We stayed on the phone a little longer, mostly talking about nothing. Eventually, fatigue hit me, and my body slowed down before my mouth did.
“I’m gon’ go head and take this nap,”I said through a yawn.
“Okay, boo. Love you,”Ebone said.“Make sure you call me after the appointment, so I know how it went.”
“Yeah. Call me too,”Key added.
“I will. Love y’all.”
“Love you too,”Key said, and we ended the call.
Taking my foot off of the couch, where it sat tucked under my butt, I stood slowly to stretch. Walking back to Pryce’s bedroom, I went into his drawer to grab one of his t-shirts to change into. Stepping out of my romper, I put the shirt on with no bra underneath. I liked the freedom. Climbing into his bed, I curled onto my side and rested my hand over my belly. I found myself doing that often.
Before closing my eyes, I sent him a text.
Me: Hey, bae. I’m about to finally take a nap, so if you call and I don’t answer, that’s why.
My Forever: If I call and you don’t answer, I’ll be calling again. I’ll be home soon. I love you.
Me: I love you too.
The last thing I remembered before falling asleep was feeling like that sense of safety was back.
During the rideto the doctor’s office, it felt like we were both holding our breaths. I didn’t think it was because we were nervous but more so anxious. We were doing this step together. That was everything to me after having gone to a few appointments by myself. We were going in as a team. And I knew whatever I didn’t ask, he would.
“You nervous to find out?” he asked, pulling into the lot and parking.
“Only about you possibly calling this lady the pussy doctor while we’re in this office. Don’t do that please.”
He squeezed my leg once and leaned over to kiss my neck. “Okay. I won’t.”
“Thank you. Before we go in, we gotta have a pep talk with the baby. I need Baby Sullivan to cooperate, so we can get good pictures for the sonogram.”
“Aight.” Placing his lips at my belly, he spoke. “It’s Daddy. When we get in here, you gotta act right cause I wanna see you, okay? Don’t give the doctor a hard time. Let’s just get in and get out.” He sat back up straight and looked over at me. “What you wanna say?”
I smiled big. “I think you covered it all.”
“Cool.”
He helped me out of the car, and we made our way inside the building, taking the elevator up to the second floor where my doctor’s office was located. The receptionist smiled as soon as we stepped in.
“Look at my girl over here glowing and stuff. Look at you, girl,” the receptionist, Ms. Veronica, said from her seat behind the counter. “You’ve been holding out on us.”
Before I could respond, Pryce spoke from beside me. “Yeah. That’s a habit I’m trying to get her out of. One day at a time.”
I cut my eye at him fast, elbowing him in his stomach. He smirked and shook his head.
“Sign in here.” She laughed, sliding a clipboard over to me. “Anything changed as far as personal info? Change of address? New number? Anything like that?”
I looked over at Pryce then back to Ms. Veronica. “Yes. Change of address.”
“Okay. Whenever you’re ready, you can tell me.”
I went to give the address only for Pryce to interrupt.
“Daddy’s House is the new location,” he advised.
“Boy, move back.” I laughed and read off his address. Filling out the sign in sheet, I handed it back. “Come on.” I put my hand in Pryce’s and guided him over to the seats in the waiting room.
