7. Seven - Jameela
Seven - Jameela
S hit. Shit. Shit.
I was in complete and utter shock. My brain was all over the damn place, but I couldn’t focus on the fact that Saeed was my doctor and that we had a one-night stand. And most importantly that this little nugget inside of me, causing all of this trouble, was his child.
I had to focus all of my energy on my little boy. Making sure he survived all of this.
Once I was settled into a room, a very large room, I called Kennedy.
“Hey, Meela!” Kennedy yelled into the phone when she picked up. She sounded drunk.
“I’m in labor, Kenni,” I cried into the phone.
“What?!”
The octave of her voice instantly changed. Then she got quiet and serious… like she did when she was in attorney mode.
“It’s too early, Jameela. Way too early.”
“I know. They stalled my labor, and gave me some injections to help the baby’s lungs.” I breathed deep into the phone, feeling like the weight of the world was on my chest. “Where are you? I was hoping you could come to the hospital.”
“I will book the first flight out. Andreas and I flew out to meet Kalia and Jeramiah for her parent’s anniversary party.”
I groaned, because I already knew when the pain started that I wouldn’t have my good friend and obstetrician, but I didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to rely on Kennedy to be here. Her and Kalia were all I had, and now I was about to have a premature baby, alone.
“Okay. See you when you get here. I’m going to try and rest my eyes now that they were able to stop my contractions.”
“Ohhh, Meela! I am so sorry I’m not there for you. You get some rest, and I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
As soon as I hung up the phone and closed my eyes, the nurse and doctor, aka, my baby daddy entered the room.
“Ms. Moody. We were able to stall your contractions. If it stays that way, we will keep you here in the hospital as long as your body allows Little Man to stay put. If for some reason things work against us, hopefully we’ll have at least thirty-six to forty-eight hours for the injections to work their magic, before having to perform a c-section.
My staff and I will be monitoring your vitals around the clock at the nurses’ station and come in periodically to check on you. Is there anything you need?”
Saeed was being so damn professional. I still didn’t believe his name was Saeed, but now wasn’t the time to be busting his balls.
“Thank you, Dr. James. I’m okay. I just want to close my eyes for a little while.”
“Okay, Ms. Moody. I will leave you to it.”
“Jameela… call me Jameela please.”
He smiled at me and oh my freaking goodness. His teeth were so straight and white, and the way his eyes turned into little slits… so damn sexy.
Um, not now Meela.
“Okay, Jameela. I’ll check on you in a bit.”
He left, and I flopped my head down on the damn pillow.
I just wanted to know what rotten ass seed I sowed because my life was an entire rotten, fucking mess.
Little Man – that’s what Dr. James kept referring to him as and I kinda liked it – gave me about thirty hours before he decided that he wasn’t with the shits any longer.
My contractions started back up out of nowhere and them thangs were wreaking havoc on me.
I felt like someone was inside of me wringing my insides out like they would a wet rag.
The monitors started beeping off the damn hook and I was scared as hell.
And I was still the hell alone, because a dumb ass hurricane had Kennedy grounded in Florida.
The nurses rushed in, followed by Saeed… Dr. James… whoever the hell he was. I was too tired to even care.
“Jameela. I wanted more time, but Little Man is determined to meet his mommy. We’re going to get you prepped for a c-section. I promise the entire staff in the NICU is ready for your little guy. We got you, okay.”
He reached down and grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
His comforting touch calmed me a little.
“Okay, doc. I trust you.”
Our little moment was over, and the room started buzzing. The prep started and before I knew it, I was on the operating table.
“We’re going to do a regional anesthetic. You’ll be awake but numb. Depending on how Little Man does when he comes out, we may be able to briefly, very briefly , bring him over to your face. Do you have any questions?”
I shook my head from side to side, and prayed that I would be able to see my baby before he was rushed off.
Everything was underway and it felt like they were pulling out my insides. I didn’t feel any pain, but the pressure was insane. The thought that I was awake while doctors had their hands inside my body was freaking me out.
It was all worth it, though. Because when they pulled my baby free, I heard his little squeaky cry. Then, there was a bunch of movement. But the entire time his little squeaky cries rang out, and that told me that my baby would be alright. At least I hope that’s what that sound meant.
“Jameela, meet your son. He’s beautiful and doing very well for a twenty-nine weeker. He weighs four pounds and two ounces.”
Saeed held my baby close to my face and I was able to see his little body. Tears immediately slipped from my eyes.
“We’re going to get him to the NICU and get you settled, okay. Congratulations, mommy.”
I wanted to say congratulations, daddy in return. My head was a little woozy from the anesthesia, but I had enough sense to keep my mouth shut.
I must’ve been put under when they were finishing working on me, because the next thing I knew, I woke up in a recovery room, feeling like I had been hit by a freight train.
The nurse rushed to me and offered me some water.
“Welcome back, Ms. Moody.”
“My baby…” I croaked out.
“He’s doing really good. Dr. James is going to come in with the pediatric doctor, Dr. Abrams.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Not long after, my baby daddy, unbeknownst to him, walked in my room with another doctor who looked just as damn fine as he did.
I let that thought flash by because all I really cared about was my son.
“MiMi… I mean Jameela,” Dr. James quickly corrected.
When he spoke the name, I gave him during our one-night stand, the other doctor’s eyebrows damn near flew off his head. Then he burned a hole in the side of Dr. James' head.
“Jameela,” he repeated more confidently. “Everything went well. Your little guy was four pounds two ounces and measured at sixteen inches long. For a twenty-nine, almost thirty weeker, he is doing extremely well. He’s above average with his weight. And he is breathing on his own.”
His eyes were so bright with pride and his smile lit up. I knew his excitement came from the fact that he was the doctor doing the saving, but it also mimicked pride that a father would show after seeing their child being brought into the world.
You gotta tell him, Meela.
I inwardly groaned.
Now, with another doctor standing here, wasn’t the time to tell him that he fathered a son. Shit, he probably got other kids and a wife stashed away somewhere. I was probably just some new pussy to add to his cheating ass rotation.
I was pulled out of my thoughts, by his deep baritone.
“He’s doing so good. It’s always good to see the preemies come out fighting.
And that leads me to this guy.” He turned and pointed at the other doctor.
“This is Dr. Daran Abrams. He and I work together very closely, as I deliver the babies and he take full control over their care afterwards. He’ll explain in more detail about Little Man’s health… do you have a name yet?”
His flipped gears I guess once he realized he kept calling my baby…
his baby… Little Man . I hesitated a bit, because I didn’t have a name.
I guess it was hard for me to pick a name…
I was always curious about his daddy’s real name, and when I would think about it, I would get distracted from picking a name, especially since I didn’t know if it were a boy or girl.
“No, not yet. I didn’t know the sex, so I was waiting to find out what I was having.”
“No worries Ms. Moody,” Dr. Abrams interjected. “You’ll have some time to think on it. While baby Moody is healthy, he is still very early, so we want to make sure everything is developing properly and that he at least reaches five pounds before leaving the hospital.”
Dr. Abrams continued to explain the process and treatment plan. However, I got stuck on the sentence, and when you get discharged. Everything after that sounded far away. The thought of leaving my baby in the hospital had me freaking out on the inside.
I did not want to leave the hospital without my baby.
“Thank you both.” That was all I had for them at the moment. My mind and body were drained.
Dr. Abrams began to retreat from the room, but Dr. James stayed back.
“I know now it’s the best time to talk about what happened between you and I, but I want to say that I thought about you damn near every day and I'm glad to see you’re doing well, excluding the current circumstances. Are you expecting Little Man’s father?” He asked.
“Umm…” I really didn’t know how to answer that, ‘cause shit… he was Little Man’s father.
He just stared at me. I’m sure I looked like a deer caught in headlights, so I would have assumed he would put it together.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to answer.”
Well shit, I guess he really wasn’t putting two and two together.
He started to retreat, and I finally decided to open my damn mouth.
“Cannn we talk?” I asked, drawing out my question.
He whipped back around so damn quick, I thought his damn head was going to roll right off his neck. It was as if it finally clicked, and he knew what I was going to say.
I was scared!
Saeed… Dr. James…. The shit was still confusing me. But anyway, he walked closer to the bed and took a seat next to it.
“Sure…” Now we were both just dragging the shit out of each word we said.
“I remember we used a condom that night, but eight weeks after our little… get together… I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to find you.
I promise I went to that restaurant so many times hoping I’d run into you.
I’m too old to be with the keeping a father from his kid type of woman.
So please believe me I tried to find you.
Anyways, I guess what I’m trying to tell you is… you’re Little Man’s father.”
I got quiet, and I was trying to look everywhere but at him, but I couldn’t keep it up. I needed to see his face.
Saeed just stared. I was about ready to press the damn call button for his ass. The stoic expression on his face was starting to scare my behind.
“Saeed… Dr. James… say something.”
I wanted to reach out to him, but I had no right to be touching this man. So, I kept my damn hands to myself.
“You sure?” He asked quietly.
“As sure as I am about you cutting me open a few hours ago. You’re the only man I’ve been with in too many years to count.”
He rose from the chair and stuttered, “I… I need a minute.”
Saeed walked out the room. But I knew his ass would be back…. he was one of my doctors.
That was the last thought before I let sleep overtake me.