Wednesday at Noon

by Teneka Woods

  Nate sucked his teeth. “Well, that’s the only good thing that’s come out of this conversation. I’m glad to hear you acknowledge that Levi’s a joke.” He got up to leave just as there was a tap on the door and his father came in.

  “What’re y’all doing back here?”

  Nate moved past him and out the door without a word.

  “Your son is about to be a daddy,” Victoria said to Gerald.

  FIFTY

  Now every time she entered the bathroom she couldn’t help looking in the mirror, lifting her shirt to see the changes. Her belly was as flat as it’d always been. And, although tender to the touch, her breasts were still the same too.

  For now.

  Sharon had told her she didn’t see any visible changes until her fourth month when she was pregnant, and that it might be the same for her.

  But Tora wasn’t in a hurry. The shock still hadn’t worn off.

  Never in a million years would she have guessed the chance encounter with Nate that afternoon at a River Oaks deli would lead to a little person developing inside of her just a few short months later.

  She had only been longing for a beautiful relationship, heading towards marriage.

  A baby wasn’t part of her immediate plan.

  * * *

  “You’ve been kinda quiet, Nate. What’s wrong?”

  He extended his arm, inviting her to have a seat next to him on the couch.

  She sat and rested her head on the crook of his shoulder.

  “Just been thinking about a few things,” he said.

  “A few things like what?”

  “I wanna ask you something, T, but I want you to be honest about it.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Would you prefer it if I was a lawyer?”

  “I thought you hated being a lawyer?”

  “I know, but would you like it better if I was?”

  She considered it only a second. “No. Not necessarily. Unless it’s what you wanna do. Why do you ask?”

  “Because… I’ve been thinking… with the baby coming that I probably should.”

  “But why, if it’s not something you like to do?”

  “I just wanna make sure that you and the baby are okay. That we’re okay.”

  She looked at him.

  “It’s just that ever since I had the conversation with my mama, she got me wondering.”

  A couple weeks ago he’d told her his parents knew about her pregnancy, but that was all he’d said. The lack of details of how they’d taken the news made Tora feel perhaps it didn’t go over too well. She knew it wouldn’t be too presumptuous to believe Victoria, especially, wasn’t particularly happy.

  “Let me guess… your mom has a problem with it?”

  “She’s just worried I won’t be able to take care of y’all.”

  Tora highly doubted Mrs. Walker had any concerns for her welfare. She wouldn’t be surprised if the woman shunned her completely, deciding she—and possibly her baby—was beneath her and her well-to-do family.

  “Nate, you have to do what’s best for you. It’s not my decision to make. And, honestly, it’s not your mom’s either. If you want to go back to practicing law, do it because you want to.”

  “I don’t want the baby to go without anything,” he said.

  “Do you really believe we won’t be able to take care of this baby? Between the two of us?”

  “And I wanna be able to give you everything you want.”

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I have everything I want, Nate. And if I don’t, I can go out and buy it myself. That’s not why I’m with you. If I wanted a man to spoil me I would still be with one of my exes.”

  His body stiffened. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  She sat up, looking at him. A thick vein streaked the center of his forehead and she couldn’t help laughing at the sight of it. “Calm down, Nate. I’m just saying…. I don’t want you thinking that’s what’s gonna make me happy. Love and respect is what matters most to me. Without those two, everything else means nothing.”

  “I hear you,” he said, and reached for her to lie back against his shoulder.

  FIFTY-ONE

  It all became real to him as the months passed and her stomach swelled. He was going to be a father. Responsible for the life and well-being of a whole person. Worry had been replaced with anticipation as he watched Tora’s growing excitement. They would go to Target or Walmart just to browse the baby section. In grocery stores she would point at the baby carriages sitting in shopping carts and smile and say, “That’s gonna be us.”

  What surprised him most was her sudden interest in going out for long walks. One day on a whim he recorded her walking around the park trail, her full belly on display because she refused to wear maternity clothes, and posted the video online. Within a couple days it had garnered thousands of views and hundreds of comments from expectant moms praising Tora for her determination to remain fit while pregnant and for having Nate’s support.

  She’d looked at him and said he would be a fool if he didn’t make something out of it.

  Every free moment was spent with her, video blogging their experience.

  It had been weeks since he had Sunday dinner with his family. He gave an excuse each time his father or one of his brothers called.

  Out of the blue Sunny texted him, sending her congrats on the baby. She’d teased him, saying: You might be the one to have twins!!!

  So each time he accompanied Tora to her checkups he asked the doctor if she was sure there was only one baby in the womb.

  FIFTY-TWO

  “Ohhh… this is so cute! With little matching booties… aww…”

  “Candace, will you stop drooling over my baby’s clothes and put them in the box? The guys are gonna be here at any minute.”

  “I know, girl, but these little outfits are giving me baby fever,” she whined, clutching the onesie to her chest.

  Tora rolled her eyes playfully. “We promised Nate we would have this all packed and ready to go when they get back for the second load.”

  It was moving day. With just two months left before the baby was due Nate said he’d had enough of her shenanigans and it was time for them to move in together. It ticked him off that they were spending nights apart, sleeping in separate residences. And she had to admit she had grown tired of hiking up three flights of stairs to her apartment every night.

  He recruited Kevin, Jamal, and Chauncey to help.

  “What happened to your cats?” Candace asked.

  Tora’s heart lurched. Just the mention of them made her want to cry all over again. For two weeks as she was making the administrative preparations for the move, she toggled back and forth between deciding whether to put them up for adoption and researching how to make life comfortable for a person living in a household with a pet they were allergic to.

  She’d contacted Lauren to ask if she was still seeking a cat for Harley, but Lauren said she’d changed her mind, that her husband disapproved.

  “They’re at Jamal’s house,” Tora said.

  “Really? How did that happen?”

  “I told Nate I couldn’t give them up, so he called Jamal and asked if he would take them in. He said Jamal had a cat when he was a kid, and that he was trustworthy.”

  “That was nice of him.”

  “Yeah. It’s only until I figure out what I’m gonna do.”

  “Girl, once you have the baby you’ll forget all about them cats,” Candace said.

  Tora shot her a pointed look. “No I won’t! They were my first babies. I love them just as much. Are you crazy?”

  Candace laughed. “Well, excuse me!”

  “Yeah, sis. You’re excused.”

  EPILOGUE

  “We did good, babe,” Nate said, kissing Tora’s lips.

  She nodded. “Yep, I think so.”

  The two of them were smitten, staring down into the little pink face of their daughter.

  She arri
ved at 12:29 p.m. that day, a sunny afternoon.

  “I think she looks more like me,” Nate said.

  Tora chuckled. “No she doesn’t. She doesn’t look like either one of us right now.”

  “She has my nose.” He bent to kiss it, and the baby shuddered in Tora’s arms.

  “You have to be careful, Nate, so your beard doesn’t scratch her face.”

  “You’re right,” he said, and kissed the baby’s hand.

  “I’m already anxious to take her home. To bathe her, and dress her, and watch her sleep.”

  “Our lives are changed forever, babe,” Nate said.

  “Exactly.” She nodded.

  “How soon do you wanna get married?”

  There was a knock at the door.

  They looked up to see Victoria walk into the room. It was a surprise to both of them.

  She carried a vase of white tulips.

  “I hope the two of you didn’t think I wouldn’t show up to meet my grandbaby,” she said. Then she walked over and wrapped her arm around Nate for what seemed like a long time. She kissed his cheek. “Hello my son.”

  “Hey, Ma,” he said.

  She looked at Tora. “These are for you, dear.” She set the flowers on the bedside table. “Now… give me my grandbaby.”

  Tora released the baby to her grandmother.

  “My, isn’t she precious?” Victoria said, cradling her in her arms. “Just as cute as she can be. What’s her name?”

  “Santana Jamison Walker,” Nate said.

  “Santana,” Victoria repeated. “I love that. What a wonderful name. It suits her perfectly.” Smiling, she said to Tora, “Let’s start over. How are you?”

  READERS GUIDE

  Questions for Discussion

  Tora is leery of online dating and Candace is surprised she’s never considered it, especially in these times where it is common to talk to and meet people online. How do you feel about online dating? What are your experiences with online dating if you have already tried it?

  Tora admits she can be shallow when it comes to selecting a partner. Are there any physical characteristics you cannot compromise on?

  Nate gave up his job as an attorney to follow his dream of a life in fitness and nutrition. Would you give up a high-paying job for a career in a field you love even if your salary would be significantly less? Why or why not?

  What are your thoughts about Victoria and the high expectations she set for her family?

  Discuss Nate’s relationship with his sister. Do you believe he is justified in his feelings about Sunny’s relationship with her fiancé and his need to protect her?

  Oftentimes unresolved issues or insecurities from past relationships can hinder new relationships. Discuss Tora’s confession to Candace about the problems she had in a previous relationship and why she was reluctant to be with a guy like Nate. Can you relate to Tora’s viewpoints in any way?

  What type of future do you foresee for Tora and Nate?

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your time. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Tora and Nate. Please take a few minutes and leave a review online. You can also share your thoughts with me by sending an email to teneka@tenekawoods.com

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  With love,

  Teneka