I sighed at the pregnancy test box I was holding in CVS. I had Clifford bring me here after dinner. I told him I needed more tampons but really I needed to figure out why I wasn't on my period right now. I was always regular and even though three days wasn't a big deal I was going to worry myself to death until I took a test.
I grabbed the quick results test and a box of tampons and proceeded to check out. Clifford was waiting in the car. When I got in he stared at me for half a second. "You good, mamas?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Today has been a lot and I'm just tired."
"Right. Today was good though right? Your parents apologized and everything like you wanted."
"Oh yeah," I smiled. "That was a pleasant surprise for sure."
"For real," He nodded his head. "I did not expect your pops to have that energy honestly. Especially not with me."
"I honestly didn't either, I really expected him to keep giving you a hard time. But maybe they realized the only way for them to be in my life is to accept the other people who are also in my life... I'm grown now and my world does not revolve around them like when I was a little girl."
He nodded his head. "Everything good with you and your moms though? Y'all both seemed off when y'all came back from the restroom."
This man really noticed everything. I'd be surprised if he didn't know my period was late too. "Yeah we're good. Just had a mother daughter moment." I looked out the window but I could feel his eyes on the side of my face. I could tell he wanted to say or ask something else but instead he just reversed out of the parking spot we were sitting in.
———
I had the venue reserved for the gender reveal/baby shower, it was going to be in the club house at my apartment complex. With having to plan so last minute this was the best that I could do. Don't get me wrong, they were luxury condos, so of course the club house was nice as hell.
"Baby come here!" I yelled from the ladder I was standing on. "Hand me that tape please."
"You know we could've got somebody to do this," He chuckled as he handed me the tape.
"Well for one, I love event planning, and secondly
I'm not letting anybody else handle a party for Tati's picky ass." I knew how attentive to detail Tati was and I wanted her day to be perfect. The only way to make that happen was to do it myself. And atleast if she hated it she loves me too much to shit on my work.
"Shit, you ain't lying about picky." Clifford shook his head. "Anika had the hardest time finding those cupcake flavors she wanted."
"Tell her thank you for me again," I climbed down the ladder. "I really appreciate her for making it happen so last minute. Everything is perfect." I grinned as I scanned the room. The theme I chose is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I had the room decorated primarily gold, with little accents of baby blue and light pink.
"Girl I can finish this little stuff, you are running out of time to get ready." Imani looked me up and down. I still had on a t-shirt, shorts and my hair in a ponytail.
"Thank you Mani," I chuckled. "I need to shower and everything still. Can you make sure the food and the DJ get set up in time?"
"Yeah I got it. Go get ready."
I went upstairs to my apartment and took a shower. Once I got out I touched up my silk press with my hot comb and laid my edges before starting on my makeup. I reached under my sink to grab my make up bag and my heart almost fell to my ass. The pregnancy tests I bought were staring me in my face and reminding me that my period was now over a week late. I rolled my eyes at the box. I was not going to let this ruin today. I would have to worry about this later.
I finished my make up and got dressed and then made my way back downstairs. I called Tati to see where they were at.
"We're literally pulling in now," She answered my call, I could hear the excitement in her voice.
"Y'all they're here!" I yelled to get everyone's attention. The room was filled with mainly employees from the club, a few of Tati's cousins who lived out here, some of Tyreek's homeboys and of course Imani and James came out as well. Despite how intimate it was, the room was loud and you could feel the anticipation. I hadn't even told Imani what the gender was. The only other person that knew besides me was Clifford.
When Reek and Tati came in they walked around and greeted everybody. They came to the table Imani, James, Clifford and I were sitting at, Tati with tears in her eyes. It had only been a few weeks since we were in Jamaica, but Tati's belly seemed bigger, her face was getting round and she was starting to waddle.
We decided to make this event a joint gender reveal and baby shower since we weren't sure what was going to happen with Tyreek's case. Tati was not yet in her third trimester so it was early to be having a baby shower but we wanted Reek to be a part of as much as possible.
"Y'all, this is beautiful." Tati wiped her cheek. "Chey, thank you so much for putting this together. You don't know how much this means to me." She wrapped her arms around me.
"Yeah this is really fye," Reek smiled. "I appreciate y'all."
"As much as I would like to take credit for this cute ass party, this was all Cheyenne." Imani put her hand on my shoulder.
"Forreal Chey? This is dope as fuck, you could make bank doing this." Reek nudged me.
"Awe y'all stop," I blushed. "Just did it out of my love for you two and that little baby in there. Y'all ready to get started?"
I had some different games and activities planned. I didn't want to do too much since the space was kind of small and Tati explicitly told me no corny shit, but I had an Old Wives Tale activity to try to guess the gender, word scramble of different baby items and Blue vs Pink tug of war. Clifford and James were on the pink team while Imani and Reek were on the blue team. Ironically the blue team won tug of war.
After the games everybody sat down to eat. The food was catered by a soul food restaurant down the street that Tati loved.
"Okay y'all, it's almost time for the big reveal we've all been waiting for." Imani announced. Clifford was able to pull some strings to get fireworks at the lake across the street from the apartment building. They started with white and gold fireworks as we all made our way outside. It was a firework show straight out of Disney World. There was a brief pause in the fireworks before the grand finale started.
"Here we go," I grinned. White and gold started up again, with a mix of pink and blue.
"It's twins?" I heard somebody whisper.
Suddenly a flood of blue fireworks started and everyone started cheering.
"It's a boy?!" Tati asked with her mouth wide open.
"Nigga it's a boy!" Reek shouted. "It's a boy! I'm finna have a son!" He grabbed Tati and wrapped his arms around her. "You giving me my son." He whispered as he kissed her forehead.
This moment was so beautiful I was glad we had a photographer capturing it. You could see the pure joy on Tati and Reeks faces. I knew Tati didn't care about the gender of the baby as long as they were healthy, but I know it made her happy to see how happy Tyreek was.
Everyone hugged Tati and Reek and gave them their congratulations. Then we went inside for them to open the gifts. Everyone mainly bought the essentials since they did not know the gender yet but Tati would make a registry for any other items she wanted.
After opening the gifts people started making their way out. Tati was sitting in the throne chair by herself watching everyone. "You good mama?" I asked her.
"Yeah I'm great actually. I'm so happy that it's a boy because I know that's what Reek really wanted."
"Yeah girl we knew he was going to be excited as hell."
"But I'm so scared Chey. If he gets locked up, what am I gonna do with a baby by myself? And not only that but this life, what Reek does, is dangerous. If something happens to him how am I going to raise a little boy by myself?"
"Tati, it's gonna be okay girl." I wiped the tear that was starting to run down her cheek. "I know this shit is scary but you will never be by yourself. There's a whole village behind you and you and this baby are going to be fine."
"What's going on over here?" Imani asked as she walked up to us with cupcakes in her hand. "Your ass don't get tired of crying?" She pushed Tati playfully.
"Girl I know, I don't know how I have any tears left." Tati giggled. "I was already emotional before but my hormones are terrible and making it even worse."
"It's alright, this the point in your life where we expect you to be emotional. I would think something was wrong if you weren't crying today."
I bit into the cupcake handed to me which instantly made my stomach hurt. I knew I needed to take that pregnancy test, even if it was just for peace of mind. But at this point, I needed to know. I wanted to tell Clifford so he could comfort me but at the same time everything Tati said resonated with me and I didn't know if I could bring a baby into this world if I actually was pregnant.
———
The Tuesday after the baby shower was Tyreeks court date. We decided to go out to dinner for what could be the last time in a long time on Monday night.
"Well I thank y'all for supporting me through this." Tyreek stated.
"Of course Tyreek. You got in this situation protecting our family and now we have to stand behind you." Clifford dapped him up.
"I just need you two, Chey, Unc to promise to look out for Tati and my son."
I nodded my head. That wasn't even a question.
"Reek why are you talking like they're going to put you away?" Tati asked with worried eyes.
"Because baby at this point it's not if I get locked up." Tyreek stated.
"But it was self defense?! He had his gun pulled out first!"
"Yeah this shooting was self defense, but they been tryna get their hands on me for other shit for a minute. I know they want to make an example out of me." He rubbed his hand across his forehead. "I guess I might as well just tell you. I was presented a plea deal today Tati. And I took it. Assault with a dangerous weapon is a felony in DC. They can give me up to 10 years, but I couldn't risk that. My lawyer got me a deal for two with a fine."
"Reek..." Tati closed her eyes. "Two years?"
"Baby my lawyer been working to get us the best deal possible. They were never gon just let me walk. I had to do what I had to do to make sure I get back to y'all as soon as possible." He kissed her forehead and rubbed her belly.
"Malcolm, our lawyer, is the best of the best Tati," Clifford reassured her. "If this is the final deal then we are looking at the best case scenario."
I couldn't believe that Tyreek was really getting locked up. I mean he did shoot a man, but he was just protecting us, our family.
Tati nodded her head that she understood, but that look in her eye stabbed me right in my heart. I understood how she was feeling and I felt my eyes water right along with hers.
I put my hand on top of hers and rubbed my thumb across her hand. I didn't know who I was reassuring about which situation at this moment, but I knew Tati needed me and I am going to do whatever to be there for her.
———
After dinner I asked Clifford to take me to my apartment so that I could grab an outfit to wear to court tomorrow, which was partly true, but I also needed to take that pregnancy test. I am a week and a half late and at this point I just needed the results to solidify what I already knew.
I ran into my apartment while Clifford waited in the car. I went into the closet and grabbed a dress appropriate for court before ripping the pregnancy test box open. I looked at the test for a second before sitting on the toilet and peeing on the stick.
I stared at the test as the water line moved and almost instantly the results were apparent. My heart sunk as I stared at the two lines on the plastic stick in my hand. "Ohhhhh fuck." I closed my eyes. I'm pregnant?