18. Aaliyah #2
“Yeah,” she said softly and stared out of the window.
I frowned slightly, wondering what she was doing. Then I remembered that Kingsley lived next door. I could see the longing in her eyes. “Have you talked to him lately?”
She shook her head, then lowered it. “I miss him,” she whispered.
“I’m sure he misses you just as much, if not more.”
“Yeah. He texts me every day saying so. He’s such a good person.
I’m not mentally ready to receive what all he has to offer.
Being with me, dealing with my mood swings and triggers, wasn’t fair to him.
I felt like he thought I would be done with that shit by now.
I thought I would have been too. I was doing so much better.
When PJ died, it was like I was given a violent shove back to that night.
PJ drove us to the hospital and literally almost got killed that night trying to find me. ”
She slid her hand down her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you down, Aaliyah.”
“You didn’t bring me down, Treasure. I’m here to listen. I think Kingsley is prepared to go through all of that with you. He looks so sad all the time. I think he loves you.”
She lifted her head and stared at me. “What makes you think that?”
“He’s miserable. He looks like he’s barely making it through life.
He goes fishing like three days out of the week.
It ain’t that much fishing in the world.
He doesn’t even hang around the guys as much.
He’s home a lot too. Losing you is killing him.
That could only be love that has him feeling that way, boo. ”
She swallowed hard and nodded. I believed she already felt that he loved her, but me saying so may have confirmed it for her. “Has he told you that he loved you?” I asked.
“No. I can feel it though.”
“So why do you think he hasn’t told you?”
Her tears fell immediately. “He knows I’m not ready to hear it.”
“Don’t cry, Treasure. If he is withholding his feelings for you because he knows that you aren’t ready, then he is also equipped to help you with what you’re going through.
Don’t rush into it, but think about that for a little bit.
Sit in that revelation. I truly believe if he can’t be with you, he won’t be with anyone. His love runs deep for you.”
She nodded and wiped her face. “You’re right. I’m glad I tagged along today. I didn’t want to come because I knew King lived next door, but my mama insisted. It was like God had a message for me, and He sent it by way of you. “
I smiled slightly. That made me feel good.
Treasure was older than me by nearly five years and was way more mature than me.
She always had a good head on her shoulders.
When she finally allowed Kingsley to love her, I felt like he was going to be like a fucking quiet storm.
He was going to love her through every trigger and moment of depression.
He would be everything she ever needed if she let him.
I shifted in bed, trying to get comfortable only to feel like I pissed on myself. “Oh shit.”
Treasure’s eyebrows lifted, and she hopped up from her seat. “Mama! Aunt Shana!” She came to the bed and grabbed my hand. “What do you need me to do?”
“Call Bali.”
She nodded and immediately called her sister-in-law as my mama and Aunt Harper ran into the room. My mama immediately called Royal on speakerphone. He’d only been gone a little over an hour. Aunt Harper came to me and helped me from the bed. There was a bit of blood there too.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up so we can go.”
I nodded and stood on wobbly legs to go to the bathroom. I noticed my mama behind me and Aunt Harper going back to the room to pull the bedding off the bed.
“Where’s your bag, Aaliyah?” Treasure asked.
“Royal has iiiiiit!”
A contraction hit me, and that shit felt like somebody was stabbing me. My mama braced me and helped me breathe through it. “Did you . . . call . . . Royal?”
“Yes. He didn’t answer, so I sent a text. I’m pretty sure he’s probably on his way.”
I nodded as she pulled my underwear off, and I took off my nightshirt.
Aunt Harper came to the bathroom with a muumuu for me to wear.
There was no sense in putting on underwear.
After wiping my legs with a semi-soapy towel, my mama slid the muumuu over my head, then pulled off my bonnet.
“I know you wouldn’t want to be caught dead walking through the ER with this on your head. ”
“At this point, I don’t even give a damn. Can you call Royal again?”
“Yes.”
As I slid on my slippers, her phone started ringing before she could make the call. She answered on speakerphone. “I knew my babies were going to wait for when I left to try to make an arrival. I’m on my way. I’m eating up highway, Liyah!”
I giggled until a contraction snatched that shit right off my face. I groaned loudly. “Oh my God.”
“I’m coming, baby. Get to the clinic though. See you in a few minutes.”
“She’s in a lot of pain, Royal. We’ll see you when you get here,” my mama said. After she ended the call, she said, “Come on, baby girl.”
When we left the bedroom and I looked at those stairs, I wanted to scream.
Royal had me so damn spoiled. This needed to be over and done ASAP.
We took one step at a time, being sure my feet were completely planted just in case another contraction hit me before I could get to the bottom.
As sure as God made Adam, when I got three stairs from the bottom, I had to grab ahold to the railing and just sway side to side. “Oooooh fuuuuck!”
Treasure looked so nervous. Although this had nothing to do with what happened to her, I felt like just the stress of it all was bothering her.
“Breathe, baby,” my mama said softly while rubbing my back.
When it passed, I made it down the stairs and smiled at Treasure. “This is a happy moment, boo. Focus on new life. Sometimes we have to go through the storm to see the rainbow.”
I winked at her, causing her to smile and nod. I could see why Kingsley was sacrificing so much for her well-being. Here I was, in the worst pain of my life, and I was still concerned about her. She was just that great of a person. It hurt me to see her so down and skeptical of everything.
Once we were outside, my mama helped me into her car.
I closed my eyes for a moment and slumped in the seat.
There was no way I could sit naturally. There was so much pressure.
She said something to Aunt Harper and Treasure, then ran to the driver’s side.
When I looked out the window, I saw Kingsley in his driveway, staring our way. He looked so broken.
When Treasure noticed him, she turned away, then suddenly ran to him. My cries were audible as I watched them.
“You okay, baby? I’m getting out of here as fast as I can . . . long ass driveway.”
“I’m okay. I’m just hurting for Treasure.”
Kingsley held her in his arms like a baby.
He was kissing her repeatedly in various places on her face.
I was so happy she’d come and that I was able to give her encouraging words.
When we pulled out of the driveway and my mama looked their way, she smiled.
“Thank God. Harper is so worried about her.”
She sped out of Henderson Village to the highway, then turned on Highway 90. Within a minute, we were there, and a nurse was outside with a wheelchair, waiting for our arrival. When I saw another nurse come outside with another wheelchair, I was confused.
My mama ran around the car to help me out and to the chair as another vehicle sped in.
When the man got out, I realized it was Rhodes, Karima’s husband.
I assumed our babies would share birthdays.
I smiled as the nurse spun around and got me inside.
She took me to the delivery room, and the emotions hit me hard. Royal wasn’t here yet.
Everyone was moving quickly to get me set up.
They needed to check to see how far I’d progressed.
I was pretty sure that would determine who Bali saw to first. They got my muumuu off and put the hospital gown on me, then helped me to the bed so she could check me.
Right before she put her hand under my gown, Royal stepped into the room and ran to my other side.
I smiled slightly, already feeling exhausted.
“I’m here, baby,” he said breathlessly. “I’m here.”
He kissed my forehead as the nurse checked me. “You’re only five centimeters, Miss Henderson. Relax and try to get some rest. Did you want to get the epidural?”
I glanced at Royal, and he shrugged his shoulders with a smile on his face.
My paperwork clearly said Aaliyah Anderson.
I bit my bottom lip as a contraction hit me.
Once it was done, I looked at the nurse, not bothering to correct her about the last name, and said, “No. I’m gonna soldier through it. ”
“Okay, baby. Rest up. I’ll be back in an hour or so to check you again, okay? If you need anything before then, just hit your call light.”
I nodded as the other nurse came in to set up my IV. Turning my head to Royal, I just stared into his expressive eyes as he rubbed my head. “You know you gon’ be Missus Henderson one day, right?”
“Mm-hmm,” I said as tears slid down my cheeks.
My life was now perfect all because of an imperfect situation. God worked in mysterious ways. I would never doubt Him again.