16. Aaliyah
Aaliyah
“Breathe, Liyah. You’re okay. You’ve dilated another centimeter, but everything is okay for now.”
I tried to do what Bali said, but my mind was running like Sha’Carri Richardson was chasing it.
All the events of the day had me so stressed.
It felt like Crew was intentionally fucking with us, like he wanted me to go into labor.
Mr. Jasper had said as much, and that nigga didn’t care.
It was like he wanted to make me out to be the bad person.
It made me feel like I came between two brothers, but I quickly came to the realization that it was something deeper.
This shit didn’t have anything to do with me.
Kambel had said that nigga was in Liberty, talking to Zoo.
I thought Zoo had been killed in that shit when the Hendersons went after those niggas for shooting PJ.
She also said another nigga was with him.
I didn’t know which Henderson had gotten involved in that bullshit with him, but I was willing to bet it was Kane. They seemed the closest.
“You gon’ have to stay here tonight. I’m gonna give you something to get your blood pressure down, but we need to be able to evaluate you. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said softly as Royal gently rubbed my hand.
She had a monitor strapped around my belly to hear the babies’ heart beats, and both were strong.
She smiled slightly, then gently rubbed my head.
“Everything is gonna be okay, Aaliyah. You just have to calm down. If you don’t, you’re going to send yourself into labor.
I need you to try to hold them another week if possible. Keep your feet elevated.”
Royal kissed my cheek, then wiped my tears. “Everything is going to be okay, baby. I’m gonna be here with you to make sure of it.”
Bali smiled tightly, then left the room.
I scooted to the side so Royal could get in bed with me.
I needed to feel his love next to me. I was so irritated by what happened at his house earlier.
I truly wanted to get in Crew’s face. Had it not been for the babies, I would have.
I knew Royal was practicing restraint because of me.
However, when he came back inside, I knew he had released. His hands were slightly swollen.
He wrapped his arm around me and gently rubbed my belly, doing his best to comfort me. The soft kisses on my ear and neck did the trick. “I love you, Royal.”
“I love you too, baby. You are everything to me.”
“Mm-hmm, until the babies get here. Then I’ll be forgotten.”
“Naw, not at all. You know how long I’ma have to wait to get in that pussy? I’m gon’ be counting down the days to slide in them walls.” He slid his tongue up my neck. “I’m sorry, baby. I may have to get out this bed.”
“I feel your hard ass dick against me at home. This is nothing new. Just don’t lick me like that again. Fuck,” I whispered.
There was a knock at the door, then it opened. When Bali walked in, she said, “Naw, hell, naw. Get yo’ ass out of that bed. You gon’ mess around and send her into labor.”
“Bali, can he please stay? He keeps me calm.”
She stared at us for a moment. “Only until she falls asleep. I don’t trust y’all freak nasty asses.”
“Bali, I’m gon’ behave, no matter how much I really wanna cut up,” Royal said.
“Okay. If these babies come early, it’s gon’ be your fault.” Turning her attention to me, she said, “I’m giving you steroids, just in case, to help develop their lungs faster.”
“Okay.”
“Will you be okay to have visitors? Your mom is about to have a fit.”
“Of course. Please let her in.”
“A’ight. I’m gon’ have to remind those rowdy ass Hendersons that this is a hospital.”
I chuckled as she gently rubbed my leg, then left. I turned slightly to Royal so he could kiss my lips. He obliged me, then continued rubbing my stomach. When my mama and daddy came into the room, she released a big breath.
“I needed to lay eyes on you, suga. I was so worried.”
“I’m okay, Mama. I promise.”
I wanted to tell her why I got worked up, but I knew it would get me all worked again.
Kambel could tell her what happened. She was trying her best to keep me calm.
When she heard the tires screech, she went outside to see that nigga had left her.
That was when it got worse. Ashanni put the baby down and ran to me as I gripped my stomach.
I was cramping so bad. I just knew I was in labor.
My stomach was extremely tight, like the babies were balled up in there, and I’d gotten dizzy.
My skin was clammy, and Mama Chas was lowkey panicking.
It was an excited panic, but panic, nonetheless.
That only had me even more worked up. When Royal came inside, he moved my food and scooped me right on up out of that chair and hauled ass here. Now I was wishing I had my food.
“Baby, can you go back to your house and get my food? I’m starving.”
“Of course, baby. Whatever you need. Do you need me to get anything else?”
“My toothbrush and toothpaste, and a brush. Hopefully, she discharges me tomorrow morning. If not, then I’ll need you to go back and get more stuff.”
“Okay. Be right back,” he said, then kissed my head.
When he got out of bed, I readjusted to get comfortable. My dad came over to the bed and kissed my head. “I thought I was about to meet Ravi and Rasha. Me and Jasper was ready. He done already rolled our blunts. We gon’ be high as fuck!”
I chuckled. “I expect nothing less from the two of you, especially Daddy Jasper.”
He smiled. “He can’t know you call him that, because the nigga would have thrown that shit all in my face.”
I laughed. “No. I’ve only called him Mister Jasper to his face. He gon’ lay out the red carpet and go buy the engagement ring himself if I call him that.”
“Hell yeah,” he said and laughed. “If any man besides me and Legend deserve that title, it’s him. I’m happy you and Asad have him for a father-in-law. I guess the mayor alright too.”
I giggled as Bali came back inside with a frown on her face, looking just like Mr. Storm. My dad chuckled, I supposed because we were just talking about the mayor. She glanced at him but didn’t lift her frown as she checked my IV and the bags hanging.
“I’m just double checking everything. Ain’t nobody gon’ f up none of my patients.”
I was surprised she slightly filtered herself, since she knew my parents. She grew up around them.
“Thank you for double checking, Bali.”
“Mm-hmm. How are you feeling? Do you still have tightness in your belly?”
“No. They seemed to have calmed down too.”
“Were you worked up about something?” she asked.
“I was, but if I try to tell you, I’ll get worked up all over again. Ashanni witnessed all of it. She’ll tell you . . . or Mama Chas or Kambel.”
“Aww shit. I think I already know. I overheard Uncle Jasper talking to Daddy Mayor out there. Okay. I’m going to play some soft jazz. That should help mellow you out too.”
“Thank you.”
She winked at me, then left the room. My dad was frowning slightly. I could tell he was getting pissed, just thinking about what could have happened. “Go out there and talk to Daddy Jasper, Daddy. He’ll fill you in on the details.”
“I’ll talk to him when we leave out to go home. I’m just glad Royal got you here quickly, and Bali is on her shit. I know you’re in good hands with the two of them.”
I nodded as Royal came back inside with my food. My soul was happy because that chicken and rice was on point. I smiled and wiggled slightly in my bed. Good food made me happy. He pulled the bed tray across me and lifted the bed a bit as they chuckled at my excitement.
When I was situated, Royal grabbed the fork and began feeding me. My smile was big. This man made me happy. I couldn’t wait until he truly made things official between the two of us. I would say ‘I do’ today.
“Let me help you, baby. You don’t need to have your arms up like that.”
I frowned. “You can comb hair, Royal?”
“Let me show you, girl.”
I gave him the brush and watched him brush my hair into a high ponytail. He was surprising me nearly every day with things he knew how to do. “As many times as I’ve held your hair up in a ponytail, I ought to be a damn pro.”
I bit my bottom lip, then laughed loudly. “You’re a fool.”
“I mean, I’m just saying.”
We were getting ready for the baby shower, and I was more than sure I would be in the hospital not long after, giving birth to these two beautiful babies.
I was almost thirty-seven weeks . . . just where Bali wanted me to be.
I couldn’t miss our baby shower though. I just hoped there wouldn’t be any surprises.
I’d overheard Royal’s conversation with his dad about Crew leaving their house a mess.
I couldn’t believe he was acting this way.
He’d always been really sweet. This shit just came out of left field.
“What’chu think?”
I looked in the mirror and was wowed. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Yep. Live without you. Impossible.”
My lips turned downward and tears sprang from my eyes. He made me so happy. The way he expressed himself had my emotions going haywire. He gently swiped my tears away from my face and said, “That’s real, baby.”
I puckered my lips, and he leaned over and kissed me. “Can you do makeup?”
“Absolutely . . . not. I mean, I can watch a YouTube video and figure it out though.”
I laughed. “I’m just kidding. I’m going barefaced today. Moisturizer and lipstick will do the trick.”
“You’re beautiful either way. Your skin is glowing.”
“Thanks to you and the babies.”
“Naw. You had beautiful skin before that. We may have added to your natural glow though. More of them than me.”
I chuckled. “Don’t sell yourself short, baby. You’re amazing.”
“So are you, baby. Nikki called. She said Lareesa would be coming with her.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay.”