Harlem Isaac Sullivan
July 10th
9lbs. 5oz
23 inches long
[chapter focuses around Harlem.]
•
"He is so handsome." Frida cooed sweetly as she held the baby in her arms. She seemed to be in love with her new grandson. Her eyes were glued on him as she softly cradled him.
Jersey pushed some air out of her nose as she laid in the hospital bed. She was exhausted from her labor and delivery. After realizing her water broke, Malcolm helped her change clothes and grabbed every important item needed. They packed inside the vehicle and arrived at the hospital. Thanks to Jersey's driver, Abel.
She didn't bother to speak. Jersey just watched Frida closely. The older woman studied the baby, trying to get acquainted with Harlem. She wore an isolation gown over her regular clothes. Germs and infections were terrible, and she wanted to protect the baby.
"I want to see his hair," Frida whispered while glancing over at the young woman.
"Go ahead...he has hair all over his body too," Jersey replied lazily before sipping on her cup of water. Her nurse was nice enough to give her a plastic container filled with ice and water.
Frida pulled Harlem's hat up and took her time observing him. Her eyes widened at the sight of his coal-black tresses. He had a headful of hair that seemed to travel around his forehead and ears. Hair was on his arms and legs too. Harlem was just a hairy baby.
"I see," Frida replied softly. "I'm sure some of his body hair will shed."
Before the conversation could continue, the door opened. Jersey assumed it was a staff member at the hospital. They couldn't seem to stay out of her room. Every hour someone would walk in and bother both Jersey and Harlem.
Relief hit her when she realized it was Malcolm. He walked inside with a brown bag. Jersey assumed it was food since she sent him out to get some. The hospital food was good, but it wasn't enough for her. She wanted a juicy cheeseburger and some crispy fries. The hospital food was all right, but it wasn't enough to satisfy her hunger.
"I'm back," Malcolm announced, stating the obvious. Immediately, his eyes went on the baby in his mom's arms. He'd been thinking about Harlem the entire time he left to get Jersey's food.
The birthing experience was something Malcolm would never forget.
The Birth
As soon as Jersey checked in, they wheeled her to the back and immediately changed her clothes. It didn't take the staff long to put her in a room.
The doctor and staff seemed lively and too bubbly for Jersey. She wasn't in the mood for the small talk or witty jokes. The pain was starting to become unbearable. She looked over at her doctor and realized she was trying to check her cervix.
Doctor Kumar instructed Jersey to spread her legs and put her feet in the stirrups. She wasted no time giving her an exam.
"Is it possible to get medicine?" Jersey questioned her as she pushed out short puffs of air. "Because I'm in pain, and it's getting worse. It almost feels like I'm being stung down there or something."
The doctor denied Jersey's request. She couldn't get the epidural. The baby was trying to crown, and there was no time to waste. She had to start pushing.
"Mm..." Jersey groaned out as another contraction ripped through her. She clenched her teeth, trying her best to fight the pain. She eased her eyes on Malcolm. He was dressed in an isolation gown for medical reasons. Jersey pushed out a shaky breath and said, "I'm scared."
"Don't be." Malcolm grabbed her hand, basically smothering it with his. "God got you, and I'm right here."
Jersey laid in the hospital bed. Her right hand had an IV, which prevented dehydration. Instead of nodding her head, she just looked at him strangely. Malcolm never talked about God. Hearing him mention his name was kind of weird. To her.
It didn't take her long to start pushing. Malcolm stood beside her and allowed Jersey to squeeze his hand like a stress ball. Two nurses stood opposite sides. They held her legs up for an effective birth.
Jersey's groans weren't loud, but they were audible. Sweat poured from her forehead as she tried to keep herself together. The pain seemed to increase with every push she made, and her body was tired. Malcolm would glance down a few times. Seeing the baby's head bulging out of his woman's vagina kind of freaked him out, but he stayed calm.
"His head is out." Doctor Kumar informed Jersey as she glanced up at the young woman. "Jersey. I need you to give me one big push this time. One big push."
Giving up was on Jersey's mind, but she knew she couldn't quit. There was no way she could escape this dreadful delivery. So, she nodded her head and waited for the doctor to instruct her to push. She was busy trying to check on the baby.
The nurses laid a blue towel on Jersey, prepping for the baby's delivery.
Malcolm leaned over and got a glimpse of his son. His head was out, so he was able to see the baby's face. His eyes widened in amazement, and he couldn't help but feel excited.
"Push."
Jersey used her aching muscles and pushed hard, allowing the doctor to pull on the baby's head gently. It didn't take long for his body to slip out. Relief hit Jersey instantly. She pushed out air from her mouth as she laid her head back.
The baby was immediately laid on the towel. The nurses wasted no time rubbing his back while trying to clean him. Jersey looked down and noticed her baby, who was quiet. She assumed he would start crying or at least make some noise.
"What's going on?" Jersey questioned aloud while looking at the people in the room. After not hearing her baby's cries, she went into panic mode. "Why isn't he crying?"
Malcolm couldn't help but frown as he watched everything. He was worried about the baby as well. He seemed to be gasping for air as the nurses laid him on his back, ensuring his neck was straight.
"What's wrong with my baby?" She continued to ask questions as her voice cracked.
The blonde nurse gently touched Jersey's arm and said, "We're trying to clear his airways."
The doctor was handed a nasal aspirator. Immediately, she suctioned his nose and allowed the liquid to release on the towel. Doctor Kumar eventually did the same thing to his mouth.
Jersey's chest heaved in anticipation as she watched the doctor drop the nasal aspirator and pick the baby up. She rubbed his back once again, hoping for a change.
Harlem roared with all his might, letting everybody know that he was alive and well. The doctor held him up and allowed his parents to get a good view of their baby.
Malcolm couldn't say anything. He just couldn't help but watch his son. Jersey seemed relieved that her baby was fine. She was exhausted, but she managed to slap a small smile across her lips.
The nurses informed her on the skin-to-skin contact method. Jersey allowed the blonde nurse to open her gown and slip Harlem right inside. He laid against her bare chest with his little whimpers.
The hard part was over.
The baby was finally here.
"Welcome to the world, Harlem," Malcolm whispered to his son as he leaned down to get another view of him. Harlem was busy trying to open his eyes. They fluttered as he moved around. He was irritated and tired of being touched.
He looked over at Jersey and said, "You did it."
"I did it." Jersey reiterated with low eyes. She pushed out a laugh as she realized what just happened.
Malcolm couldn't help but place his lips against hers. He kissed her a few times, proud of her accomplishment.
Shortly, the placenta was delivered, and Jersey was taught how to breastfeed. She seemed a little nervous about it but allowed the nurse to teach her. It didn't take Harlem long to latch on. He was able to suckle the colostrum right from his mom, and it seemed to calm him down.
The End
Malcolm was brought back to reality when his mom called his name.
"Don't just stand there, Malcolm," Frida called her son out. "This woman just said she's starving."
"My bad." Malcolm pushed out as he opened the brown bag. Quickly, he pulled out Jersey's food. Her cheeseburger was wrapped in foil, and her fries were inside of a cup.
Five Guys.
The door opened again, causing the people in the room to turn their heads. It was Nurse Raine, Harlem's pediatric nurse. "Hello."
Everybody welcomed her in the room except for Malcolm. He was too busy stuffing fries into his mouth.
"I'm just here to check the baby's vitals." Raine continued as she walked further into the room. Frida wasted no time handing the baby over to the woman. She settled Harlem on the baby's bed and started examining him.
Jersey unwrapped her burger and bit into the goodness. It was filled with a few things since she was a picky eater. While chewing, she looked down at her burger and frowned.
"Malcolm...this is not a cheeseburger."
"Yes, it is." He replied coolly while biting into his. Malcolm managed to pass his mom the bag. She had food as well.
"This is a little cheeseburger." She narrowed her eyes at him and said, "Nice try, though."
"I ordered a regular cheeseburger. That woman must've got the order wrong."
Jersey pulled a piece of pickle from her burger and slipped it into her mouth. She had no room to complain. Her cheeseburger was still fixed right. "She did get it wrong."
Frida walked over and made sure the nurse was doing her job. Harlem's little whimpers caught her attention. Nurse Raines was busy trying to take his temperature, but he kept moving his arm. A grimace etched across his face; he didn't like people touching him.
"He's fighting you." Frida pointed out with a smirk on her face. Harlem reminded her of Malcolm.
"Oh, he's definitely putting up a fight." Nurse Raines concurred with a slight chuckle. She placed the thermometer inside the fold of his armpit and closed his arm. "But he's so cute."
Jersey looked over and tried to see what was going on. She knew that Frida would keep an eye on Harlem, but she wanted to see for herself. The baby seemed fine, but his whines alerted her.
Nurse Raines did finish checking Harlem's vital signs. She picked him up and made sure to check his feeding chart. "I think he's ready for another feeding, according to his chart."
Jersey slipped a fry into her mouth and looked over at the nurse. She neared her and prepared to hand the baby over.
"Are you comfortable enough to get him to latch on your own?"
Jersey nodded her head. This wouldn't be her first time breastfeeding Harlem.
"Yes, I think so."
"Good. Well, here you go."
Nurse Raines handed the baby over and allowed Jersey to take him. Nervously, she held him in her arms. She had to keep reminding herself to support his head and neck.
Harlem brought his chubby fist up to his mouth and immediately tried to suck on it.
Jersey pulled her gown down and wasted no time putting her baby on her right breast. She sighed in relief while watching him closely. He suckled the milk with his eyes closed.
▲▲▲
Home
Jersey was finally released from the hospital after staying for two days. She and the baby had no issues, so they were released around the afternoon time.
"Yo, look at this fat ass baby." Amber wowed while holding Harlem in her arms. Her eyes were widened in amazement. It was her first time seeing him. She'd decided to ride with Abel and pick up Malcolm and his little entourage.
Jersey didn't seem like herself. She looked off. However, she managed to push out a little laugh.
"Don't be talking about Gigi's baby." Frida looked over at Amber with her eyebrows furrowed.
"I have never seen a baby this big before, mama Frida." Amber continued as she held the baby in her arms. She looked over at Jersey and said, "How big is he, Hersh?"
"Like nine pounds..." Jersey trailed off while lounging on her couch. "He's also twenty-three inches long."
"This is crazy." Amber continued while looking down at the baby. "Like, why is he this big? He's just big for nothing."
"Shut up." Jersey couldn't help but laugh at Amber's witty remarks. She could only push out a small once since her body was still sore from delivery.
"My son is six foot five," Frida interjected with sass. She looked over at Jersey and said, "How tall are you?"
"I'm five foot seven."
"And Jersey's five foot seven. His parents are tall—they're going to produce big babies." Frida continued as she grabbed her purse. "Malcolm was a big baby."
"I was too." Jersey concurred with a head nod. "I saw a picture of myself as a baby." She'd remember the picture so vividly. Terrie decided to get some summer pictures of her six-month-old daughter. Jersey was propped up on a white platform, and she was dressed neatly in her sunflower outfit. She was chubby with arm rolls. Her grandmother claimed she weighed nearly nine pounds at birth.
"How big was Malcolm?"
"Y'all not gone believe this, but that boy was ten pounds even," Frida replied with so much calmness.
"No way." Jersey wowed with her hand underneath her chin. "Ten pounds. Did you push him out?"
"I did," Frida admitted with a head nod. Her face held a grimace as she reminisced on the birth of her only son. "And I had to get cut with him, too. Thank God I didn't feel any of it."
Episiotomy.
"What about June?" Jersey continued with the nosiness. She wanted to know all of Frida's maternal business. "She's pretty tall. How much did she weigh at birth?"
"June was..." Frida trailed off as she looked toward the ceiling. "Seven pounds. Her weight was average, and I'm glad. I had a hard time healing after birthing Malcolm. I didn't want to go through that again."
"Nah..." Amber shook her head while looking at both Jersey and Frida. "Y'all some brave women. I could never put my body through that kind of pain." She shook her shoulders lightly, still thinking about the pain endured to bring Harlem into the world. "I can barely withstand period cramps, and y'all out here birthing babies that weigh more than six pounds. Sheesh."
"It's not something we can control," Frida responded with widened eyes. "I'm not short, and Mack is tall as hell." She continued while mentioning Malcolm and June's dad.
"Look at him." Amber tried stifling her laughs as she held Harlem up. He was covered in a sleeper and wore a hat over his head. His eyes were closed as he tried to sleep. A grimace sketched across his face.
"Ooh. Amber, watch how you hold him," Frida warned her.
"Yeah, he was circumcised," Jersey added with caution. "He's probably a little sore."
"How about you give him to me. He's already had his feeding." Frida neared Amber and said, "I'm sure Jersey wants to take a nap herself."
"All right." Amber gave Harlem one last look and passed him to Frida. She walked off with him, leaving both Jersey and Amber alone.
"Okay, Big Harlem." Amber randomly blurted out as she thought about the baby.
"I love him already." The lively woman continued. "He's so chubby and handsome, Jersey. He looks exactly like you."
"You think so?"
"I know so." Amber nodded her head with a grin. "He's just too cute to be Malcolm's son."
Jersey couldn't help but laugh out loud at her friend. Immediately, she squeezed the pillow that was cushioning her belly. It hurt to laugh, and she hated that.
After calming down, she waved Amber off and said, "Don't do my man. Baby, he's fine as hell. I know you see all of that chocolate."
"Ew." Amber shook her head in disagreement. "I don't see him that way—he's, my brother."
"Amber." Jersey stopped laughing and pursed her lips. "Let's be real. You see no man that way. Remember? You're a lesbian."
Amber paused and thought about what Jersey said. She snapped her fingers in remembrance and said, "Oh yeah, that's right."
Malcolm walked inside the living room with his keys in his hands. He patted around his pockets, trying to look for something. Both Jersey and Amber looked over at him.
He noticed their stares and couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
"What?"
The women looked at each other and wasted no time laughing. Amber was the loudest since Jersey could barely laugh. Malcolm stood there looking annoyed. He didn't like being laughed at and being left out of the joke. Instead of addressing them, he just shook his head and continued to rummage around the living room.
"What are you looking for?" Jersey questioned him as soon as her laughing seized.
"Some papers..." Malcolm trailed off in a low tone. "Some important papers."
Jersey observed him. He didn't seem to be in a good mood. Malcolm's jaw was grounded as he wore an annoyed look. He was dressed in a t-shirt, cargo pants, and some all-white Air Force 1 shoes. They were brand new, so there was no sign of creases.
She didn't understand why he was in such a bad mood. From what she could understand, he was elated due to his son being born. Malcolm was in love with Harlem and would barely let the baby out of his sight.
"I need the papers." Malcolm continued with his rant. "They were sitting on the desk." He looked over at Jersey as if she messed with them. "Now they're gone."
Amber sat on the couch. She was quiet as a mouse but made sure to listen in on the mess.
"Well, I don't know..." Jersey commented drowsily while fluttering her large brown eyes. "So don't blame me."
"Jerse," Malcolm called out while tilting his head. "The fucking papers were in a manila folder."
"Not too much on Jerse," Amber warned Malcolm with a contorted facial expression. She didn't like the way he was speaking to her.
"Why are you in our business?" Malcolm shot back at Amber with a frown. He didn't seem to be in the mood for her petty remarks.
Amber decided to match his energy. She clasped her hands as she eyed him back. She wasn't upset, but she didn't like his attitude. "Why are you talking to her like she's a child?"
Malcolm didn't bother to respond. He just sucked his teeth while continuing to hunt around the desk for his important documents.
Jersey didn't have the energy to fight or argue with him. She was still exhausted from giving birth. She didn't get any sleep at the hospital. Staff members kept running in and out of her room. They constantly checked both her and Harlem's vitals, took out the trash, brought her food, and tidied up the room. There was also the legal part where she had to fill out Harlem's necessary paperwork.
She just wanted to take a nice shower and lay in her bed. Malcolm was just an asshole, which was the norm for him.
Suddenly, Jersey thought about Frida and her hyper cleaning. She'd managed to tidy up the living room while Jersey was breastfeeding Harlem. She remembered the woman moving the manila folder.
"Your mom was up here cleaning. She put the folder on the shelf." Jersey responded dryly.
Malcolm didn't reply to her. He reached over and pulled out the manila folder. He looked inside and seemed to breathe out with relief. The important papers were safe inside.
"Next time, be polite." Jersey cautioned him while running her fingers through her curly hair. It was dry and in need of some moisturizer.
▲▲▲
Is it possible? Is it really possible to love a human being so much? A human being that grew inside my belly for nine months. A human being that I ignored for three trimesters. A human being that I didn't even want.
Yes.
I can't believe I love this baby. Or even want him. I didn't think it was possible. Jersey thought as she pushed some air from her nostrils.
Love, at first sight, got to her.
Now she found herself obsessing over Harlem. She studied him a lot, smelled him a lot, and rubbed his soft skin too. Jersey even tried her best to mimic Frida's nurturing ways. The older woman moved like a natural—changing his diapers, giving him wipe-ups, and putting him down to sleep.
Jersey was still nervous about handling him. She wasn't ready to be left alone with him either. He was a big baby with weight, but still, he was fragile.
Harlem laid on the changing table with squirming arms and legs. His eyes fluttered as he made little noises. They weren't whimpers at all, which was a good thing.
He was still new, still so fresh. His complexion was a little pale, but Jersey knew her baby would get darker. After all, she and Malcolm both had a chocolate complexion. Besides, Harlem's ears and fingernail beds told her so; a small birthmark was attached to his right ankle. In her opinion, it was shaped like a puzzle piece.
His hair was still coal-black and straight. She knew his texture would change soon. Harlem's afro-textured hair would soon loop into big curls, and she would be completely okay with it. The placenta perm would wear off soon—she assumed.
She studied him a lot, pointing out his facial features that made her heart fluttered. Harlem had cupid's bow shaped lips that were pouty, his eyes were dark grey (will change as he grows), and he had a button nose and dimples, just like his mommy.
Jersey still couldn't believe she carried him. It felt so unreal.
She grabbed a diaper, unfolded it, and laid it underneath her baby. Nervously, she unwrapped his diaper and discovered that her son only peed. She used one of his terry washcloths to clean him gently. As soon as she tried cleaning his circumcised penis, he let out a tiny cry. Jersey's eyes widened as she panicked.
Harlem's fists were closed and moving around as he cried out. His wails seemed to make Jersey cry. Instantly, tears dropped as she looked over at Frida, who decided to swing in and help.
"Don't cry, Jersey," Frida stated while removing the soiled diaper and dropping it in the baby's diaper pail. "It'll get better."
"I hurt him." She sniffled while wiping her face. "I didn't mean to." Jersey didn't want her baby thinking she was trying to hurt him. His circumcision surgery was still fresh, and it looked painful. She tried her best to be gentle but felt like she failed at doing that.
"You didn't hurt him on a purpose." Frida disagreed while placing Harlem's pacifier in his mouth, instantly shushing him. He suckled on the nipple while still balling his hands into fists. "The water probably stung the circumcised area. It happens. But you did a great job."
Jersey looked over at her as tears continued to cascade down her face.
"I did?"
"Yes." Frida glanced at her and threw her a slight smirk. "Now stop all of that crying. Watch how I clean him, so you'll know what to do."
Jersey wiped her face and watched Frida. The older woman managed to finish cleaning him up. She dabbed some petroleum jelly around the circumcision area and wasted no time diapering him up.
"Pick him up."
Jersey sighed as she approached her son. His eyes were closed as he suckled away on the pacifier. She scooped him up and made sure to support his head and neck.
Frida placed her hand on the small of Jersey's back and said, "You're doing great. I'm so proud of you."
Hearing those words of encouragement did make Jersey feel better. She looked down at her baby and studied his chubby face. He didn't seem to be in pain and looked to be in his peaceful aura. She was thankful for that.
▲▲▲
Dean was still in the hospital recovering. Everything seemed to be improving, so he was waiting patiently for his stay to be over. He looked stressed out, ready to leave the hospital.
Malcolm made sure to check on his cousin. He would make time to see Dean. After all, they were first cousins, closely related. The man wouldn't have it any other way.
Due to the tracheal tube in Dean's throat, he couldn't talk. The doctor claimed he was improving, but it would still take time. His breathing wasn't too stable, and they wanted to keep observations on his life-threatening wound. These issues would have to improve before he could get the tube removed.
Lorenzo managed to split his throat with a broken glass bottle. He cut Dean deeply. The young man arrived at the hospital with blood-soaked clothes and a slitted neck.
Malcolm checked his cellphone and realized Arthur was outside waiting for him. Instead of leaving immediately, he went into his photos app and tapped on a picture of Harlem. He wanted to show Dean an image of his son before leaving. He informed his cousin that Jersey had the baby, and they were at home doing well. Dean seemed to be satisfied with his statement, judging from his facial expressions and hand movements.
"Look at him." Dean's mom, Gena, marveled as she raised her eyebrows. "He's a handsome baby."
Malcolm seemed extremely proud of Harlem. He pushed out, "Thank you, Gena."
"How many pounds was he at birth?" Gena questioned him as she continued to look at the picture. "If you don't mind me asking."
"About..." Malcolm trailed off as he thought about his son's weight. He remembered the nurses taking him away to get weighed. "Nine pounds and some ounces."
"Aww, no wonder he's chubby. Congratulations to you and the mother."
"Thank you," Malcolm spoke respectfully.
Dean managed to take the phone and examine the baby. He noticed how much Harlem favored Jersey. They shared the same facial features from his analysis.
"What's the baby's name?"
"Harlem."
"Harlem," Gena repeated with a surprised facial expression. "That's a beautiful name."
"Yeah, it is." Malcolm concurred when he received his phone. He looked down at the picture of his first-born son and said, "It fits him."
Dean touched his arm, and that caused Malcolm to divert his attention. He watched as his cousin gave him a thumbs up with both of his hands. That was the most he could do, but Malcolm got the message.
▲▲▲
Surveillance cameras are very convenient in public places. Malcolm knew that, so he decided to install cameras around his bar before opening the business up. He tried to keep up with technology by installing newer camera models whenever they were released.
The young man made sure the cameras he had purchased and installed were not only expensive but durable. Most cameras didn't have that high-quality duty and barely recorded the faces of suspects. Malcolm, however, had top-quality cameras. He couldn't allow himself to be cheap. 4K cameras were posted everywhere.
Malcolm was able to pull up the video recording from the day Lorenzo stopped by. There was audio, but it picked up so many sounds that he could barely understand the conversation.
The video showed Dean grabbing Lorenzo and thrusting him backward. He brought a table down and ended up breaking a glass bottle. When Dean moved forward to finish throwing him out, Lorenzo stood up with the broken bottle and swiped it, instantly slitting Dean's throat.
It was disturbing to watch, and Malcolm found himself getting angry all over again. He knew that Dean and Lorenzo didn't care for each other. They made that clear from their numerous arguments.
Lorenzo would play pop-up and jeer at Dean, throwing him off. Dean would insult him back, and that caused them to bump heads. It happened all the time, and Malcolm made sure to stop them whenever he was around.
The whole situation fucked him up. He was present when his cousin's neck was slit. He was right inside and had no idea that Lorenzo was in his establishment.
In Malcolm's opinion, a lot could have been prevented. If only he had been in the front, he could have thrown Lorenzo out. Dean wouldn't be in the hospital with a tracheal tube in his neck.
Something had to be done. Lorenzo couldn't get away with injuring Dean. He had plans to hurt the puny guy but decided against it. The man was sick, mentally sick. He'd always been. Lorenzo needed to leave New York and go somewhere far away.
Malcolm decided to visit Pastor Eric Allen. He made his way to the man's church and realized his wife was not at the front desk. Eric took her place. He was busy scribbling something down on the back of a business card. His glasses sat on the tip of his nose.
"That's my personal. Call me anytime." The pastor handed the card over to a middle-aged woman. She was dressed in modest clothing, wearing her finest threads. Her hair was pulled into a bun, and she wore no wedding ring. Malcolm managed to catch everything.
"Thank you, Eric."
Malcolm cleared his throat, startling them. The woman excused herself and managed to leave. Pastor Eric maintained his composure. He pressed his hand against the counter as he kept his eyes on the younger man.
"Brother Malcolm...it's nice to see you."
Malcolm didn't bother to respond immediately. He narrowed his eyes at the man and kept a subtle facial expression. Eric's bubbly demeanor was not authentic. He knew the older man was faking. The pastor managed to reveal his true identity at the hospital when Malcolm was visiting Lorenzo.
"Where's Lorenzo?"
Eric blinked a few times and said, "That's not how you show respect, son. When you walk into a room, you're supposed to greet everyone."
"Look..." Malcolm trailed off as he grew closer. "I don't have time to play any games with you or your son. Now, you tell me where he's at right now."
The pastor looked at Malcolm and noticed the fierce in his eyes. Immediately, he grew nervous from the guy's intense stares. Those honeyed-brown eyes were like weapons.
"He's at the house."
"Mhm." Malcolm scoffed while looking off in anger. "He's at the house, probably relaxing. Meanwhile, my cousin is in the hospital fighting for his life."
"I'm not understanding..." The pastor shook his head in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Lorenzo attacked my cousin a few weeks ago." Malcolm informed him.
Eric's eyes darted left to right in realization. He'd remember seeing a bloody shirt in the laundry hamper. The pastor knew it was his son's, but he didn't dare ask him what happened.
"...I'm sorry to hear that. Who is this cousin of yours? Maybe I can pray for him."
Malcolm wanted to reach over and knock Eric out. The pastor was dodging the whole crisis. He was purposely ignoring the part about Lorenzo attacking Dean.
"Praying is a great method..." Malcolm managed to spew. "It'll help my cousin heal and get back to his life, but God gives us all common sense."
The pastor sighed and looked off. When he got himself together, he placed his eyes on Malcolm and said, "What is it that you want?" His voice was low and sly, just like a cunning person.
"I want you to send your son back to a mental facility."
"No." Eric objected immediately as he shook his head. "I cannot do that."
"You don't have a choice." Malcolm spat with authority.
Pastor Eric Allen did not like Malcolm's tone. He spoke with authority, too much authority.
"I do have a choice. That is my boy, my son." Eric countered with his voice raised. "He spent most of his life imprisoned. Lorenzo deserves to be free."
"Lorenzo is sick." Malcolm pointed out as he narrowed his eyes. "He does not know how to live out in the free world. He's a threat to everyone he encounters, and you know it. You know he has deep mental issues."
The pastor just stood there with flared nostrils. He hated how Malcolm knew so much about his son's business. He hated how right the young man was.
"A few weeks ago, your son came into my bar. He's not allowed in there. I told him that he wouldn't be able to visit because you don't want him around me. He showed up anyway and split my cousin's throat. Now, he's in the hospital with a tracheal tube. Do what's right, Eric. Put Lorenzo back into a mental facility."
"I'm sorry about what happened to your cousin. I really am, but I can't do that." Eric continued. "Lorenzo takes medication. I'll just make sure he takes it every day, and I'll even see if he can go to therapy."
Malcolm swiped his nose and couldn't help but chuckle. Eric didn't hold any responsibility for what his son did. Splitting a human being's throat open was a severe injury. Dean could have died.
"You're so full of it. I guess you won't be satisfied until Lorenzo kills someone, again."
The pastor shook his head.
"I have a video of your son slitting my cousin's throat," Malcolm warned him as he leaned over, lowering his voice. "If you don't comply, I will take matters into my own hands."
Malcolm didn't want to spill too much on Eric. However, he managed to dig up some dirt on the older man. Pastor Eric Allen was a heavy gambler, and he had a nephew out in Philadelphia who was using Eric's restaurant to distribute drugs.
▲▲▲
Ryder decided to visit Malcolm. They discussed a few issues, and he was able to see Harlem. He seemed to be excited about his best friend becoming a dad. Ryder didn't think Malcolm would ever experience it. He was so caught up in his work and didn't seem interested in building a family.
Now, Malcolm was building a house with Jersey. The couple had an apartment with both of their names on the lease. A baby was also born amid their busy plans.
Ryder was proud but hoped to get on the right track. He was the opposite of Malcolm. He couldn't commit to one woman. There were so many out there who practically threw themselves at him, and he loved that shit, unfortunately.
He went back and forth with Hope. She would leave him and take him back; the woman was in a repetitive cycle. Hope couldn't seem to leave him completely alone.
Ryder and Kelli were completely done. He couldn't stop fucking with his baby mama, so she bounced. She was out of the picture, but other women didn't mind being a sneaky link. They just wanted Ryder to fuck them good and throw some money their way.
Typical nigga.
"Check him out..." Ryder trailed off as a smile appeared on his face. Malcolm held the baby in his arms. He was dressed in a sleeper, a hat, and some mittens that covered his hands. He squirmed around, trying to scratch his face. A grimace appeared on the baby's face as he smacked his lips.
"Yeah, he's probably hungry." Malcolm looked at his son and couldn't help but give a kiss on the forehead. He rocked him a little, hoping that would calm him down.
"Is that Harlem whining?" Frida questioned her son as she walked inside the living room. She was still staying with them but would be leaving soon. Frida was able to sleep in the guestroom. She made sure to make herself at home, all while taking care of everything.
"Yeah," Malcolm answered his mom. "Is Jerse out of the shower yet?"
"She should be."
"Good because he may be hungry." Malcolm looked down at his son and noticed that he was tired of waiting.
"Give him to me. I'll give him to her."
Frida made her way over and gently received her grandson. She smiled big while looking at his fat face. He was very handsome, and she managed to say it every time she looked him in his face.
"Hey, Gigi's handsome baby." She cooed while walking off. "I know you're hungry."
"Yo, this is crazy," Ryder commented. "I can't believe you got a son now."
Malcolm shook his head and said, "I still can't believe it. Shit feels so unreal."
"I'm proud of you..." Ryder stated with a head nod. "You're doing good. Got you a family now and y'all building together."
Malcolm didn't think about his life progression. He was only going with the flow. He never thought about how much his life had changed.
Suddenly, he looked at Ryder and said, "My life has changed...a lot. Damn."
"Hell yeah. I need to get my suit ready, right?"
Malcolm furrowed his brows and said, "For what?"
"I know you're going to marry Hershey soon."
Malcolm didn't say anything for a while. He didn't think about marriage at all. That was the last thing on his mind. Right now, he wanted to go with the flow and let everything fall in place.
Marriage was a serious commitment, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. He didn't know how Jersey would feel about it either. She was still so young. Twenty-three. Malcolm didn't think she would want to get married right away.
"We're letting everything fall in place, man," Malcolm replied coolly. "We're not in a rush to get married."
"Yeah..." Ryder cut his eyes at his friend and said, "I hear you."
"Are you listening to me, though?" Malcolm jibed. "But don't worry about that marriage shit. You need to work on your relationship with Hope."
"That's what we're doing...we're working on us."
"You need to let the other women go." Malcolm pointed out as he shook his head. "How do you entertain so many women? That's too much work, stressful as fuck."
Ryder shook his head and said, "I can't help it, man."
You can help it.
Malcolm didn't respond to his friend. He knew that talking to Ryder would be pointless. He was still going to entertain a lot of women. They were his addiction.
Suddenly, Ryder's phone started ringing. He looked down at his screen and noticed Hope's name. Immediately, he answered the phone and brought it up to his ear.
"What? How did that happen?"
Malcolm looked over and watched his friend closely. His demeanor seemed to change immediately. Ryder looked to be unsettled and piqued about something.
"How the fuc—all right. I'm on my way." Ryder rubbed his forehead as he ended the call. He looked over at Malcolm and said, "That bitch let my daughter get electrocuted."
"What? How did that shit happen?" Malcolm's eyebrows furrowed in a sudden fury. "How the fuck did Haven get electrocuted?"
"She was playing with some keys, man. They weren't watching her, so she fucked around and stuck them in the wall outlet. It electrocuted her." Ryder's nose flared in anger. "Hope said she has fucking burns all on her right arm."
"Y'all taking her to the hospital, right?"
Ryder shook his head in confusion. "That's what we're trying to figure out now. I don't want child services to get involved. You know how shit goes for kids, especially babies her age."
"Nah, man." Malcolm shook his head while looking at his friend. "It was an honest mistake. Take her to the hospital now. Don't wait until later, or you will regret it."
"You're right, man." Ryder concurred quietly. "I'm going to take her. This is the last time I let her go by Penney's house."
"Keep me updated."
After Ryder left, Malcolm walked inside his bedroom and noticed that Jersey was busy nursing. Frida sat on the foot on the bed, reading a book. It was one of those thrillers that she picked up from Barnes and Noble.
Jersey was sitting on her side with Harlem right under her. He laid on a breastfeeding pillow while suckling his mom's breast. The baby seemed to be in a comfortable aura. Harlem's hands were uncovered and clasped as he continued with his meal.
"Well, you're here. That means I can finally leave." Frida looked up at her son, and then she placed her eyes on Jersey.
"Yeah, I'm about to lay down," Malcolm replied while rubbing his flat stomach. "You all right, mama?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Frida stated while looking up at her son. "I'm about to go to bed. I have to get up early in the morning." She looked over at Jersey and said, "Jersey, you do know that I'm going home tomorrow, right?"
Jersey didn't bother to respond. She just kept her eyes on Harlem.
"Jerse?" Malcolm called out with a frown. He didn't like how she was ignoring his mom.
"I don't want to be alone with him. I told you that." Jersey stated with an attitude. "I still get nervous when I clean him up and put him down to sleep." She looked up and placed her eyes on Frida. "I can't take care of him without you being here."
"Yes, you can," Malcolm muttered as he shot her a strange look. He knew she was scared, but he felt like Jersey was trying to pin most of the responsibilities on his mom. It was a fifty-fifty thing—half nervous, half cunning.
"You definitely can see to Harlem by yourself. You changed his diaper earlier, and he didn't cry. His circumcision is finally healing, so you have nothing to worry about. Plus, you're feeding him, burping him, and making sure he's good. Jersey...I think you're ready to be on your own."
Jersey didn't bother to shed any tears. She just kept a subtle expression on her face as she continued to watch her baby. His suckling had finally slowed down; he rested his little jaws.
She enjoyed having Frida around. She was like a mother to her. Frida spent a lot of time with her. She taught Jersey a lot of cleaning, cooking, and baby hacks. Her compassion and empathy were so rare to Jersey. She had no choice but to grow attached to the woman.
"You will be just fine, sweetie." Frida walked over and wrapped his arms around the woman. She leaned over and pressed her lips against Jersey's head of hair. "You'll be all right. Harlem doesn't have to worry about anything because he's in good hands. He has the best mommy in the world."
Malcolm stood there for a while and watched as his mom loved on Jersey. That's what she was missing. A mother figure, someone to oversee her after giving birth. He shook his head, completely disgusted with himself. He assumed Jersey was trying to guilt his mom into caring for Harlem. Malcolm felt stupid and selfish. He would sometimes forget that Jersey's mother and grandmother were dead.
When Frida left out the room, Malcolm closed the door behind her and got in bed. He wasted no time kissing Jersey's jaw. She didn't move, only continued to burp her baby. She patted his back softly, waiting to hear his little burp.
"I love you."
"Love you too..." Jersey replied dryly while looking over at the television. She'd been acting weary lately. Her normal lively behavior had been missing ever since she gave birth.
"Are you all right?"
"...Fine."
"You're not." He touched her naked thigh and said, "Talk to me."
"Why should I?" Jersey questioned him smartly. "You're only going to talk to me crazy."
Malcolm threw his head back in aggravation. He figured the incident that happened a few days ago was an additional reason for her attitude. Jersey was still upset with him for talking to her crazy. He was looking for some important files and couldn't find them. So, he decided to take his frustration out on Jersey.
"I apologize for that shit." Malcolm cursed, looking at her. "It won't happen again."
She didn't respond because she didn't know if he meant it.
▲▲▲
"I'm in love." June gushed as she cheesed big while holding her nephew. She sat on the couch wearing a cute graphic shirt, some sweats, and a pair of Jordan 1's. Her hair was pulled into a low bun, and she managed to create baby hairs that were dramatic, just like her.
"He is just the cutest."
"I told you." Amber cooed while watching Harlem sleep. "And he's huge, right?"
"Amber, don't start. Do not start..." Jersey trailed off. She walked inside with her cellphone in her hand. This was her first time being alone with the baby. Of course, Malcolm was there, but Frida decided to go home so she could get back to work.
The young woman was officially on her own.
Jersey was a little nervous about being alone with her baby, but she knew she would be all right. Right now, Harlem rarely cried, and she was starting to handle him like a professional.
"He is fat and squishy." June agreed as she glanced at Amber. "I think it's cute."
She looked over at Jersey and said, "I'm sorry about seeing him late. I was out in California for a few photoshoots. They were very important, and I couldn't cancel them."
"I understand, June," Jersey replied softly. "You're here now. That's all that matters."
"We need to get some pictures made of Harlem soon." June stated.
The sudden vibration caught Jersey's attention. She looked down at her phone and noticed a few Instagram notifications on her lock screen.
She furrowed her eyebrows while tapping. Tisha managed to send another comment that was posted under the same picture. Jersey read some of it and frowned hard.
tishakalyse: tell him to take a paternity test for my son. we've been fucking around for years and never stopped. he's the father.
Jersey blinked a few times as she read the comment over. She tried to process everything. Now, Tisha was trying to pin her son on Malcolm. The woman held her phone in her hand, grasping it tightly.
"Wait a minute." June pushed out with a smirk. "So, Naomi and Tavo are just living their best lives in the U.K., huh?"
"Hell yeah, with her stupid ass," Amber commented while glancing over at Jersey, who was busy walking around the living room. She was dressed in comfortable clothing while wearing her stomach wrap. "Yo, Hersh...you good?"
Jersey looked over and nodded her head stiffly.
She was not good.
TO BE CONTINUED
Thoughts on:
Malcolm?
Jersey?
Amber?
Frida?
Harlem?
Lorenzo?