Chapter11
Nariah’s voice whispered in her ear, her dreams mixing with reality. She jolted awake as her phone began vibrating. Russell’s name and picture greeted her. She denied the call. And the next one. And the next one. After the fourth and fifth attempts, she blocked his number. Her text read:
I don’t wanna talk 2 u right now. Will call later.
A response came back before her screen went dark.
I’m here.
She kicked and punched at the air. After inhaling her stale breath, she lugged herself into the bathroom to get dressed.
Russell let himself in, carrying a full bouquet of mixed colored roses. He wasted no time in delivering his apology, the speed in which he did causing him to start over twice. A third failed attempt to remember his words convinced him to freestyle. “I was disrespectful and you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
“Where have I heard that before.” Nariah continued to ignore his presence, busying herself with washing last night’s dishes. She then turned the faucet on full blast to stifle his words.
“I don’t know why I keep messing up with you.”
“I don’t either.” She faced him. “Maybe you should give up.”
“I deserve that.”
“No, what you deserve is a slap and to never talk to me again.”
“But…”
“But for the sake of our son, I will be the bigger person and forgive you. He shouldn’t have to feel the effects of your assholishness.” She stepped to him, her toes pushing against his shoes. “Don’t you ever call my mother, his grandmother, a bitch again.” There was no end to the threat, as she didn’t know what she would do, hoping what she said would be enough to deter him.
“You have my word.”
“Honestly Russell, your words don’t mean shit to me anymore.”
His pulse slowed for a second, her hips swaying in slow motion as she walked away. The words hit him in a place that nothing she ever said previously did. “What does that mean?”
“Take it how you want it. I have a doctor’s appointment. Are you coming?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
In the doctor’s office, they managed to put their egos aside, pretending to be the happy couple they saw on the brochures resting on the counter. Nariah’s hands roamed around her stomach, skipping over the deep stretch marks on her hips and pelvis. She focused on her growing boy, ignoring the whispers trying to pull her back into the past. Russell’s warm hand encompassed hers. She guided to where she felt their son kick, calm washing over her as she saw his eyes light up.
“He’s so strong.”
“Just like his dad.”
“Knock, knock,” Doctor Langston announced. “How are the parents to be?”
“We’re fine,” Russell answered for them.
“Don’t speak for me,” Nariah chided. “Don’t take this the wrong way son, but I’m ready to get you out of me.”
“That’s perfectly normal.” Doctor Langston went through her usual procedure of checking vital signs, noting the changes on her chart. She asked questions pertaining to morning sickness, diet, and cravings; all of which Russell answered. “What about mood swings?”
“They actually haven’t been bad,” he said. “Nothing like my fi...Nariah’s been great.”
“Other than very pregnant, how have you been feeling? Any pains, headaches, things of that nature?”
“Just the usual back soreness, but Russell hasn’t skimped on the massages.” As he and Doctor Langston carried on their own conversation, she realized that he had kept his promise in that he would be by her side. Other than the nights he explained the mistress situation and the incident between him and her mother, they hadn’t spent a night apart.
Even if they didn’t sleep together, she woke up to his smile. He made sure she took her vitamins and ate properly and even started doing yoga with her. Along with preparing his business for his absence, he paid an accountant to look over her books and hired three people to take over her client list until she was able to get back to work. Not to mention he hadn’t missed a doctor’s appointment.
The more she thought about everything he had done and was doing, the more guilty she felt about not defending him at her parents’ house. He was right. Knowing she would never hear the end of it, she would find a way to apologize without having to vocalize it.
“Right, Nariah?” Russell asked.
Despite her thoughts, she realized both pair of eyes were on her. “What?”
“You’ve decided you wanted to do a natural birth.”
“I want to, but—”
“The pain,” Doctor Langston finished for her. “You’ll be fine. I’m not saying it won’t hurt like hell, but your body was made to do it.”
“All the women I asked said the same thing.”
“Just think about the kids that were born before drugs came into the picture.” Dr. Langston stood to retrieve the ultrasound machine. “Besides, if I can do it. You can do it.”
Russell interlaced his fingers between Nariah’s as Dr. Langston smeared the gel on her stomach.
“There’s the big boy.” Dr. Langston moved the camera around, highlighting the baby’s toes and fingers, lingering on his face. “Everything looks good. He’s nice and healthy.”
The words were music to Nariah’s ears. All she wanted was for her son to be healthy. She wiped the tears blurring her vision, thinking how scared she was just months ago. Though she had never considered being a mother, she now felt it was her mission in life. It helped that she knew she wasn’t alone, Russell beside her, her family also giving unconditional love and support. She squeezed his hand. “We’re so lucky.”
“Yeah we are. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” She grinned.
“Do you want pictures?” Dr. Langston asked.
Tears were in Russell’s eyes before Dr. Langston handed him the collection of photos, each one showing their son in a different position. He teased Nariah, jerking them away each time she reached for them. He felt good about the place they were in, though he had a good ways to go in regaining her full trust. He was determined to make the relationship work, especially given the situation with the mother of his other son.
“I might be able to take you to the cookout now.”
“You didn’t tell me anything about a cookout,” he said.
Nariah shook her head laughing. “It’s a black term. It’s when you’ve been accepted into the black community.”
“What did I do to deserve that honor?”
She held up her index finger. “One, you got a black woman pregnant.” Her middle finger joined the other one. “You got two babies by two different women.”
“I’ll take it.” Russell’s grin took up half his face. “I thought I was already in though because I know more hip-hop than you.”
“Shut up. It’s not because I don’t listen to it. I just like what I like better.” They spent a few more minutes bonding over the pictures. “Have you told Seth he’s gonna be a big brother yet?”
Suddenly, he kissed her, massaging his tongue with her own, only breaking it at her insistence. Tracing her lips with his thumb, he wiped the excess saliva from the corners of her mouth before kissing her again. Forgetting about Dr. Langston, he checked behind him, breathing a sigh of relief after seeing they were alone.
“What was that for?”
“For being the woman of my dreams.” It meant the world to him that she considered Seth. She hadn’t said one word against his mother even offering to meet her, which he managed to convince her to do after the pregnancy.
Nariah knew being at odds with Monica, Seth’s mother, wouldn’t be good for anyone. They were all family now. She wanted Seth to be part of his brother’s life and was willing to swallow her pride to make that happen. It was how she would want Russell to react if the tables were turned. “I appreciate you being the great father you are to both of the kids.”
“I want to tell him in person,” he said.
“Do you want me to be there with you?”
“I want to do it alone, make sure he understands that I won’t forget about him and that I don’t love him any less.”
She cupped his face in his hand, pulling him closer to kiss him.
“What was that for?”
“I like your lips.”
His face scrunched into a half scowl. “It’s always physical with you.”
She ran her hand over his shoulder and down his arm, continuing down his torso until she reached his belt, lingering there, feeling him stiffen. Keeping one eye on the door, she positioned her hand between his legs, massaging his bulge. “You know they say pregnant women are super horny.”
Russell’s voice and eyes dropped. “I didn’t know you were so bad, Ms. Alexander.”
“After all this time you still haven’t learned?”
“I’ve been told I’m rather hardheaded. Maybe it’d be better if you show me.” His hand split her thighs, searching for the soft spot, applying pressure upon finding it.
The fabric did nothing to dull the sensation, small shock waves surging through her body. She turned her head, giving him access to her neck. The hairs on her arms stood, a chill accompanying the waves.
His hands ventured over her stomach before going into her waistband, pulling her panties to the side. “Does it make me bad if—” He ripped his hand out of her pants, throwing himself into the chair.
Nariah pulled her shirt down and sat up the best she could.
“Oh I’m sorry,” the nurse that poked her head through the door apologized. “Wrong room.”
Russell helped her off the table, holding her waist as she waddled to the door. He held her hand back before she could open it. “We’ll continue that when we get home.” A smack of the butt drove his point home.