Chapter 24
Nas
Grabbing my Starbucks order, I sipped on mine as I made my way back to my car.
For the past one hundred and ten days we’ve been running on fumes going back and forth to the hospital.
A nigga was juggling so much shit that the last thing I was concerned about was getting some sleep.
Coffee had become my best friend over the last few months.
It was the only reason I’d been able to care for Nyla, keep an eye out for Nessa when she wasn’t at the hospital, handle my business and go visit Nash.
I couldn’t complain because during the course of his stay Nash had endured five blood transfusions.
He also had to deal with countless needles, breathing support, feeding tubes and more scares than I care to remember.
From the moment he entered this world he’d been fighting every step of the way.
Although each day came with its share of scares, some days had small victories.
Nash was a tiny warrior and his fighting spirit motivated me to keep going.
When I made it back to the hospital, I took the trip that had become apart of my routine.
After Nyla’s drop off I’d hit the coffee shop before coming to the hospital.
Something about today felt different as I rounded the elevator up to the NICU floor.
With Nessa’s coffer order in my hand, I spoke to the nurse as I went to where her and Nash were.
Bending the corner, Nessa’s angelic singing voice stopped me in my tracks.
I hadn’t heard it in a minute and as I slowly crept closer I enjoyed every moment of it.
“I don’t want you to leave, will you hold my hand?” She sang quietly as Nash held on to her finger. “Oh, won’t you stay with me? ‘Cause you’re all I need. But darling, stay with me.”
She repeated this verse of Sam Smith’s song Stay With Me until I revealed myself.
I handed her the coffee cup that she accepted with her free hand.
She gave me a warm smile before taking a sip from the cup.
I made my way over to Nash and was damn proud of the progress he was making.
Everything had been looking up lately, and we were hoping that the doctors would be discharging him soon.
He’d gone from this tiny little person covered in wires to finally being able to fit newborn clothes.
The open crib was a huge step from the incubator he spent his earlier days in.
There wasn’t a feeding tube or breathing support in sight which always brought me comfort.
We hadn’t had a decline or a scare so my faith was high that it wouldn’t be long.
As he held Nessa’s finger sleeping peacefully, like he hadn’t been fighting for his life these last three months.
“He’s gained another four ounces,” Nessa smiled before taking a sip of her coffee. “Soon and very soon we’ll be able to take him home, Nas.”
“My little fighter,” I chuckled as I continued to admire my son in amazement. “That’s right but the last thing he gonna wanna do is see his momma lookin’ all disheveled and thrown together. A fresh shower and clothes should bring you back.”
“Nas, I don’t want to leave.”
“It won’t be for long and we know he’s in good hands.”
“Fine.”
She sat there for a few more minutes before she finally got up.
Once we made it back to my car, I drove us home.
Pulling into the driveway, I helped Nessa out before unlocking the door.
As she went to the bathroom downstairs, I grabbed her a new Alo two piece set and some shoes to match.
After I placed them on the toilet, I went upstairs to the nursery.
I’d been working to get this completed while Nash was in the hospital.
Last night I’d finally finished and couldn’t wait for Nessa to see it.
“Nas, baby, where are you?” Nessa called out as I placed the last stuffed lion on the bookshelf.
“I’m in the nursery,” I announced while standing to wait for her to come up.
“I’m goin’ to finish that soon, I pro…”
Her words trickled off as she stood in the doorway.
There was no need for her to concern herself with that because I’d handled it.
The king of the jungle theme Nessa envisioned was brought to life.
The forest green she selected for the wall was nicely paired with all the décor that arrived a few days after Nash’s birth.
The themed letters that spelled out his name hung on the wall behind his crib.
“Nas this is so beautiful,” she cried as she stepped inside the room. A room she hadn’t come in or walked by for the last one hundred and ten days. “When did you have time to finish?”
“I worked on it here and there and Chance helped too,” I informed. “Just like you feel he’s comin’ home soon, so do I. He needed his room ready for the transition.”
“You’re truly amazing. I love you.”
“I love you too, but this isn’t the only surprise.”
“Oh lawd. What else is it?”
“Yo’ push gift. Follow me.”
I grabbed her hand and led her down the steps and out the door.
When we made it to my old house, she became confused as we went down to the basement.
It wasn’t until I flipped the lights that her mouth dropped again.
I was finally able to gift her with the studio that had been waiting for her.
In disbelief she stepped in slowly as she ran her hand on the engineering system.
“Now when the hell you did all of this without me knowin’?” She squinted her eyes as she looked back at me.
“Ooh, this here been done since before you moved in next door,” I admitted. “I just didn’t know when to show it to you. When I heard you singin’ to Nash today, it just felt like the right time to do so.”
“Oh, Nas I love it. It’s so nice.”
“It is. Go check out the recordin’ booth.”
The huge smile she had on her face before she disappeared inside was priceless.
Seeing her and my kids happy and thriving was the best gift money couldn’t buy.
While she looked over the booth, I finally grabbed the gift of the day.
A small velvet box felt like it weighed a ton inside of my pocket.
I got down on one knee once I heard her making her way out.
“Everythin’ is amazin’ Nas,” she exclaimed as she stepped out of the booth. “Wait a minute. What you doin’ down there?”
“Vanessa Aaliyah Evans, I know our love story hasn’t been an easy one,” I confessed as I looked into her eyes.
When she started crying I had to gather myself so I could finish.
“Although it hasn’t been easy, I wouldn’t change it for nothing.
I’ve loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you.
With the pain I’ve caused you I’ll be happy to spend forever replacing it with happy memories.
In order for me to do that I need to know, will you marry me? ”
“Oh, Nas,” she sobbed as I grabbed ahold of her hand. “YES! I will marry you.”
I slipped the little glacier on her hand before getting up. She grabbed me by the face and gave me a passionate kiss. As it deepened and our tongues became entangled, the ringing of a phone disturbed what could have been a studio christening.
“It’s the hospital,” Nessa gasped before answering the phone on speaker. “Is Nash okay?!”
“He’s fine,” the nurse on the other end clarified. “In he’s so fine we came down to ask but noticed you guys weren’t there.”
“Came down to ask what exactly?”
“If y’all were ready to take your baby boy home?”
“Really!?”
“Yes ma’am. The doctor gave Nash the all clear about thirty minutes ago.”
“We’ll be right there!”
As I drove to pick Nyla up from school, I couldn’t wait to get her home.
With Nash and Nessa waiting for us back home I was thrilled that she wouldn’t have to ask when her brother was coming home.
Unlike usual she was outside waiting for me with the teacher as if she knew something was up.
Once she was strapped in her seat, I drove to the house as she enjoyed her K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack.
At this point, I was well versed in the album and could sing any song with her.
“Why is Mommy not at the hospital?” She wondered when we parked next to Nessa’s jeep. “Who’s up there with Nash?”
“Let’s go in and ask her,” I faked ignorance as I took her out of the car.
Soon as she opened the door, Nessa was standing there with Nash in her hands.
Nyla’s hands flew to her mouth as she squealed in excitement.
She carefully made her way over to them so she could see Nash in person for the very first time.
I snapped a quick picture of the moment as they interacted with one another.
“He’s so cute,” Nyla beamed. “Welcome home, Nash.”
The adjustment to having a baby in the house and caring for him took a little getting used to.
By the time Nyla had her bath and was getting ready for bed, Nash became a night owl.
When I came downstairs, I saw the exhaustion all over Nessa’s face as she sat on the sofa feeding him a bottle.
Reaching for him, I started patting his back so he could burp.
“I got the night shift baby,” I gently asserted. “Gone upstairs and get ready for bed.”
“Are you sure?” She wondered. “The nurses said he is still active at nighttime.”
“Yes, I’m sure. Let me and my son have a lil’ boy’s time.”
“Fine by me. I’ll be waitin’ for you in the room.”
She stood to kiss me before she made her way upstairs.
Today was full of nothing but good things I thought as I turned off all the lights downstairs.
Once I made it to his nursery, I sat in the rocking chair.
Nash looked up at me with those eyes that reminded me of his mother as I rocked the both of us.