Too distracted to do anything but mope, Envy went and lay on her sofa, crossed her legs and arms, and flicked on the television. Nothing piqued her interest. She pulled one of her novels off the table that she hadn’t finished reading. As much as she loved reading, even the novel couldn’t keep her mind from wandering. She tossed and turned on the sofa, but there was nothing that would rest her mind. Fischer lay down on the rug in front of her.
“Fischer, come on, boy. You wanna go on a walk?” Fischer jumped up and wagged his tail. Envy got up, went in the bedroom to get her cell phone from her purse, and then took Fischer out on a walk. The weather was perfect. She inhaled the scent of May flowers that the breeze sent her way. Lifting her head toward the sky, she surveyed the beauty of all God’s creation. “Lord, why did you make me? You said I’m fearfully and wonderfully made, but look at me. I don’t know what direction my life is going. I’m such a phony and a fake. I can’t carry this burden around my neck like a noose anymore. I can’t keep hiding and running from what I’ve done. I need a way of escape. God, I need you so badly. Will you please help me to—”
Envy looked at her Blackberry Dash. It was Kacie. “Dang, I don’t feel like talking to any one tonight,” she shouted out in the night. When she remembered the pains Kacie had, she thought she’d better answer to make sure she was fine. Dryly she answered the phone. “What is it, Kacie?”
“I’m at the hospital.” Kacie cried. “I’m in labor. Can you check…ahhh,” she screamed out in pain as a contraction wracked her body. The kids are at home alone.”
“Why didn’t the paramedics take the kids or call for CPS to come and get them? Why didn’t they call me?” Envy said frantically.
“Because...ahhhh…I…drove myself. I’ve got to go.”
“Hold up! Which hospital?”
“The Med…Labor and Delivery.” Kacie ended the call.
Envy immediately dialed Layla’s number and prayed that she was back at home from her date. When Layla didn’t answer, Envy hurriedly ended what was supposed to be a long, casual walk with Fischer. He’d taken care of his business and she was glad about it. She rushed to the apartment, put Fischer inside and got her keys and purse. On the way to the car, she called Layla again. No answer. She called again. No answer.
“Dang,” Envy ended the call. “Now what do I do?” She drove in the direction of Kacie’s house as she remembered that Kacie had been through this several times, so the most important thing now would be to go and be with the children. She would call Layla when she got to Kacie’s house again. Envy’s concern was that the baby was arriving almost a month early.
Kassandra barely pulled back the curtain, then opened the door when she saw that it was Aunt Envy.
“Hi, Kassandra. Are you kids okay?” Envy went through the room checking each one of them like they’d just been injured in an accident of some sort. She was nervous as all get out.
“We’re fine, Aunt Envy. Momma’s gone to the hospital to have the baby. She drove her car.”
Envy smiled.
“I want a sister,” Kendra said. “I don’t want another brother.”
“I do,” yelled Kenny. “Girls are too bossy.”
“Okay, that’s enough. We’re going to be thankful to God whether it’s a boy or a girl, all right?” remarked Envy. She got all the kids’ night clothes together and made sure they took their baths. Afterward, she let them have a snack and watch a movie. At nine o’clock, she had them in bed. Exhausted, Envy lay on the sofa and called the hospital to check on Mrs. Rawlings. The nurse she’d talk to at the hospital earlier answered.
“We’re keeping her comfortable, Miss Wilson, but she’s still in critical condition. “She’s still not out of the woods. Her age coupled with the fact that she more than likely suffered the stroke days before you discovered her in the apartment does not work in her favor. Her blood sugar is fluctuating, and she’s still in a diabetic coma. But rest assured, I have your number, and I promise to call you if there are any changes.”
“Thank you so much. You’re a godsend.” The phone rang as quickly as Envy ended the call. This time it was Kacie.
“How are you? How many centimeters are you?”
“I’m…I’m about eight and a half. They might have to do a C-section. I’ll know when the doctor gets in here. The nurse just went and called him. Looks like the baby wants to come out feet first.”
“Oh no, that’s not good,” Envy replied in a fit.
“I’ll be all right. Will you do me a favor and call Deacon to let him know I’m in labor.”
Envy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. After the way he’d been treating Kacie, she still wanted him to know that she was in labor.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Kacie. That’s only adding stress to your situation. Forget him. He hasn’t bothered to try to call you, come by to check on you or anything. All you need to be doing now is following the doctor’s orders and preparing to bring a healthy baby into this world. You can handle Deacon after all of this is over,” retorted Envy.
Kacie hollered. Envy didn’t know if it was because of a labor contraction or anger. “Look, I want you to call him. If you won’t, I’m going to call his house and tell his wife that she needs to get her husband out here to this hospital right away.”
This time it was Envy’s turn to get mad. “Look, I’m not going to do your dirty work. It’s stupid, and you’re only bringing trouble on yourself. So if you want to lay up there and call that man’s house, do it. I’m not going to be your send out on this one. So change the subject. Layla must be still on her date with Dennis because she didn’t answer her phone. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to convince her to get a cell phone.”
Kacie ignored Envy’s remarks about Layla. “Are you going to call him, Envy? Please, do this one thing for me. And I swear, I won’t ask you to do anything else like this.”
“First of all, swearing is not necessary.” Envy sighed. “What’s the fool’s cell phone number?” she said furiously.
“Thank you; oh thank you so much. Aww!” Another contraction hit Kacie. After another one, she gave the cell phone number to Envy. “I’ll try to call you back if I can. But tell him where I am and that the baby is coming early. Tell him that I need him and that there’s no one at the hospital with me.”
“You are so pitiful,” Envy said and ended the call without saying good-bye. Envy dialed the number Kacie had given her. The phone rang. When Deacon answered, Envy said, “Hello? Deacon?”
“Yeah, this is Deacon. Who is this?” He didn’t sound welcoming at all.
“This is Envy. You know, Kacie’s friend. And please, don’t hang up. She wanted me to call to tell you that she’s in early labor. She drover herself to the hospital,” Envy said with prominence. “I’m here with the kids. I know how you feel about Kacie being pregnant, but if there is the slightest chance that this is your child, you should at least go check on her and the baby.”
“Look, I don’t care who you are to Kacie. I don’t appreciate you calling me trying to tell me what to do. She’s probably not having the baby early. It just proves that she was lying all the time, telling me she got pregnant by me when it’s some other unfortunate guy’s brat.” His voice sounded cold and emotionless.
“Look, I don’t like having to call you anymore than you care for talking to me. But this is not about you or me, and it’s not about Kacie. It’s about a baby that’s about to come into the world. Now like I said, if you have an ounce of compassion, you’ll at least go to check on her condition. As soon as I can find someone to watch these kids, I’ll come out there.”
Silence traveled through the phone. “Where is she?” he asked reluctantly.
Envy exhaled. “Regional Med Labor and Delivery. And thanks, Deacon. I mean that.”
“Whatever.” He hung up abruptly. Envy could care less that he hung up on her. He was the fool, the one who got caught cheating. He deserved whatever he got. She saw a blanket on the cha
ir, picked it up, and curled up on Kacie’s den sofa.
Envy opened her eyes and quickly remembered where she was and why. She ran to the back to check on the children. Kassandra and Kali were in their room; Kali asleep and Kassandra reading a chapter book.
“It’s time to go to sleep, baby.” Envy walked to Kassandra’s bed. She spoke in a soothing voice, removed the book from Kassandra’s hands and tucked her in.
“Has Momma had the baby yet?” asked Kassandra.
“No, sweetie. Not yet. But she’s doing just fine. You get some sleep, okay?” Envy kissed the little girl on her forehead, then turned to pull the cover up to Kali’s neck before leaving the room to go check on the rest of the children. Everyone else was asleep. Keshena was in the bed with Kendra, not her own. She had one foot rested across Kendra’s tummy and looked like the picture of perfect peace as she slept sideways in the twin bed.
Headed back to the front of the house, Envy heard her cell phone ringing. She picked up her pace and grabbed it in time to hear Layla on the other end. “Layla, hey. You at home?”
“No, is anything wrong? I checked my messages. You called several times.”
It was well past midnight. Envy smiled. “I had called to see if I could bring Kacie’s kids over there while I went to check on her. She’s in labor, and I was going to go to the hospital to be with her,” explained Envy. “And can you believe that she drove herself to the hospital?”
“That girl has gall. Is she all right? There’s nothing wrong with the baby, is there?” Concern was evident in the tone of Layla’s voice.
“I don’t think so. She might have to have a C-section because the baby is trying to come out feet first. When will you be home?” Envy asked more out of curiosity than for Kacie and her kids’ sake.
Layla was quiet. She closed the silence by answering, “Tomorrow, early.”
“Umm, well you and Dennis have fun.” Envy giggled into the receiver. She was happy that Layla sounded happy. So far Dennis seemed like a decent guy. He was always asking Layla to do things with him. He’d been to Bible Study a couple of times with her and was at her house almost everyday having lunch with Layla during his lunch break. “Somebody deserves to have some fun,” Envy spoke out loud.
“Bye, girl. I’ll talk to you in the morning.” Layla chuckled, and then ended her call.
Early the next morning, Dennis dropped Layla off at her apartment and went to work. She went inside and took a shower, washing last night’s and this morning’s scent of love from her body, followed by dressing into a pair of capris and a quarter length pullover U-neck shirt. Dialing Envy, she listened to the ringtone until Envy picked up the phone. “Good morning.”
Sleepy from having tossed and turned most of the night, Envy responded in a rough voice with, “What time is it?”
“Six forty. You sound like you’re still asleep.”
“I was, but I don’t need to be.” Envy sat up hurriedly. “I hear the kids in the back. I need to get up and fix them something to eat, and then get them off to school. Shoot, they’re going to be late already. I’ll call you back.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Kids, get ready for school,” Envy called out and rushed along the hallway to check on them. Much to her surprise, they were already dressed, including little Keshena. Dang, Kacie has them trained. “My, my, aren’t y’all a bunch of smart kids. You’re already up and dressed? That’s great. What time are you all supposed to leave for school,” she asked no one in particular.
“At 7:15,” answered Kendra.
“Oh my, that’s not going to leave much time for me to get your breakfast ready. Come on, I’ll take y’all to school this morning, and I’ll stop and get you some sausage and biscuits on the way to school.”
“We can eat at school if we get there by seven thirty,” Kendra told her.
“No, you’ll still be rushing. I don’t mind stopping by Mickey D’s. It’s on the way to your school anyway. Now, come on, let’s get ready to get out of here. I have to go home and let Fischer out to use the bathroom after I drop you guys off at school.”
On the way home after dropping off the children, Envy called Kacie’s room, but there was no answer. She arrived at home, fed and walked Fischer, then took a shower and dressed. She called the office and informed her assistant, Felicia, that she wouldn’t be in until later.
“Felicia, I don’t show that I have any urgent meetings or projects today,” Envy told her and continued to browse through her phone calendar.
“No, everything is pretty clear, so take your time. I’ll call you if anything comes up,” Felicia assured her.
“Sounds good to me. Have a good day. I’ll see you later.”
Envy changed into a casual two-piece chartreuse pantsuit and a pair of mules and out the door she went to visit Kacie. When she made it downtown, the hospital parking lot and side streets were packed. She drove around the block several times, for nearly twenty minutes before she gave up and parked in the hospital garage.
The walk to Labor and Delivery took just as long. Envy was almost out of breath when she stepped off the last elevator. “I’m looking for Kacie Mayweather’s room, please.”
The nurse checked the chart and pointed Envy to the corridor that led to Kacie’s room. She knocked and went inside the room. Kacie was lying in the bed asleep. A small portable crib was sitting beside her. Tip-toeing so as not to disturb them, Envy smiled when she peered into the crib; Kacie had given birth. There lay a creamy brown skinned baby dressed in blue with a sky blue covering on his head, sound asleep.
“Oh you’re so precious. Such a precious little thing,” she whispered and ever so lightly lifted his tiny cap and touched his head, which was covered with sprinkles of brown hair. She then replaced it back over his round moon pie shaped head.
Envy whirled around, startled when she heard the toilet in Kacie’s room flush. She faced Deacon head on.
“What are you doing here?” She placed one hand on her hip and placed her weight on the right side.
“Since when did I have to start answering to you? I have a wife,” Deacon snarled and brushed past her to glimpse at the sleeping baby. He didn’t appear to look at Kacie, not once.
“Since I called and told you to come out here to see about Kacie. I guess looking at this beautiful baby boy, you’re satisfied now that he’s yours.” Envy huffed and intertwined her arms.
“He is a handsome little fella. But only DNA will tell if he’s mine or not. Maybe miracles do happen. Maybe you don’t care to admit it, but I don’t have a problem reminding you that your friend over there has six children already and everyone of them has a different daddy. I don’t know if they took DNA or not, but I’m not like them. I’m having a DNA test because like I keep telling Kacie, I am sterile.” Deacon’s body stiffened and his jaw line twitched.
Envy flung out her arms. “You know what? It’s men like you that make me sick to my stomach,” she said louder than she intended.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Kacie asked when she opened her eyes, obviously awakened by the banter being exchanged between Deacon and Envy.
Envy went and stood next to Kacie’s bed, and gently rubbed her hair. “The baby is adorable, Kacie. He’s a big boy too.”
Kacie turned her head toward him. “He weighed nine pounds, seven ounces, and he’s twenty-three inches long.”
“Wow, no wonder he looks like he’s two or three months old already,” Envy remarked and chuckled while Deacon stood in silence near the sleeping infant.
Kacie shifted her eyes in Deacon’s direction. “You’re still here?” She sounded surprised.
“I was just about to leave.” Suddenly, the room became stuffy. “I’ll call you later. Remember what we talked about,” he said with attitude. He rolled his eyes at Envy and swiftly left the room.
Kacie made no effort to respond. Instead, she watched Deacon take one last look at their child and exited the room.
“I wish I could really tell you what I
think of him.” Envy fumed.
“Don’t bother. I think I already know because I feel the same. He wants a DNA test right away. They’re going to do it while I’m in the hospital. He’s supposed to be back here in the morning for the test.” Kacie’s lips stuck out and her eyes began to shine like stars, only they were tears.
Envy rubbed Kacie’s arms in a comforting act. “Girl, don’t worry. Do what you have to do. All he’s going to do is pay child support and get visitation.”
“I know, but I don’t know if I can take it. I still love him. If I have to see him every time he comes to visit Kyland, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Kyland? Is that the baby’s name?”
“Yeah, Kyland Dyson Mayweather…until the DNA results comes back, and then he’ll take on Deacon’s last name, Riggs.
“I guess worse things can happen.” Kyland began to stir and stretch. His mouth opened and before he could be picked up, he started bellowing. “Boy, do you have a strong set of lungs on you. Let me hurry up and get you to your momma,” Envy said. She quickly went over to the sink and washed her hands, then returned to pick up the fussing baby. She held him and made cooing sounds before passing him to Kacie to breast feed. He shushed as soon as his mouth connected.
“I don’t know how in the world you can do that? Doesn’t it hurt?” Envy frowned in disgust.
Kacie laughed. “Does it hurt when a man does it?”
“Oooh, you’re wrong for that. You got me on that one.” They kept talking until a nurse came in and interrupted their chatter.
“Excuse me. I won’t be in here but a minute. Do you need anything, Ms. Mayweather?” the nurse asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
“I see the little one is fine too. Has he had a bowel movement today?”
“Yes, he had one early this morning,” replied Kacie.
“Good. And how about you? Have you been doing your coughing and breathing exercises?”
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