“You already know that having multiples automatically makes your pregnancy high risk. I understand the shock, but try and calm down, so you don’t stress and raise your blood pressure. It’s a lot to process, I know. There are two sacs, so they are fraternal twins.”
My mind was blank as she gave me an official due date and all of the other necessary information. After I made my next appointment, Hymn held the door open for me. “I can never touch you again, huh?”
“I’m glad you know.” I sulked.
Kids were an absolute blessing and for some reason, God saw fit to triple and double bless me every time. I was willing to give Hymn two babies, and there they were. As soon as they were born, I wanted my entire uterus removed and tossed into the trash can like Jordan shooting a three pointer.
Inside the car, Hymn grabbed my hand. “Look at me.” I did as he asked. “What is it about having twins that has you upset?”
“It’s a lot,” my voice cracked. “Being pregnant with triplets traumatized me. It hurts. My belly was so big. I was so uncomfortable. I couldn’t sleep. I had to pee every thirty minutes. For three months, I couldn’t keep anything down. I was severely dehydrated and didn’t have any energy. I literally felt like death. I hated it,” I cried.
“So, it’s the pregnancy part that has you worried.”
“I mean having multiples is a lot. Corey wasn’t exactly super hands on after the first week or so, but my family helped a lot.”
“Listen, I know you’re Ms. Independent like to get everything done, but I can get you all the help you need. You don’t have to cook or clean. The only thing you have to do is what you want to do. If you want to sleep all day you can. You can even hire someone to come in and help with the girls when I leave for training camp. They can help with homework or anything you need them too. Okay? And you already know once you have the babies and the season is over, I got them. You can leave the country and take a vacation or some shit.”
His comment made me smile. It was a sad smile but still a smile. I simply wasn’t looking forward to being pregnant with twins but if I could do three, I could handle two. Prayerfully. Out of all the things I was nervous about, being pregnant with twins or another set of triplets didn’t cross my mind. Because I’d never get pregnant with multiples back to back, right? Joke was on me.
“Thank you. I appreciate you so much.” I leaned over the arm rest and kissed Hymn on the lips.
I was a psycho times ten when I was pregnant with the girls. By that time, Corey and I had been together for two years, so it wasn’t fun for him, but it wasn’t enough to run him off. My relationship with Hymn was still fairly new. I was going to try as best I could to keep my attitude in check, but I knew it was going to be hard. I’d probably just have to tape my mouth shut. Alisa, Josie, and my parents were the only people I was going totell about my pregnancy before the second trimester. And maybe London. I was just scared to tell people and then I would have to explain to them if something bad happened.
My phone rang, and I pulled it from my purse to see who it was. Alisa. “Hey, boo.”
“Did you get the text message I sent?”
“No, my phone was in my purse. I’m with Hymn. Hold on.” Removing the phone from my ear, I went to the text messages and smiled so wide it damn near hurt. “Alisa!” I screeched as I stared stunned at the positive pregnancy tests. All four of them.
“I can’t believe it. I’m still in shock. I took three tests last week and another one two days later. I really can’t believe that I’m going to be somebody’s mother. I’m so nervous and Dre is so happy,” she chuckled. “My first appointment is today. I wanted to wait to tell anybody, but I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I won’t be able to turn up at your reception,” she sighed.
“Congratulations, babe. I’m so happy for you and Dre. You are going to be an amazing mother. And don’t worry. I won’t be able to turn up either. We can drink sparkling water out of champagne flutes.”
There was a brief pause. “You’re pregnant too?!” she screamed.
“Yes,” I laughed. “I just left the doctor and surprise, it’s twins.”
“Brion, I know you fucking lying. I know you are fucking lying to me!”
“Oh, how I wish I was friend. I cried. Girl, I want to cry right now.”
“I’m terrified. I don’t know what your reproductive system is made of, but I pray to God I am nothing like you.”
“I’m not even mad at you for that prayer, friend. Somebody done told Sky Daddy that my womb was one of his strongest soldiers.”
Alisa and Hymn laughed, but I was dead serious. How that kept happening to me I had no idea.
“You want something to eat, babe?” Hymn asked.
“Um nothing heavy. Maybe a salad from that place Chopped.”
“Bet.”
With a smile, I listened to Alisa talk about her pregnancy. How nervous she was but excited at the same time. My friend had focused on her career and gotten pregnant when she was ready and felt the time was right. I loved that for her. I loved it for me too. I was still in shock and a little scared, but doing pregnancy the second time around with a man like Hymn was going to be amazing. Something in my gut was telling me that, and I was going to choose to believe it.
The next day, Josie and I were getting our nails done and pedicures. The countdown for my wedding was real. When I woke up that morning, I was nauseous, so I grabbed the pack of crackers I left on my nightstand the night before and ate three of them. I waited about ten minutes and got up. I was still queasy, but it wasn’t unbearable. After I showered and got dressed, I ate a few ginger chews then woke the girls up. The ginger chews helped the nausea go from a six to a two, and I was so grateful I literally closed my eyes and thanked God.
I took my prenatal vitamins and had been sipping on lemon water for the past hour. I felt pretty decent and again, I was grateful.
