I smiled and walked nervously toward the bathroom. He followed me and leaned against the wall as I peed. It wasn’t awkward at all, but it spoke to the closeness of our lives, our unity, and how we shared everything now. We had removed all barriers a long time ago, and this was just one more indication of how comfortable we were in our skins with one another.
“What kind of parents will we be, Harlem?”
“The best. We’ll incorporate love, peace, and giving back to others into their lives. We’ll teach them about the importance of acceptance, not judging others, education, and following their dreams, no matter what they will be.”
“It’s hard to believe that I could be someone’s mother,” I replied, wiping myself with the tissue after setting the test aside.
“I can believe it. I watch you with the community kids whenever you have your baking classes, and you’re wonderfulwith them. You spoil the hell out of Dylan,” he stated, referring to Hollis’s son who was now four.
Dylan considered Harlem and me his aunt and uncle, and he adored us equally. Hollis and Kena had finished school. She had become a nurse, and he had just opened his sports shop a few months ago. They were doing so good and had come so far with community support and love. His little brother had finished high school and was going on to college on a fully funded scholarship, and their dad, who had opened a janitorial service a couple of years ago, had just purchased his first home.
“I’m so nervous.”
He leaned forward and grabbed my hands. “You remember what we talked about?”
“About me staying home?”
He nodded, and I sighed. “You don’t want to?”
“Yes, I do. I just don’t want everything to be on you.”
Harlem pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. “This is the beginning of the best of us, Baby. Nothing is all on you or me. We are a team. You still have income coming from your bakeries, but I won’t expect anything from you.”
Harlem paid all the bills and took care of living expenses. My income sat in the bank, growing. He even funded my shopping excursions, telling me that I never had to spend a dime if I didn’t want to, but I did often.
I bought gifts for him, our families, and friends, and then he would make another deposit into my account. I had come a long way from Carl, who thought I was his penny bank and degraded me when I could no longer afford it.
“I know, I just want to make sure that I’m doing my part.”
He laughed. “If our kid is anything like us, you’re going to be doing your part. You’ll be so busy with this kid, you won’t have time to miss shit else. If you change your mind, we’ll handle that too. Baby, you can have whatever you like. I just want you to getoff your feet, entrust your bakeries to your assistant managers while you relax, and live your soft, pampered life.”
“Has it been long enough?”
He looked at his phone. “It’s been almost ten minutes.”
I grabbed the test and stared at it. Tears fell from my eyes, and Harlem turned my hand around so that he could see it too.
My baby was over the moon. He lifted me, spun me around, and kissed me.
“I love you so damn much, girl! I’m so excited that I’m about to be somebody’s daddy and you’re about to be somebody’s mama. Don’t worry about anything. I promise, we’re going to rock this parenting shit.”
I laughed. “Now only if I can make it through the pregnancy.”
“You’ve got this, and I’ve got you. Guess what? God has us both. He always has and always will.”
“Are we really doing this?” I asked, still stunned.
“We’re really doing this. I’ve got something for you,” he stated, tugging me out of the bathroom.
He sat me down on the bed, and he walked to his closet. When he returned, he held out an oblong jewelry box.
“What’s this?” I asked, opening it.
“This was something I picked up for you because I love you, and I’m always looking for something special for you. But now, let’s consider it your welcome to motherhood gift,” he stated as I marveled at the yellow and white-gold bangle with half pavé diamonds.
Tears dripped from my eyes. “You’re so sweet, Harlem. Thank you, babe. If you’re giving me this for being pregnant, damn, I don’t think my heart can take the push gift.”
He laughed. “Oh, trust, sweetness, ya nigga is gonna do it big.”
