Chapter 18 #2
Still, the possibility of Cali carrying his child filled him with so much joy.
At the beginning of the year, he had been on the edge of death.
Rio had to learn how to breathe again on his own.
A child was something he’d wanted before the accident and the only woman he wanted carrying his legacy was Cali.
Rio had to take a boat back to the mainland and grab a taxi to get to a convenience store. When he arrived, he grabbed three pregnancy tests, paid for them, and made his journey back to the bungalow.
“Damn, you’ve been gone for over an hour, Rio,” Cali complained, standing in the kitchen.
“We’re on a private island, baby. I can’t just hop in my car and go to the store. I had to take a boat then get a cab.” He sat the bag on the counter.
“How many did you get?” She rummaged through the bag. “Three?” She snickered. “Rio, you're thirsty as hell.”
He bashfully smirked. “It don’t hurt to have back-ups.”
Cali grabbed one of the boxes and read the label. “Should I take it now?”
“Yeah,” Rio replied without sounding so desperate.
“Okay.” She ambled to the bathroom and shut the door.
Rio couldn’t wait to hear the verdict. Would he be a father or would God punish him for making a plan without Him?
Pacing back and forward, he nibbled on his bottom lip while his mind fell down a tunnel of possibilities.
The timing was off. Cali lived in Diamond Falls while he was in St. Parklynn.
They were supposed to be taking their relationship slow but a baby would speed up the process, immediately.
Despite all that, Rio was elated at the idea of them growing a family.
Ten minutes passed by before the door opened. Rio peered at Cali with great anticipation while she looked down at the test in her hand.
“It’s positive.” A nervous chuckle resounded from her mouth.
“Yeah, right?” he challenged, taking the test from her hand.
Rio was relieved to see two blue lines, confirming her pregnancy. “Damn,” he whispered in disbelief.
“How do you feel?” Cali asked, wearing a skeptical expression.
“I um.” He ran his hand down his face while at a loss for words. “I mean, I’m uh…”
“Don't tell me you're upset.”
Snapping his head toward her, he confessed, “Never that. I’m just happy like… I’ve been wanting this shit for so long. It don't even seem real.” This was so surreal as he stared at the test. “How do you feel?”
Cali lifted one shoulder. “I don't know. It hasn’t registered yet.”
“Do you wish the test said differently?” Rio held his breath, hoping her answer wouldn’t take away the happiness that had infected him.
“No, not necessarily… but I have to ask, how are we going to make this work? It was cool when there wasn’t a baby involved but now, we have a life on the way. I’m trying to envision how this is going to play out.”
Rio didn’t have an answer for her at the moment but he would work it out. Throwing the test in the trash, he pulled Cali toward his chest. She gazed up at him with her almond eyes, pulling him into a deeper spell.
“Can I be honest and tell you I don't have an answer for your question right now?”
She nodded.
“But do you trust me to take care of everything, including you?”
Cali bobbed her head again.
“You know I've been wanting a baby for years but I only wanted one with you. I never thought it would happen, especially this way.” He shook his head, taking a mental tour through all of their ups and downs.
“The accident, the divorce, and all the other shit we suffered through. I never thought it would happen.”
Cali kissed his lips while he cupped her ass.
“Maybe this was our journey all along. Maybe we had to go through the hardships so we can appreciate this moment. We’re no longer operating in the pain of what happened.
We have forgiveness now and a newfound respect for each other. This might be kismet.”
Rio loved the way she put their life into perspective. After all the bad choices and adversities, they’d found their way back to each other. Only God was responsible for this second chance.
“Yeah, it seem like it.” He hugged her tightly. “Let’s go celebrate.”
“Hold up,” she fussed.
“What?”
“I’m not gonna be able to drink for a while. Yeah, I don't know about this,” she joked. “This baby trying to fuck up my lifestyle.”
Rio chuckled. “Chill out. You can give up drinking for nine months.”
Cali shook her head. “I don't think so. You know I love me a good drink after work on Fridays.”
“Well, yo’ ass better find an alternative,” he warned. “Cause ain't no more drinking with my baby in your stomach.”
“Look at you,” she teased. “Already claiming the baby to be yours only.”
“My bad.” He cupped the side of her face and gave her a quick peck. “It’s our baby.”
“Yeah,” she whispered, gazing at his lips. “Ours.”
“Now let’s go celebrate how happy you just made me, baby.”
She grinned at him. “Let’s go.”
Irish combed through her hair before spraying oil sheen on her tresses.
She’d just gotten her natural hair styled in her signature shag cut and wanted to look perfect.
It was the day of Thanksgiving and Irish was a bundle of nerves.
Finally, she would be meeting Noble’s mother and sister, and she wanted to make sure her appearance was flawless.
Turning around, she checked her angles in her newest collection from 1993.
It was a brown, A-line dress with a built-in push-up bra.
The dress was flowy and did a great job of hiding her belly.
Not that she wanted to but it didn’t make her look so big.
For her shoes, she wore gold heels and gold jewelry.
Irish turned to find Noble standing in the doorway. He smiled at her, inciting butterflies to meet in her belly.
“You look perfect.”
“You sure? Is the dress too much? Does it look like I’m trying too hard?” she rattled off questions.
Noble advanced toward her and pulled her close to his chest. “You look good. Stop worrying over this shit. My mama and my sister ain't nobody special.”
Tittering, she responded, “Only you would say that. Aren't all mothers supposed to be special?”
“Is yours special?” He raised a brow.
“Hell no.”
“Exactly.” He chuckled. “They cool so you don't need to be doing all this. Just be yourself and show them why I’m so in love with you.” He pecked her lips then kissed her neck. “You ready?”
She nodded so he grabbed her hand and led her downstairs.
The aroma of food made her baby kick. Irish offered to cook but Noble wanted her to be free from kitchen duty.
So, he hired a chef to cook most of the meal.
Wanting to add a contribution, Irish opted to make homemade banana pudding and sweet potato pie.
The food was set in the kitchen, and the dining room table had been set for them to eat.
Wilde and Zayd were already there along with Kenji.
“Irish, can I have some pie now?” Kenji asked.
“No, you gotta eat first,” Noble answered.
“Hmph,” he groaned, walking away.
“Man, how long we gotta wait?” Wilde fussed, sitting in the recliner. “I’ve been starving since last night.”
Noble kissed his teeth. “It ain't my fault your slow ass didn’t eat breakfast. We’ll eat once Mama get here.”
“You know niggas starve for most of the day on Thanksgiving,” Zayd joked.
When the doorbell rang, Irish hoped it was Ivory. She didn’t want to be the only one without family. Since Cali was out of town and Jovanis was gone, Ivory was her only family besides Noble. He walked down the hall to answer the door. Irish checked her makeup in the mirror on the wall.
“Damn, Mama, it took you long enough,” Wilde complained.
“Boy, hush! Traffic was backed up. I got here as quick as I could,” she ranted, walking behind Noble.
“Yeah, fuck boy. We got here as soon as we could,” a woman joked with Amare and two little girls behind them.
Amare ran over to Irish and hugged her waist.
“Hi, Amare. You look so handsome today,” Irish cooed.
“Thanks. My mama bought my outfit,” he boasted, pulling on his Polo shirt.
“Well, you look good.”
Noble walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Irish, I want you to meet my mama, Lyra, and my sister, Kaliste. Y’all this is my wife, Irish.”
Lyra grinned, displaying a gold tooth in the front. She was gorgeous with feline eyes and a diamond shaped face. Her hair was styled in a braid out with blonde highlights. Lyra pulled Irish into a warm hug. She drew back, gazing at Irish in a loving manner.
“Welcome to the family. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“You as well.”
Lyra stepped aside and allowed Kaliste to greet her. She was a beautiful, full-figured woman who had clear, fawn-toned skin. Her light brown eyes were vibrant and her hair was styled in a fresh twist-out.
“I really hate that we’re meeting so late but my brother is so damn private that we never know what’s going on in his life,” she teased then gave Irish a hug. “It’s nice to meet you, sis.”
“You too. You look beautiful,” Irish complimented her.
“Aw, thank you. So do you.”
“These are my nieces, Presley and Payton. Y’all say hi to Ms. Irish.”
The little girls waved at her, making her melt. They were styled in matching dresses with their hair in ponytails and barrettes.
“Well, hi. Don't you two look so cute.”
They giggled at Irish.
“Oh, your nieces got beef with you,” Kaliste informed Noble. “They can’t understand why Amare went on a trip and they had to stay behind.”
“It’s not fair, Uncle Noble.” Presley defiantly folded her arms over her chest.
Noble kneeled down and grabbed each of their hands. “I promise Uncle gon’ take y’all somewhere. It’ll be just us three. No boys allowed.”
“Yay!” Payton cheered.
“Where y’all wanna go?”
“To Disney World,” Presley requested.
“Disney.” Noble seesawed his head. “We can go there anytime. Choose something else.”
“Um… Chicago,” Payton answered.
“Girl, Chicago?” Kaliste questioned.
Lyra put her hand on her hip. “What’s in Chicago?”