Chapter 9 #3
“Darcy,” she filled in for him with a smile. “Whitaker. You and my husband, Emeric, have been negotiating.” She rubbed the infant’s back, but he continued to fuss in her arms.
Ayla glanced between Darcy and Kong quietly. She wasn’t sure what she was picking up on from Kong, but Darcy sure had a sparkle in her eye for him.
Darcy smiled warmly, too damn warm as she recalled the meetings and how closed off he seemed. It only intrigued her more about the handsome stranger. She made it a point to be present when Emeric met with him, so she could get a glance at Kong.
“This is the last place I expected to see you.” She sniggered.
“Everything alright?” Kong nodded to the baby in her arms.
Darcy softened and peeked at her baby boy.
“Yeah, just his one month follow up appointment,” she announced, glowing when she grinned at the baby boy.
It was obvious she adored him. Ayla couldn’t bring herself to lift her head to look at him too long. His cries grew sharper, more upset. The more Darcy tried to soothe him, the fussier he became. Nothing seemed to be working. Suddenly, Ayla cleared her throat and spoke up without thinking.
“He doesn’t like that blanket,” she said, then silence.
Darcy blinked, a little resentment in her stare.
“What?”
Ayla finally brought her eyes up and stared at the bundle in her arms, mesmerized.
“He’s too warm.”
Darcy was hesitant to listen. Ayla had this emptiness behind her eyes and her tone was flat, void of emotion. She suspected she might have some kind of mental issues or depression. Laughing lightly, she peered into her son’s unhappy face again.
“I think he’s just cranky,” she replied, unsettled by something in Ayla’s expression.
Kong watched her closer now, because Ayla hadn’t looked away. Darcy turned the little boy and cradled him so that he was facing both Ayla and Kong. Still crying, his tiny hands waved frantically like he was trying to grab onto something. Ayla gasped.
“Do you mind if I hold him?” she whispered, catching both Darcy and Kong by surprise.
Although Darcy was hesitant, she didn’t want to come off as a bitch in front of Kong.
His impression of her mattered. She didn’t know what his relationship was with this girl, and she didn’t care, but she had to play her cards right if she wanted to remain on his good side.
Darcy stood with Ayla, and the two met in the middle.
She carefully handed him over, and the second Ayla cradled him in her arms, he calmed.
The waiting room filled with complete silence, and Darcy stared on in amazement.
“That’s so weird,” she said softly. “He’s been screaming and fussing all morning.”
Ayla barely heard her because something inside her had cracked wide open. The baby blinked up at her. Calm, safe, and content in her arms. Tears misted her eyes as if she might cry. Kong spotted it, all of it. She held him so naturally, and he settled instinctively into her softened body.
“He likes you.” Darcy smiled when he started to root against Ayla’s breasts instinctively.
She thought she might fall apart in that moment, and Darcy noticed the pain flickering behind her eyes.
“Looks like he’s hungry.” She reached out to pull him back into her arms. “I’ll take him now.”
A nurse stepped through one of the doors from the patient area and called Ayla’s name. She sniffled and watched Darcy go back to her seat to retrieve a bottle for feeding.
“Come on.” Kong nudged her along toward the door.
Darcy stared curiously after them once they were gone as she held her son and tipped his bottle to his mouth. In the hallway, they were directed to the exam room registered for her, and Kong fell in stride quietly beside her. Ayla shuddered and stopped mid step, which gave him pause.
“What’s wrong?”
Confusion bloomed over her face as tears stained her eyes. Ayla looked down. A small wet spot spread through the fabric of her shirt and hoodie. The color in her face drained. Her body reacted to holding a newborn, but her brain couldn’t catch up.
Unsettled, Kong pushed the door open to her exam room and allowed Ayla to pass.
He remained quiet but hyper-focused as his worried thoughts spiraled.
She didn’t want him to think she was crazy.
So, she got undressed, slipped into a hospital gown, and climbed on a table to wait for the doctor.
After her exam, the doctor told Ayla to get dressed and come back so that they could talk before she checked out.
“We’ve run your labs. If anything should come up, I will reach out and have you come in for a follow up.
” Dr. Travers skimmed the tablet in her hand and continued to peruse her chart.
“From the initial exam, everything looks normal. You’ve healed nicely from delivery, and I don’t have any doubt that you will be able to have more children in the future.
You can resume normal activity, workouts, driving, and heavy lifting.
If you have any further questions or concerns, I am available at my office number listed on your paperwork.
Do you have anything else for me?” she posed, looking up through her black framed glasses.
“Yeah, um… how long before my milk dries up?” Ayla queried.,
“Considering you never nursed, anywhere from two to four weeks. If you are uncomfortable, you can try a different type of bra that can suppress your breasts, ice packs, and pain reliever if you happen to become engorged. Shouldn’t be a problem, though.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” The doctor nodded before exiting the room.
Ayla peered down at her paperwork and studied the doctor’s additional notes in her assessment for today. She scribbled at the bottom that she suggested therapy or counseling due to the nature of her situation. She thought she might be at risk for postpartum depression.
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” She finally picked her head up and glanced his way.
“I think you’ve been through a lot,” Kong replied, rising from his chair and strolling over to her. “And can’t nobody fault you for that.”
“Not even a professional,” Ayla drawled, eyes rolling before she handed Kong the slip of paper to read.
He skimmed to the bottom and peeped the note the doctor left.
“Look, I don’t give a fuck about all that.” He lowered the paper to his side and inched closer.
Hand on her hip, he pulled her closer. It wasn’t rough, but it was firm. Kong was extra assertive now that she was home. He wasn’t going to miss a beat this time, making sure she came first.
“You tell me what you need. If it’s space, if it’s for me to body any and everybody connected to Mira or that fuck nigga Danilo, Ayla… the fucking moon, baby. I will do whatever to get you that shit. I mishandled you the first time, but God saw fit to bring you back to me. I’m claiming that shit.”
She blinked back tears, looking into his rich amber eyes. He meant every word and his certainty rested in her core.
“Look, Kong, right now… I need time. I don’t know what’s going to happen or how I’m going to feel one moment to the next.
I want to bask in this so much, you have no idea…
but I also have to learn how to live my life again.
For months I was under someone else’s control, not able to even think for myself.
I had a baby,” she whispered, choking on her words.
“And then I lost him, and that… broke me. I’m not saying that this is over, or that we can’t be friends—”
“Fuck outta here with that friends shit, Lala.” Kong scoffed and brushed her off before holding her paperwork up.
“What else do you want me to do?”
“I already told you what it is. Do what you gotta do for you.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead before backing up toward the door.
“Prime is outside waiting to take you back to Inari’s.
I’m going to pick up the kids and spend a little time with them until it’s time for me to work tonight.
I’m a dial away. I love you.” He opened the door and strolled out, rattling Ayla.
Blinking in disbelief, her brows furrowed.
What the fuck was that? Although Kong still looked the same, moved the same, and even managed to make her heart swoon like it did the first time she laid eyes on him…
something was different. He was hands on, open, and very transparent. Now she was the guarded one.