HENDRIX
Chapter Fourteen
“I’m guessing this is dad, correct?” The time had come for us to find out what we were having and Sorimah allowed me to join her for the appointment. It meant more to me than she knew.
“I am Dr. Wilcox. I’ve been her OB/GYN for years. Glad to finally meet you,” she said with a beaming smile on her face.
“Same. Has she been doing everything she’s supposed to? Somebody is just now catching me up to speed with this.”
She looked at Sorimah and Ri gave her a slight smile. She knew she was in the wrong, but we were moving pass things and starting fresh. We figured that in order to make the best of us, we needed to let go of a lot and start moving as one.
“Well, I can tell you that she’s been coming to all of her appointments and staying on top of things regarding the fetus. I believe she’s been doing the best she can.”
“I tried telling him that but for some reason he thought I was lying,” Ri chimed in.
“Not lying but leaving things out. I need to know every detail about my family. I’m not playing about either one of y’all.” The eye contact was intact, so she knew I wasn’t joking around. She gave a soft nod and placed her hand in mine.
“Okay then. Let’s get started. Sorimah, have you experienced any pain or discomfort since our last visit? I want to make sure you’re good,” Dr. Wilcox spoke in a tone that seemed to always be in an excited mode.
“Nope. This man made sure to stress me out but also make everything feel better. I’m good Dr. Wilcox, I promise.”
“Good to hear. I love that for you. I know you had the girls but the support from your partner always makes things better. Let’s see what this nugget is so we can stop calling it an ‘it.’ Lay back for me,” she instructed.
I was eager to know the gender of our beautiful creation. I held Sorimah’s hand to my mouth pecking at the back of it. It calmed my nerves down a bit. Having her that close to me and knowing I was about to become a father felt surreal. It was a moment I never thought I would get.
For so long, I tried to have a child with Aviana, but I always failed.
To be honest, I felt like she aborted my child and more than once at that.
We were sexually active for damn near five years and unprotected for four and a half.
There was no way we missed out on having kids together.
She was just too conniving to believe anything other than that.
Everything with Ri happened so fast. Me falling for her and starting this family were at the top of the list but I was happier to have these moments with her than I was to make anymore with Aviana.
I risked being able to see Princess every day to be able to have this life with my woman and biological instead.
“Look right here and began to look forward to your daughter. Congratulations you two, it’s a girl!”
Another daughter, one that I couldn’t be torn away from.
I smiled and shed a silent tear. When it came to my kids, I always wanted them around and under me.
I never wanted them to feel unprotected or unsafe.
I was the protector and provider for them as well as their mother and Sorimah was going to be Akeera’s stepmother if I ever got the chance to be her father again.
“Yes!” Sorimah stated excitedly.
I couldn’t enjoy the good news fully because of the phone call I was receiving that interrupted our celebratory moment. I dug through my pockets and retrieved it. On the screen I saw that it was Amira, Aviana’s sister.
“Give me a second beautiful,” I said letting go of her hand and stepping away from the table. “Hello.”
“Hey Hendrix, it’s Amira.”
“Yeah, I know. What’s the issue?”
She had me worried that something was wrong with Princess. She wasn’t the kind of person that reached out, so my antennae was up and alert.
“Is there any way you can spare me some of your time? There are a lot of things going on and your help is needed.”
“Is Akeera alright?” I questioned with my tone elevating more than I wanted it to. That got the attention of both Sorimah and Dr. Wilcox.
“What’s wrong with her Hendrix?” Sorimah was sitting up not caring about her exposed belly covered in jelly. I instantly threw my hand up signaling her to hold up a minute.
“She’s fine but there’s more to it. I really just need to see you as soon as possible.”
“Yeah. Give me an hour and I’ll be back at the crib in Reedsburg. I’ll call you when I touchdown.”
Hanging up, my thoughts were all over the place.
She has always been a soft-spoken woman but I could tell something detrimental happened and she wasn’t trying to let me in on it just yet.
I walked back over to Sorimah and she wore a look of concern as well.
She loved Akeera just as much as I did, if not more and my baby gravitated toward her equally.
“Can we wrap this up doc? We have a pressing matter to attend.” I didn’t want to rush this moment, but we really didn’t have a choice but to get this show on the road.
“Sure. Let me take a few more pics, print them off, and then you can be on your way.”
I stood caressing Ri’s hand but the way I wanted to take off to go to my baby was putting me in a difficult situation.
All I could think about was my daughter and that something was wrong.
I knew when bad news was supposed to be distributed because it was a wave of reassurance that everything was fine before they dropped the ball.
The room fell silent and all you could hear was our daughter’s heartbeat. It took Dr. Wilcox a little over ten minutes before she had our pictures ready, and our next appointment scheduled. She was able to handle it and get us out of the way as promised.
Sorimah and I were on the road shortly after.
I could tell she wanted to ask questions about what was going on, but I had no answers.
Amira didn’t give me anything to work with.
I had no insight on a damn thing and most of all, she was feeding me with something that had me unbalanced.
I truly didn’t have the same love I once had for Avi, but I wanted the best for her and my daughter.
“Don’t think irrationally, please. You’re flying down this highway, and I don’t feel completely safe right now.”
“Huh?”
“Your mind is on Akeera, and I get it but I’m carrying your daughter as well and I’d like to make it to see her beautiful face. Can you slow down?” Her voice was trembling, and when I glanced in her direction, her hand was placed on her stomach.
“That’s my fault. I zoned out for a minute. I got you though.”
I eased off the gas and allowed the vehicle to drop down to a decent speed. I wasn’t trying to lose my woman or child to nothing reckless on my behalf.
“Talk to me and stop harboring your feelings.”
“Not sure what to say right now. I can hardly focus let alone tell you what a nigga thinking. I’m really trying to keep my composure.”
“Get out of your head and stop coming up with negative scenarios. That’s not going to help. She said Akeera was fine so let’s trust her word. Don’t assume or think the worse because then you’ll make yourself upset and we don’t need that right now.”
I heard her but it was easier said than done.
The entire ride to Reedsburg negative thoughts ran a mile a minute and disappointment for me began to set in.
It was my duty to make sure everything in Princess’s life was always sunshine and blue skies, but I dropped the ball.
I stepped out and this was the consequence of it.
As I pulled into my driveway, I shot a text to Amira giving her the okay to come by the house. I was worried but I was trying to keep it contained. Sorimah was also pregnant, and I didn’t want to stress her out more than she already was.
“Did you redecorate?” she questioned as we walked deeper inside the house.
“I hired someone to do it, but it was time. Avi had a lot of dealing with the last decor, so it had to go. I wanted a fresh start. I could’ve just moved but I put a lot of design into this house so that was a dub.”
“You did good. I like it. Will the baby have a room here?”
“Where else she gon’ sleep at Sorimah? My kids are to be under the same roof as me. I don’t know who told you different.”
“Hendrix that’s a conversation for another day because I don’t know what you’ve pictured in your head but that’s not it,” she threw back.
“It ain’t nothing else to talk about beautiful. I meant what I said so I suggest you tie up loose ends and all that bull before our daughter gets here because you’re not going back to Max Peeks other than to work. Hell, that might not be an option either.”
“What? You can’t tell me what to do Hendrix. I have a life in Max Peeks. I can’t just uproot and live here as if that didn’t exist.”
“Time is ticking baby. Handle your business.”
With that, I walked back outside and retrieved the items we picked up for the baby before the appointment.
I wasn’t giving Sorimah the option to do a damn thing for real.
She was mine and whether she liked it or not, her living anywhere other than here wasn’t going to happen.
I refused to ask if she was available for me to spend time with my family when I could just come home to them. She had me messed up.
As I closed the trunk, I peeped Amira driving up.
That quick my heart was beating out of my chest. I was nervous about this whole meeting.
She kept things away from me on purpose, but this was the time to find out what the lack of details was about.
She parked behind my whip and hopped out.
You could see from her face that something was wrong, so I fired off question after question.
“What’s wrong with my baby Amira? Where is she? What did Aviana do? Is—”
“Hendrix stop and listen… please.” She closed the gap between us, and I could see the tears in her eyes clearly.
“As you know, Aviana cheated with a married man. Well, his wife and Avi got into it, and it led to Avi being in a wreck. She died last week, and the funeral was held a few days after. Because we didn’t really have any money to bury her, we chose cremation.
I was granted custody of Akeera, but I want to give it to you.
You’re the best option for her because me and Sway can’t handle another child.
She loves you, and I know you’ll do everything in your power to make sure she lives a happy life. ”
“Why ain’t nobody call me?” My words came out as more of a whisper because of the shock I was in.
I never wanted anything horrible to happen to Aviana.
She was still a woman I once loved and cared for.
Hell, I still had a certain kind of love for her because of her being Akeera’s mom.
I was thankful for her family not shutting me out the same way she did.
I prayed to be able to see my baby again, but I had no idea it would be like this.
“No one knew what she was up to bro’. All I know is, this little girl needs you.
Avi told me about the whole deal with you and Sorimah and I want you to be happy.
She can’t whoop my ass now that she’s gone but she aborted so many of your babies.
I’m glad your new woman is giving you more depth in fatherhood. ”
“’Preciate that Amira. I don’t want to seem like I’m pushing your feelings to the side or anything but where is my child?”
“She’s in the backseat sleeping and most of her clothes are in the trunk. I’ll bring the rest of her things by this week.”
“Don’t even sweat it. Keep it for your daughter. I’ll buy her whatever she needs. Thank you, Amira.” I brought her in for a hug before I went to retrieve my daughter from the car.
When I laid eyes on her, I almost broke down. This little girl had all of me and I was going through it emotionally and mentally without her. I felt like my world was coming full circle.
“Did you bring any of Avi’s ashes? I can get her some kind of necklace made for her,” I inquired, fixing Princess on my shoulder.
“I did. They’re in her suitcase in a small vessel. Thank you for being such a good man Hendrix. My sister might have fumbled the ball, but you always deserved someone to match the kind of energy you gave. I would still like to be involved in her life if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is. I wouldn’t shut y’all out. Ain’t nothing changed in that department.”
“Cool. I’ll talk to you later. Tell my baby I love her dearly.”
She hopped in her ride and was gone moments later.
I stood there thanking God for coming through.
I hated that Princess had to lose her mother in order for me to see her again, but I was grateful for the chance.
I was going to grieve Avi as well but not the way I would have if I was still locked in on her.
“Bring her inside Hendrix.” Sorimah’s voice brought me out of my trance.
I did as she said and took her up to her bedroom where her bed was still intact. Once she was comfortable, I dipped out and went to find my woman. I was in better spirits and needed her to know that this was it for me. I couldn’t deal with anymore losses.
She was in the kitchen beginning to cook and seeing that instantly brought a smile to my face.
I snuck up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. Never would I have thought I would have a voluptuous woman with so much confidence and beauty having my child, having me in love, or better yet, ready to settle down.
I loved women and adored the ones that knew no man was needed to validate anything in their life.
My baby radiated with that and had me wrapped around her chunky ass fingers.
I couldn’t see myself with anyone else now that I’d experienced her.
I was all about her, and she didn’t have to change a damn thing for me.
“Let me make something clear beautiful. When it comes to my family, I’m not taking any losses.
I need to know that y’all are in a space that’s comfortable and untouchable.
I’m not trying to control you in no shape or form but I’m not sleeping without y’all near me.
I did that already and I almost lost my mind. ”
“Then ask and stop telling me what I ought to do. I’m a human being as well and I’d like to know that we have respect for each other.”
“Will you move in with me so I can continue to love you and my daughters properly?”
“Yes. I will. I’ll tie up my loose ends as you said and be here before she comes. That wasn’t so hard, now, was it?” She raised my hand to her lips and applied a soft kiss to the back of it.
“Can I have some of your love before Princess wakes up? I didn’t get to slide up in it this morning, but I feel like it’s time.”
“Where you want me?”