Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe

by Jamise L. Dames

  “No shit, man? Look at you. You’ve been here . . . what, a couple of months now? And already you’ve knocked my sister up. Boy, you better be glad I ain’t a teenager no more.” Derrick laughed as he playfully punched Nigel in the shoulder.

  “Right, right. But you better get your sister, man. You know how these women are now. We don’t have to do nothing and just like that . . . hey, you know. Well take care, D, I gotta go back to the site and make sure these knuckleheads finish this drywalling. Take care, man, and talk to your sister. She’s on a rampage, so I’m outta here,” Nigel said as he shook Derrick’s hand.

  Derrick entered the house and sat on the sofa, waiting for Simone to finish talking on the phone. He noticed that her face was a little swollen.

  “So, Derrick, what brings you over?” Simone asked as she hung up the phone.

  “Just thought I’d drop by. What happened to your face?”

  “Nothing. Oh, you mean this,” Simone said as she rubbed her hand in the spot where Nigel had slapped her. “I used some kind of new skin cream and evidently I was allergic to it. You should have seen it a couple of days ago, the whole thing was swollen.” Simone lied and was happy for her dark skin because if she had been lighter she knew her face would’ve been red.

  “Oh, okay. I just ran into Nigel outside. You got something you want to tell me?” Derrick asked with a smile.

  “Oh, that stupid ass. It was nothing, we just had a little argument, that’s all,” she lied again.

  “I wasn’t talking about you two’s mess. I been sitting here wondering when you were going to tell me that I’m going to be an uncle.” Derrick laughed as he patted Simone on her stomach.

  Derrick and Simone talked for a couple of hours. He constantly teased Simone about her pregnancy, and Simone constantly teased him about being in love. They were both at a place in their lives about which they’d only dreamed. Simone admitted to Derrick that she missed Kennedy and that she had tried to page Kennedy but she wouldn’t call her back. They hadn’t spoke since they had the argument in the restaurant in July, more than two months ago and Derrick promised that he would talk to Kennedy for Simone.

  After Derrick left Simone’s house he paged Kennedy. He didn’t really want to get in the middle of his sisters’ fight but if someone didn’t intervene, Kennedy would never speak to Simone again. Kennedy was just made that way.

  When Derrick pulled up in front of the Disney store in Times Square, his phone rang.

  “Hey, Derrick. What’s up, bro?” Kennedy sang into the phone.

  “Nothing much. Just getting ready to go into this Disney store to pick up something for our niece or nephew.”

  “What are you talking about? I know you’re not talking about Simone.” Kennedy asked.

  “Jackpot,” Derrick said.

  “Oh well, good for her. I hope her and her little family have a nice life.”

  “Ken, come on now. You still mad at her?”

  “If someone threw your kids out of their house, wouldn’t you be?” Kennedy asked.

  “I guess you got a point. But come on now, Ken, that’s our sister.”

  “Your sister. Listen, D, I gotta go. I’m with my man right now. We’re getting ready to work on our own baby. Love ya,” Kennedy said and hung up.

  * * *

  Derrick woke up Monday morning and stared at his ceiling as his alarm clock buzzed. He reached over and grabbed the phone and called in. He didn’t feel like going to work. He had called Courtney the night before to come over and once again was stood up.

  Derrick got up and got himself together. He wasn’t going anywhere but still he got dressed. As he walked out of the foggy bathroom his doorbell chimed. He wondered who it could be at that time of the morning. No one knew he was home.

  When he opened the door, Courtney was standing there. Derrick stood debating whether to give in or not. He wanted to see Courtney but he was still mad. Ever since he’d been stood up on the night that he was going to propose, things hadn’t been quite the same. One minute everything was okay, and the next Courtney was pulling disappearing acts again.

  “So are you going to invite me in?” Courtney asked.

  “Yeah, come in. You’re going to have to excuse the house. I wasn’t expecting company. How did you know I was home?” Derrick asked as he moved slightly out of the way for Courtney to pass.

  Courtney walked by slowly and plopped down on the sofa. “Actually I didn’t know. I just rode by to leave you a note and I saw your Jeep parked outside and I decided to give it a try.”

  “Oh, you can just give it to me since lately you seem to have a hard time expressing yourself. Lately, you seem to have a hard time making yourself available. I mean, just two days ago I called you and you said that you had to get back to me.” Derrick paced and threw up his hands. “What was up with that? Are you seeing somebody else because if you are, just let me know, and hey—”

  “Hey what? Hey, and it would be over like that?” Courtney asked softly. “Well, you know that I have a lot of issues that I’m dealing with right now. And I don’t even know what you’re giving me a look like that for. We couldn’t even have an uninterrupted vacation. You were right there, so you know I’m telling the truth.” Courtney walked to the door and paused.

  “Listen, I don’t mean—”

  “Forget it.”

  “Listen, you’re the one who’s wrong here. When we left Rio, everything was fine. You couldn’t get enough of me, but then about a month later you started messing up again. And what do you want me to do? Sit around here and wait for you? Don’t you know that’s not how you treat people?” Derrick said as he looked Courtney up and down in disgust.

  “Okay, Derrick, you got a point. But it’s just hard for me. I’ve been struggling with work, that’s true. But I have to admit, it’s you too. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. No one has wanted me as much as you do. It scares me.” Courtney’s eyes glistened.

  Courtney explained being hurt before and confessed to loving Derrick. Derrick empathized with Courtney’s over-cautious behavior, and understood the playing hard-to-get game that he, too, had once played.

  After Derrick and Courtney made up, they ordered Chinese food and lounged in bed, watching a couple of movies and listening to some “oldies but goodies.” Derrick put on “Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly and Maze and the two of them started dancing. Courtney danced out of the bedroom to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

  “Derrick, is it hot in here or is it just me?” Courtney yelled and disrobed.

  “Turn the AC up. It is a little warm in here,” Derrick yelled back.

  When Courtney got back in the bedroom the front doorbell rang. Derrick told Courtney to hold on a moment, that it was probably UPS delivering a package. Courtney stayed out of sight just in case.

  Derrick opened the door without checking to see who it was, expecting a delivery person. Kennedy stood on his doorstep with flowers in her hands.

  “What’s up, Ken? What’re you doing over here?” Derrick asked as he held the door semi-open.

  “I just need to talk to you,” Kennedy said as she pushed open the door and walked in.

  “Ken, I’m kind of busy.”

  “It’ll only take a moment,” Kennedy sang as she looked around Derrick’s place. “I’m just his sister,” she announced, smiling.

  “Stop it, girl. Now what’s up?” Derrick said, still standing.

  “It’s about Simone.”

  “Five minutes, Ken. As you already know, I got company and I don’t want to be rude.”

  Derrick had convinced Kennedy that she needed to talk to Simone herself. He couldn’t help her. They both missed each other, so it would only be right that they hash out the problem themselves. Kennedy agreed and started to walk toward the back of the condo.

  “Kennedy, where are you going?”

  “Oh, I just need to use your bathroom before I leave. Is your friend Courtney back there?�
� Kennedy asked innocently.

  “Yes, but she’s asleep. Just go ahead and hurry up.”

  “Forget it, I can hold it. Damn, you’re rude. You better not ever come to my house and expect to have a pleasant visit because you won’t get it,” Kennedy said as she leaned on the dining room chair. “You know what? I bought my man a shirt just like this one,” Kennedy said as she held up the shirt that Courtney had given Derrick.

  Derrick just nodded and hoped that Kennedy would hurry up and leave. Kennedy finally got the message and picked up her purse when a crash came from the bedroom.

  “Oh, she’s up now, I guess I can go back and meet her,” Kennedy said as she made a beeline to Derrick’s bedroom as he chased behind her.

  * * *

  When Derrick left Simone’s, she had thought about all the lies she had told him. Why didn’t she just tell him the truth? Maybe she knew what would happen. Derrick would lose his mind and either he or Nigel would he hospitalized.

  Simone hated lying, and she also hated what had become of her and Nigel. She didn’t understand Nigel lately. He was getting moodier by the day. She never thought he’d hit her. But he did, and she hadn’t seen it coming.

  After they had moved in together, Nigel changed. He became Simone’s heaven and hell—caring and attentive one day, and grumpy and isolated the next. Lately his moods had shifted from bad to worse. He expected Simone to look her best at all times and he wanted her to do everything around the house although Simone worked too, sometimes longer than he did. But he didn’t see that as a problem because he never came straight home from work. Simone didn’t know where he went and he wouldn’t tell her. Tired of arguing, Simone found things to do to avoid being home when Nigel got there. Although Simone hated to admit it, she feared Nigel. She feared and loved him at the same time, and knew that he’d come back. She shook her head because she also knew that she’d let him back in as she had done before.

  Simone wondered if she was becoming a statistic like so many other women she knew. A tear ran down her cheek. She knew she should be stronger, but Nigel was her weakness. She picked up the phone to call a locksmith to have her locks changed, but before she could dial, the doorbell rang. Simone cringed because she knew it was Nigel. Every time they had an argument he would ring the bell instead of using his key. The door burst open and in sauntered Kaisha. Simone rolled her eyes. Just when she thought the day couldn’t get any worse.

  “Where’s Nigel?” Simone asked Kaisha, who struggled with a large duffel bag.

  “I don’t know. He’s not here?” Kaisha asked very nicely as some guy walked in and set some boxes down.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? And what’s all this stuff and how did you get in? The door was locked.” Simone asked, getting madder by the second.

  “Daddy gave me a key. I’m moving in. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Please tell me that you knew.” Kaisha’s bag dropped as her arms fell to her sides. She closed her eyes and blew out a long breath as she sank on the edge of the sofa.

  Simone shook her head and leaned over and threw up.

  ~ 11 ~

  As much as Kennedy hated to admit it, she missed her sister. Someone has to be the bigger woman, she thought as she picked up the phone. She knew Simone would never call her first because everyone assumed that Kennedy held grudges. And she did, but not against family.

  Simone picked up on the first ring.

  “Hey, Simone. You got time to talk?”

  “No, but I’ll make it for you, little sis.” Simone laughed.

  After they apologized, Kennedy and Simone talked for hours. They laughed, cried, and made plans for Simone’s baby.

  * * *

  Miranda walked into the bathroom as Kennedy sat on her knees with her face in the toilet, holding onto the sides of it for dear life. Miranda laughed. “Kennedy, I told you about drinking so much.”

  “But . . . I . . . wasn’t,” Kennedy said between heaves.

  “Uh-oh,” Miranda said as she wagged her index finger at Kennedy. “I betcha you caught the bug too.”

  “What bug?” Kennedy asked as she got up and went to the sink to rinse her mouth, brush her teeth, and wash her face.

  “The same bug that Simone got caught by. The pregnancy bug.”

  “Forget you. No, I didn’t, not me.”

  “Well, why not? You’re having sex, right? So who’s to say you’re not?” Miranda crossed her arms. “Who’s the daddy?” Miranda teased.

  “Forget you. I’m not pregnant. I better not be, and if I am, Michael’s the daddy, who else?” Kennedy answered seriously.

  “Hmmm, let me see.” Miranda put her index finger up to her lips and stared up in the air. “Jared?”

  “Impossible. Why would you say that?”

  “Well, you two did stay together when we went to Virginia Beach. Are you trying to tell me that y’all didn’t screw? Wait, I don’t even want to hear your answer because I already know the answer.”

  “We used a condom,” Kennedy said. But she couldn’t remember whether they did.

  “Whatever. Anyway, I have to finish packing while I have the energy to do it. The movers will be here bright and early in the morning,” Miranda said as she headed out of the bathroom.

  “Miranda, wait. Where have you been?” Kennedy asked.

  “Here. Where else would I be besides work?”

  “Here? Right, apparently not. Go look in the dining room.” Kennedy pointed to the door and followed Miranda out.

  “Kennedy, where is all my stuff?” Miranda looked around the dining room. All her boxes were gone.

  “Michael and I moved the boxes last night while you were in your room snoring up a storm. The rest of the things we moved at about three this morning, so now everything is taken care of, that is of course, all except the things in your room,” Kennedy said.

  Miranda stood with tears in her eyes. Miranda hadn’t wanted to leave but said it would be best for everyone. Kennedy and Michael were getting more serious by the day, and Kharri seemed to like him after Miranda convinced Kennedy to finally introduce them. “Kennedy, thanks. I would say that you didn’t have to, but I won’t. God knows that I didn’t feel up to it,” Miranda said as she hugged her friend.

  “Girl, don’t start me crying up in here. I don’t know why you don’t just stay here. You should’ve seen Michael this morning. He was moving furniture and trying to console me at the same time. It’s like with every other box I sat down and cried. So when you see him, thank him. He did most of the work,” Kennedy said as she went over to the sofa and plopped down.

  “Well, thank you for being there for me when I was going through that thing with Rich. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” Miranda said as she sat down on the sofa opposite Kennedy with tears in her eyes.

  Kennedy threw one of the sofa pillows at Miranda. “Girl, don’t start. Don’t start crying over him. You have to get over it. End of story. So do you really have to move to Connecticut?”

  “Yeah. The job was too good to pass up. Besides, it’ll be good for me to start over somewhere new . . . to have my own apartment.” Miranda scratched her head.

  “You know that I don’t want you to. But if you feel that you have to, then I guess you have to.”

  “I’ll be less than two hours away. Anyway, I can’t stay here. What if Rich gets out? Girl, you know that I took all his money. But really, and seriously, I’m going to miss your crass ass though.” Miranda hugged Kennedy and cried.

  Kennedy jumped up and clapped her hands three times. “Okay, enough. We gotta stop crying.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Miranda said, wiping her eyes, “But can I ask you a serious question?”

  Kennedy nodded.

  “What if you are pregnant?”

  Kennedy shrugged. “I don’t know . . . I’d keep it, I guess.”

  “Not to offend you, Kennedy, but don’t you think it’s a little too soon to be having Michael’s baby? I mean, you haven’t even been
with him a year yet. How much do you really know about him, besides the obvious?”

  “I know enough. I know that I love him. And if I were pregnant, which I’m not, he’d be a wonderful father—I know he would.”

  “Okay, let’s say I’m right and you are pregnant. How would you know who the father is? I’m serious, Ken. How? I mean if you think about it, when you got pregnant with Kharri, you and Jared were using protection. So who’s to say it can’t happen twice?”

  * * *

  Kennedy smiled as Kharri covered her eyes, awaiting her surprise. She could see the excitement on her daughter’s face as she patiently waited to see what was in store. They’d played the game for two years and every time they played it, Kennedy loved it more. She loved the way Kharri would dance around and giggle, happy to receive Kennedy’s gifts.

  “Okay, Kharri. Try to guess what this one’s for?”

  Kharri held her small finger to her mouth in thought. “I got it, Mommy. It’s because I have glasses, right?”

  “No. I already gave you something for that.”

  “Okay. It’s because I learned my ABC’s backwards.”

  Kennedy grinned. “Nope. I took you to the movies for that.”

  Kharri stomped her foot, exhaled, and shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I don’t know then. I haven’t done anything else.”

  Kennedy removed Kharri’s hands from her eyes. “You can look now.”

  Kharri looked at the cake that Kennedy held, bulged her eyes, and licked her lips. “Is it ice cream cake?”

  Kennedy nodded.

  Kharri jumped up and down and danced as Kennedy knew she would. Kennedy set the cake down on the table and served it.

  “Mommy, so why did you get the cake? It’s not my birthday and I haven’t done anything.”

  Kennedy kissed Kharri on the forehead. “Sure, you did. You do it everyday . . . you smile, Kharri. That’s worth a surprise, wouldn’t you say?”

  Kharri grinned from ear to ear, exposing all of her teeth. Kennedy laughed, pinched her cheeks and dabbed frosting on her nose. Kharri stopped laughing and wrinkled her eyebrows.