Chapter 5
KWAMé
“I’ve planned to cook for you several times, and Adrain beats me to it,” Margarite fussed.
I was inside her kitchen, snacking on some chicken salad she’d made while Adrian and Gion put a swing set together for Jessie.
“Look at ‘em,” she softly barked as she peered out of the large kitchen window overlooking the backyard.
“Out there being all manly and take charge. What if I want to spoil my daughter and granddaughter?”
Giggling, I said, “Really, Mom.”
She pouted. “No, not really. I’m trippin’, huh?”
Nodding, I replied, “Just a tad.”
She smacked her teeth. “Oh, hell. At least he’s not some bum. And at least he loves Jessie. Look how she’s trying to help her daddy. Aww.”
Something warm fluttered inside my chest. Adrian was so patient with Jessie. She was all in his way, but he redirected her every time her little tail got in the way.
“I owe you a beat down for keeping her from us,” Mama fussed some more.
Sadly, I avoided this conversation with my mother. She wanted an in depth play by play on what happened and who Jessie’s real father was, but I wasn’t ready to go there with her. I wasn’t ready to discuss that shit ever.
Today, Adrian, Antonias, and Bianca accompanied me to see Dr. Cartright. Now that I was staying at the farm for the foreseeable future, having care closer to home was necessary. We were sixteen weeks now, and with all hope, we could learn the babies’ genders today.
When we made it to the office, Minnie and Judge Bell were waiting for us. Minnie embraced her daughter, then me. The way her eyes shined with tears at seeing my belly made this even more worth it. Every time she saw me, her reaction was the same.
Inside the exam room, Dr. Cartright chuckled at all of us gathered inside there to see what he had to say. I wasn’t worried. My last exam went well, and I was doing everything in my power to grow these babies. Everything else was up to God.
As Dr. Cartright did my scan, Adrian held my hand and paid close attention to the ultrasound screen.
His focus on every little thing was endearing.
These weren’t his children inside me, yet his attentiveness to know every detail told me that once it was our turn to conceive, he’d be just as invested.
Bianca and Minnie sniffled as soon as they heard the twins’ heartbeats. The babies were growing perfectly, and come November, Bianca and Antonias would be the proud parents of a baby girl and baby boy. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was all smiles as we filed out of the exam room.
Antonias and Bianca had another round of ultrasound pictures to add to the ones I gave them a few weeks ago.
We all agreed to meet for lunch at Bell Estates.
Adrian led me to his office where Russ was watching Jessie until we were done.
When we walked inside of Adrian’s office, Russ looked relieved.
“Say, mane,” he started, “the next time y’all ask me to babysit, I’ma respectfully decline.”
I burst out laughing while Jessie sat in the middle of the floor playing with her toys, looking all innocent.
“She done climbed on every damn thing in here,” Russ said.
Adrian stooped down to clean Jessie’s toys up and tweaked her chin. “You can’t give Russ a heart attack, lil’ baby,” he said to Jessie, who giggled. Her big brown eyes snagged Adrian, and just like that, he folded. He picked her up, then grilled Russ. “I think you lyin’ on my baby.”
Russ chuckled. “Yeah, aight. When she’s flippin’ off the roof of the house, I don’t want to hear shit.”
“Now you talkin’ shit,” Adrian stated. “Yo’ big ass will be the first one dodging to catch her if she did do some shit like that.”
Russ smirked but didn’t deny it. He loved him some Jessie.
“First of all,” I started, “both of you would dive to catch her. Second of all, I’m starving, so can we get a move on?”
Adrian shook his head. “Really, baby? I just fed yo’ ass three hours ago.”
Disappointed, Russ mimicked Adrian and shook his head. Before I could say anything, he said, “In case you forgot, she’s pregnant, nigga. Feed her whenever she wants to be fed.”
“Exactly,” I seconded.
“Oh, shit. You right.” Adrian kissed my lips. “My fault, lil’ baby.”
“I’ll let it slide this time,” I joked.
We left out of Adrian’s office and made our way back through the maze of Dr. Bell & Associates.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded working there.
Having my brother, sister-in-law, and countless family at my fingertips felt so much like a dream.
Back in Atlanta, there was so much loneliness in the life I lived.
Being on the go at the drop of the hat masked my loneliness.
I hadn’t felt that loneliness since stepping foot back on the farm.
Plus, Jessie needed every single one of these people.
I wanted her to have the upbringing that instilled the value of family within her.
Through Antonias’s relationships with the Bells, Jessie had cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who would never play about her.
Just the thought gave me confirmation that being back here was where we belonged.
On the back lawn of One Bell Place, Jessie had Adrian running behind her all over the damn yard. Amused, Russ sat off to the side, not lifting a finger to help. I was sure he felt vindicated because Jessie was giving Adrian a run for his money.
Lunch went from being just a few Bells, to the whole family gathering for the impromptu meal. Gion and Margarite even showed up. They were across the yard with the elder Bells, having drinks and playing cards. This wasn’t a special occasion. However, it surely felt like it.
Auntie Maddie waddled over to where Bianca, Coco, and I sat. She lowered herself onto the bench and sighed heavily.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
She glared at me. “I feel like I’m carrying a walrus.”
The three of us burst out laughing.
“I’m surprised I wasn’t showing sooner,” she mentioned. “I was supposed to announce the baby on Christmas. That didn’t go as planned. Baby, the way I had to hurry and spill the beans because this baby is growing like it’s more than one in there.”
Giggling, I Coco said, “Well, you’re carrying the baby well.”
Coco was one to talk. I, for one, had a strong hunch that she was pregnant again.
She hadn’t drank the first mimosa, and she’d hardly touched her food.
Observing the way she grimaced whenever she looked at a plate of food, she was at the toughest stage of her pregnancy.
Nausea was hell, and I was glad to be over that shit.
“I’m carrying well because that man over there,” Maddie stated, bringing me out of my thoughts. All of our eyes followed her eyes to Cooley, who was in a huddle with Adir, Alli, Dothan, and Noa. They were ragging on Adrian running after Jessie yet again. I chuckled.
“He’s so funny and sweet,” I said while gazing across the yard.
Bianca’s head whipped around. “Who’s so funny and sweet?”
“Adrian,” I answered.
Her face looked like she smelled something foul. “Girl, I’ve never mentioned funny and sweet in the same sentence as my brother. That man is mean as hell.”
I cackled at Bianca’s assessment of Adrian. He could be a tad mean at times.
“Remember how he had you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes?”
I giggled hard, recalling the day Adrian and I reconnected. “Well, he was trying to see you.”
“And he just banned you from spa days,” Coco added.
“Should I hold either of those things against him?” I asked jokingly.
“Hell, yeah!” Bianca responded, and I snickered because she was serious as hell.
“He means well.” Changing the subject back to Maddie, I said, “Cooley’s treating you so well, you’re literally glowing just looking at him.”
Maddie beamed with pride. “That’s my baby,” she gushed.
“Do you think you’ll have another baby?” Bianca asked.
Maddie’s head nearly exploded from how big her eyes got. “Hell, no!” She joined us when we cackled. “I have Genesis, Heir, and Maja. I am all good,” she added.
Speaking of Maja, her soft giggle drew our attention. Whatever she and Shyah were talking about had them cackling and whispering back and forth.
“Aye, y’all better not be talkin’ ‘bout no yuck mouth ass lil’ boys!” Cooley shouted from across the lawn. Everyone’s attention turned to him, but his attention was on Maja and Shyah. The girls giggled even harder, and so did we.
“Leave them alone,” Auntie Maddie fussed.
Cooley’s face scrunched up. “The hell I won’t,” he countered.
Auntie Maddie shook her head as we laughed some more. “That man is so serious, too,” she explained.
“Aww, it’s sweet,” I said. “Every girl wants a protective parent or big brother.”
Bianca smacked her teeth. “The way Adir and Adrian almost jumped on my man this past Christmas Eve, I think not.”
I died laughing recalling the foolery of Christmas Eve last year. Auntie Maddie and Heir gasped in shock.
“Y’all had to be there,” I told them.
“Kwamé’s right,” Bianca added. “She rode Katrelle like a prize horse… After I beat Katrelle’s ass.”
Auntie Maddie and Heir burst out laughing. Auntie Minnie walked over just then and shook her head at her daughter.
“You better not be fighting,” she warned playfully.
“That was before, Mama,” Bianca replied. She shot me a look to drop the subject, so I did.
Giggling, I scanned the yard, then sighed in amazement.
All these Bells gathered in one place were a part of my memory bank that I prayed to always keep.
This family was close, solid, and loving as hell.
As if to capitalize my thoughts, Adir picked Jessie up and playfully tossed her in the air.
Jessie’s loud laughter was music to my ears.
My girl was turning one next week, and these past twelve months had taught me so much about myself.
My baby was here, making my heart smile whenever she called me Mama or whenever she gave me that big, dimpled smile of hers.
I was someone’s mother, and thankfully, I was good at it so far.
Later that evening, once we were back settled at the farm, I crawled into Adrian’s lap to watch a movie with him.
Jessie was asleep, the sun had fallen, and I was still stuffed from eating at Bell Estates.
Showered, moisturized, and dressed in one of Adrian’s shirts, I leaned against his chest as he found us something to watch.
Ari crossed my mind, prompting me to quickly call her before Adrian pressed play on the movie. Normally, Ari and I talked multiple times a day. Since moving back to the farm, our calls had dissipated some. Ari wasn’t calling me like usual, and until now, I hadn’t even thought about it.
My call went to voicemail, causing me to frown. Sighing, I sent Ari a text message.
Me: Just checking on you, boo. Call me back.
Fifteen minutes passed before Ari responded with a text instead of a phone call. That was unlike her. I couldn’t even enjoy the movie because I was thinking about her.
Ari: Hey, sis! All is well. My day has me exhausted, so I called it an early night. I will talk to you tomorrow.
Perturbed, I read Ari’s text twice before replying.
Me: Don’t make me worry about you, Ari. You better call me tomorrow.
Ari: LOL! I’m okay! Promise. I’ll call you first thing.
Me: Okay. Love you. Good night.
Ari: Love you, too!
“The more you read those text messages, the deeper ya frown gets. What’s up?” Adrian asked. His hand rested on my stomach and every now and then, he’d rub it like his children were inside me.
“You know how close I am to Ari. Something’s wrong with her,” I stated. “Maybe I should go see her, just to be sure she’s okay.” It’d been three weeks since I left Atlanta. Maybe leaving Ari had her a little depressed.
“She said she’d call you in the morning.”
“I know but…”
“Ya gut tellin’ you some shit is off?” he questioned.
“Yes.”
“Well, if it’ll make you feel better, we can go see her tomorrow. Cool?”
Smiling hard, I kissed Adrian’s beard-covered chin. “Thank you, baby.” Ari wasn’t good at hiding things from me, and I was sure something was wrong. Going to see her tomorrow would put me at ease. Until then, I chewed my bottom lip with worry.