After acknowledging him with a nod, I lean down and notice both Romi and Averi have cried themselves to sleep. I gingerlylift them both, grab Adora’s purse, and follow the nurse through the doors and down the long hall.
Inside the last room on the right, Adora lays in the bed with her leg propped up and bandaged. She forces a smile on her face when I step in. There are two chairs off to the side, so I place Romi in one and Averi in the other. Then I walk over to her and carefully and softly peck her lips.
“How are you feeling, love?” I ask.
“Hurting,” she says, then flashes a half smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“If you need or even want me, I’m coming,” I assure her. “It’s always gon’ be about you and them. I’m glad Averi called me.”
“That’s my little baby,” she says, then tries to sit up.
“Are you supposed to be doing that?” I ask. There’s a small bandage on the right side of her head, so she probably needs to be still.
“I just need to see them,” she says, almost pleading. I step back, giving her a clearer view. She stares at them lovingly and her pretty smile spreads across her face. Then she sighs. “I can’t believe they saw what happened.”
“What happened?” I ask, trying to get the full details, but the room door opens and two doctors—one male and one female—and the male nurse walks in.
“Is it this bad?” she asks jokingly but I can see the seriousness on her face. I’m wondering the same because why are there two doctors? I grab her hand to comfort her.
“No,” the female doctor says with a genuine smile. “I’m Dr. Walker and I’m here to check your head and ankle. Dr. Holmes just wants to make sure you and the baby are okay.”
Baby!
“Baby!” she exclaims, expressing my exact thought.
She’s pregnant?
“Are you sure you have the right patient?” Adora asks.
“Yes, we are pretty sure. Your urine and blood tests came back,” Dr. Holmes confirms. Adora turns slightly to face me, her big eyes stretched even bigger and her eyebrows raised in pure surprise.
“I’m pregnant? How did that happen? I can’t even remember…how?” she rambles.
“My guess is this gentleman with a smile on his face might have an idea,” Dr. Walker says, smiling.
Both doctors approach and I reluctantly release her hand. As they check her head, ankle, and stomach, they both talk but I can’t hear shit. The only thing on my mind is that my baby, Adora, is having my baby.
When the doctors walk out, the nurse stays and changes the bandage on Adora’s head. He double checks the ankle boot Dr. Walker placed on her, then goes over medications. Since she’s having my baby, they only want her to take Tylenol. The nurse reinforces that and the recommendation to follow up with an OB about the baby.
I’m still in shock. She’s having my baby!
The minute the nurse leaves to grab a wheelchair for Adora, I lean in and lovingly kiss her. When I release her soft lips, I move my lips to her stomach and plant a kiss.
“You didn’t know?” I ask.
“No. Not at all.”
“What about your period? You didn’t miss it or some shit?
“I mean…I’m a few weeks late, but for me, that’s normal. Why? Are you mad?”
“Mad? Love, hell no. You’re having my baby. Mad is the last thing I’m feeling. The woman I love with everything in me is carrying our baby. I’m the happiest man alive.” I kiss her lips again. “You know I got you, right? You and all three of our babies. And just know I’m going to do whatever I have to erase any doubts you might have because of?—”
“Don’t,” she says, stopping me. “We’re having a baby, I’m stuck with you now,” she teases, then smiles. “Xai, baby, you don’t have to mention it. Just don’t keep anything else from me again.”
“Never again, love,” I tell her.
The door opens and the nurse pushes the wheelchair in. I assist him with getting Adora in then I scoop up the girls. After placing her discharge folder on her lap, he pushes Adora out of the room and we follow.
