Chapter 15 #2
Ever was the definition of a real life heroine. She was unstoppable. In full blown labor with her sac busted, she was passing out bowls of freshly cut fruit to the children and breastfeeding the tiniest one who was approaching two.
“Well, are you girls hungry?”
“Mimi feeding me at school,” Emorey chimed in.
“I’d like a glass of milk,” Essence told me.
“And what about you, Elle?”
I leaned down and scooped up the baby of the bunch. She snuggled in my arms, obviously still sleepy. The clock hadn’t even struck seven so I imagined they’d been up since about five thirty or six.
“Night night.” She yawned.
Though her vocabulary was limited, she knew how to say the most important things. Milk, boob, play, night, tub, stuffy, mommy, daddy, Em, Es, and TT were amongst the few words she recited with ease.
“You sleepy, Elle? Awwww. TT’s baby.”
I cradled her head in my palm and lowered it until she was laying on my shoulder.
Caring for my nieces came so naturally to me.
It was like second nature though I didn’t have children.
The thought of one day having my own to care for often arose while they were around.
The day that I became a mother would easily be the happiest day of my life.
At my age, I was hoping it came sooner rather than later.
With Elle in one hand, I restocked everything I’d removed from the cabinets and fridge.
My plans to make Minnie Mouse pancakes were quickly abandoned.
Emorey wanted to wait until she got to school for her Mimi to feed her, and Essence only requested a glass of milk.
Elle had already nursed and eaten fruit, so I was sure she’d be alright until she got with her Mimi as well.
I decided to hang out in the living room with the girls until my phone alarm warned me that it was seven-fifteen.
Essence needed to be in class within a few minutes, and I had to make sure she was accounted for.
Elle was sound asleep on the couch where I’d laid her.
While she rested, I sprinted up the stairs, suddenly full of energy that I couldn’t find or muster just an hour before when I was bent over the toilet.
I pulled on some decent attire and marched back down the stairs to round up the girls.
I dragged the spare car seats in my downstairs closet with me to the door and left Elle on the couch while I stuffed them into my truck.
Emorey loved the brown seat, so that’s the one she hopped into once I’d strapped it in.
Essence sat in the booster seat between the larger car seats.
When I finally brought Elle out, I laid her in the tan seat that was reversible.
She was able to lay down comfortably instead of sitting up with her neck dangling the entire ride.
Although it was a short one, I didn’t want my baby to be uncomfortable.
With Essence dropped off, my final drop-off was at Einsenberg Smiles.
Both Emorey and Elle attended. Both girls loved their school.
Not only because it was a great place to be but because their Mimi spoiled them rotten and preferred them in her care than anyone else’s at the center.
She’d extended her office to accommodate her grandchildren and taught them just as much as the teachers in the classroom did.
The only time she allowed them to go to class was days that she was either swamped with work or had to take time away from the office. Neither was often.
I pulled into the parking lot and up to the spot that was labeled for mothers with three or more children.
Ever’s name was specified on the first, brushed onto the cement as if she was a queen of some sort.
Secretly, I was hating and couldn’t wait to have a personal spot in the parking lot someday.
For now, I planned to steal Ever’s every chance I got.
“You ready, Em?” I called out, staring in the rearview mirror.
“Yes. I’m ready!” she cheered, sipping from the water in her cup she’d brought with her.
“Alright, then. Let’s go.”
I slid out of my wagon and walked around to let Emorey out.
The energy I’d somehow discovered before leaving home was slowly inching away from me.
And though I hadn’t eaten anything yet, I felt like I needed to plant my face in the closest toilet.
I wasn’t sure what my gagging would produce being that my stomach was empty, but I’d have to wait and see.
Once Emorey’s feet were on the ground, I walked around to Elle’s side and unbuckled her. She was still sound asleep. Waking her was cringe-worthy, but I needed her to walk. Holding her simply wasn’t an option for me at the moment.
“Noooo,” Elle cried, waving her arms as I removed her from her seat.
“I know, TT, but we have to wake up for a little bit. You can go night night with Mimi.”
“Mimi?” Elle immediately perked up. Her eyes swelled and the tantrum stopped before it had completely begun. Mimi was always the magic word – and Daddy, of course.
“Yes. Mimi is waiting for you inside. You want to walk in like a big girl for TT?”
“I walk, TT.”
“Yes, baby. Walk alongside Emorey. Take her hand,” I instructed Elle as I placed her on the ground next to Emorey.
The two grabbed hands and began their walk toward the door. I locked up my truck and followed behind them. At the moment, I didn’t care to see Mimi and anyone else. My only concern was reaching the restroom before I ruined the halls of my mother’s daycare center.
When we entered the building, the first face we saw was my mother’s. She was on her way to her office with donuts in her hand. She quickly sat them down and headed our way when she noticed us coming through the door.
Both girls took off in her direction, and I made my way to the restroom.
If I opened my mouth to say anything, I knew that it wouldn’t end well.
So, I didn’t. I entered the restroom for visitors that was right after my mother’s office, but on the opposite side.
It was a single-stall restroom, which made my journey to the toilet so much easier.
Crouched in front of it, I began emptying my stomach of whatever was left.
There wasn’t much, but enough to keep me heaving for a full five minutes.
I felt like my world was ending as my feet numbed and legs began to ache from the position I was in. Sweat beads formed across my forehead, and my body felt exceptionally warm. Though I didn’t have a fever, I felt like my body was burning up on the inside.
“This can't be life,” I moaned, finally able to lift myself up.
Feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, I rinsed off at the sink.
As I stared back at my reflection in the mirror, I was beginning to think that whatever was going on with me might’ve been more than a stomach bug.
I’d watched my best friend struggle through the beginning of two pregnancies and the symptoms were identical.
Her body was trying to get acquainted with its new addition which led to morning sickness, fatigue, fever, and a list of other things.
I pulled the door of the restroom open with heavy thoughts and an even heavier heart.
“I see you done went and got yourself into some trouble,” my mother said as I exited.
I wasn’t expecting to see her on the other side of the door. I’d thought she was busy with the girls but there she stood. With her arms folded at her chest and furrowed brows, she stared at me. I imagined I looked like a total mess. It felt like it.
“I see you’re following me and assuming things that just aren’t accurate.” I yawned, exhaustion hitting me hard at once.
“Lyric, answer this one question for me,” she insisted.
“I’m listening, Mom.”
“When was the last time you saw red, red blood? Ya know, had your period.”
“Emorey was sick a few days ago, Mom. Have we forgotten? I kept her. Nearly half her class was out with the same stomach bug. She passed it along and now I’m not sure if I’m coming or going.”
“Um, hmmm.”
“Mom, I haven’t gotten into trouble. Not yet. Besides, I haven’t seen Keanu since Valentine’s Day. That was four weeks ago,” I explained to her.
“And why not?”
“His obsession with my brother’s knowing our status caused him to blow up on me.
He gave me a month to tell Luca and Laike, then got upset because I wouldn’t tell them sooner.
I’m not sure what his deal is and neither am I trying to find out.
Maybe it’s best that he be with someone who he doesn’t have to conceal his adoration for.
I wasn’t asking him to wait a lifetime. Just a little while to make sure that we were perfect for each other.
Valentine’s Day only proved that we weren’t. ”
“Lyric, you two have a lot to learn, baby. This isn’t the end of the road.
Trust me. You two have at least eighteen more years of each other’s bullshit.
Trust me when I tell you that it ain’t the type of bug you think it is crawling around your stomach,” my mother preached.
“So prepare to make amends, and I’m going to start preparing for the new member of the Eisenberg crew. ”
“Mom, you’re being dramatic.” I huffed.
“I’ve had three, Lyric. I can practically smell the motherly scent we all possess coming from your pores.”
“Uh. Maybe because I’ve been playing momma bear for the last two hours since Luca showed up with the girls,” I reminded her.
“This has nothing to do with the girls.”
“I’m not sure what you want me to say.”
Folding my arms, I rested my head on the wall behind me. I felt like my world was spiraling out of control. Instead of crying on my mother’s shoulder like I truly wanted to, I maintained my pride and waited for whatever was next to come from her mouth.