Consequences by Sasha Campbell

that I had unleashed a monster.
    We were filling up the second shopping cart with stuff for Trinette when I decided things were getting out of hand. “Netta, why are you buying a swimsuit? You’re not going to be able to wear any of these things until next summer.”
    â€œSo what? At least I’ll have them when I get my body back.”
    I pursed my lips with disgust. She was back to thinking about herself again. “Come on, I want to find something for the baby.” I didn’t even wait for a reply and pushed the cart over to the infants’ section. Trinette was trying to come off as uninterested, but I knew better. She could act like she didn’t like kids, but I remembered the way she had behaved the day Aiden was born. She had flown down and spent three days kissing and hugging her godson. Not many people knew this, but beneath all that ice she really did have a good heart.
    Trinette spotted a tiny designer dress and removed it from the rack to get a closer look. “Oh, this is so cute!”
    I gave her a weird look. “Yeah, but you don’t even know what you’re having.”
    â€œI feel it in my heart that this is a girl. She’s going to be a little lady just like her mother.”
    â€œYou mean a slut,” I mumbled under my breath and started laughing when Netta slapped me upside my head. “You know I love you, though.”
    Smiling, she rubbed her stomach. “This little girl is going to be spoiled just like her mother.”
    â€œAin’t that the truth?” I gave her a long look. “How are you getting used to being pregnant?” I asked, because I knew it was a major adjustment. Just wait until she sees the stretch marks. Boy, I would love to be a fly on her wall.
    She picked up a baby blanket and smiled at me. “I guess I’m coming around. Jrue is excited about the baby. And Leon’s excited, and when they’re happy, Netta gets to shop.”
    That wasn’t at all what I meant. “And how do you feel about that?”
    She sighed and tossed the blanket into the cart along with matching socks and bonnet. “I guess I had no choice but to get used to the idea. Every day I look in the mirror and I can see my body changing. As long as it’s not too much, I think I’ll be able to deal with it. Cocoa butter and I are now best friends.”
    She is so silly. I chuckled. “Just wait until your feet start swelling.” She cut her eyes in my direction and I really started laughing. “Seriously, though. What have you decided to do about Jrue?”
    Trinette moved over to a rocking chair and took a seat. “I wake up every morning and ask myself how in the world is this happening to me? I am in love with a man. Me? Netta? In love?” She shook her head. “I want nothing more than to spend my life with Jrue.” Trinette blushed, something I was not used to seeing.
    â€œDamn, girl. If you’re still feeling like that, then maybe you really are in love.”
    She cut her eyes at me. “Bitch, what have I been tryna tell you all this time?”
    â€œYeah, but I had to see it for myself and the eyes don’t lie.”
    She gave me a sad smile and started rocking back and forth in that chair. “If this baby’s Jrue’s, then I can just walk away and start my new life with him. If it’s Leon’s . . . I don’t know what I’m going to do. That man wants this baby so bad. I’m also afraid of what he might do if he finds out it’s not his.”
    She wasn’t lying. Leon might be quiet and let Trinette run over him, but after their last breakup I had finally gotten a chance to see another side to him. That man was not one to be messed with. He forgave her once and they renewed their vows with a pledge to make their reaffirmed marriage work. I was afraid that if he found out Trinette had been having an affair, he just might snap.
    I couldn’t keep my