After leaving the hotel, Fatima stopped by her parent's house to get Jurnee on the way home. She didn't bother to explain what happened especially when she knew they would ask if this had any effect on their wedding day and she definitely didn't have an answer for that question.
Once she made it home, Fatima desperately tried to close her eyes and get a little sleep but she couldn't. The way her mind turned was the way her body tossed around her side of the bed. It was going on 1 in the morning and as bad as she didn't want to bother her, she needed to talk to her friend. Tiffany was asleep when she answered Fatima's call but she told her she would be on her way.
"Damnit Zac" Tiffany regretfully replied to the news of all that had went down at the hotel.
"And on top of that..you were right friend. I'm 6 weeks" Fatima shook her head as she lightly rubbed her daughter's curly jet black hair. "I was 6 weeks when I found out about Jurnee too. I think I tested too early on Zac's birthday"
"I knew it." Tiffany grinned from ear to ear but it quickly went away when she heard Fatima's sniffles. "I just don't understand why he lied. He could have just told me. It makes me think like damn, what else has he been lying about?"
Tiffany squinted her eyes at Fatima, "Be forreal friend" she rolled them "I do agree that he should have just told you but Ti look at everything you guys have been through in the past year. You can't sit here and tell me you don't think he was only trying to protect you and my niece"
Reluctantly, Fatima looked over at Tiffany to face the truth. "I know he was Tiffany but we don't lie to each other and he lied to me. He broke my trust and for it to be because of something brought to him by that bi—" Fatima paused as Junree's little deep brown eyes looked up at her. "What's next? Cheating? Father of my children or not, I'm not sticking around to be lied to and cheated on"
"Now your ass is overthinking. How did we even get to him cheating on you Fatima?"
"I didn't say he was! but what's next if I let him lie to me like that?" she paused and waited for Tiffany to say something "Exactly" she added, when Tiffany kept quiet and just rolled her eyes for a third time.
"Not uh, don't do that because I'm not agreeing with you. You need to talk to him"
"I will. When I'm ready. I just need time to process all this."
"Well, I hate to break it to you friend but there is a wedding hall with really nice and insanely expensive decorations that's already paid for and scheduled in 4 days. I look real good in my dress and you look amazing in yours so get in your prayer closet and call on the Lord because as your friend, I'm not gonna sit here and let you make a rash decision like the one you're thinking about making"
Against her wishes, Fatima's eyes began to swell. She quickly turned around so her tears wouldn't be seen falling. The whole situation triggered feelings she's tried to bury for so long.
"Awe babes, I understand. You have valid reasons for your feelings to be hurt but that's all the more reason why you have to make a decision." Tiffany encouraged, not aware of everything her friend was feeling. Fatima's heart ached at the fact whether or not she was going to marry Zachary Taylor was even question on the table. She just couldn't wrap her mind around it.
"I'm gonna to ask you something and you know you can be honest with me" Tiffany began, making sure to look her friend in the eye. Fatima just blinked, holding her friend stare.
"Do you still want to marry him, Fatima?"
Fatima just looked up at her friend, not able to give her an answer.
Meanwhile..
"I fucked up" Zac mumbled in sorrow as Cameron started the car. "I'd lay my life down for her and my baby but I should have said something. I fucked up"
"I know you would man. We all know you would. That chick was foul as fuck, she knew you would go to the ends of the Earth for Fatima" Cameron's lip curled up in disgust at the thought of Jayda.
"Exactly and if I did tell Fatima, all she would have done was found the girl and killed her with her bare hands and I wasn't about to let my baby go down for no shit like that. Not fucking happening"
It was quiet for a minute before Cameron backed out the parking space in the hotel garage.
Zac looked over at Cameron "She's pregnant too man. We having another baby on top of all this shit I started"
"Congratulations bro" Cameron couldn't help but smile, "Tiffany told me she thought Fatima was pregnant"
It fell silent again as the car slowly rolled to the red stop light.
"Real shit..and don't take this the wrong way but don't think the wedding is still on?"
Zac stopped, taking a moment to soberly think about the circumstances.
"Shit. It's been so much going on.." he said as he leaned back into the passenger seat. "I don't know man. Just take me home"
1:50 am...
Zac and Cameron ended up stopping for a quick bite to eat before they made it to the house. Tiffany had already left and Zac figured Fatima was asleep. He thanked Cameron and told him to relay the same message to Tiffany before unlocking the door and heading upstairs.
He stopped by Junree's room, just to peak his head in and steal a kiss from her chubby cheeks.
Walking to the entrance of the master bedroom, he braced himself for whatever and slowly opened the door. His eye fell on Fatima as she seemingly slept on her side of the bed. He noticed the box of tissues by her bed side, confirming she had more than likely cried before going to sleep. Zac did his best not to make a sound as he grabbed a pillow and the extra comforter they kept in the closet.
"Where have you been?" he heard her soft voice ask just as he turned his back to leave the room.
"I had to wait on Cam..since you left me"
"I haven't left anything, yet" Fatima mumbled as she rolled over.
wow Zac mouthed, "Was that suppose be a play on words— you know what Fatima. If you want to be mad then be mad..be pissed but I told you a long time ago I would put my life on the line for you. I meant every word too" Zac exhaled the breath resting on his chest as he watched her lay still before him. To avoid adding more negativity to their night, he decided to cut what he really wanted to say short. "I love you. Goodnight " was the last thing he said before to walked from the entrance of the room.
11:30 am..
"Yes ma'am, everything is okay" Fatima somberly said into her phone as she made her way down stairs with her daughter babbling baby noises in her arms.
𝐀/𝐍: 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟒
"No ma'am, he went to the office early I guess" Fatima switched arms so that Jurnee's was on her left as she washed her hands to warm her a morning bottle. "I'm not gonna ignore him mama. I know the wedding is in 4 days..I know" Fatima responded to her mother slight scolding. She went over to the freezer to retrieve a chilled baggie of breast milk she had pumped a few hours ago when Zac woke her up to tell her he would be spending a few hours at the office. Fatima decided not to question him because she knew he had requested the no meetings or bookings this week. Instead, she decided to catch up on Love and Marriage Huntsville while putting her new pump to use.
"I do love him mama and I know he loves me.." Fatima rolled her eyes as she mother interrupted her with a question.
"..no, he doesn't know"
She quickly muted her end of the phone to curse as she got Jurnee's bottle ready. She unmuted and placed the phone of speaker.
"Seriously Fatima. You're a mother and about to be a wife -I hope. You need to heal from these scars baby. Being a parent is one of the most rewarding things but it's not easy and trying to parent while broken is impossible. Listen to me. Your mother knows"
"I know mommy" Fatima said, her eyes growing warm again as she gave Junree her breakfast.
motion at front door.
The notification from her Ring app confused her immediately. It was before noon and everybody knows not to disturb The Taylor's before then.
"Oh my g— mommy, let me call you back". Fatima hurried off the phone when she saw what the motion at her front door was. Junree was on the last few ounces of her bottle as Fatima grabbed a small blanket to place on her shoulder when she was ready to be burped.
"Just a minute!" Fatima called out as she made her way the front door.
"Sara? What's all this?" She asked as Zac's assistant walked into the front door of their home. She carried a vase full to the brim of Fatima's favorite white and red roses with the perfect amount of baby's breath. On her left arm, there were two decently sized orange shopping bags with the words Louis Vuitton on the front of them. In her right hand, she carried a small turquoise shopping bag that looked like the perfect size to house something that sparkled. Fatima lead the way for Sara to sit the bags and vase down on the table.
"Good morning Mrs Taylor. I know it's before noon but Mr Taylor said you would make an exception for him..he hoped" Sara pleasantly said as she sat the gifts down.
"Tell Mr Taylor he didn't have to do anything of this" Fatima said as Junree sucked her bottle dry, signaling her to take it from her mouth. "Mr Taylor knew you would say that" Sara smiled, "He said..and I quote..Say it to my face"