Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Burkeley
I pointed my camera out the window as I looked from the small screen back to the front door of the house to make sure I was still in position.
I had to be ready to get magic as soon as the show started.
For the last three hours, I’d been outside of the same house, hoping for movement.
I knew my target was here because I had followed him and watched him casually walk in with takeout and a sly smirk.
The house belonged to another married couple.
I also knew the husband wasn’t here, but the wife was.
I had been following my target long enough to understand what was going on here and just needed them to make a special appearance in the doorframe and my job would be done.
Catching my target here would be enough evidence for the wife who’d hired me to finally break free from him and get everything she wanted.
“C’mon on, muthafucka. I know her husband comes home soon, meaning yo’ ass gotta go.
Give me what I need.” I checked my wrist to clock the time and saw if nothing happened in the next ten minutes I would have to leave and try again in a couple days and I didn’t want to do that.
The longer I stayed on this case and nothing happened, meant the possibility of not helping the wife I was sure needed me to help her escape an abusive marriage.
I didn’t have any proof, but I had met the man and could sense he had an evil spirit.
“Fuck.” I cursed as I heard my personal line vibrating on the middle console and knew who it was. The only person on the list for their calls to come through while I was out in the field was McKay. Anything could happen and I never wanted to be more than a call away from making my way to her.
Today was her doctor’s appointment and my first one. I wasn’t letting shit keep me from missing this, especially not for the nigga inside the house, cheating on his wife.
I looked at the door once more before I reached up and grabbed the phone.
“Yes, baby.”
“I know you’re still working. I wanted to make sure that you’re still coming today. Do you want to meet me there?”
I looked at the door and saw nothing had changed as I shook my head before my verbal response came out.
“What did I tell you before I left this morning, M&M?”
“That the only way you would miss this is if God himself called you home, and even then, you would have a front row seat from heaven. It’s just getting late, BK, and I wanted a snack before I went but you’re not here yet.
I ate the cookies that your mama made last night and now I’m mad I did,” she whined, making me laugh as I powered the camera down and began to pack up so I could jump in the front seat.
I looked back at the door once more, lowkey feeling defeated until the reason for me leaving my post earlier voice rang out in my ear.
“I don’t want you to ever have to choose between me and work either. I understand this whole you coming to this appointment was last minute—”
“McKay, are you stressing my baby out right now?”
“No. Your baby is stressing me out.” I heard the sniffles and put my ass in motion to make it to my lady to get her food before this appointment.
“Calm down, I’m on my way. I stashed two in the bottom basket under the pretzels in the pantry.” I heard the ruffling mixed with her sniffles before she cried out a thank you.
We stayed on the phone until I pulled in the driveway, hopping out but leaving the truck running since I was only going to grab McKay so we could go.
We sat in the exam room waiting for the doctor to come in. I had my camera out, snapping pictures, which had McKay doing her best to give me her nastiest glare. The sly grin peeking through let me know she was enjoying this.
“BK, will you stop? I swear, more and more.” I snorted at her words dragging out as she huffed her fake ass annoyance.
“I gotta get these moments, M&M. We gon’ need ’em for the baby book you had me buy the other night.
Watch when Peanut grows up and sees this picture of the day we found out their gender, they will appreciate that their daddy captured this monumental moment, seeing their beautiful mother’s exact reaction on camera. ”
“Ugh, I hate that you always say the right thing that makes it impossible to hate you. Thank you.” She mumbled that last part, making me smirk as I leaned over to kiss her lips. She couldn’t hate even if she tried for real.
Two knocks on the door sounded off before the doctor came into the room.
“Good afternoon, McKay. Thank you for your patience. It has been a morning full of delivering babies for me. How was the last month for you and…oh, well hello there.” As soon as she spotted me, I held my head up high and squared my shoulders, feeling like a proud father.
“Hey, Dr. Compton. The last month has been good, no real complaints. I want you to meet, Burkeley. You can add him to the list of daddies for Peanut.” Dr. Compton snickered while I frowned at McKay who now wore a smirk on her face.
I got up to shake Dr. Compton’s hand and corrected my woman’s mistake on my title.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m not sure what she is talking about with this list shit, I’m the only daddy this baby or anymore coming from her ever will have.
I see McKay’s been in here getting beside herself.
I’m glad I’m here now to shut it down.” I was sure McKay thought this part was all for show since we were selling the act to the doctor, but I was deadass.
Just like I’d told her the night of the pumpkin patch, my territory had officially been marked and I had plans and arrangements of my own for us come the new year.
Dr. Compton shook my hand, doing her best to hide her amusement while McKay scoffed.
“Oh my gosh, calm down, daddy. I was referring to Hollis and Johnni since they played stand in at the other appointments. Please act like you have a pinch of sense in front of Dr. Compton before she starts questioning the person I decided to procreate with.”
“No questions on my account, I promise. I’ve seen a lot of couples with a similar dynamic.
Now, Dad, since this is your first time here with us, I’ll go slow for you.
McKay, you already know the drill.” Dr. Compton washed her hands before getting the gel while McKay pulled her shirt up, putting our baby on full display.
After the gel was applied, Dr. Compton went to work with the machine and soon the most beautiful thing happened.
“Dad, say hi to your baby.” The rhythmic sound of a strong heart beating filled my ears and had my eyes welling with tears as I looked at the 3D screen. There was a baby sitting there looking back at me that I swore stole my heart on the spot.
That’s my baby.
I glanced down at McKay, and without hesitation, I kissed her tenderly before I said the words I knew had the possibility to either build us or ruin anything I hoped could happen.
“I love you.”
Granted these weren’t new feelings for me. I never thought I would be this early into us saying these words, but I prayed McKay felt how sincere my declaration was.
“I love you too, baby.” When I met her eyes, I saw something I wasn’t sure how to read, so I took it as another part of the act for us. But in all honesty, at the moment, I didn’t care. Me and McKay right now was everything I wanted and more.
“You’ve got a busy one in there today. Have you started feeling the baby move yet?” Dr. Compton asked as McKay and I both had our eyes glued to the screen at Peanut who was moving around before landing in a position.
“Now that I can see what Peanut is doing in there, I can confirm the flutters. I told Burkeley I wasn’t sure if it was gas or not.” McKay laughed.
“I think it’s safe to say at this point it’s possible that it’s the baby on the go in there.
As the weeks go on, you will be able to tell the difference since Peanut will grow and the movements that tickle will become stronger.
I want to say by Thanksgiving, if not sooner, you should feel them too, Dad.
” That made me perk up and smile widely as I thought about being able to feel the first kick.
I didn’t want to say how jealous I was that McKay would get that experience all by herself for the next couple of weeks.
“Okay, back to business, you already know why I’m here today. Dr. Compton, since Peanut is putting on a special show, can we tell what the gender is?” McKay asked and that was my cue to get my camera ready.
“Definitely putting on a show. They must’ve heard Dad because your baby is letting it be known early that she’s a daddy’s girl. Congratulations, you two.” I snapped my first shot as she covered her mouth, letting the words register.
“Freaking Viola!” McKay shrieked as I snapped the last picture just as a tear fell. I wiped it then kissed the spot.
“I’ll print pictures for you and have them ready at check out. See you in a few weeks. Burkeley, it was nice meeting you.”
“You too, Dr. Compton.”
With that, she bowed out, leaving just me and McKay who sat up like she was going to get down while I was in motion, getting paper towels to clean her belly.
“You know what this means, right, BK?” I shook my head, genuinely confused.
“Before we tell the world, we have to officially go shopping! Hollis is going to kill me. You know how she is about shopping and about Peanut, but I want to do this first gender shopping with you. Do you have to get back to work?”
I snorted because she was right. I hadn’t had a lot of encounters with Hollis but I could confirm she was going to be mad. Honestly, I didn’t care too much. In my mind, I trumped everyone when it came to McKay and my baby girl.
It’s a girl.
“I’m yours for the rest of the day, baby.” She yelped as I finished wiping the gel so we could head out.