When Morgan finally talks herself tired, we say our goodbyes with me feeling uneasy.
“We have a problem,” I tell Dontay as I walk into the living room. “It looks like we are going to Puerto Rico for Morgan’s wedding on the 5th.”
“Oh shit,” he says with a smile that screams you are so busted. “Well good. You need to face the real music and not the bullshit that be fluttering around in your head,” he chuckles.
“Not now Dontay,” I snap. He shuts his mouth and turns his head towards the window. Someone is driving up the private dirt road.
“It’s Tron,” I squeal, running to the door and yanking it open, stepping out on to the porch. I run down the stairs and leap into his arms as he is shutting the car door.
“I missed you,” I hug him tight.
“Oh my god. You really are pregnant,” he says, gently pushing me off him and taking a step back.
“Six months,” I smile, rubbing my belly. I talk to Tron almost every day, but he is currently looking at me as if I am a total stranger.
“Damn,” he lets out a breath, shaking his head.
“What?” I ask.
“A niggah had hope,” he whispers. He clears his throat. “Anyway, I got you something.” Tron takes a stuffed Panda Bear out of his bag. The Panda Bear is holding two cubs in her arms. “Happy early birthday,” he smiles kissing my cheek.
“They are so cute,” I tell him hugging the bear.
“Now waddle ya ass in the kitchen and make me some dinner, woman,” he laughs.
After frying up some chicken, Tron and I are cuddled up in a blanket, staring up at the stars in the back of Pops truck.
“What are you going to do?” He asks after I tell him about Morgan’s wedding.
“What can I do?” I shrug. “I plan on telling everyone I was artificially inseminated or some shit,” I smile, wishing that he would come with me.
“Do you want me to come? I think if I go with you, people will just assume that I’m the pappy,” he laughs.
“Would you really do that for me?”
“I mean, if I meet a chick at the wedding you’re on your own ‘cuz I’m smashing and if the press gets ahold of it somehow, I will deny it but I can play decoy for a few days…buy you some time.”
“I love you,” I tell him, kissing his cheek.
“Not like you use to,” he replies softly, giving me a peck on the lips, breaking my heart.
Later in the week, I receive a call from the seamstress who wants me to come to Puerto Rico a few days early instead of catching a flight to Tennessee. She still has the other bridesmaid’s dresses to finish so her schedule is pretty hectic right now. I inform her that I am pregnant, so whatever sizes she currently has for me, alterations have to be made. After giving her my new measurements, I agree to arrive a few days early, so she can alter my dress accordingly.
Two weeks later, me, Tron and Dontay fly out to Puerto Rico three days before the wedding. Dani decides to go home back to Philly instead of coming. I’m pretty certain it’s because she doesn’t have a drug connect in Puerto Rico and she knows that I am not going to allow her to smuggle drugs on the plane. We check into our hotel suite where the wedding reception is taking place.
“Want to go to the pool?” Tron asks rubbing my back. Between the constant back pain and heartburn, these babies are kicking my ass.
“Yeah. You gonna protect me?” I laugh.
“I always got you,” he winks before jumping to his feet. He helps me up before walking into his room to change. I walk inside my room and change into a purple and green knitted two-piece. The bottoms have a little ruffled skirt to it and the top ties around my neck like a halter. My boobs are huge and so is my stomach. There’s no way I am going to be able to hide this even if I tried.
If it’s true that heartburn means that the baby is growing hair, it must also mean that the hair on the mother grows as well. These babies or maybe the vitamins are making my hair grow uncontrollably, cascading down my back. I wish that the hair on top of my head is the only hair that is growing but unfortunately the hair on my legs, underarms, and my “girly parts” grows, which results in me having to shave or wax since I can no longer get hair removal treatments.
I part my hair down the middle and braid in two cornrows. Texting Dontay and letting him know that Tron and I are going to the pool, I ask if he would like to join us.
Fake Baby Daddy: Nah boo. I’m boo loving up in here.
ME: SMH. B careful but have fun. (smiley face)
Fake Baby Daddy: Always
I grab my stuff and exit out the room.
“Damn. You’re huge,” Tron laughs rubbing my stomach. One of the babies gives his hand a swift kick.
“Fuck you and one of them doesn’t like you rubbing up on her Mama,” I giggle.
“You think they’re girls?”
“Yeah. I had a dream that they are girls,” I smile, rubbing my belly as one of them pushes up on my ribs. I push down on my stomach trying to get her to move.
We arrive at the pool but not before signing a few autographs and posing for pictures, mentally taking note that I just went public to the world about my pregnancy. I’m pretty sure the tabloids are going to automatically assume that I am pregnant by Tron. At least it will buy me some time and throw everyone off.
Tron jumps in the pool as I slide in after him.
“What are you going to do when you run into him and his wife?” He asks as we swim around.
“I don’t know. Smile and wave I guess,” I laugh.
“I’m about to get me a drink. You want something?”
“Yeah. Grey Goose and cranberry,” I smile.
“I’ll see if they have any chocolate milk,” he chuckles, kissing my cheek. I swim around for a few minutes before climbing out. As I’m ringing water out of my braids, someone bumps into me.
“Excuse me,” the man says. He does a double take and stops in his tracks.
“Oh my gosh, you’re huge,” Tori gushes, grabbing onto Nyce’s arm. I stare at her in her rose-gold, sequined bikini which complements her cinnamon brown skin. She looks absolutely stunning and I hate everything about her.
She throws a smile on her face and looks at me condescendingly. I look up at Nyce who is staring down at my stomach.
“Here you go,” Tron says right on time, handing me my drink. He gives me a quick kiss to the cheek making me want to laugh because his timing is too perfect. Nobody utters a word.
“Sup man, I’m Tarron,” he introduces himself, holding out his hand to Nyce. Nyce cuts his eyes at him before looking back at me, rudely ignoring Tron’s hand as it dangles in the air.
“You’re pregnant?” Nyce asks as if it isn’t obvious.
“James?” Tori calls his name, trying to get his attention.
Silence.
“I’m Tori,” she introduces herself while grabbing ahold of Tron’s hanging hand. “I just love your music. You guys are having a baby?” She inquires, in her dumbass British accent, all up in my business. “Congratulations,” she beams.
“See you later,” I respond grabbing Tron’s arm and walking away.
“If he quote, un-quote hates you, then what was that?” Tron asks as we’re walking.
“He thinks that I’m his property. Ugh, he disgusts me.”
“Yeah…okay,” he smirks.
I stay in my room for the remainder of the day and into the following day, too afraid to come out and having to face anyone. This morning was the wedding rehearsal that I intentionally miss and have been ignoring everyone’s calls and texts messages.
“Aneesah, don’t you think it is best to shock everybody now instead of waiting until tomorrow at the wedding and potentially messing up your friend’s day?” Tron asks. God knows I do not want to or intend to mess up Morgan’s day, so I suck it up and get ready for the rehearsal dinner, wearing a tight fitting, cream colored dress that stops at my knees. The dress is hugging my stomach as well as my ass. I put on some big, gold hoo
p earrings along with gold bangles to accentuate the outfit. Dontay does my hair in a pump in the front and leaves the rest bone straight, swinging down my back.
“I see you made it back for the dinner,” I say to Dontay when he steps out of his room wearing cream colored pants, Gucci loafers, and a light purple button-up. The front of his locs are pulled up into a man bun while the rest cascades down his back.
“You damn right I made it. I’m not missing this shit for the world. It’s about to go down,” he chuckles.
“Shut-up,” I snap, getting nervous. Tron steps out of his room dressed in black slacks and a black button-up, leaving a few buttons undone. His beaded cross necklace that has become his trademark hangs around his neck. Just looking at him is turning me on and when I catch a whiff of his cologne…damn.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he smirks while clasping his watch around his wrist.
“Shut-up,” I laugh.
“YOOOOO, shits about to go downnnnn so hurry up,” Dontay interrupts all giddy. I playfully punch him in the arm.
“You guys ready?” I exhale with a bunch of nerves rattling in my stomach. I throw some Tums in my purse for the heartburn I’m sure to get at dinner and grab each guy by the arm as they stare at me, like biiiitch. You sure you wanna do this?
I let out another breath before proceeding to the door.
We step off the elevator and walk into the hotel restaurant. I spot the table and inch my way over, trying to sneak in and sit down unnoticed but I’m already spotted.
“You’re pregnant?” Jada asks with a look of disbelief as conversations come to a halt and all eyes are on me.
“Surprise,” I smile. Pree looks up from her plate and stares at me. Morgan is getting all misty-eyed and Jalena is sitting with her mouth hanging open.
“Oh shit,” Mookie chuckles taking out his cell phone as his wife Gia snatches it out of his hands and pop’s him in the back of his head.
“Hi everybody,” I greet with a smile. Tron pulls out my chair and I take my seat. I look over at Pree who abruptly excuses herself from the table. Handing Tron my purse, I go after her.
“I can’t believe you,” she snaps when I catch up to her in the hall. “Why would you keep this from me? Why didn’t you tell me?” She says angrily.
“I’m sorry. It’s complicated. I got artificially inseminated and I didn’t want anyone to tease me and…I’m sorry.”
“I swear if you weren’t pregnant I would be kicking your ass right now. I am so mad at you,” she growls.
“Touch your god babies, Pree,” I smile, placing her hand on my stomach. “There’s two of them in there.”
“I don’t even want to look at you right now,” she declares, snatching her hand away and walking down the hall. I exhale a deep breath and prepare myself for the lashing I am about to receive.
“Hi Miss Annette, Aunt Ruthie, Mom, Di,” I greet the women who are now standing by the door with shocked faces.
“My own grandchild? How or why would you keep this from me?” Rita asks.
“Because I didn’t want the drama with the media and I was stressed. I thought the best thing for me was to get away.”
“I’m not talking to you,” Jada snaps, bumping me with her shoulder, storming away.
“And neither am I,” Morgan concedes chasing behind Jada.
“I’m talking to you,” Jalena laughs.
“Thanks. I don’t know what the fuck the big deal is. Why is everyone being over dramatic? They’re my damn babies.”
“They?” Jalena questions. I nod my head and smile. “Well congratulations but how would you feel if they kept it from you?”
“I would feel betrayed but only if you guys knew about it before me,” I giggle.
“Neesah, you’re being selfish,” Jalena says walking back to the table. I walk in after her and take my seat next to Tron.
“You okay?” He whispers with a laugh.
“Yeah,” I answer. I check my cell phone to see that Dontay texted me from across the table to tell me that Pree fired him. I laugh and text back for him not to worry about it and all of this will blow over. When I look up from my phone, the Devil himself is staring at me from the other end of the table looking as if he is going to snap at any given moment. I don’t know if he is mad at me, Tron, or the situation but if anybody has a right to be mad, it’s me. He lied to me about him leaving his wife and has made me feel like shit for the very last time. I can’t wait for tomorrow to hurry up so I can go home and get away from everybody.
I eat dinner with no one talking to me besides Tron, Dontay and Jalena. Excusing myself from the table to use the ladies room, I walk outside onto the deck to walk across to where the bathrooms are located. Knuck is leaning against the wall, pulling on a blunt.
“Tudy,” he greets.
“Knuck,” I reply. “You know that’s illegal, right?”
“It’s medicinal,” he laughs. “You hurt my wife’s feelings. I get it but how long you gonna maintain your little bullshit lie? It’s not gonna take Nyce that long to figure this shit out. Right now, all the niggah sees is red so he’s not thinking clearly.
“You know, you’re a stupid type of clever? Coming up in here with another niggah to throw niggah’s off but my niggah will figure it out. Hell, it only took me five minutes to figure it out,” he states.
“Knuck, what are you talking about? I’m not stupid and these are not his babies,” I tell him defensively.
“Oh shit! And you’re giving birth to a litter?” He asks surprised.
“Twins, stupid,” I laugh.
“So, if they ain’t his kids, why the hell are you hiding, and you better not hit me wit’ that artificial insemination bullshit you keep telling everyone either,” he says, smoke seeping out of his mouth.
“I am though.”
“I call bullshit, shawty. Nyce told me what happened in New York and contrary to what your ass thinks, he was leaving Tori. She was just one step ahead of him,” he laughs while using the bottom of his shoe to extinguish the half smoked blunt. He digs in his pocket and pulls out a pill bottle, sticking the remainder of the blunt inside before shoving it back into his pocket.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“Prenup my dear. That fool never got her to sign a damn prenup and his silly ass actually believed that she would sign them papers without asking for anything. That bitch is suing him for everything that niggah has, including the club and his stores. It’s cheaper to keep her,” he chuckles.
“I don’t even care anymore, Knuck. He’s selfish and self-centered. Money is all that niggah cares about and his own selfish needs. He has never put me first and I’m tired.”
“Never puts you first? Bitch, is you crazy? My niggah spent six years in the pen for yo’ ass.”
“Cry me a fuckin’ river and cut the bullshit. I know for a fact that all of y’all got subpoenaed to testify against him so did he do it for me or for all of us, you pussy,” I snap. I watch Knuck’s eyes darken as he gives me a look that reads bitch, did you forget who the fuck I am?
I swallow the lump in my throat, lick my lips and wait for his next move. He exhales deeply.
“Alright,” he says calmly, running his hand down his beard while nodding his head. “I apologize for calling you a bitch. Didn’t even mean it on some disrespectful shit. Now, apologize for calling me a female body part, you asshole,” he says before we both start to laugh.
“Tell him and give him a chance, Tudy,” he states in all seriousness.
“There is nothing to tell, Kunck,” I reply, walking away. So what. I’m not trying to hear none of the excuses that Nyce or his boys have. He shouldn’t have married the bitch in the first place. My mind is already made up and I am doing this by myself without his fuckin’ help.
Dinner is finally over and it’s time for the bride and groom to separate for the night. I walk over to the bridal party that consists of all my best friends but when I approach, they immediately stop talk
ing to stare at me.
“What are we in grade school now? Y’all bitches really ain’t talkin’ to me?” I huff.
“Well, the bachelorette party that you purposely missed was last weekend, but we are about to make it a girls night and go out for some drinks. You are more than welcome to bring your pregnant ass along,” Morgan says icily. I walk towards the elevator to go back to my room.
“Petty bitches,” I mumble.
In the morning, I shower and throw on a t-shirt and some shorts. I grab my sunglasses and makeup bag before walking out the hotel to join the girls on the party bus, waiting to go to the church.
“Hi everybody,” I greet with a smile.
“Hey,” they dryly respond.
“Hey sweetie,” Aunt Ruthie and Miss Annette greet me with hugs and smiles.
“So, that’s why you took out the trapeze stunt during the Grammy’s?” Destiny giggles, pointing at my belly. “Clever.”
“How are you feeling?” Viola asks.
“I’m good. I can’t complain. My back bothers me from time to time and I have a lot of heartburn.”
“Try sticking a pillow in between your legs,” she smiles.
“Thank you,” I respond, rubbing my belly.
“Are they moving?” Destiny asks touching my stomach.
“Yeah.”
“I can’t wait to chase them around backstage and stuff,” she giggles as her cousins’ tussle in my tummy.
We arrive at the church and unload the bus.
“I’m mad as hell at you but you are my sister and I love you,” Jada says to me as we are walking inside the church. She stops and puts her hands on my stomach and smiles.
“I’m an auntie,” she laughs as I give her a hug. Two down and two to go. Now that I have Jalena and Jada talking to me, I just need Pree and Morgan to.
We walk inside the church’s basement to get ready for Morgan’s day. Dontay comes in and gives me a giant hug.
“Hey,” he smiles.
“Hey. I see you had fun last night. You didn’t come back to the hotel.”
“Yeah. I met a girl after the dinner,” he chuckles, running his fingers through my hair.
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