Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Marz
Two weeks had passed since the last time I’d seen my baby.
I was missing her like crazy. It was June, the weather had finally started to feel like summer, and we were supposed to be having the time of our lives.
Instead, I was waiting for Kiana to agree to a paternity test that would determine the course of my life for the next twenty something years.
A part of me hadn’t completely accepted the fact that I might have a baby on the way.
Not just because it was with Kiana but also because I didn’t want children no time soon.
I was thirty-three-years-old, and even though that was considered a good age to start a family, I didn’t even have my wife yet.
Before we started bringing kids into the world, it had always been my desire to spend at least five years living life, spoiling my wife, and traveling the world with her.
Kids were a monumental responsibility that led to major life changes, and though I wanted to experience that eventually, I wanted it to happen later in life.
I still hadn’t done the things I wanted to do with my life, and there was no doubt in my mind my baby would become the center of my world the moment I held them in my arms. The shit felt premature, and though I understood it was my fault for having sex with her, I still hadn’t been able to wrap my mind around what was happening.
Me, Pops, and Neptune were playing golf.
Well, we were drinking, listening to music, and riding around in our golf cart.
I couldn’t tell you the first thing about how to actually play the game.
Pops had secured membership to this black and bougie ass country club several years ago.
Until we became legal, Neptune and I only came for family days and events.
They used to be so boring, and I never understood the appeal of the club until I turned twenty-one.
Then… the real fun began. Now, I loved going as much as I could, and it was even better because I was still on his membership, so I didn’t have to pay.
By the time I was on my fourth shot, I told Pops, “Kiana is pregnant, and there’s a chance I’m the father.”
Even with the shades covering his eyes, I saw his furrowed brows and frown as he looked at me.
He scratched his cheek and took a swig of his beer.
He was at that age now where after two shots, he drank nothing but beer, unless it was a holiday or celebration.
Pops lifted his shades and gripped my shoulder.
“You and Kiana finally decided to get together?”
Chuckling, I kept my eyes on Neptune as he recorded a video several feet away with his golf club. No one else knew about the baby besides Heir. I hadn’t even told my friends.
“Not at all. You know I want my wife back.”
“I… thought that was the plan. So I guess I’m not understanding how you ended up getting Kiana pregnant.”
Sitting back in the cart, I shook my head and looked toward the sky.
“It definitely wasn’t the plan. You remember when I took her out of town after she broke up with Daniel that last time?
” Pops nodded. “It happened then. She was on some rebound shit wanting to feel better I suppose, and I couldn’t reject her.
We left with the understanding that it would never happen again and we’d be just friends.
Fast forward three months later, and she’s telling me she’s pregnant and she doesn’t know if the baby is mine or Daniel’s. ”
A low whistle escaped Pops as he stretched his leg out and set his beer down. “Damn. What are you hoping for? I know you wanted to wait until you’d been married for a few years to have your children.”
“And not only that, but it’s Kiana. I can’t have no baby with her. Shit is all fucked up, and I don’t know what to do. She keeps putting off having the test, and I can’t release Heir or go forth with my permanent pursuit of her until I know if this baby is mine or not.”
“Wait. Why is she putting off the test, Son?”
Sucking my teeth, I crossed my arms over my chest as my anger started to grow.
The past two weeks of trying to get the shit scheduled had been hell.
Kiana came with one excuse after another, and the more she waited, the more it irritated me.
I tried to give her grace and the benefit of the doubt, but I’d done my research, and she was far enough along in her pregnancy for her to safely have the test done, so I don’t know what she was waiting around for.
“I’on know, Pops. Her first excuse was she wanted to make sure it was safe.
We confirmed she was far enough along for the test and then she started talking about her schedule.
Now, she’s not answering my calls, but she texts me talking about she hasn’t forgotten and she’s going to call me when she schedules the test.”
“Does Daniel know the baby might not be his? They’re engaged, right?”
“No and yes. She said she doesn’t want to tell him if she doesn’t have to. He proposed after she told him she was pregnant, and she believes he will call the wedding off if he finds out the baby might not be his.”
“Damn,” he muttered before chuckling. “I hate to say it, little man, but I got a feeling Kee Kee about to draw this shit out. If he’s not the father, she’s going to lose her man. She’s not going to rush into that.”
“She ain’t got no choice,” I griped, getting pissed off all over again.
“I understand she’s in a delicate situation, but this is on her.
I can’t move on with Heir until we get this test done, so I really don’t give a fuck if she wants to tell Daniel or not.
I’m not putting my life and relationship on hold for damn near six more months playing around with her. ”
Silence found us for a while, but when Pops did speak, it was to say, “I commend you for releasing Heir if the baby is yours. That’s going to be a big adjustment, and my grandbaby will consume your whole world for quite some time.
I raised you to be a man and take care of your responsibilities, so I know you’re going to be there for Kiana and your baby.
” He paused. “Just… don’t make the mistake I made.
“Be clear on your role, be clear on who you are, and be clear on who Kiana is to you. I almost lost my wife trying to have an unofficial marriage with your mama. Aries and I had long since stopped having sex, but she was damn near my wife because of you.” He chuckled.
“I had y’all in the guest house right behind my house so we could do the family thing every day.
I told myself it was fine because we weren’t in a relationship.
All that changed when I met Neo. She challenged me to be honest with myself about my relationship with Aries and then left when the responsibility became too much.
We weren’t together, but I was playing the role of her husband, and Neo wasn’t having that shit, especially when Aries got pregnant with Ariel and I offered to help her take care of the baby.
“Neo bowed out gracefully, and I was too focused on being there for Aries that I didn’t realize what my loyalty was about to cost me.
Had it not been for Aries calling me out on that and agreeing to be more independent, I know I would have lost Neo and regretted that shit for the rest of my life.
In my attempt to have a family and be a good father, I lost myself as a man and almost ruined my chance to be a husband.
You take care of your child, but don’t ever blur the lines between you and Kiana.
If you gon’ be with her, be with her. If not, don’t ever let there be a question of her place in your life. ”
I nodded as I processed his words while Neptune made his way over to us.
“What y’all over here looking sad and depressed for?” As he looked around he said, “Where that cart girl with the drinks at? Y’all need to drink up before y’all fuck up my vibe.”
All I could do was laugh because he was dead serious. His tall ass started walking around looking for the beverage cart attendant. Because if Neptune demanded nothing else, he demanded everyone around him enjoy life and be in good spirits. Before he made his way back, I decided to text Heir.
Wifey.
:
I miss you bae.
: I miss you too babe. I really do.
: No word on the test yet?
She’s moving slow but I give you my word, I’ll have it done by the end of this month.
Her dots popped up immediately, but she decided not to text back, and that made me feel like shit.
I’m sorry bae.
: Hurry up Marz.
She laughed at my emoji and sent me a kiss, and I was content enough with that to end the conversation. As Neptune walked over to us with the young lady trailing behind, I stood and called Kiana, though I was sure she wouldn’t answer. Not to my surprise, she sent me to voicemail.
“You trying my patience, Kiana. Handle ya business so I can handle mine. We need to know our next move.”
After leaving the voicemail, I put my phone back in my pocket and gave my people my undivided attention. Though I understood Kiana not wanting the results because it could potentially end her relationship, I needed them to be able to save mine.