You're My Little Secret 2

by Chenell Parker

  Brooklyn is one week away from being five months pregnant, and she has the cutest little baby bump. We went to the doctor when she was four months to find out what she was having, but they couldn’t tell us. We have another appointment two weeks from now, and I’m not leaving until they tell me something. At first, I said I wanted a boy, but right now it really doesn’t matter. As long as I get a healthy baby, I’m cool. Brooklyn’s parents have three granddaughters, so they want a boy, but it doesn’t matter to my family. This is a first for all of us, and we’re just excited to be getting a baby.

  “You need to get your own place Brook. I’m tired of meeting up at other people’s houses,” I said when I handed her a bottle of water. If we weren’t meeting up at David’s house, we were going to her cousins’ house. I keep telling her that I would foot the bill for her to get an apartment, but she’s scared to live by herself.

  “I told you that I would think about it,” she mumbled like she was brushing me off.

  “You keep saying that, but you really need to make it happen before the baby comes. You’re not stable, and I don’t want my baby ripping and running between everybody’s houses.”

  “You sound like I’m homeless or something,” she replied.

  “I’m not saying that Brook, but you need to be stable. You have clothes and stuff everywhere. You don’t stay in one place for more than a week. I don’t want that happening when my baby gets here.”

  “But I’m scared to live in a house by myself Dominic. I don’t know, maybe I can get Tiana to come stay with me,” she said looking at me.

  “Hell no, because her boyfriend can’t spend the night over there. I’m not paying bills just for the next nigga to lay up. I’m trying to make sure that you and my baby are straight, and that’s all,” I replied shutting her down. “What about the townhouses that Bryce and Taylor just moved into?”

  “They only have three bedrooms available and I don’t need that much space.”

  “You can get a three bedroom. You’ll just have a spare room in case somebody comes over.” My brother and I helped Bryce and his brothers when he moved into his house. The townhouses were newly built, and they’re very nice inside and out. They’re in a nice area of New Orleans called Lakeview. You can’t tell from the outside, but the inside of Bryce’s place is huge. Since my mama will be watching the baby, I can drop Brooklyn off at school and bring my baby to my mama before I go to work. I don’t know how I’m going to get all of this pass Kennedi, but I’ll find a way.

  “I don’t know Dominic, I’ll see,” Brooklyn said making me mad.

  “What do you have to see Brook? You and your shit need to be situated in one place before my baby gets here. At least you’ll have Bryce and Taylor close by if you get bored or if you need something.”

  “But I don’t even have any furniture,” she whined.

  “Let me worry about all of that. Stop trying to make excuses,” I said as I snuggled up next to her. I pulled her in front of me in a spooning position while I rubbed her small round belly. I never got to experience that when Kennedi was pregnant and I enjoyed every minute of it. We laid around and talked for a while until we both drifted off to sleep.

  ****

  Two weeks later we were back at the doctor’s office trying to find out what Brooklyn and I were having. She’s now five months pregnant, and they claimed it would be easier for them to see. We’re all piled in the waiting area like she was ready to deliver. Both of our mothers are here along with David and my younger brother and sister. If that wasn’t bad enough, Tiana, Co-Co, and Candace walked through the door ten minutes after we sat down.

  “There is no way in hell that they are going to let all of us back there,” I complained to Brooklyn while we waited for her name to be called.

  “I know, but as long as both of us are back there then that’s all that matters,” she replied.

  “You know both of our mamas are going to come too,” I retorted.

  “What’s taking them so long?” Tiana asked loudly.

  “Y’all do know that all of us can’t go back there right?” I said looking around at everybody.

  “Nobody is coming back there with y’all except for me and Pam,” my mama clarified.

  “Brooklyn Andrews,” the nurse yelled, calling us to the back room. I helped Brook up and walked to the back followed by both of our mothers. “Undress and put on this gown,” the nurse instructed Brooklyn. “The rest of you can have a seat. The doctor will be in shortly.”

  “We’re getting another ultrasound today right?” I confirmed.

  “Yes, as soon as he’s done, I’ll be back to do the sonogram,” she replied with a forced smile. I knew that I was getting on her nerves already, but I didn’t give a damn. The last time we stayed here for over an hour, and she still couldn’t tell us anything. I closed the curtain and helped Brooklyn take off her clothes and put on the hospital gown. Even at five months pregnant her body was a work of art. I laughed to myself when I noticed how our mothers looked at each other when I was done. I was very hands on with Brooklyn, and I have been like that from day one. A few minutes later Brooklyn’s doctor walked into the room and greeted all of us.

  “Let’s check to make sure everything is alright with our bundle of joy,” Dr. Martin said after washing his hands. He slipped on a pair of gloves and started Brooklyn’s checkup. I always got excited whenever I heard my baby’s heartbeat and today was no exception. I was smiling from ear to ear when I heard the rapid beating and my mama’s face matched mine.

  “Okay, so the baby seems to be in perfect health. The heartbeat is strong, and all of your vitals are excellent. Just make sure to continue with your prenatal vitamins, and I’ll see you next month,” Dr. Martin said smiling. He shook our hands and made his way out of the room. Not even a minute later, the nurse was walking back in. I was happy that I didn’t have to go looking for her ass because I had no problem doing so.

  “Alright, let’s see what we’re having,” she said. She grabbed the blue gel and squirted some on Brooklyn’s stomach. She removed the probe from its hook and started moving it all around her belly while watching the monitor.

  “Sit down Dominic,” Brook said when she saw me standing over the nurse.

  “No, I’m trying to see what she’s looking at,” I replied with my eyes glued to the monitor. I saw my baby clearly, but I couldn’t make out the sex. Besides the head, I really didn’t know what the hell I was looking at in the first place. I looked at the nurse crazy when she started poking Brooklyn in the stomach.

  “What are you doing that for?” I asked.

  “I’m just trying to get the baby to change positions. I really can’t see anything with the way it’s laying,” she replied. I could tell I was aggravating her, but she was about to do her job today. I wasn’t leaving until I found out the sex of my baby. After moving the probe on Brooklyn’s stomach for a while longer, she stopped and put it back on the cart.

  “Give me one minute, I’ll be right back,” she announced before walking out of the room.

  “Sit your nervous ass down boy. You’re getting on that woman’s nerves,” my mama complained.

  “That’s her problem. She gon’ work for her check today,” I replied. Brooklyn and her mama were laughing, but I was dead ass serious. We had waited for another five minutes before the nurse came back in carrying a brown paper bag.

  “Can you sit up for me Ms. Andrews?” She asked Brook. I helped Brooklyn sit up, curious to see what she was about to do. She reached into the bag and pulled out two small cups of orange juice.

  “Drink this for me,” she instructed as she handed Brooklyn both containers.

  “What is that for?” I wanted to know what she was doing. If I didn’t ask any questions, we would never know what was going on. Brooklyn’s greedy ass just started drinking the juice without even knowing why she had to drink it.

  “The sugar in the juice tends to wake the baby up and makes them move around a little,” she explai
ned.

  “Please excuse him, this is his first baby,” my mama apologized on my behalf.

  “I know, I can tell,” the nurse laughed. After Brooklyn had drunk both cups of juice, we waited for twenty more minutes before she attempted to try again. She applied some more gel to her stomach and moved the probe around the same as she’d done before.

  “It seems to have worked,” she said smiling.

  “I see that, it’s moving like crazy now,” Brooklyn commented.

  “Alright, I got it. Let me take a few pictures for you,” the nurse said as she pressed a few buttons on the monitor.

  “What are we having?” I asked excitedly.

  “It’s a boy,” she said looking at me smiling.

  “Yes, it’s about time I get me a boy!” Brooklyn’s mother exclaimed. Her and my mama were hugging like they’d just won the lottery.

  “I’m going to call my husband,” Mrs. Pam said excusing herself from the room.

  “Yes, and I’m going to tell David and everybody else. We have a baby shower to plan,” my mama said as she left out right behind her.

  “Congratulations,” the nurse told us. “Have you thought about what you’re going to name him yet?”

  “No, we never really talked about it,” Brooklyn replied pissing me off.

  “Okay, you can get dressed. Get your pictures and your next appointment from the front counter,” the nurse said before leaving.

  “Thank you,” Brooklyn and I said in unison.

  As soon as she walked out of the room, I started going off. “What you mean we haven’t talked about a name yet? He’s going to be named after me.”

  “Okay Dominic, I didn’t know if you wanted him to be a junior or not. It’s really not a big deal,” she shrugged.

  “Yes, it is a big deal. You already know that I want my first son to have my name.” I hated when Brooklyn had that nonchalant attitude.

  “Fine, he’ll be a junior then,” she complied.

  “I know he will,” I bragged. I grabbed Brooklyn and stuck my tongue in her mouth as far as it could go. I could tell that I took her by surprise because she jumped when I touched her.

  “Damn boy, you almost choked me. What was that for?” She asked laughing.

  “That’s for giving me my first son,” I replied happily. I helped her get dressed before we made our way out to the front counter. Everybody was so excited, but none of them were happier than me. David was all smiles as he came over and gave Brooklyn a hug. The receptionist gave me Brooklyn’s next appointment as well as the sonogram pictures that I couldn’t stop looking at.

  “I can’t wait to start planning this baby shower,” my mama said when we walked to our cars. She was so excited to be getting her first grandchild. Brooklyn came to the clinic with me, but she was leaving with her mother. I really didn’t want her to go, but I didn’t have a choice. I held her hand and walked her to the car, opening the door for her to get in.

  “Give me a kiss,” I told her before I closed the door.

  “No, both of our mamas are standing right there,” she replied nervously.

  “I don’t care, give me a kiss,” I repeated. She tried to give me a peck, but I grabbed the back of her head and made her give me a real kiss. I could tell she was embarrassed when she pulled away, but I really didn’t care. Her mother looked at us and frowned before she got into the car and drove away.

  “What was that all about?” My mama asked me the minute we were alone. I wish she would have left with David, but he had somewhere else to go.

  “What?” I asked like I didn’t already know.

  “I’m talking about the hand holding and kissing,” she replied.

  “It wasn’t about nothing,” I shrugged nonchalantly.

  “You really need to rethink your decision on getting married. You are not ready, and it shows,” my mama said walking behind me. “You know I don’t condone what you’re doing. Brooklyn being pregnant is bad enough, but you need to leave her alone if it’s not about your son.”

  “It is about my son,” I replied with a smile as we walked to my truck.

  “You sticking your tongue down her throat doesn’t have shit to do with my grandbaby,” she scolded.

  “Damn, you acting like you don’t like Brook or something,” I said shaking my head at her.

  “Don’t even try to come at me like that. Brooklyn is a sweetheart, and I’ve never had a problem with her. She’s giving me my first grandchild, so she’ll always be welcomed as a part of the family, but my loyalty has to remain with the woman that you’re about to marry. What you’re doing is not right Dominic, and you know it. You were not raised like that, and you better start acting like it.”

  “You’re going off on me for nothing. Me and Brooklyn don’t even mess around like that no more,” I lied.

  “Stop trying to play me for a fool because I’m far from it. Y’all are doing more than just messing around. It’s not fair for you to keep doing Kennedi wrong. If you don’t want to get married, then let her know. You don’t owe her anything, and nobody can force you to do something that you don’t want to do,” she fussed.

  I didn’t even reply because it was a lost cause. I never could win an argument with my mother, and I wasn’t about to try. I was happy, and I wasn’t about to let her ruin my good mood. I got in my truck and placed my sonogram pictures in the glass on my dashboard. The nurse took three pictures, and I had every last one of them. Life couldn’t be better for me right now. I have Brooklyn, and my son will be here in a little over three months. It was sad to say, but the only person who didn’t seem to have a place in my life right now was my soon to be wife.

  BROOKLYN

  I have three months to go until I drop this load, and I couldn’t wait. Dominic had finally talked me into getting my own place, and I’ll be moving in three weeks. Bryce is happy because I got the apartment right above him and Taylor. I was happy that the place had elevators, or I wouldn’t have even considered moving there at all. I was too young to get on a lease by myself, so Dominic put the apartment in his name and listed me as an occupant. Even if I was old, enough I didn’t have any income to do it on my own anyway. He’s been driving me crazy about looking for furniture, but I just haven’t been in the mood. Between trying to keep my grades up in school and creeping with him, I’m always too tired to do anything else. Dominic feels like he has to see me every day no matter where I am. Sometimes it was just too much work, but he always made a way. Even now, he’s supposed to be at work, but he left just to take me to school. Bryce doesn’t have a problem taking me, but Dominic feels like I’m his responsibility now. It’s crazy how he feels about me even though he’s about to be a married man. My mama is still adamant about me not dealing with him anymore, but that’s easier said than done. I know that Dominic has some kind of feelings for me, but I’m in love with him. It’s so wrong for me to feel this way, but you can’t help who you love.

  “Are you listening to me Brooklyn?” Dominic inquired.

  “No, what did you say?”

  “I asked if you were hungry,” he replied.

  “That’s a stupid question. I’m always hungry,” I laughed.

  After getting me some take out from The Waffle House, I was on my way to class.

  “We need to get to the furniture store this weekend,” Dominic said while he was driving. “You can’t move without furniture.”

  “I know. I’ve just been feeling lazy for the past few weeks,” I replied.

  “All you have to do is pick out what you want and I’ll take care of everything else. You haven’t even decided what you want to do with my baby’s room yet.”

  “Our baby’s room,” I corrected him. He was always saying his baby like I wasn’t the mother.

  “You know what I meant,” he laughed as he pulled up to my school. His smile was replaced with a deep frown soon after.

  “Please don’t start Dominic,” I begged when I saw Kevin up in the front courtyard waiting for me. Kevin and
I had just recently started talking again, and I was trying to keep the peace. He was hurt when he found out I was pregnant, and that put a strain on our friendship. I was happy that we were back on track, but Dominic wasn’t. No matter what I said, he was convinced that Kevin wanted to be more than just my friend.

  “I’m not about to start nothing, but you’re not getting out of this truck until it’s time for you to go to class,” he replied.

  I sighed, “Go back to work Dominic. I’m going to talk to my friend.” He hopped out of the truck and walked around to my side and opened the door. Usually he would let me out and keep it moving, but today he decided to walk with me to the sitting area.

  “Call me when you’re ready Brook,” Dominic said once I sat down. He leaned over and gave me a kiss that lingered on longer than it should have. He walked back to his truck and pulled off, completely ignoring Kevin.

  “Damn Brooklyn, that nigga acting like he’s your man or something,” Kevin grumbled with a frown.

  “Don’t you start with your shit either,” I snapped. I was tired of both Kevin and Dominic always saying something about each other to me.

  “I’m just saying. He’s acting like he’s not about to be married to somebody else.”

  “Don’t worry about Dominic, worry about your crazy ass girlfriend that’s on her way over here,” I laughed.

  “Awe shit,” Kevin mumbled when he looked up and saw Shannon coming our way. As usual, she had a mean mug on her face as she approached us. Shannon has a cute face, but her ways make her seem very ugly. She has a nasty attitude and is always loud and common. I don’t know what the hell Kevin did to her, but she loves him more than life itself. She lives with Kevin and Kyle in some apartments not too far from our school. Kevin doesn’t work, but he has a nice Tahoe and is always dressed to impress. I don’t have any proof, but I have a feeling that Shannon is the supplier of everything that he has. Maybe that’s the reason why he never left her crazy ass alone. He couldn’t stand the sight of her sometimes, so there had to be a reason that he was staying in the relationship.