to bumper, with only the shoulders of the road clear for the most part.
Everything looked pretty much the same through the windshield to Rylee… until Xander drove past the village’s entrance sign.
Welcome to Greene Gardens.
The logo looked official, and from a distance, lights could be seen glowing.
A mile from the sign and after crossing a small bridge that led into the village, Rylee blinked hard at how alive it looked.
“Wow,” she expressed with more air than tone.
She peeked over at Xander, who smiled and nodded.
“I know,” he voiced, just as in awe.
For a village that had just undergone construction a few years back, the way people filled the streets and the number of shops that were open for patrons… you’d think the village had been there for years.
Rylee’s eyes were glued to her passenger window as she caught sight of families outside, enjoying the autumn night. Shops were bustling, music playing from some.
Rylee pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes trying to keep up with the truck’s movement and the people.
Black people of all shades filled the streets and sidewalks. It was like a scene out of a Black film.
Streets were clean. Lights shined bright.
It looked like Brooklyn—except cleaner, quainter, and with fresher air.
“I was not expecting this,” Rylee said as they turned down a block that quickly became residential.
“Neither was I when I first visited,” Xander said in response.
There were homes lining both sides of the tree-lined blocks. Expensive cars were either parked on the curb or in driveways.
Rylee’s eyes moved with those trees, unblinking. “I gotta give Bryant a call tomorrow and get some answers, because damn.”
Xander chuckled.
“This is amazing,” Rylee whispered. “How does someone imagine this? Wow.
Her eyes locked in on a familiar property. One she’d only seen in a picture on Xander’s phone. The one she thought was beautiful.
But in person, there was no comparison.
It looked huge in the photo, but as they pulled up in front of it… it was colossal.
A colossal structure of beauty, from the roof to the manicured lawn.
She refused to let go of her breath as Xander opened the door to step out.
The block was quiet. The homes in the area were all complete, lights on in some, off in others… including the one they’d pulled up in front of.
The architectural details of the house were stunning. It was like they took their time with this one. Large, crystal-clear windows that offered a beautiful view inside.
She wasn’t sure what it was, but the second Xander helped her out of his truck and they took the small steps up to the front door… the feeling of apprehension, worry, fear… it wasn’t there.
Instead, those feelings were replaced with safety. Comfort. A sudden openness… for the future.
“Aight,” Xander said after turning the key in the front door and opening it. “Come on in.”
As Rylee’s Jordans created thuds along the hardwood flooring that echoed around them in the empty space, Xander explained the vision for every room.
The living room was bigger than the living room in the brownstone. Space for a dining room, and even more space for something else.
The stairs were winding. Beautifully structured. Sturdy.
The backyard gave way to an immense amount of land, perfect for events that could fit at least fifty of their closest friends and family.
And when he helped her up the stairs to the bedrooms, she felt her eyes prick with tears.
She could hear Nova and LJ squealing at how much space each room had. LJ always felt a way that Nova’s room was bigger than his. That argument wouldn’t even be a thing anymore.
“It’s perfect,” she commented as they stood in the middle of the master bedroom. There were skylights in the en suite and in the room, windows with a view of the area of the house.
“Okay. I can see us here.”
Those words were more for her than Xander, honestly. She said them low but loud enough to be heard. Loud enough for it to resonate with something inside of her that aided in warming to the idea of this being more than just a visit.
“I’ve never built anything of my own,” he admitted quietly behind her. “Not a home, not a family. I just wanted… something to offer you that feels solid. And you know… this feels solid, Snoop.”
She turned to look at Xander. He towered in the room.
The high ceilings accommodated his stature. So did the front door. So did the trek up the stairs.
Everything was perfect. Not just for her and the kids… but him too.
Rylee parted her lips to say all of that. To say that he’d done good—finding something for himself and for their family—but stopped when she felt the baby roll, then kick.
And suddenly… she heard a pop.
Her hand flew to her stomach.
Xander’s smile fell instantly as her eyes locked on his, her brows in a furrow.
He bent his legs at the knees to meet her eyes. “What’s up?”
The seat of her panties gradually warmed, and a second later, a gush of water sloshed out of her, soaking her black sweatpants instantly.
Xander’s eyes grew so wide. “Oh. Shit.”
“Oh, my God.” Rylee peeked down at the puddle of water around her wet sneakers. “Oh, my God, my mother was right!”