~~~Chapter 12~~~
Jaylah
“So…” My mama drawled, as she was behind the wheel of her Wraith. We’d finally pulled away from the Galleria, after spending two damn hours there. “This day has been interesting.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” I grumbled, shaking my head. “Nobody could’ve paid me to believe that I’d run into him today.”
I was really tripping out, because I honestly had every intention of living my life with my baby, without ever reaching out to Malice aka Khamere. Hell…my baby was only here due to some divine interventions.
When I told my sisters, auntie, and cousin that I wasn’t having my baby, I’d meant it.
I’d even made plans to fly out to Cali for a week to get an abortion.
Everybody there claimed that they were willing to go with me for moral support.
So, the next day, I went to visit Zae in the hospital.
Naturally, I wasn’t about to confirm my pregnancy with him.
Instead, I told him that I was leaving for a week, and when I tried to walk out the door, he lost his mind.
That man had gotten out of that hospital bed, while he was still connected to all those damn devices.
Everything was beeping and buzzing, as he tussled with me.
I could tell that he was weak by the look in his eyes, when he suddenly collapsed.
I nearly had a damn heart attack, as the staff rushed into the room, and had to fucking resuscitate him.
Zae had technically died on me, and had to be brought back.
I couldn’t describe the guilt I felt, thinking that I had caused his heart to stop working.
However, it was actually due to an undetected traveling blood clot.
Either way, he woke up on the same bullshit.
He didn’t want me to leave his side. So much so that he asked his mama to step aside to allow me to be the one who stayed with him overnight.
Then he’d become erratic whenever I’d try to leave, forcing his family to have a sidebar conversation with me.
They pleaded with me to give him what he wanted, at least until he was physically out of the woods.
So, for weeks, I was stuck at that hospital with him, and barely had time to go home and grab clothes.
In the meantime, my baby is growing, and one day, as I was sitting in the hospital room with Zae, I felt her kick.
Perhaps that was her way of pleading her case.
Reminding me that she was a whole baby in there. I don’t know.
What I did know was that there was no way that I was about to go terminate a pregnancy, after literally feeling the baby’s movements.
Still, I said nothing to Zae or the rest of my family, until Zae was officially released from the hospital.
Then I dropped the bomb on him, after bringing him to his mama’s house, against his objections.
Without question, Zae was devastated, and cussed me smooth the fuck out.
I accepted that it was over. Then I went on to tell my parents about the baby, and also had to tell them why I didn’t want to involve my baby’s daddy.
Surprisingly, even my daddy understood my position, pointing out how potentially messy the situation could be.
He said that ultimately, he could be a father figure to my baby, and we didn’t need Malice or anybody he was kin to.
She was ours, and that was all that mattered.
He spoke with so much conviction that he eased any doubts or fears I had at the moment.
Ironically, Zae’s devastation didn’t last too long, because he came around, claiming that he could accept the baby as his.
I don’t know if it was the hormones or what, but my gullible ass was actually believing him…
until he came home drunk one night. The nigga had the nerve to tell me that he’d googled that some places in New York let you abort up til twenty-four weeks.
I was twenty-two. So, we could fly to New York and still get rid of the baby, before it was too late.
Needless to say, I was beyond hurt, because the nigga had been laying around, rubbing my belly, while secretly wishing that I’d get rid of my baby.
Right then, I knew that the rollercoaster with Zae was officially over.
Because once I had accepted having my baby in my heart, then I was doing anything to protect her. Even before she was born.
So, now, me and Zae were officially done, although he seemingly couldn’t accept it. He swore that he was ready to be a good stepdaddy. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t desperate for someone to claim my baby, rendering his talks of us being a family fruitless.
Overall, things had been good. My family had been there for me, and I had the resources to make virtually anything happen.
Since having Khari, I had practically moved back in with my parents, because they preferred keeping us close.
I also had a nanny who would work at my home, as well as my parents’.
So, I didn’t mourn the absence of a baby’s daddy. He simply wasn’t needed.
“I like how he didn’t find out about Khari, and just went on with his day,” my mama admitted.
Malice had indeed stuck beside us the entire time we were shopping. I honestly wasn’t mad at it…after a while. Because he kept the baby preoccupied, while I focused on finding a fit for the night. Of course, it was a bit awkward, but we all managed to push through it.
“Yeah, that was something,” I mumbled.
My mama smiled. “You know…I know you better than you know yourself, right?”
I cut my eyes at her. “Why you say that?”
“Because I can tell when you’re fronting.
Trying to act all unbothered, but I see through that.
You like that boy. That’s why you named her Khari.
If it was just a pregnancy that you really didn’t want and didn’t have a connection with the daddy, then he wouldn’t have been a thought when you named her.
You just got a big ego…which I understand, because you’re my child. So, I get it.”
I sighed. “But me liking him or not really doesn’t matter in this situation. Me keeping my distance is about his girlfriend. We can’t look past that.”
“Right.” She nodded. “You think that she’ll accept Khari?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. She’ll probably be pissed…but will eventually forgive him.”
“I can see that. He’s a handsome dude. That drop top beamer he was driving looked like it was fresh off the showroom floor. He seems respectable. So, she probably would hold on.”
“And she has every right to do so. On my end, I just don’t wanna be one of those girls. Trying to snatch the next woman’s happiness. So, I’m not focusing on anything but raising Khari. He can be a part of her life, as long as he’s consistent. And that’s that.”
My mama smirked. “Nothing is ever that simple, baby. No matter how mature you try to approach the situation. You only have control over your actions, and once you opened your mouth, you then invited these other people into the equation. And you can’t make no plans according to them.
Not to mention, she’s small, and co-parenting with a baby is nearly impossible.
That’s why most sane women avoid men with newborns. ”
“Right, I get that…but what are you saying, mama?” I wanted to know.
“I don’t think that this will just be about co-parenting with him, and his little girlfriend will be heartbroken. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t wish that upon no woman. But you’re my child, before anything. So, fuck her.”
***
I don’t know why, but I’d been having crazy butterflies in my stomach ever since I’d left the mall. I was supposed to be focusing on going to turn up with one of my favorite cousins for her birthday, but as everybody was cackling around me, I found myself mentally drifting off.
Tootie aka Lady Red had insisted that we pre-game at her house, before boarding a party bus that would bring us to the club. So, there were about twenty of us, all getting ready together, and drinking along the way.
Naturally, there were a bunch of divas in the building, so there were multiple hair stylists and make-up artists on-site. So, I was currently sitting in a chair, getting my hair curled. My make-up was already done, but I hadn’t gotten dressed yet, so I was still rocking Alo leggings and sports bra.
“Here.” Tootie handed a shot glass to me. “Take this to the head, because you’ve been way too quiet. And that’s so unlike you.”
Since it was her birthday, and she had a houseful, I hadn’t mentioned my run-in with Malice. So, she was clueless.
“I got a lot on my mind, hell,” I divulged, before taking the shot to the head.
“Oh, really?” She arched a brow. “And that means that when we go to brunch tomorrow, you’re gonna tell me all about it.”
“Damn,” I sighed. “I almost forgot about your brunch. And I done told this nigga that we’re gonna handle our situation tomorrow. So, I’ma have to take a raincheck on somebody.”
She hooded her eyes. “What nigga? And if anybody’s getting the raincheck, then it better be his ass. Whoever he is.”
“Girl, it’s a lot, but you know—” I got out, before my phone buzzed with a Facetime call.
Lifting my phone, I saw that it was him.
“Fuck,” I grumbled. “Day, let me take this call, right quick. You can work on somebody else, until I come back,” I offered, before easing out of the chair. With so many people around, I didn’t want to talk in front of anybody.
“Who is that?” Tootie nosily questioned, as I scurried off to the bathroom.
I lifted a hand. “Mind your business.” Right after, I locked myself in the bathroom, and sat on the toilet, before finally answering. “Hey.”
“Aye, what’s up?” He asked coolly, while he was clearly sitting in a car.
“I was getting my hair done, but I stepped away to answer.”
“Oh, yeah? So, you was getting primped up to go bopping, huh?”
“Bopping?” I smirked. “Nigga, please.”
“So, that aint what’s going on?”
“Nope. I’m getting ready to celebrate my cousin’s birthday.”
“At the club,” he added.