emergency. I rushed over there and picked up Brax. Audrey promised right then she was going to let you know. She was almost running out the door when I got there. Maybe she forgot.”
“Oh, God. Maybe I need to forget she’s my baby-sitter. That’s what I need. That fucking bitch is sooo pathetic.”
I walk a few paces, my arms folded across my chest, past Neil, past our wedding pictures, which sit in several frames on a square glass table. In one eight-by-ten, we’d just been pronounced husband and wife. The photographer had taken all kinds of shots: Me and my four bridesmaids embracing one another in a solid hug. Neil sitting down surrounded by his family, who are standing up. Another one with me spread out on my new hubby’s lap, squeezing his neck, and both of us grinning so wide you’d think we’d just won a $200 million Super Lotto.
“Well, yeah, uh, the baby’s here with us.” Neil glances at me. “Been asleep a few hours, since nine-thirty or so. You want me to bring him back to you?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah, Dani, I could get dressed and—”
“That’s not necessary,” I hear myself say. “Go back to bed, Dani. We’ll take care of the baby. He’s safe here.”
A hush falls over the room.
“Dani, y–you still there?” I find myself saying. “I can imagine how scared you must’ve been. Hey, I didn’t even know the child was here, thanks to Neil. But it’s cool.” I say this with gentle sarcasm. Things do happen, and God knows the outcome could’ve been much worse.
“Well, that’s kind of you. Thank you, Mrs. Meadows. I guess it makes more sense for Neil to bring the baby back in the morning. Give him a kiss for me.”
“Give who a kiss for—”
She hangs up the phone while I’m talking. We are released from a dazed moment. I swallow deeply and press the button to disconnect the speakerphone.
“You know, you could have told me, Neil.”
“I know, I know.”
He looks at the wall. I look at and talk to the side of his face.
“It takes, what, ten seconds to tell me that the baby is spending the night? I’m actually okay with him. I was hoping that this wouldn’t be a big deal anymore.”
Why couldn’t he just tell me the baby was here? Do I scare my own husband that much?
“Is he in the nursery?” I don’t wait for Neil to respond. While he slumps in the chair, I turn off the lamp, leaving him alone in the darkened den. I rush back up those stairs, eighteen in all, go to Reesy’s old room, and walk in. I smile a bit, excited at the prospect of seeing a little baby in our house. Brax is resting on his belly. A blanket covers his back. I smell milk; some of it must’ve spilled from the glass bottle lying near his hand, which is curled into a fist. Dear God protect him, I cry inside. I rub his soft brown hair and hear a deep sigh escape from his open mouth. No way can I blame Neil for wanting to share his life with this precious little soul. But something has to happen so we can make sure this situation is workable.
If my husband wants me to trust him, he also has to trust me enough to share vital information, so we can all breathe easier at night. All of us, including Dani.
“No, no, triple no.”
I’ve never heard Neil so adamant. So strong-willed.
“Too late now, hubby.”
“Not too late. I can un-invite her. All it takes is one phone call.”
We’re at home in the kitchen, Thanksgiving Eve, cooking our butts off. Oven-baked turkey, duck, and cornbread, yams, dirty rice, green beans, and Watergate salad. Neil and I are standing near the stove. Sharvette is leaning against the fridge, arms folded.
“I told you, Neil,” Vette starts in. “Anya be tripping sometimes. But under the circumstances—”
“Nobody asked your opinion, Vette. Don’t you have a mall to hang out at?”
“Malls close early today, Neil, remember?” Vette walks in a circle and comes back to face him. “Shit, ignant Negro. I’m trying to help your ass.
“Oh, God. Maybe I need to forget she’s my baby-sitter. That’s what I need. That fucking bitch is sooo pathetic.”
I walk a few paces, my arms folded across my chest, past Neil, past our wedding pictures, which sit in several frames on a square glass table. In one eight-by-ten, we’d just been pronounced husband and wife. The photographer had taken all kinds of shots: Me and my four bridesmaids embracing one another in a solid hug. Neil sitting down surrounded by his family, who are standing up. Another one with me spread out on my new hubby’s lap, squeezing his neck, and both of us grinning so wide you’d think we’d just won a $200 million Super Lotto.
“Well, yeah, uh, the baby’s here with us.” Neil glances at me. “Been asleep a few hours, since nine-thirty or so. You want me to bring him back to you?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah, Dani, I could get dressed and—”
“That’s not necessary,” I hear myself say. “Go back to bed, Dani. We’ll take care of the baby. He’s safe here.”
A hush falls over the room.
“Dani, y–you still there?” I find myself saying. “I can imagine how scared you must’ve been. Hey, I didn’t even know the child was here, thanks to Neil. But it’s cool.” I say this with gentle sarcasm. Things do happen, and God knows the outcome could’ve been much worse.
“Well, that’s kind of you. Thank you, Mrs. Meadows. I guess it makes more sense for Neil to bring the baby back in the morning. Give him a kiss for me.”
“Give who a kiss for—”
She hangs up the phone while I’m talking. We are released from a dazed moment. I swallow deeply and press the button to disconnect the speakerphone.
“You know, you could have told me, Neil.”
“I know, I know.”
He looks at the wall. I look at and talk to the side of his face.
“It takes, what, ten seconds to tell me that the baby is spending the night? I’m actually okay with him. I was hoping that this wouldn’t be a big deal anymore.”
Why couldn’t he just tell me the baby was here? Do I scare my own husband that much?
“Is he in the nursery?” I don’t wait for Neil to respond. While he slumps in the chair, I turn off the lamp, leaving him alone in the darkened den. I rush back up those stairs, eighteen in all, go to Reesy’s old room, and walk in. I smile a bit, excited at the prospect of seeing a little baby in our house. Brax is resting on his belly. A blanket covers his back. I smell milk; some of it must’ve spilled from the glass bottle lying near his hand, which is curled into a fist. Dear God protect him, I cry inside. I rub his soft brown hair and hear a deep sigh escape from his open mouth. No way can I blame Neil for wanting to share his life with this precious little soul. But something has to happen so we can make sure this situation is workable.
If my husband wants me to trust him, he also has to trust me enough to share vital information, so we can all breathe easier at night. All of us, including Dani.
“No, no, triple no.”
I’ve never heard Neil so adamant. So strong-willed.
“Too late now, hubby.”
“Not too late. I can un-invite her. All it takes is one phone call.”
We’re at home in the kitchen, Thanksgiving Eve, cooking our butts off. Oven-baked turkey, duck, and cornbread, yams, dirty rice, green beans, and Watergate salad. Neil and I are standing near the stove. Sharvette is leaning against the fridge, arms folded.
“I told you, Neil,” Vette starts in. “Anya be tripping sometimes. But under the circumstances—”
“Nobody asked your opinion, Vette. Don’t you have a mall to hang out at?”
“Malls close early today, Neil, remember?” Vette walks in a circle and comes back to face him. “Shit, ignant Negro. I’m trying to help your ass.
Similar Books
