A Love Like This (Book 1)

by Lane, Kimberly

  Chapter 33

  The minute we get back to the Bay Area I have to hit the ground running. It feels strange driving the Range Rover even though there’s no evidence of the graffiti. I don’t have time to worry about the car because I did more vacationing than studying while in Jamaica. I barely squeezed by with a C average which dropped my cumulative GPA down to a 3.2. This is my last semester and I really have to buckle down. I register for my last four classes, apply for graduation then head over the bridge to the City. I go to human resources at the Bradley building and fill out the paper work to start my internship.

  Once all of my errands are done I drive to Room for Growth to help out and talk to Joan about the house. I haven’t been able to get in touch with Pookie. I thought that I’d come back to the Bay Area to a fabulous newly decorated house. Pookie and Joan had a different idea. Only our bedroom was complete when we returned. If the bedroom is any indication of how the rest of the house will look than I don’t mind waiting. The room looks as if it should be in a magazine. They even organized my clothes and shoes.

  Sharon is the first person I see when I walk into Room for Growth. She runs over to me and gives me a tight bear hug. We head over to her work station and pick up where we left off. Sharon catches me up on all of the office gossip. She tells me which participants are hooking up and which staff members might be fired. Joan and Pookie stroll out of her office laughing like old friends. They wave and march over to Sharon’s work station when they see me.

  “Hey I’ve been trying to reach you guys,” I say standing up to hug them both. “Where’s Nickie?”

  “She’s been practically living with Mike since she came out here.”

  “I’ve only talked to her once since we got back and where were you last night?”

  “I figured you two would want to be alone on your first night back so I crashed at Joan’s house.” I’m a little shocked by how close they’ve become so quickly.

  “We were just talking about the house warming party,” Joan says.

  “We were thinking we should do it in December. That will give us time to finish the house and you’ll be done with school by then.”

  “That’s fine,” I say feeling ambushed.

  ****

  I’m lying in my bed in footie pajamas with the shades drawn. Over the last few months the house has been filled with workmen. I didn’t ask for it to be remodeled but it seems like that’s what’s happening because someone is always hammering or moving things around. I’m so thankful that the bedroom is complete. It’s the only place I can go that isn’t loud and crowded. Pookie and Joan are always around instructing workmen and movers. Nickie is so hormonal that living with her is a nightmare. She’s professing her love for Mike one minute and saying how much she hates him the next. I have to admit that her cute baby bump is making my ovaries ache. Starting a family early might not be the worst thing in the world. Everyone waits on her hand and foot. She’s nine months pregnant and she can barely move.

  It might be nice to be the center of attention for once because Mr. Bradley is a slave driver. Tucker was correct about there not being any preferential treatment on the job. Every morning I wake up at six, shower and dress. I make sure Nickie has everything she needs then I drive over the bridge to the Bradley building where I sit in on meetings, fetch coffee and go over the most boring tedious documents imaginable. I have to check everything I do twice because Mr. Bradley personally reviews my work. After six hours of work I drive back to Berkeley for class. Most of the time I sit through the lecture day dreaming about sitting on the porch swing in Jamaica sketching the yellow houses.

  My crowded house is about to get even more crowded. The decorating is done so the whole family came out for a baby shower, house warming slash graduation party. It was initially only supposed to be a house warming party. I agreed to the other social gatherings under duress. I dragged myself in the front door after fifteen hours of work and school one afternoon. Joan, Pookie and Nickie were sitting on the couch making plans. They immediately started hurdling questions at me. I was so tired that I just wanted them all to shut up so I agreed to everything they asked.

  It’s Saturday and my parents, Keisha and her family, my grandma Bes and a few other relatives all drove up for the celebration. There’s a knock on my bedroom door and my mom sticks her head in the room.

  “Momma,” I say. She crosses the room and comes over to hug me.

  “Girl you have a house full of people out there. Why are you in bed?”

  “I don’t know Momma. This whole being a grown up thing is a bit overwhelming.”

  “Yep, child I’m more than twice your age and it still seems like too much for me some times. You just have to learn to enjoy yourself more. Not everything has to be so intense. Live in the moment and enjoy your life because you only get one.”

  “I know your right Momma. Well I was happy that Pookie invited you and daddy up here. Is he talking to you guys more?”

  “Yeah we’ve talked but he and your father don’t seem as close as they once were. It’ll happen, it just takes time.”

  “What I don’t understand is why he was so mad at you and daddy but not grandma. This whole ordeal seemed to be mostly her doing.”

  “You know that boy can’t stay upset with his Momma. No matter what she did she was the one that raised him.”

  “Alright now you need to get up,” She says smacking my bottom. “The house is filling with people and that busy body lady is ordering everyone around.”

  “What busy body lady?”

  “That Joan woman,” She says with a scowl. “She tried to keep me from coming back here, talking about you’re resting. I was about to knock that woman down.” My mom and Joan seem so much alike. It never occurred to me that they might not get along.

  “Oh Momma please,” I say sitting up.

  “Don’t worry I didn’t say anything to her. I just walked by her and found you.”

  “Where is daddy?”

  “He and the rest of the family are checking into a hotel.”

  “A few of you could have stayed here.”

  “No baby you have Nickie and Jermaine here. I don’t want to put you out. I’m going to check out what they’re serving. You know I would have been happy to cater.”

  “I’m sure Pookie and Nickie just wanted you to come and enjoy yourself.”

  “Uh huh,” She says as she walks to the door. I lie in bed thinking I hope she knows I had absolutely nothing to do with the planning or preparation of this party. Tucker walks in as my mother walks out. He hugs her as they cross paths. He strolls over and climbs into bed behind me.

  “It’s insane out there.”

  “I figured it would be. I’ll come out when everything’s done.”

  “We’d better get out there before our mothers kill each other,” He says.

  ****

  I take my time getting dressed and when I leave the room the party is in full swing. The house is gorgeous. They paid attention to every detail. The window sconces, the rugs even the lighting fixtures seem to fit the house perfectly. I hug family and friends as I make my way through the group towards Tucker. They are all smiling and offering congratulations on my upcoming graduation. Shauna is here with a very handsome guy. Pookie and my dad are talking in a corner of the room. Sarah and Nogood are making out and Mike and Nickie seem to be getting along. Even Keisha and Doug are having a rare moment of peace. As I walk through the crowd someone catches my eye. I know that I’ve seen one of the servers before. I rush over to Tucker and pull his arm. “Tucker is that the debutant,” I say pointing to the woman who is smiling brightly while handing out horderves.

  “Her name’s Jordan,” He says. “Jordan Fields. She’s been my housekeeper for about a year. My mom probably called her to help out with the party.”

  “You mean a woman you use to date cleans your hous
e and you don’t find that odd?”

  “She’s taken a few of my classes and we went out for coffee once. We never really dated,” He says. He looks at me confused for a minute before he makes the connection. We both turn to look around the room but Jordan is nowhere to be found. We separate and make our way through the crowd. I turn and nearly jump out of my skin when I hear a scream and a plate hit the ground. I rush in the direction of the chaos. I push my way to the middle of the crowd that gathered and there’s Nickie standing in a puddle of fluid. “Her water broke,” Sarah whispers to me calmly.

  “Her water broke,” I yell franticly. Mike, Tucker and my dad rush over and help Nickie off the floor. Keisha get’s her bag and we all weave through the sea of cars. We pile in and set off for the hospital.

  Chapter 34

  The hospital is quite a site. There are about twenty people in the lobby all dressed in their Sunday best. My mother and father got all of the insurance papers filled out. Keisha went to get the kids settled at the hotel, Joan and Grandma Bes stayed behind to get the house cleaned up. Nickie started chanting the word epidural the minute the first contraction hit. She threatened to find a needle and do it herself if they didn’t put a rush on it. The doctor gave her some sort of narcotic to take the edge off while she waited for her epidural. Right now she’s pretty loopy. She’s confessing everything as if she’s just been given her last rights.

  “Damian called me,” She says swiping hair away from her forehead.

  “Really,” I say lifting her head to give her a spoon full of ice chips.

  “I knew he was gay. He wore concealer,” She says sleepily. “You know who’s not gay,” she says louder than necessary. “Mike,” She says answering her own question. “Yep we have tons of sex which isn’t easy with my giant belly,” She says laughing. “I think he feels bad because that girl Samantha aborted his baby. I really love him. It’s too bad I have to leave him when I go to New York for school.”

  “Nickie what are you talking about.”

  “Oh God this is happening,” She yells out in pain. “I can’t do this the medicine isn’t working anymore.” I push the button for the doctor. She rushes over and checks Nickie’s cervix.

  “You are fully dilated,” She says patting Nickie’s leg. “There’s no time for the epidural.”

  ****

  Nickie is in active labor for less than an hour. She names the green eyed, 8 pound 2 ounce, pink baby girl Genesis Reign Peterson. I think she might have still been a little high when she came up with the name. Everyone is taking turns going in to see the baby. I’m sitting in the lobby trying to process everything Nickie told me.

  “Leila,” Mike says. “You alright, I called your name three times.”

  “Nickie told me about Samantha,” I blurt out without thinking. “She was stoned from the medication and she told me that Samantha was pregnant with your baby.” He places a hand on top of his head. “You have to tell Tucker,” I say. “He’s your best friend. He deserves to know.” Mike stares at me blankly and shakes his head.

  “I’m sorry man,” He says to Tucker. I spin around and Tucker is standing a few feet away from me. The hurt in his eyes is more than I can take. I start balling uncontrollably as if I just found out my best friend betrayed me. Tucker wrapped his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.

  “While I was holding the baby, Nickie asked if you could stay here with her tonight,” He says dryly. “I’ll go home and pack a bag for you.”

  “Tuck do you want to talk,” I ask. The look in his eyes is breaking my heart. “Not right now baby. Just give me a little time,” He says and kisses my head again before walking away. I dry my eyes and walk back into Nickie’s room. Sarah is holding Gen when I step inside the room.

  “She’s beautiful. Isn’t she beautiful,” Sarah says swiping away tears. The baby starts to fuss and Sarah hands her to me. “I sent Riley a picture. He didn’t respond. He’s such an ass,” She says.

  “We don’t need to worry about Riley,” I say in a sing song voice to comfort Gen. “You have your auntie Leila.”

  “And Auntie Sarah,” Sarah says kissing the tiny bundle on the head. The baby continues to fuss and smack her lips. She has such delicate features. Most babies are kind of pinched looking when they’re born. Baby Gen is the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.

  “Where did Nickie go?” I ask Sarah.

  “I don’t know she left the room right after your mom and dad. I’ll go look for her,” Sarah says before leaving the room. The nurse comes in and gives me a bottle for the baby. She drinks a few ounces and I burp her before she falls asleep. I lay the baby in the basinet and look outside the room for Nickie. I return to the baby and scoop her up. I’m not sure where everyone disappeared to Gen but Auntie’s here. The door opens slowly and someone slides into the room. I pull my eyes away from the baby and look up thinking Nickie finally returned.

  My heart starts to race. “What are you doing here Jordan?” She pulls a gun out of her bag.

  “I see Tucker told you my name,” She says pointing the gun back and forth from me to the baby. I hold the baby close. Every part of me wants to hyperventilate but my niece needs me so I will not allow myself to freak out. “Please don’t hurt the baby,” I say knowing someone will walk in at any moment. Jordan is the woman I saw at my party, she’s the woman who stands near my town car at school with a scowl and after hearing her voice I can tell she’s the one who made the threatening calls.

  “No I’m not going to hurt her,” She’s mine. “Tucker and I will raise her together. He’ll be so happy that I had such a pretty little girl.”

  “Yeah you’re right,” I say trying to humor her until someone comes back into the room. “I’ll have to pack a bag for you. She’s very small so she shouldn’t be around guns. Tucker would be upset if something happened to your new baby,” I say with a shaky voice. I’m trying not to cry.

  “Thank you,” She says. “You’re not as terrible as I thought. I’m not going to enjoy killing you.” Her eyes are darting around the room wildly. “I’ll just put her inside my jacket. I saw Tucker leave for our house. I need to catch up with him and show him our new baby.”

  “Ok let me just get her blanket,” I say standing up and placing Gen back in her bed. My hands are shaking as I reach over and press the button for the nurse.

  “What did you do,” Jordan yells cocking the gun. I pick up the baby when I hear a group of people coming down the hall.

  “Give me my baby,” Jordan shrieks with tears flowing down her face. I huddle in a corner and shield baby Genesis. She’s crying because of the noise. My daddy and a doctor are the first to walk into the room. They leap on Jordan and wrestle the gun away from her before she has a chance to shoot. “Everything’s going to be okay my love,” I whisper to Gen. “Auntie’s here.”

  *****

  I’m sitting in an all white hospital room surrounded by family and friends. Shauna reaches down and touches little Gen’s head. I guess I knew Nickie was going to leave I just didn’t think she would sneak away from the hospital before the baby was an hour old. I don’t know how she got away but no one’s been able to get in touch with her or Mike since Gen was born. I kiss the top of my precious little nieces head and hand her to Tucker. “It’s a girl,” I say. His face lights up as he cradles the tiny bundle in his arms.