Chapter 5 Truth Is
Truth Is
ADAI
Icould hear pots clinking, and the smell of smothered chicken and gravy filled my condo as my mother did her thing in the kitchen.
We’d gone to the supermarket earlier to restock my fridge and pantry with a few things while I was in town.
During our trip, she decided that she wanted to cancel our dinner reservation and cook her grandbaby a homecooked meal instead.
That was fine by me. I missed her cooking anyway.
Realizing that pregnancy got me whatever I wanted, I requested smothered chicken over rice with sauteed green beans, a simple yet delicious meal.
While she handled business in the kitchen, I sat curled up on one end of my couch, and Ebone laid stretched out on the other end. An episode of Girlfriends played on the TV that we barely paid attention to because she was too busy telling me about her day.
“I’m telling you, Dai, I must have ‘please feel free to come in and waste my time’ written somewhere in fine print on my website,” she said, shaking her head.
“Do you know these people had me show them two places in Jersey, one in Yonkers, and another in Manhattan, only to decide that they really wanted a place in West Chester to be closer to family?”
I laughed. “Not them people used you as their personal Uber driver for the day. Why didn’t they just lead with that? Especially since your office is in West Chester.”
“Bitch, that’s the same thing I said. I was so heated I almost left they ass on the side of the highway.
And because of what happened today, I’ll be taking that service off my site.
The money is not worth the mileage on my Benz.
They gon’ drive they damn selves. I’m over here tryna give an experience, and they tryna treat a bitch like Fonzworth Bentley. I think the fuck not.”
I listened to her vent before giving my opinion. “Now that I don’t agree with. Your tours are what sets you apart from the other realtors. Nobody is transporting their clients to showings. Don’t let one bad experience spoil it for your potential clients, sis.”
In my eyes, Ebone was the best in her field. She made house viewing fun. And by the reviews on her site, it was clear that she was doing something right.
“Ion know, Dai. I’ma have to figure out another niche.”
“Give it some more thought before you decide.”
“Mmhmm. Anyway, how does it feel to be back home?”
I smiled and rubbed my belly absentmindedly. “Feels good. Don’t get me wrong. I really like Houston, but my heart is still here.” I meant that in more ways than one. “I’m glad you convinced me not to let the place go.”
A sense of peace washed over me when I walked into my place earlier.
I absolutely loved my detached condo. It was in a quiet area out in Jersey City, just outside of New York.
Part of me was worried that it would feel stale or strange, like too much had gone on for it to fit me the same.
But it was quite the opposite. My mom had been there the night before to freshen up and make the place lively for my arrival.
She wanted me to come back to the same home I’d left months prior.
Keeping the condo may have seemed like an unnecessary expense on paper to some, but in the back of my mind, I’d always known that Houston wasn’t forever. Nothing was forever without Pryce.
“I’m happy I did too. Have you heard from Pryce?”
“Kind of. I sent him a text letting him know I was back.”
“And what he say?”
“That he already knew.”
She sat up and smirked. “I swear that nigga can smell you from miles away. That is love.”
I smiled faintly.
“Food’s done,” my mother announced, walking into the living room with two plates.
She handed me mine first then handed the other plate to Ebone.
“Aww, you made my plate too? That’s so sweet, Ma,” she said.
“Yes, I did. Knowing you, ain’t no telling when’s the last time you had a full meal.”
“I’m always on the go.”
“Exactly. Just like this one here before the baby slowed her down.” She pointed to me and sat on the loveseat across from us.
“Now how I get in it?” I mimicked Nene Leakes, and they both laughed.
“You in it because there was a time where I had to beg you to slow down. And I know as soon as you drop that baby, you’ll be up and running again.”
“Not if Pryce can help it,” Ebone let out with her face in her plate.
“You got a point there,” my mother agreed. “Speaking of Pryce, I meant to tell you that I saw Kyiris at the nail shop a couple days ago.”
“I spoke to her yesterday. She’s planning her grandmother a surprise birthday party and asked for my help.”
“You gonna help her?” Ebone asked while chewing.
“I told her I would.” I put a spoonful of chicken and rice in my mouth and chewed slowly. I watched my mother’s face shift slightly. “What?”
“You don’t think you need to be meeting with Pryce before you meet with Kyiris?”
“I’m not ready to meet with him yet.”
“But you’re ready to cause confusion?”
I went quiet for a few seconds. “I’m not ready to tell Pryce myself. But I know once Key knows, she’ll tell him.”
Ebone frowned. “Hence making you even more in the wrong. That don’t make sense, boo.”
“No, call it what it is, Eb,” my mother said, clearly upset. “An attempt for her to avoid admitting she was wrong in the decision she made.”
I sighed, knowing how selfish and foolish I sounded.
“Now, you my child, and you know I’ll never do or say anything to intentionally hurt your feelings.
You also know I’m gonna always tell you the real because I raised you on principles, Adai.
You need to tell Pryce about his child, not put that responsibility onto his cousin.
Your feelings aside, he deserves to know. ”
I remained quiet because everything she said was right.
“I understand that a part of you still mourns the relationship, baby. And that’s okay.
It’s also okay to still love him. We’re not judging you.
What’s not okay is keeping this blessing a secret as a way to guard your heart.
Whatever is meant to happen once he finds out will happen, Dai.
But know that you and this baby will be fine no matter the outcome. ”
“I just don’t want him to hate me.”
My mother got up and squatted in front of me. “Hate is a strong word. And I don’t think that Pryce has the ability to hate you. At the same time, we can’t control a person’s reaction to our actions.”
“That’s what I said, Ma,” Ebone chimed in. “I don’t see him hating her. Giving her a few choice words, yes. But hate, I can’t see it. Plus, if push comes to shove and he act like he don’t wanna be around, I’ll be ya baby daddy.”
We both looked over at her and laughed. Ebone knew how to throw in a joke at the right time to make the air lighter.
“All I’m sayin’ is tell him sooner than later. I’ve been planning this baby shower in my head for months.”
I cocked my head to the side. “And why don’t I know anything about this?”
“Cause I don’t want you breathing down my neck about the details. I got this. And I’ll only need your input when I ask for it.”
“Wow. A grandzilla already, huh?”
She nodded, and her phone rang. Standing, she looked down at the screen and smiled. “It’s your father.” She answered the call and put it on speakerphone.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, beautiful.” My dad’s voice came through smoothly. “I’m on my lunch. Calling to tap in witcha. Did you make it to the airport to get my princess?”
“I’m right here, Daddy,” I called out.
“Heyy, my favorite girl in the whole wide world besides my favorite woman.”
“Nice recovery, Daddy.” I giggled, and my mother shook her head, handing me the phone. I took it off speaker and put it to my ear. “How’s everything out there at sea?”
My father worked as a Damage Control Officer in the Marines. This was his last year before he retired. At least that was what he told me and my mom, but somehow, the date always ended up extended. However, when he was home, the home front was his primary focus.
“All good here. I’ll be back home next week. Hopefully, you stay put long enough for me to see my grand. How you feeling?”
“I’m sure I’ll still be here. I feel good. Bigger but good.” I laughed.
“You’ve been taking care of yourself?”
“Yep.”
“Eating good?”
“Yep.”
“Getting your rest? Staying stress free?”
“Daddy, do you have a checklist over there?”
“A mental one, yes.” He chuckled.
“Yes to both questions.”
“Cool. I still need to lay eyes on you myself.”
“Oh, my God, Daddy.” I snickered. “What, you don’t believe me?”
“Nah. It’s not that. I’m just able to see things you can’t or may not pay attention to. It’s a superpower that fathers have.”
“Oooohhh,” I let out with a nod.
“You talk to Pryce yet?”
I sighed. “We’ve said a few words to each other since I’ve been back.” I wasn’t going to mention the warning.
My father and Pryce were close, but not close enough to where he’d have any understanding of me being threatened. No matter if it was rooted in love.
“He still doesn’t know, huh?”
“Not yet. And you can hold off on the lecture. Mommy already covered that.”
“Oh, I don’t have one. I will say this though. The more you hold back, the more damage you do to the foundation of what y’all built in the first place. And so long as you still believe there’s something there worth respecting, you need to be honest. I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
I handed my mother back the phone and turned to the TV.
My thoughts seemed to be louder than the argument between Joan and Toni.
My parents were right. The longer I waited, the louder and heavier the truth became.
And I didn’t want to be the reason that there was another crack in an already fractured foundation.
It was a little after eleven o’ clock when I gave up pretending that I could sleep in my bed without thinking about the last time I’d been there wrapped in Pryce’s arms. The comforter that covered me was no match for the warmth of his body — his face buried in my neck and steady breathing in my ear.
Laying in the bed made my body remember moments that my mind was still fighting to store in the past. So, I got up and made my way back into the living room.
I slept for a few hours but was up again, this time for the baby.
Baby Boo was craving a piece of lemon pound cake that my mother had made earlier.
Whenever I had a late-night craving, I used the baby as an excuse to get what I wanted and not feel guilty.
It was a perk that came with pregnancy, a perk that I absolutely loved.
Walking barefoot into the kitchen, I opened the fridge and pulled out the cake and set it on the table.
I was a little overzealous in cutting and ended up with a slice bigger than I wanted, but I thought what the hell? I was eating for two.
I dug into the moist cake and chewed slowly to savor the sweetness. Leaning over the counter, I took small bites, and before I knew it, I’d eaten more than half of it.
“We greedy,” I said to my belly, picking up a crumb that had fallen onto my shirt and eating it.
As I went in for my final bite, the doorbell rang.
I froze with the fork still in hand. My heart leaped, and goosebumps rose up on my arms instantly.
Before I could even think, I knew who was at the door.
The only person who would think to come by this late without calling — Pryce Sullivan.
I set the plate down and swallowed hard before slowly walking to the door.
He didn’t ring the bell a second time. He didn’t need to.
Pryce knew I was home, and he knew I was awake.
It wasn’t because anyone had told him, but I was sure he’d sensed it.
Even though I moved slow, somehow, I made it to the door quicker than I thought, like something was pushing me forward.
I placed my hand on the door and looked through the peephole.
There he was, standing directly in front of it.
He wasn’t pacing; he wasn’t hiding or standing with his back toward the door, pretending he wasn’t sure if I was home.
His stance was intentional, his hood halfway pulled over his head, hands in his pockets, and his eyes locked straight ahead. Stepping back, I cast my eyes down at myself. I was in a short pajama set, and the shirt barely covered my baby bump.
It was too late to change. Too late to rewind back to the moment I found out I was pregnant.
It was too late for anything other than facing the music and dealing with the consequences.
I couldn’t hide behind the phone or the thousands of miles that once separated us because he was here.
In the flesh. Reaching for the doorknob, I unlocked the door and hesitated…
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, Y’ALL. I’M NERVOUS! I’M WRITING THIS SHIT, AND MY HEART BEATING FAST ASF. EVERYBODY CALM DOWN AND RELAX. WHAT Y’ALL THINK GON’ HAPPEN? SHIT, I’M NERVOUS! OKAY, OKAY. DEEP brEATHS. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER CAUSE WE GOING BACK IN.
…taking a deep breath, I pulled it open. The light from my porch framed his shoulders first then his face and his eyes. He pulled his hood back completely, and just like that, everything I’d been holding in cracked.
Tears streamed down my face as my heart called out to him.
I wanted him to wrap his arms around me so bad, but he didn’t move.
He didn’t speak. I didn’t think he even blinked.
My chest tightened as I cried silently, too scared to make a sound or even move.
Still, he said nothing. I watched as his gaze moved slowly from my eyes to my mouth, down my shoulders, and then it stopped at my swollen belly.
He squinted, and his jaw tightened, telling me everything had just changed… again.