My first real love, my baby father, my fiancé, and my first to a lot of beautiful things… I have a gift for you, and it isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but this gift is specialto me. Why? Because it’s something I know you wanted. You mentioned it once, and I kept it in mind. It crossed my mind to give it to you, but I didn’t know how. Or if I could. Anyway… I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I’ve been working a lot during my pregnancy. Some say it’s good for the baby… but really, I did extra lessons, tutoring—everything—behind your back. And guess what? I did it. I’m in tears writing this, because I finally bought the gift for you. I couldn’t wait for your special day to surprise you. I love you.
—Your fiancée & Mami,
Zara.
He goes quiet, staring at the note like it took the air out of him. His face is unreadable for a moment, and then it softens. “Before mi even see the gift… yuh see outta all the expensive gifts mi ever get, yours mean everything to me.” He pulls me in and hugs me tight, pecking my jaw.
“Awww baby,” I whisper, cupping his face, smiling up at him. He’s already untying the ribbon, not even waiting.
“Wah inna the box?” Then he sees it. The Crown Royal Saloon car key. He stares, mouth slightly open.
“Yuh do this fi me?” His voice drops, almost like he doesn’t believe it.
“Yupp,” I pop the p. He smirks, sliding his hand under my blouse, fingers warm on my breast. I’m not even wearing a bra. He looks up at me. And I bite my lip. I don’t know what gave me the courage to do all this… maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me now.
“So yuh buy me a Royal Saloon…” he says slowly, still rubbing me, “and then to get creative, yuh buy the Crown Royal liquor?” He bites his lip too.
I giggle—“Yes.” But it comes out as a soft moan.
“Yow, mi a be honest wid yuh…” Nickoi starts, looking me in the eyes. “Everybody buy mi something expensive, Gutta get mi a jeep, Junior get me a GLE Benz. All of them deh more pricey than a Crown, but your gift beat fi dem… and yuh know why?” I stare at him, heart already full. “Because of the thought behind it.” He rubs his hand over his beard, smiling slightly. “The fact yuh even get the liquor too? That a big flex fi me. Yuh nuh just buy mi sumn… yuh listened. Yuh know mi.”
I lean in and kiss him. “I love you.” He hugs me tight, burying his face in my neck for a second. That kind of hug that says everything words can’t. Then I pull back, grinning. “Also… mi do sumn else.”
He raises a brow. “Wah now?”
I stretch out my wrist, showing him. “I got this tattoo.” There, on the inside of my wrist, is the date we met, neatly inked in Roman numerals with a small heart and a forever symbol next to it. It cute bad. He stares at it, his smile spreading slowly like warmth.
“Every day, yuh make mi feel happy more and more seh a you a be mi wife.”
I blush immediately, folding my lips to hide the smile.This man… is a real problem.
***
You ever get that weird dream as a child where you’re sitting on the toilet… but you’re really peeing yourself? Yeah, that. Wait… that nuh sound good at all. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m peeing myself. My eyes fly open and I throw the sheets off, only to realize fluid is running down my legs. Shit… my water broke! I glance at the time. 3:00 a.m. Why now though? I rush off the bed and the liquid just keeps pouring. I waddle over to Nickoi’s side of the bed, holding my lower back and shaking him,twice. He stirs, eyes blinking rapidly to adjust. Once he realizes what’s going on, he jumps up and grabs me, already moving fast. He dials his aunt, no answer. He cusses under his breath while helping me into some clothes.
“Nuh next week the baby dem fi born?” Nickoi asks, trying to stay calm.
“Yes,” I reply, breath shaky. He gets dressed quicker than I’ve ever seen and helps me out to the Range Rover.
***
4:50 AM | Hospital
I feel like I’m going to die. The pain nuh normal. I can’t stop crying. Can’t stop screaming.“AHH!”I holler again as another wave of pain grips me. Sweat drenches my face, soaking my edges and sticking strands of hair to my cheeks. Nickoi wipes my face gently as I scream through another contraction.“Ahh!”Doctors move around, talking in quick code, preparing everything.
“Ready again,” one of them says, walking toward me. This pain? It’s like period cramps and diarrhea cramps married, had a toxic baby, then invited back pain and side pain to the christening. It baddddddd. Ughhhhhhh!God a go protect you,my subconscious whispers. But when another wave hits my faith slips. “I c-can’t do this!” I sob, breaking down.
“Yes you can. You’re doing amazing,” one of the doctors says.She’s just saying that.
Nickoi holds my hand tighter. “Don’t say that, Mami,” he pleads, wiping my tears. “Please… nuh seh that.” He looks calm, but I can see it. The worry. The nerves. He’s trying to be strong for me.
“It’s… s-so hard,” I cry, my whole body trembling.
“Mi deh yah wid yuh enuh, Mami… so yuh can do anything,” he says, voice low and steady, but his eyes say otherwise. Another contraction hits hard.
“Nickoi!” I cry out, reaching for him. He leans in, pressing his forehead to my temple, whispering something I can’t even hear through the pain.
“Mi deh yer, baby,” I finally hear it.
