Trial & Error

II | Andi

Then a sudden feel of guilt dropped my smile slowly.

What I was doing to this beautiful girl wasn't fair. Arya had a father out there and just because I made my mistake doesn't mean I need to punish Arya for it. I know how it felt to not have either parent in my life and I didn't want to put Arya through that. Both Hassan and Jarvis deserved to know that they possibly have a daughter.

Searching the Dallas Cobras schedule on Google, I seen they were in Utah, so I chose to use the number I haven't used in months.

"Long time no speak," the rich voice spoke in my ear.

"Hey. Are you busy?"

"For you, no."

I blew out air. "I'm going to send you my new address. Come over. We gotta...talk."

He was all for it and was on the way right after I sent my location. Arya was sleep and in her nursery.

I was pacing back and forth along the hardwood floor in the living room when headlights pulling in the driveway caught my attention. Soon after, the lights shut off and I fixed my oversized cardigan and blew out a deep breath. I rushed over to the door and opened it, so the doorbell wouldn't disrupt Arya's sleep. He stood on the porch and dressed in the usual pricey two-piece suit.

"Didn't want you to wake—Come in." I opened it wider and his expensive loafers came in.

"Wake who?"

I shut the door and released yet another breath. "Um, I didn't stay in touch for a reason Jarvis. I...got pregnant. And I didn't tell you because as embarrassing as it is, I didn't know if you were her father."

Jarvis's head tilted, with furrowed eyebrows. "Her?"

"Her name's Arya."

He exhaled sharply, "I, uh, don't really know how to respond to the fact you hid that from me, especially if it was a possibility she was mine."

"I know, and I'm wrong for letting it happen."

"Yeah." He concurred. "Can I see her?"

I leaded Jarvis down the short hallway and to Arya's nursery across from my bedroom. Her bunny-theme nursery was dimmed from the plug-in night light and soft baby tunes played. I spent a nice amount of time working on the nursery that features all-over gray, and neutral palette with splashes of salmon pink, in the curtains and floral design on the rug. I had someone hand paint the illustration on the walls around the room, while a white armchair and ottoman gave me a cozy spot to cuddle with Arya.

"If you don't mind, can you remove your shoes? She lays on the rug."

Jarvis didn't mind and removed his shoes, and walked across the rug in his dark socks and to the ivory wood crib that has a large stuffed giraffe beside it. Jarvis peered down at peaceful sleeping Arya, analyzing her quietly.

A smile planted on Jarvis's mouth. "She's beautiful. What's her middle name?"

"Faye. Arya Faye."

Jarvis fell quiet once more before he asked, "Can I hold her?"

"I would let you, but I rather wait until after the DNA test. I don't want you to bond too much with her, especially if—"

"She not mine," he finished and came over by me. "I get it."

We came out of Arya's nursery and he slipped back on his shoes. "When you tryna do the test?"

"Soon. I want to talk to the other guy first and go from there."

Jarvis nodded. "It's been six months, Andi, how you been?"

"I've been well," I folded my arms across my chest. "I left the bank last month, trying a different career patch."

"Oh yeah, what?"

"An outreach program."

"I can see that."

"What about you, how you been?"

"Well, I'm opening' two more ClubOne's in Oklahoma City and Charlotte—you know that's where my roots com' from."

"And the lounge with Cairo and Jade?" I wondered.

"Yeah, it's still opening with them. After those allegations came out bout buddy, I gave my percentage off to Jade. I can't be associated wit nobody that physically abuse women. No matter if it's true or not."

Great to hear that there are some men still have morals. "So it's still opening?"

"In the Summer, yeah. He still a big figure in Dallas and people still wanna work wit 'em."

Of course. I rolled my eyes. "Well I'm glad you came by."

Jarvis followed me to the front door and I opened it for him. The rain slowed down, hitting onto the pavement. He turned to me, peering down. "I really hope she mine. It'll be my only daughter."

"Once you take the test, we'll see."

Jarvis embraced me, unexpectedly, and pressed a kiss on my forehead. He stepped back, holding onto my cardigan-covered shoulders. "Good night beauty."

"Night Jarvis."

Jarvis went out into the light rainfall and I closed the door. One down, Hassan to go.

I even tried to send Hassan a message, but I'm blocked.

Ohhhh-kay.

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