Nova
I didn’t remember falling asleep last night in Crew’s arms, but when I opened my eyes, I was at home in our bed on our soft mattress.
Not the prison Kyle left me in with chains.
All that was left now was memories and the smell of old blood, mildew and piss.
The fresh smell of clean linen and cinnamon grounded me.
I tried to sit up and failed when Crew’s big hand pressed my shoulder down gently.
“Don’t get up,” he rasped. “Doctor’s on the way to check you out. I trust Tyra and Janelle, but I need to make sure you’re okay.”
I blinked at him, groggy, split lip throbbing. “Crew…” I groaned. “I don’t need a doctor. I’m fine. I'm just a little sore. Did you sleep at all last night?”
His eyes were red and tired like he hadn’t slept a wink. He just pressed his forehead to mine, breathing hard like he’d run miles to get me. Breathing me in like he just wanted to inhale me. Then I heard little feet stomping down the hall before Timberly’s voice split the air.
“Mommy!”
My heart cracked. I tried to sit up again, ignoring the pain, as she launched herself onto the bed, arms like a vise around my neck.
“Mommy, you came home! Crew-Dad said you would, and you did! He said he’d bring you home!” She cried with her face in my neck.
I wrapped her up so tight I winced at my own bruises. “I’m here, baby. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” She was sobbing so hard it shook both of us. “I missed you. I missed you so much.”
Crew’s big hand rested on my back, rubbing soft circles, warming my skin. His voice breaking as she spoke.
“See? Told. you I’d get her. Told you baby girl.”
My vision blurred. I looked at him over Timberly’s hair. “Thank you,” I choked. He swallowed hard, shaking his head.
“Don’t thank me. Just… don’t leave us again.” He said, kissing me again.
We sat there together wrapped up in our bubble for a few more minutes.
I thanked God that he allowed me to come home and be with my family again.
When we broke apart, I looked up and Black stood in the doorway, arms folded, pretending he wasn’t watching but never blinking.
Blue was next to him leaned in the frame too, face unreadable but his eyes were sharp.
They must have been keeping an eye on Timberly.
Timberly seemed to have taken to them instantly.
I hadn’t quite gotten used to the two intimidating men but I wouldn’t be here without their help so I would make it my mission to get to know them better.
“Uncle Black, Uncle Blue, look my mommy’s home.” Timberly said, smiling big at the twins.
And for the first I saw their faces soften and light up as they responded to Timberly.
“Yeah, we saw Timber.” They said in unison, smiling.
“Where is everyone else?" I asked Crew.
“I'm sure their nosey asses will be in soon. Now that they know you’re up.” He huffed.
At that very moment I heard Janelle’s big voice coming from down the hall arguing with someone on the phone about some work being done at one of the facilities.
That woman never stopped working. If she wasn’t helping Crew run things with Del, she was here caring for everyone else.
She needed a damn vacation. Once things with Kyle died down, I would make sure she took one.
She walked in with Del trailing behind her on her tablet as usual but they both put their devices away when they saw me looking at them.
They came over to the bed, hugged me, and told me how much they missed me.
I thanked them for taking care of Crew and Timberly while I was gone.
“We’re so glad you’re back. We didn’t know what we’d do with this one here.” Janelle said, pointing at Crew. “We thought we would have to lock him in the house to keep him from tearing up the city.”
When I heard loud talking before the person made it through the door. I knew Tyra was here. DJ ran in first coming to rest right on the other side of Timberly.
“Auntie, I missed you so much," he said. Giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“I missed you too baby.” I told him, squeezing him with my other arm. When I released him, he hopped off the bed and ran to stand next to Black and Blue looking at them with amazement.
“Girl, you gon’ make me lose my damn hairline with all this stress! I’m too cute for this shit!”
I let out a laugh that turned into a sob. She hurried over and just hugged me tight
“You had me so worried. Don’t ever disappear on us like that again.
I know it wasn’t your fault but you’re my glue.
I need you. What would I do without you in my life?
You hold the sane and crazy parts of me together.
” She sniffled. “I’d turn that building upside down without you there to reign my crazy ass in. ”
Crew actually cracked a tiny smile at that.
I could only imagine what they were like while I was gone.
Pops came in last, not saying much. Just stepped up, looking me over like he was checking for holes, his grey eyes, so much like Crew’s shiny with tears he was trying not to shed.
He rested his big, warm, hand on my head, like he was saying a silent prayer before he spoke.
“My girl. You came home. You’re the heart of this house and we need you to be whole.”
My throat closed as I took in his words. He bent and kissed my forehead and then Timberly’s, his voice soft as I’d ever heard it.
“Family first. Always.”
After a heavy moment we all fell into comfortable conversation mostly about my return and how happy we all were.
But eventually they decided to let me rest, leaving to get breakfast ready and check on our businesses that still needed their attention.
Timberly refused to leave my bed though and I wasn’t upset at all.
I missed being this close to my baby. My baby wow.
I had both my babies here with me. After some time, Timberly fell asleep with her face pressed to my chest, curled up in a ball, her arms holding me for dear life.
Once her soft breaths evened out and I knew she was sleeping I decided this was the time to talk to Crew about what was going to happen with Kennedy.
I squirm shifting, trying to get comfortable with Timberly on my lap.
“You want me to take her?” Crew asked.
“No, she's fine.”
“You need to rest. Not just for you.” He said, throwing a knowing gaze at my belly.
I froze. Did he know? He couldn’t. I wanted to be the one to tell him before all this happened, I wanted it to be special, but it looks like he may know already and from the look on his face I’m not sure how he feels. And that fact started to make me feel a little insecure.
“What are you talking about?”
“I found the test, Nova. It was in the bathroom cabinet.” he said, voice calm and even.
“Oh.” I said, not sure what else to say.
“Oh. What do you mean oh? When did you find out and why didn’t you tell me?”
“I found out the day before I was taken. I’d been feeling off and with the way my emotions were all over the place I thought I should check.
Besides, we haven’t used condoms in forever and I’m not on birth control, so it was definitely possible.
I planned on telling you, but I wanted it to be special.
I know our agreement talks about children but I’m sure you didn’t think it would happen this fast.” I rambled.
“Why are you acting like I don’t know how babies are made?
I knew what I was doing every time I came inside you.
If I didn’t want this with you, I would have made sure that you were on birth control and that I was using protection.
I want everything that comes with being married to you.
If you haven’t realized, this isn’t just a business deal for me.
Loving you is real for me. And I can’t be more thrilled that you are having my baby.
” He said, kissing me tenderly on the lips.
“Now let's get you and my baby some food and then we can talk about what's to come.
“Can we talk about that now?” I asked.
“No, not until you eat.” He said with finality.
August sent his brother Archer, the doctor, to check on me and the baby.
He did a thorough assessment on me basically verifying what Janelle and Tyra had already found, which were superficial scrapes and cuts and a few minor bruises.
I could tell how Crew hovered over me during the assessment he was going to be a pain in my ass during this pregnancy.
He held my hand the whole time August examined me.
I wasn’t able to perform an ultrasound, but he did use a doppler to listen to the baby’s heartbeat.
Which turned out to be a family event when Crew couldn’t help telling everyone about the baby.
After giving me a clean bill of health, he ordered me to make sure I scheduled a prenatal appointment to get a thorough exam and an ultrasound.
We thanked him and then went down for breakfast with the rest of the family.
They were finishing up but sat with me while I ate.
I ate like a starved woman. Which I kind of had been.
Since the morning, I had been taken I hadn’t had anything but water.
After we finished the meal of waffles, turkey bacon, grits, fried potatoes and onions, fruit and scrambled eggs that Tyra and Pops made I was stuffed and ready for a nap.
Crew forced me back to bed to rest, carrying me like I didn’t have two feet when he caught me yawning.
As soon as he sat me down, I decided that this was as good a time as any too.
“Can we talk about what you are going to do with Kennedy now?”
“Nova.” Crew groaned.
“Don’t Nova me. You said we could talk after I feed your baby. I did that so now it’s time to talk.” I snapped.
He exhaled hard. “You’re pregnant. I know you wanna be part of this. But Kennedy’s not worth it.”
“She is. She’s the key to finding her crazy ass brother and bringing this shit to an end.”
“She’s gonna talk. I’ll make sure of it.” He sighed.
“I want her to know she didn’t break me.”
“You’re not going in that room.”
“I am.”
He slammed his hand on the mattress. “You’re pregnant!”
“Crew!” I said, my voice cracking. “I need this.”
He went silent, chest rising and falling like he was holding in a scream.
“You think I want you to see her? After what she did? What she said about Timberly? About… our baby?” My eyes filled. “I need her to see she didn’t win,” I said.
He let out a noise like he was in pain. “And if she doesn’t break? If she laughs in your face?”
“Then I’ll watch you kill her.” I said, wiping at my tears.
He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Okay. But I’m right there. I’m not leaving you with her.”
I nodded once, voice shot. “Deal.”
His phone rang and he answered it on speaker. Blue’s voice came through flat and scary.
“Kennedy’s awake.”
“On the way,” Crew said, hanging up.
I tried to stand wobbly legs still weak from exhaustion. Crew grabbed me around the waist, steadying me before letting me go. I rushed toward the closet to get some clothes to throw something on so we could get this over with.
“Damn. Slow the fuck down.”
“Help me then.” I pouted.
He sighed, resigned. He came behind me, picking me up like he had been since he found me. He sat me on the bench in the closet and picked out a t-shirt and jeans. He dressed me, putting on my socks and shoes before picking me up and taking me back to our bedroom.
“While I love you carrying me around in your big arms everywhere I go. I have to walk into that room on my own two feet. He nodded in agreement, walking me to the front door but not carrying me. Before we could even get outside Tyra blocked the door, arms crossed.
“You out yo’ goddamn mind if you think I’m lettin’ you leave out of this house again.” She said.
“Move Tyra. I know what I’m doing.” I told her.
“Mmm. No. I know you are tough and all, but you need to sit this one out. Let Crew and the twins handle this. Ain't nothin outside of this house that needs your attention more than your daughter. She needs you.”
“I’m not leaving Timberly again. I just need to look that bitch in the eyes before she dies. She tried to kill me and if Crew hadn’t come for me, she would have finished the job. I just need to do this. Please understand, Tyra.” I pleaded.
“So, you just gon’ let her hardheaded ass go play secret assassins with y’all?” She asked, looking at Crew.
“Ain’t no stopping her when she gets like this. You and I both know that.” He grumbled.
Tyra threw her hands up. “Lawd! Y’all gon’ make me drink tonight. If yo’ water breaks from stress, I’m naming that baby Tyra Junior. You hear me?”
I actually let out a wet laugh. Crew didn’t, screwing his face up at Tyra’s remark.
“I’m not even that far alone crazy.”
“Whatever, just take care of Tyra junior,” she scowled at us both.
Crew just wrapped his arm around me, pulling me along and stepping past an angry Tyra.
“Let’s finish this,” he said, leading me from the house.