I sat at the table eating a bowl of cereal. I was never big on it, but since I’ve been pregnant, that’s all I wanted. Cereal was starting to become a damn appetizer for me; I’d eat a bowl, then have a full-course meal.
If it wasn’t Fruit Loops, it was a bowl of Lucky Charms. The five boxes of each in the pantry let me know that Cane noticed, and it also let me know he didn’t plan on letting me go for a while.
When Olivia walked into the kitchen, I immediately felt unwelcome. She didn’t even say anything, and I knew I didn’t belong.
Feeling the twins start to kick. I placed my hand over my stomach and smiled. They were just like me when it came to food. They went from making me nauseous to being really active. They were probably doing the same little happy dance I did when eating.
Olivia looked physically ill seeing that. I dropped my hands and went back to eating. “Why did you decide to keep them? Why did you decide that they deserved poverty and a single mother?” She asked.
“Because they’re mine and I wanted them,” I said as I continued to follow the fruit loops with my spoon.
“And his.” She said. “But he’s mine.”
“I know.”
“Do you really? Because this isn’t just about your babies. This is about my marriage! And what you’re taking away from us.”
“What am I taking away from you guys?” I asked.
“Everything! I should be the one giving him his first child. Not you, not a stranger. It should be our nursery he’s painting in MY house, not yours. It should be ME barefoot and pregnant by him. Not you! I should be the one carrying his legacy.”
“I know and am sorry you’re not, but this wasn’t my mistake.”
“I know, but it’s a mistake you can fix. Please don’t keep them. Please don’t have his babies.” She begged. “Pregnancy cameeasily to you. So, you can do it again with your own man, your own husband. But me? I can’t find the love of my life again.”
“You act like these babies are going to take him from you.”
“They already have.”
My heart was breaking for her. I could feel my own eyes tearing up. My hormones wouldn’t even let her have this moment.
“My appointment is tomorrow. Just help me get out of the house.” I said.
“Thank you.” She said as she held my hand.
Chapter 27
Snow
The plan was to walk right out the door once Cane left for work, but that was easier said than done. Diamond stayed close to the front door. I couldn’t even look at it for too long without him calling Cane. I looked over at Olivia. “I’m going to have him help me with something upstairs. When he gets up there, you have to run out. I left a pair of shoes for you at the front, and my car is already on the sidewalk waiting for you. It’s the red Mercedes.
“Ok,” I said as I slipped on the sweatsuit she had given me. I waited patiently at the door for my cue to leave.
Once I heard Olivia and Diamond’s footsteps fading up the stairs, I slipped on Olivia’s shoes and grabbed her car keys.
When I stepped outside, I tried to pick up the pace, but that only seemed to make me waddle more, and it felt like I was still moving at the same damn speed. Fortunately, whatever Olivia was doing to distract
Diamond was working because he never came out of the house.
-
I walked into the clinic feeling conflicted.I didn’t want to kill my babies. I don’t know why I let Olivia guilt me into this. But then, did I really want to have twins with her husband? No. I wanted them with MY man. The man I thought I had for weeks.
I looked around the waiting room, trying to gauge the expression on everyone’s face. Most women looked happy, slightly relieved, while others looked depressed. When my eyes landed on Royal and India, I saw nothing but anger. For a minute, I wonder who wanted to keep the baby and who didn’t. “Snow,” Royal called out.
“What?” I asked.
“You really let that nigga get you pregnant?”
