“Is everything alright, Cheyonne?” he questioned.
“Everything’s fine, Dad. I’ll see you soon.” Hanging up, I tucked my phone in my clutch and stepped off the curb.
There were seriously no complaints from me today. I was upbeat and relaxed about being a mom. I was so nervous and scared when finding out but what made this experience better was having Nesh by my side. She’d been there for it all and never once strayed. She never disappointed being the sister I never had. Somewhere along the line, my happiness became a priority for her and Derrek both. I was grateful.
As I opened the door to my chocolate Panamera, my cell sounded off once more. Releasing a heavy sigh, I fished it from my purse and screened the call. It was Royce doing his daily check in. Since learning of my pregnancy, him and Klarity hadn’t let me go a day without giving them a rundown. I had to say he was nothing like what the people of Sage Springs made him out to be.
Royce and Black shared a lot of similarities when it came to women. They cared even when they didn’t want to. I watched them both go from a sour puss to the gentlest people I’d encountered. Neither one of them knew how to control their mouth but they had more respect and patience than they let on.
I climbed inside my car before answering. Once I did, he came through the speaker like a concerned older brother. At least that was what I’d accepted him as.
“Aye Brat, how my nephew doing?” he inquired. It still caught me off guard any time he called me that. That was for Black to use at will, not anyone else.
“He’s the same as he was yesterday, Royce. I just walked out the doctor's office and headed to my parents. There’s really nothing to tell.”
Creeping out my parking space, I turned onto the main road and headed for my parents’ home. I was eager to see them but also eager to see how’d they receive their grandchild. They had strict rules about certain things, and I was sure bearing a child was one of them. I could only hope for a quick and easy acceptance.
“Get up with My Baby, and y’all go eat or something afterward. Get to know her crew or whatever. It’s all family,” he suggested.
“No can do. I’m spending time with my parents for the rest of the day. Maybe another day. Royce, have you gone and seen Black yet? Is he okay?” Every day Royce called about me and my son, and every day I countered with questions of my own about Black.
There was still regret but that was overpowered by concern and worry. I worried for him when I should’ve been focused on myself and our son. He had no clue that we created such a precious life, and I wanted Black to be a part of his life. However, the day he left with such a disappointing look made me nervously cautious. We were strangers, and now I carried more in my heart for him than I did for anyone else.
“Not yet. A nigga been hella busy trying to handle this mall shit and get the people back shopping. Plus, I got a pregnant wife and sister. He the least of my worries right now, Brat,” he answered honestly. I expected nothing but raw and realness from him anytime we spoke.
My heart sunk a little from his response. I wanted an update on Black, and Royce was the only person that could give it to me. “Oh… okay,” I replied with such little life.
“Missing the niggayousent to jail is psychotic ain’t it? Give me some time, and I’ll bring him home. For now, stop stressing behind his lil’ ass before something happen to my fuckin’ nephew. How your fibromyalgia doing? You still hurting and shit?”
Nodding, I said, “Yeah, but I’m enduring it for Malachi. Tylenol really ain’t shit, but it’s all I have. Thank God I’m almost to the finish line,” I vented.
“Facts. Stay at your people crib tonight, and I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning so you and My Baby can hit the spa. Tell Luca Brasi to meet you there cause I’m sure Klarity gon’ call her crew.”
The way he called KlarityMy Babyalways made me feel happy for her. Royce loved her out loud so much there was no misunderstandings on where his passion lied. He played no games when it came to her or their kids. When speaking to or about them, you’d better come with the utmost respect, or he’d flip the fuck out. I envied them. I couldn’t lie.
“Sure Royce, whatever you say,” I said shaking my head.
He was overprotective as fuck, but it was something I’d grown accustomed to. I didn’t mind it because I knew he was coming from a loving place. His family had become mine in a way. His kids loved me, and little CJ adapted to calling me Brat like his father. Klarity was just happy to have someone to talk pregnancy talk with and pig out without judgement. They were the distraction I needed to keep my thoughts off Black.
“Aight. Call me if you need me. I’ll see you in the morning. Keep that location on, Brat,” he demanded.
“I know, Royce. Goodbye,” I said hanging up on him. He could really be overwhelming at times. As an older sibling, he really knew how to lay it on thick.
The distance from the doctor’s office to my parents’ neighborhood was easily a twenty-minute drive. However, the light traffic tacked on a few extra minutes. When I arrived, my father was calling my phone once more. I knew it was only him double checking to make sure I would still drop by. Parking in the driveway behind his BMW, I entered through the opened garage door. I could smell the food the second I stepped under it.
My mother tended to fix meals that she knew would get me to stay. Lucky for her, I planned on doing it anyway since Royce wanted me and Klarity to hangout. Walking through the door, I followed the potent smell to the kitchen and found my parents hugged up, laughing, enjoying one another. I hadn’t witnessed that since I moved out.
“Hi Mama,” I spoke catching their attention.
My mother turned around with bright eyes and a stretched smile. It fell as soon as her eyes darted from my face to my stomach. She tapped my father on the arm and he followed her gaze. I figured we might as well get this shit over with now. There was nothing either one of them could do about my pregnancy now. I expected the hardest scolding from them.
“Cheyonne, are you…?” my mother couldn’t even finish her sentence from being in so much shock.
My father stepped around her and took subtle steps closing the gap between us. He reached out placing his hand on my protruding belly before giving me the eye contact I deserved. When Malachi kicked, he took a step back as if he’d just been bitten. I shook my head and bypassed them both walking to the island. I copped a seat and poured up a glass of water from the pitcher.
“There’s no need in staying quiet, just lecture me already. I can take it,” I stated.
“Baby girl, when did this happen?” my father inquired. He’d yet to move from the spot I left him in.
