Chapter 10
We were loading everything in the car from my baby shower, and I was so thankful for all the love that baby Cadence had received.
His grandfather had really gone all out when it came to the gifts.
I was so happy that my man was rebuilding a relationship with his father because I could see the change in his whole demeanor since his dad was back in his life.
My baby boy would have a chance to know his grandfather, and we couldn’t be happier with how things were turning out.
I was due any day now, and I was officially evicting this little boy. I could barely walk nowadays.
I had been praying Jakari out of my life and wishing that he would leave me alone for good, then one day, I turned on the news, and there he was.
One of the biggest drug busts in ages, and he was the culprit.
Instantly, my mind fell on his son, and I wondered what would happen to him.
An innocent baby being caught up in all this bullshit was very heartbreaking.
I wished his parents had done better by him and for him.
No matter how he was conceived, he didn’t deserve any of this.
I had a sense of relief that no matter who my son belonged to, I wouldn’t have to look over my shoulder, waiting for Jakari to pop back up.
He was gone for the long haul. Seeing his situation really made me push the issue of Rowdy getting out of the game.
His business was booming, and money from his shop was flowing in more than my salon.
I encouraged him daily and always told him how proud I was of him.
“You not gonna have to buy the baby nothing for a long time, bestie! I’m so excited for you, and I can’t wait to see his little face!” Ciara exclaimed.
Just as she got her sentence out, she grabbed her stomach, leaned over, and started throwing up in the grass beside Rowdy’s car.
“Looks like you’re gonna have a little face of your own to look forward to. This is the second time you’ve thrown up today and the fifth time this week. You need to make an appointment,” I stated.
“Hell no! I’m not pregnant, and if I am, I can’t keep it. I don’t fuck with Trell, and I don’t want shit to do with him,” she said as she watched me load the car.
“You talking crazy now! With or without him, you gon’ be straight, and I can promise you that.”
I stopped talking when I saw the guys come outside. Trell saw that Ciara had just thrown up, and he rushed over to check on her. She cursed him out and stormed off. She now acted as if she was disgusted by him, but she had better figure it out because clearly, he was her baby daddy now.
Rowdy walked up and kissed me all over my face while he rubbed my belly.
I was so smitten with him; I couldn’t stop myself from blushing.
Rowdy was the man who all women wanted but could never find.
He was a real man but knew to be gentle with me.
He left the street shit in the streets and showed me nothing but love, and showered me with attention.
I got in the car and waited for Rowdy to say his goodbyes to his family so we could head home.
I was beyond tired and just wanted to get some rest. The bigger the baby got, the less sleep I was starting to get.
I couldn’t even laugh hard without accidentally pissing on myself.
Rowdy talked about having a daughter and naming her Symphony, and I would pretend to listen, but I knew damn well I wouldn’t be doing this again any time soon.
Once we made it home, we cuddled up on the couch and watched movies together.
Rowdy thought he was my second doctor and no longer allowed me to work.
While he was gone working, I would sit at home all day and be bored out of my mind.
I couldn’t wait to get back to my normal self.
There was nothing left around the house that I could clean; I had done it all.
Even the baby’s closet was color-coordinated and neat.
Thankfully, it was Saturday, and Rowdy would be home with me for the next two days because the shop would be closed.
As we lay on the couch, and I was splayed across my man’s lap, he started making his dick jump through his pants.
I looked up into his eyes and bit my bottom lip.
Something told me not to try to be grown tonight, but my hormones had gotten the best of me.
One thing led to another, and I was on my toes, bouncing up and down on Rowdy.
Just as I felt myself at my peak, a gush of water came down, and I instantly got a sharp pain in my stomach.
I screamed out in agony, and Rowdy instantly went into panic mode.
“Baby, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” he panicked.
“No, baby, I think my water just broke. I’m feeling the contractions.”
“Shit, Moni, what should I do?” he asked as he nervously paced in front of me.
“Help me take a really quick shower, then grab me and the baby’s hospital bag.”
Rowdy tried to convince me not to take a shower and to just go to the hospital.
I had just finished fucking, and my water had broke, leaving me feeling sticky.
I didn’t want to hear shit he was saying.
Once I hemmed him up by the collar of his shirt, he got the picture.
He helped me shower, then get dressed, and we were on our way to the hospital.
I called my OBGYN and advised her that my water had broke. She coached me through breathing all the way until I checked into the hospital, and then she arrived shortly after me. Rowdy suited up and came back into the room, looking like a doctor with his gloves, hat, and scrubs on.
I was so scared to be in labor, but I was even more scared of this baby not belonging to my fiancé.
I was going to trust him to be a man of his word and stand on all the things he told me he would do.
When my doctor checked me, I was eight centimeters dilated and was told that I would have to push once I made it to ten centimeters.
Rowdy rubbed my head and spoke positive affirmations over me.
We held hands and prayed together as we prepared to bring a baby into this world.
Once I made it to ten centimeters, it was time for me to start pushing.
After an hour of pushing, I finally heard the most beautiful cry ever.
I looked over at Rowdy, who was holding the baby with tears in his eyes, and I instantly started crying.
All I could think was that when he said he would be okay if the baby wasn’t his, he’d lied.
Thinking the worst and not wanting him to leave us, I cried like a baby.
The doctor told Rowdy to put the baby on my chest so we could do skin-to-skin, and he reluctantly laid him on my chest. Tears blurred my vision, but when I wiped my eyes and looked at my son, he was the spitting image of his father.
“Thank you so much, Moni! Thank you so fuckin’ much! He’s perfect!” Rowdy cried.
Cadence had Rowdy’s whole face. It looked like he had made him himself.
He was already the color of milk chocolate, and I knew that he would be the same complexion as his daddy.
I could look at my fiancé and tell exactly how proud he was to have a son.
His own son. I thanked God a million times for my healthy baby and for my family being complete.
Once they put me into recovery, my room was immediately filled with family, flowers, and balloons.
They allowed us to visit with Cadence for only a few minutes before they took him to the nursery.
They told me they had to monitor him overnight and he would be brought back to me early in the morning.
The look on Rowdy’s father’s face was priceless.
He looked at his grandson with so much pride.
My baby looked just like those two, and I was so happy that everyone had a second chance to do right.
Ciara spent the night with me while Rowdy went home to get the house together for the baby and put up everything that we had gotten at the shower. Once everyone was gone, Ciara wasted no time.
“Bitch, I was so scared your whole pregnancy! When I saw that baby, and he looked just like Rowdy, I breathed a sigh of relief. Whew!” Ciara joked.
“Me too, Best! I was so scared that my man was gon’ leave me if he wasn’t his.
I prayed about this every night. We’re still having someone come tomorrow to do the DNA test, just be certain, but there’s no doubt in my mind.
He has every feature of his dad and granddad.
It’s almost scary. My luck is finally looking up, and I’m all for it. ”
We talked a little longer, then we both fell asleep. Today was a long ass day. When we woke up the next morning, the obstetrician was bringing my baby into the room. I sat up in my bed as she rolled his bed into the room and placed him beside me.
“Hi, my name is Journei, and I will be taking care of you and baby until you are discharged tomorrow. Not to overstep, but you look so familiar. Would you happen to own a salon?” Journei said.
“Yes, I do.” I smiled, assuming she was a customer.
“I frequent your salon. It’s nice to see you, and congrats on your handsome little guy.”
Once she left the room, Ciara instantly went in on the girl about how fake she seemed. I didn’t pay it any attention; I was just happy to see my little bitty baby. Rowdy must have had a radar on us because as soon as the obstetrician left, he walked into the room.
“He just got here. How did you know they would bring him at this time?” I greeted Rowdy.
“Because that’s Daddy’s man. I know everything about my son. I made sure to wake up early to be one of the first faces he saw this morning.”
Rowdy greeted Ciara, and then they agreed to switch out.
Ciara was heading home to get some rest and Rowdy was taking over for her.
Ciara held Cadence for a second, then she headed home.
I laughed to myself at how pregnant she was and wanted to ignore it.
Her hips were spreading, and her face was pale.
It would only be so long that she could hide it. I was living proof.
We spent the day admiring our baby boy and spending time together.
I was getting the hang of breastfeeding, and Rowdy was so helpful and motivating.
He was going to make sure his son ate. The lab people came around 4:00 pm to do the DNA test, and neither of us was nervous or concerned about it. We both knew the answer already.
The next day, it was time for me to be discharged, and Rowdy kept telling me he had a surprise for me.
He was so excited about it that I had no choice but to be just as excited.
Journei took damn near an hour to bring my discharge papers, and I was beginning to get frustrated.
I was ready to get out of this hospital and into my bed.
I couldn’t wait to get my son home and shower him with love.
Journei told Rowdy that he had to bring the car around the front in order for us to leave. Before she could officially discharge us, she had to check out the baby’s car seat and make sure we knew how to strap him in properly. It was hospital procedure, as stated in the discharge paperwork.
Journei rode the elevator with my baby and me.
The whole elevator ride, she had her phone out, texting.
Once we made it to the lobby and outside, Rowdy was standing out front, but I didn’t see his car anywhere.
Rowdy had his phone out recording me, and I was confused as to why.
Journei stood beside me, looking for the car as well and trying to figure out what my fiancé was up to.
“You did such an amazing job bringing my son into the world that it was only right that I bought you something off your vision board. Enjoy your push gift, baby. You deserve that and more.” He held out a set of keys.
I grabbed them from his hand and examined them.
It was my regular house keys with a Jeep key on the ring as well.
Once I scanned the parking lot, I saw a baby doll pink Jeep Wrangler with a bow on it.
I screamed and jumped up and down as I power-walked to my new car.
Rowdy carried the baby and the car seat as Journei followed him.
I examined my car and fell in love. As they strapped the baby into the car, I got into the passenger seat of my new Jeep.
My man had me on such a high that nothing could bring me down.
“You like your new Jeep, baby?” Rowdy asked as he kissed my lips before pulling out of the hospital.
“I love it! Thank you so much, baby! You are too good to me. I appreciate everything you do, and I’m so thankful to have you.”
As we were about to pull out onto the highway, making a right turn, a black SUV came from out of nowhere and hit us head-on. The airbags deployed and knocked me out cold. I could feel myself being pulled from the Jeep, but I was unable to open my eyes or make my mind bring me back to reality.
Unsure of how long I had been out, I woke up in a dark and cold room, tied to a chair.
I could hear my baby crying in the distance, but I was unable to move.
As I opened my eyes and was able to focus on my surroundings, I saw Diamond sitting in the chair across from me.
Without warning, I started to panic and hyperventilate.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Diamond stated.
She was at least twenty pounds smaller, and her face was stiff on one side. It looked like she had nerve damage or was paralyzed from the bullet that entered her neck. I was scared for my life.
“Please give me my son. He is innocent, and I need to feed him. I can’t just let him cry like that,” I cried.
“You sound just like I did when Black kidnapped my son and me. Unlock this phone. I need to call that nigga.”
Diamond powered my phone on and made me give her the code. She called Rowdy, and he answered on the first ring.
“Moni, where are you, baby? Are you and Cadence okay?” He answered in a panic.
“You couldn’t have thought you could kidnap me and my son, and I wasn’t going to touch yours. I told you that Jakari was a bitch, but I wasn’t going to let that shit slide. I meant that!” she said as he hung up in his face.
“The biggest mistake y’all made was letting your guards down, thinking I was dead without even asking to see a body. I taught Jakari a lesson, and now it’s your turn,” Diamond said as she punched me in my face with all her strength, causing my right eye to instantly swell shut.
To be continued…