by La Jill Hunt
“Kay and Day. What a pair.” He chuckled as he walked into the hallway.
21
The hospital registrar came by the next morning to get the info for Day’s birth certificate. Roni told Kayla she had called Craig and left a message on his cell phone that she had given birth and was in the hospital, but he still had not called or come by.
“Father’s name?” the crabby white woman asked.
“Craig Coleman,” Kayla answered.
“Is he here?”
“Not right now.”
“We need him to sign the certificate if he is to be registered as the father. If not, a name won’t be listed.”
“He’ll sign,” she told her. She wanted Day to know her father’s name, even if he opted not to be an active part of her life. She called his cell and again got no answer. When she hung the phone up, it rang instantly. Kayla thought it was him returning her call, but it was her parents calling to congratulate and let her know they were on their way.
“Hi, Kayla. You feeling okay?” Yvonne knocked as she came in the door. “Let me see my goddaughter. She’s gorgeous! Hi, Day. Auntie Von bought this for you to take your pictures in and wear home.”
“Thanks, Von. I told Roni last night that she had nothing to wear.” Kayla looked at the soft pink and white outfit with the matching hat that Yvonne had given her.
“We got that all taken care of. Don’t worry about a thing. You just rest up. When are they releasing you?”
“Tomorrow morning.” Kayla sighed.
“What’s wrong, Kayla?”
“I left messages for Craig but he hasn’t called or come up here. I need him to sign her birth certificate.”
“He’ll show up. You told me he’s changed, right? He’s been coming around and he promised to be there for his baby. Just relax.”
“Okay, Von.” Kayla sighed. They dressed Day and got her ready for the photographers. The nursery had just brought her when Craig arrived along with Darrell.
“I hear I have a princess in here.” He winked at Kayla. She was not amused.
“About time you decided to make an appearance.” She scowled.
“Is this my new niece?” Darrell asked, “Hi, Kayla. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Can I at least hold her, Kayla?” Craig reached for the small bundle Kayla was clinging to as if her life depended on it.
“We’ve been calling and leaving messages for your trifling behind since last night and now you want to waltz in here and hold her like the proud papa?”
“I didn’t get any messages, Kayla. I lost my cell the other night at the restaurant. We had mad dinner parties for Thanksgiving and I don’t know what happened to it. I swear. The only way I knew was when Darrell called me a little while ago. We came straight here.” He pleaded with her. She looked at him doubtingly and he looked at Darrell for support.
“He did lose his phone. So if that’s what you were calling, he wouldn’t have got the messages,” Darrell added.
“Lying for your brother?” Kayla asked.
“No. The only way he knew was because Yvonne left a message on my voice mail a little while ago.” Kayla looked over at her friend who shrugged at her.
“She looks just like you, Kayla. Hi, Princess. What are we gonna name you?” He rubbed noses with his tiny daughter.
“She already has a name,” Kayla told him.
“How you gonna name her without my input?” He looked at Kayla.
“Don’t go there,” she warned him and he knew it wouldn’t be worth the fight.
“Well, what is your name?” he asked the baby.
“Day,” Kayla and Yvonne answered simultaneously.
“Day? What kind of name is that?” Craig frowned.
“It’s her nickname. Her full name is Jenesis Sade Hopkins,” Kayla informed him.
“Genesis, like the Bible?” Darrell asked as he took the baby from his brother.
“More like Geno,” Craig said accusingly.
“First of all, it’s Jenesis with a J, as in Jennifer, which is my mother’s first name. And Sadie was my grandmother’s name. That’s how I came up with it. Secondly, Geno’s real name is Antonio Giovanni. His nickname is Geno. So you can kill that thought before it even enters your mind.”
“Jenesis Sade. Day. I think that is very elegant, Kayla. You picked a beautiful name.” Darrell looked at her, seeing why Craig liked her.
“Okay. Since you’ve explained how you got it, I like it too.” Craig rubbed her arm.
“I need for you to sign her birth certificate,” Kayla told him.
“I know. What do I need to do?” He took a deep breath. He knew that news of Day’s birth was gonna come out sooner or later, and now it was time to pay the piper. He had a plan, though. Looking at his brother holding his daughter, his heart filled with love, he knew this was the right thing to do.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you had visitors,” Geno said as he peeked in the door.
“It’s okay. Come on in, Geno.” Kayla motioned for him to enter. And he did with a big vase of pink roses and the biggest teddy bear Kayla had ever seen.
“Aww, Geno! That is so cute!” Yvonne stood to help him with his gifts. “Where did you find a bear that big?”
“If I tell you, I’d have to kill you.” He smiled at her and passed her the flowers. She put them on the nightstand next to Kayla’s bed.
“What’s up?” he said to Craig and Darrell.
“Geno, this is Darrell. And uh, I think you met Craig,” Yvonne said.
“Wussup?” Craig mumbled.
“Nice to meet you.” Darrell smiled.
“Hi there, Miss Day. You’re all dressed up.” Geno walked over and looked at the baby.
“She had her first photo shoot.” Yvonne laughed.
“The first of many. You just watch,” Geno told them. “How you feeling, Kay?”
“Good. Our first night was okay,” she answered.
“You ready to go back to Mommy?” Darrell asked Day as she began to squirm.
“Let me take her for a sec.” Geno held out his arms and Darrell passed the baby to him. He paced the floor and rocked her, rubbing his face against hers affectionately. He turned and looked at Kayla whose eyes met his and they smiled at each other. Craig knew the look well. It was the look he gave Avis the first time he held his son. A look that said, “Look what our love for each other created.”
Kayla looked over at Craig who was sitting, looking at Day’s birth certificate. “You sign it?”
“No.” He looked up at her.
“What are you waiting for, her eighteenth birthday?” Kayla chuckled.
Craig glared at Geno then looked her in the eyes and replied. “I want a blood test before I sign anything.”
You could hear a pin drop in the room as all eyes landed on Craig. Even Day seemed stunned by what her alleged father had just said.
“What are you saying, Craig?” Kayla felt her blood go ice cold as she sat up in the bed.
“I think we need to give them some privacy,” Yvonne said as she pulled Darrell’s sleeve.
“Yeah, no doubt,” Darrell told her as he stood up.
“You okay, bro?” he asked Craig as they headed out the door.
“I’m fine.” Craig nodded.
“We’re going to the gift shop for a while. Kay, you need anything?” Yvonne touched Kayla’s hand. She knew that Kayla was offended by what Craig had said and she had good reason to be.
“No, you go ahead. Can you send the nurse in to take Day to the nursery, though? As soon as possible,” Kayla told her, still staring at Craig. She did not want to expose her child to what she was about to say, whether she thought she could comprehend it or not.
“I’ll get her right now.” Yvonne hurried out of the room and gave the nurse Kayla’s request.
“I’m here to pick up a package?” the cheerful nurse said as she entered the tension filled room.
“Yes, can you take her for a while?” Kayla asked.
“Sure thing.” She smiled as Geno passed Day to her and she placed her in the bassinet. “We’ll change her out of these fancy clothes and bring her back for her next feeding.”
“Thank you,” Kayla said. She watched the nurse wheel the baby out and then closed the door behind her. “Now, I’ll repeat my question. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying I want there to be no question whether this child is really mine.”
“This child has a name. It’s Day. And I have no reason to tell you that you’re her father if I had any doubt that you weren’t,” Kayla told him.
“Naw, Kayla. Here this brother comes waltzing in like he’s fucking Father of the Year, you’re looking at him like he’s Romeo and you’re Juliet. I’m not gonna be played out like some sucker taking care of a kid that might, just might not be mine.”
“Have you lost your damn mind? I think you forgot something. I am not your girlfriend, lover, significant other or wife. Hell, I’m not even your mistress. I don’t care if I look at Sam Sausagehead like he’s the greatest thing that ever walked into my life. That’s my business!” she yelled.
“Hold up, Kayla. You don’t even have to justify that with a response,” Geno said. “Look, man, if you want a blood test, that’s your business. But believe me, if I was lucky enough to be Day’s father, you’d better believe I am more than willing to step up to the plate and take care of my responsibilities. Quiet as it’s kept, I was begging Kayla to tell me I was the father. I wanted to be. So don’t come up in here trying to hate because Kayla and I are friends. And hell yeah, I’m acting like Father of the Year, because I was there when she was born, unlike you!” Geno sat down in the chair.
“Whether I was there when she was born or not . . .” Craig yelled.
“Hey, hey, hey! Y’all need to chill. I can hear you all the way down the hall.” A voice stopped Craig before he could finish. “Whatever the problem is, y’all need to squash it. This ain’t the time or the place.”
“Who are you?” Craig gritted on the big guy who walked through the door.
“What’s up, Terry? You’re right, man. I didn’t realize it had gotten out of hand.” Geno stood and greeted his friend’s brother.
“What’s up? I’m Terrell, a friend of Kayla’s.” Terrell introduced himself.
“Another friend, Kayla?” Craig looked Terrell up and down and stood to leave. “Yeah, I’m definitely gonna need that test before I put my name on anything. You call me so we can have that taken care of. I’ll holla.”
“What was he talking about?” Terrell asked Kayla. Her head began to pound and she closed her eyes and sat back. She tried to make the room stop spinning, but she couldn’t.
“Kayla? Kayla?” She heard Geno and Terrell calling her name as she passed out.
22
Kayla could hear a faint beeping in the distance. She frowned as she tried to figure out what it was. Her eyelids fluttered as she opened her eyes. She looked around the room and remembered that she was in the hospital. Day! Where is my baby? were her first thoughts. She tried to recall what had happened. Her room was dark and as she looked out the window, she saw that it was pitch black outside. The beeping sound got louder and she turned to see that it was a heart monitor. There were several IV bags hanging by the head of the bed and running into her arm, and there was an oxygen tube in her nose. Her throat was dry and she pushed the nurse button.
“Hi, sleepy head,” Nicole whispered to Kayla. “It’s nice to see you finally awake.”
“Can I get something to drink?” Kayla closed and opened her eyes, trying to focus.
“I’ll be right back with some juice for you.”
Nicole continued to whisper. She came in and gave Kayla a small can of apple juice and a straw. Kayla opened it and began to drink; she emptied it immediately.
“I feel funny. Like everything is foggy,” she told Nicole.
“Probably the medicine they have you on. It’s pretty strong. You gave us a scare, girl.” Nicole talked low, confusing Kayla even more.
“Where’s Day?” Kayla asked her.
“She’s in the nursery. I’ll get her for you in a little while. The staff has gotten quite attached to her over the past couple of days.” She took Kayla’s vitals.
“She was just born yesterday, Nicole. They can’t be that attached.” Kayla smiled.
“Kayla, you’ve been asleep for two days.” Nicole looked at her.
“Quit playing. And why is it so dark in here? You are funny, Nicole. I see why Terrell likes you. Pass me the phone, I need to call my parents.” Kayla looked on the nightstand and saw that there was no phone, “Where is my phone? And where is the TV? I know I have the bomb insurance. Isn’t all of that covered?”
“Kayla, Karen had the phone, television and radio taken out of here. You can’t have any visitors either, except for your mother.” Nicole pulled a chair and sat beside Kayla’s bed.
“Why?” Kayla was beginning to get frustrated because she didn’t know what was going on.
“Kayla, your blood pressure shot up to one ninety-eight over one twenty-seven. You were a heartbeat away from a stroke. Your body shut down in order to prevent that from happening. That’s why you passed out. You basically went into shock.”
Kayla couldn’t believe what Nicole was saying. She felt the tears fall from her eyes and she wiped them away. Nicole went and got her some Kleenex.
“But what about my baby? Who’s been taking care of Day? I’m breastfeeding.” Kayla sniffed.
“Because of the meds that they have you on, you can’t breastfeed, Kayla. Not right now, anyway. But Day has been well taken care of.”
“But, but, she’s not gonna know me. Strangers have been taking care of her. We won’t have a bond.”
“Yes you will, girl. You’re her mother, she knows that. And she hasn’t been taken care of by strangers. Your mother comes and sits with you and her, and Geno does her feedings, too.”
“Geno?”
“He’s the only other one with a wristband for the nursery security. Your mother had to go through hell and high water to get permission to sit here with you knocked out in the same room.” Nicole laughed. Kayla remembered the armband being placed on Geno’s arm after he cut Day’s umbilical cord. “Let me go call Karen and tell her you are doing better, and then I’ll bring Day.”
“Thank you, Nicole.” Kayla looked at the beautiful nurse and was grateful for her.
“Sweetie, you’re up.” Jennifer rushed to her daughter’s side and hugged her.
“Hi, Mommy.”
“I am so glad you’re okay. Your father is worried sick. He is going to be relieved.” She rubbed her hand across Kayla’s cheek.
“I’m fine, Mama. Did you see the baby?”
“She’s beautiful. Just like her mother.”
“Did they tell you her full name?”
“Her name is just as beautiful as she is. Thank you so much, Kayla. I am so flattered, and Gramma would be proud, too.” Jennifer cried when Roni told her the baby’s full name. She was hoping to have a grandson, but when she heard Kayla had a girl she couldn’t have been happier.
“I guess I overdid it, huh, Ma?”
“Kayla, why in the world did you have all of those people visiting and all of that nonsense going on in the first place? You had just given birth, not signed a record deal. From the way I hear it, if Terrell hadn’t arrived when he did, Geno and Craig were about to start fighting. You are lucky they didn’t call security.” Jennifer knew she was wrong to be laying her daughter out, but she was angry. Kayla could have died.
“Mom, Craig had the nerve to ask for a blood test,” Kayla responded.
“Is it his baby?”
“Ma! Yes, it’s his. I am not some loose floozy who sleeps with everyone. I know it’s his baby.”
“Then let him take the test. You didn’t even have to go there with him. You know what the results would say, do you not?”
“Yes.”
&
nbsp; “Then take it. And when you take him to court for child support, you’ll have all the proof you need!” Jennifer told her. “Who do he think he is, gonna question my baby’s integrity?”
“You are crazy, Ma.” Kayla laughed. Nicole wheeled the bassinet into the room and Kayla happily took her baby. “She’s gotten bigger!”
“No, you are the crazy one.” Jennifer shook her head and silently said a prayer of thanksgiving for the recovery of her daughter and the birth of her grandbaby.
23
Kayla had just gotten out of the shower and was packing to go home. She was beyond ready to leave. She had been in the hospital five days, including the night that Day was born. She wanted to take her baby home and get on with her life. They had already brought Day from the nursery. Kayla made a mental note to send the nursery staff a thank you note and a basket of cookies from herself and the baby. They had been so attentive.
“Looks like you’re ready to go,” Karen said. Kayla was sitting on the side of the bed, waiting for her parents to pick her up.
“I’ve been ready,” Kayla told her. “Day needs to go and see her new room.”
“Well, I am gonna discharge you, but we need to get a few things straight before I sign these papers.”
“Okay, what?”
“There are two young men outside who say they need to see you. Now, I have listened to both of them begging me to see you for the last two days. I have agreed to give them five minutes each. I am going to connect you back up to this blood pressure monitor and if it shows a high reading at any time while they are here, it’s back in the bed and you will stay there. I cannot risk having you leave here and having a stroke. Understand, Kayla? You have a little one to care for.”
“I understand. Who’s outside to see me?” Kayla asked. She figured it was Geno and Terrell. They had probably been worried to death, and Kayla already knew that Geno came to see Day regularly.
“I’ll send the first gentleman in,” Karen said as she affixed the blood pressure cuff on Kayla’s arm. “Remember what I told you.”
“I will.” Kayla took a deep breath and reminded herself to stay calm. She leaned over and checked on Day to make sure she was still asleep.