Chapter 3 Sooner Than You Think
Sooner Than You Think
ADAI
Isat in the waiting room of Dr. Harris’ office, scrolling through my emails and organizing them by level of urgency.
It was a challenge operating my business from another state, but I was grateful for my village.
My parents made sure my machines were always stocked, while I kept up with invoices and maintained communication with the businesses they were located in.
Ebone helped too whenever my father was away.
There was so much I wanted to do to expand my vending business, and as soon as I was able to hit the ground running again, I would.
Briefly taking my eyes off my phone, I looked up and scanned the waiting room filled with women.
A few expecting moms. Some with babies in car seats and others in strollers.
My hand found my belly, and I gave it a loving rub.
Although I was scared to face Pryce, I was excited about the life growing inside of me.
I always knew I’d be a great mom. Not only because I had the best role model as an example in my mom, but I had a lot of practice early on.
I had a collection of Baby Alive dolls growing up and took great care of my children. From the strollers to the car seats, bassinets, and clothes, I had it all. It never gave deadbeat mama. So, I knew I was ready for the real thing.
“Adai Townsend?”
Dropping my phone into my purse, I looked up with a smile when I heard my name called.
“Girl, you look like you’re ready to pop,” I said to one of Dr. Harris’ nursing assistants, Jada.
She was very pregnant and nearing her due date last I heard but hadn’t stopped moving.
“I gotta stay active,” she replied with a smile, holding the door open for me. “I’m three days past my due date. I’m tryna walk this baby out at this point.”
We both laughed as she escorted me to one of the exam rooms. Dr. Cassandra Harris was a Black OB/GYN with her own private practice in downtown Houston.
Not only was the place inviting and cozy, but it gave Black girl magic from the décor to the staff.
When I first began my search for prenatal care, I knew I wanted a Black female doctor, someone who understood my body and wouldn’t dismiss any of my concerns should any arise.
It was a known thing that Black women often went unheard during pregnancy and at birth.
I didn’t want to be a part of that number, so I did my due diligence. When Dr. Harris’ team scheduled a consult with me that included a tour of her facility, I was sold.
“Girl, I can’t wait to lay up and be catered to once I hit that third trimester. That’s when I really plan to slow my life down.”
I thought about how my family and Pryce’s family would dote on me. He would too… at some point… I hoped.
“Oh, I believe in princess treatment too. My husband does his part and then some. He wants me home, but he knows that I love my job. So, he lets me work and monitors from afar. That man has the numbers of every staff member in here. A lil’ compromise mixed with a lil’ he don’t fuck around. ” She giggled, and I smiled hard.
You could tell when a woman was being loved properly. It wasn’t just what Jada had said but her posture as she spoke.
“Let’s go head and get your vitals first.”
“Let the drill games begin,” I joked, stepping up on the exam table and holding up my arm for her to start with my blood pressure.
We talked while she went through the checkup routine. Jada moved around like pregnancy was a breeze. She wasn’t all out of breath and irritated. And her skin glowed, matching her upbeat personality.
“Alright, girl. You’re all good,” she said after finishing. “Dr. Harris will be in shortly. If I don’t see you on your next appointment, just know I’m somewhere being someone’s fine mama.”
“Period. Have a safe delivery, love.”
“Thank you. You as well.”
She left out, and I heard my phone ringing in my bag.
Sitting up to grab it before the ringing stopped, I smiled at the name on the caller ID, Big Key Not The Lil’ One.
It was Pryce’s cousin and my forever homegirl, Kyiris, calling on FaceTime.
I almost answered the call but quickly remembered where I was.
Ignoring the video request, I called her on audio.
“Heyyy, boo,” I sang into the phone.
“Ignoring a bitch FaceTime call is so wild. What, you look ugly or something?”
“Girl, fuck you.” I snickered. “It never gave ugly.”
She laughed. “I’m just saying. Sometimes, you answer FaceTime, most times you don’t. It’s giving you hidin’ something.”
I glanced down at my belly and dropped my head.
As close as me and Key were, I hadn’t told her about the pregnancy.
I couldn’t. I knew how close she was to her family and even closer to Pryce.
Telling her that information would only put her in between our stuff, and that wasn’t fair.
I knew she was gonna let me have it when she did find out though.
Kyiris hated to be left in the dark. If there was anything to know regarding the Sullivan family, it hit her ears first.
“I’m not, sis,” I lied. “I just be moving around. But wassup witchu? You miss me?”
“Ummm, like a lil’.”
“Bitch, you so cap.” We both laughed.
“Of course I miss my dawg! I would tell you who else miss you, but you know I don’t do no gossiping.”
I smirked, shaking my head. “Yeah, I know,” I said sarcastically.
“Any who, I need youuuu,” she dragged. “I’m planning G’s 70th birthday. It’s a surprise. But this time…” she paused then whispered into the phone, “I think I bit off a little more than I can chew, sis.”
“Why you whispering, crazy?”
“Cause I’m at my mom’s house, and I don’t want her to hear me admit that. You know she be waiting for a chance to jump in. She’s got enough on her plate with my father.”
Kyiris’ dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago.
The family took it hard, but it hit Key and her mom different.
She was her father’s only child and still the apple of his eye.
She’d gone from being able to lean on him for any and everything to him not remembering her at times.
It broke her for a minute, but that was where her mother stepped up even more.
She dedicated every day to making sure her husband was good. It was love in its purest form.
“I get it. How are they?”
“Still in love. Well, my mom is still finding new ways to remind him that they’re in love. It’s tough, but you know ain’t nothin’ a Sullivan can’t handle.”
“True. When’s the party? Ain’t G’s birthday this Saturday?”
“Yep. And the party is on Sunday, so what time should I expect you in the city?”
“Knock, knock.” I heard Dr. Harris’ voice.
“You can come in,” I said, and the door opened.
“I got you, Key.” I spoke back into the phone. “Let me hit you back though, okay?”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I ended the call, and Dr. Harris entered with a warm smile. “Good morning, sunshine.”
“Morning, Dr. Harris.”
“How are you two feeling today?” she asked, setting my chart down on the counter and pulling her stool up to the exam table.
“I’m tired as always. Baby is practicing their karate skills.” I let out a small laugh.
“That makes me happy. An active baby is a healthy baby. You being tired is expected. Any pain? Have you been feeling uncomfortable?”
I shook my head. “No. A little anxious though. I’m just ready to meet my little baby.”
“Well, you don’t have too much longer. You’re creeping up on your third trimester. Today, we’re checking baby’s growth. And then, we’ll do your glucose test.”
My nose scrunched up, and I groaned softly.
She chuckled. “I know you’ve been dreading it, but it’ll be quick. It’s really not that bad.”
“Oh, so you’re drinking it with me?”
“I didn’t say all that.” She grinned. “But I can promise you’ll survive.”
“You haven’t let me down this far, so I’ll take your word for it.”
We started with measuring my belly first. Then, she handed me a small bottle filled with bright orange liquid.
“Ahhh, man. The people say this is the worst flavor,” I said, holding it up in the air.
“Girl, take that to the head. You got this.” She sounded like my mother, encouraging me with an amused smile.
Shaking my head, I twisted the cap off and chugged it, hoping that I could miss the taste as it quickly went down my throat. It was sweeter than anything I had in a while, and not a sweet that anyone would enjoy. Swallowing the last of it, I shivered and handed the bottle to her.
“You made it through. I’m gonna have you sit for a bit, so it can work through your system, and then, we’ll do your ultrasound.”
“Sounds good.”
Twenty minutes later, I was laid back on the exam table, and Dr. Harris squeezed the cold gel onto my stomach and used her magic wand to show me what my baby was up to.
The machine hummed softly as she moved the wand across my skin.
When the screen flickered on, my baby popped up.
I beamed instantly. No matter how many times we’d done this, it was always like the first time.
Emotion rose in my chest because I thought about one person whenever I heard the baby’s heartbeat. Pryce.
“You need a minute?” Dr. Harris asked gently.
I shook my head quickly and wiped my eyes, realizing that I was crying. “I’m good,” I replied with all the confidence I could muster up to make me believe that I was okay.
She didn’t push, which I appreciated. Instead, she nodded and pointed toward the monitor.
“Here’s baby’s head. And here’s the spine.”
The baby moved again, causing us both to chuckle.
“I think baby wants us to try another angle.” She highlighted a few other parts and confirmed that my little one was doing just fine –– a strong heartbeat and very active. “Still want to hold off on knowing the gender?”
I thought about Pryce.
“No. I still want to wait,” I assured her.