by Mercedes G
“Taysia, someone wants to talk to you. It wasn’t my idea, and I really didn’t think this was the best time. I just want to come to some type of medium with you; especially since you’re my wife and if we ever decided to make things work between us.” He kissed my forehead and then he walked out. Five minutes later MeMe came in. Soon as she saw me she broke down and cried.
“Taysia, sis, I’m so glad you’re okay. I know we haven’t seen each other since the day I went in labor but I miss you. I miss you as a friend and sister. I’m so sorry,” she cried.
“I knew that JaMel was married, but I didn’t know that he was married to you. I swear I didn’t.” I believed her. I don’t know why I believed her, but something inside of me that day told me that she didn’t know. I mean, she basically handed me the phone to call my husband. She didn’t know.
“I never told Jamel about you and Mega, and I never plan to. JaMel doesn’t even know that you and I knew each other prior to this. He just thinks I’m here to discuss how to move forward with him being the father of JaMelia. Please forgive me Taysia. Jamel and I are no longer seeing each other. All of my time and energy has to go towards my baby girl. I just hope and pray that one day you find it in your heart to forgive me.” She was sobbing all over the place so much that she could barely get out what she was trying to say. Her hand was on the rail of my bed. I wasn’t able to respond to her by mouth so I picked up my hand and covered hers with mine. I forgive her and I forgive JaMel. I had to in order for me to be happy with life again. I couldn’t go on carrying this weight on my shoulder. MeMe smiled and kissed me on my forehead.
“Oh sis, I just want you to know that my crazy ass brother is out there as well!” My eyes bucked and MeMe fell out laughing.
“It okay, he’s not starting any shit Tay. He’s out there acting like he came to check on JaMel when you and I both know that nigga is trying to find out what’s going on with you.” I wanted to laugh so badly. That damn Mega. Oh, how that man had showed me some things. True enough I still had feelings for Mega, but I was still torn. As soon as I got out of this hospital, I was going to focus on myself and making sure my son was straight. I wasn’t sure what was next between Jamel and me. I was just going to take it one day at a time. Mega still didn’t know that I was pregnant. I didn’t need any more drama and stress so I would just keep it that way. Right now, all I wanted to do is rest and praise God. He had spared my life and I couldn’t have been more grateful. As for Simone and Erica, I wasn’t going to let this shit ride. Karma is a bitch. They may not get it today, tomorrow, or even months from now, but I guarantee she’s coming.
Chapter 34
NaTaysia
It had been three whole months since I got shot. JaMel was by my side the entire time. Even though I wouldn’t let him stay overnight with me, he stopped by every day to check on me and to make sure I was straight. He and I had been spending a lot of time together lately. We even shared our 7th anniversary and my 25th birthday together. We were taking baby steps to repairing our relationship. Since my pregnancy was high risk and I was still healing from my gunshot wound, I had to see my doctor once a week. I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for today and I was in my bedroom getting ready. JaMel normally went with me to my doctor’s appointment but he had some business to handle at one of his clubs. He was trying his best to go with me today but I assured him that I was fine and that he could handle his business.
I put on my maternity Levi Jeans, with a cute denim shirt and a pair of flip flops. Damn, I’m cute pregnant! I was looking at myself in my full body mirror with my hand on my stomach. I was now seven months pregnant and my stomach was huge. I always wanted to know what it felt like to have huge stomach while pregnant. Unfortunately, I never made it that far. My face was real chubby making my dimples look deeper than they actually were, and my nose was spread all across my face. I was almost full term. God works in mysterious ways. I had four miscarriages in the past. I never made it past four months. Now I’ve been shot, wasn’t sure about the father of my baby and here I was almost full term. Ain’t that’s some shit!
Once I made it to Women’s Health Professionals, I walked inside, signed my name and sat down. It was deep as hell in here today. I looked across the room and there she was again. Only this time she had a damn pudge in her stomach. I politely stood up and walked over to where she was sitting and sat down beside her.
“Really Ma?” I asked her while pointing down at her stomach.
“Taysia, please don’t come over here with that mess. That’s why I didn’t even say shit to you when you walked through the door.” Then she had the nerve to have an attitude.
“Ma, how in the hell you get pregnant? You too old for this shit! Not only that but I know you’re still using!” I told her. I couldn’t believe she would bring another damn child into this world knowing damn well she ain’t stable. Then again, this is my mom we’re talking about.
“Wait a minute! Who is the mother here, me or you? NaTaysia, I’m grown. Forty is the new twenty, baby!” I couldn’t believe how she was acting. She really thought this shit was okay. There was no way in hell I would allow my sibling to put up with her bullshit. If she didn’t get her shit together soon I was going to the people on her ass, so that I could get custody. This shit don’t even look right; me and my mom sitting up in this bitch pregnant. We were so damn ratchet for this shit.
“You sound like a child ma! I suggest you get yourself together, ASA!” I warned her. “How far are you?” I asked her. She was just as big as me almost.
“I’m six months Taysia. Don’t worry about me! I’m getting myself together.” I actually felt sorry for her. She was still living in the projects, in and out of rehab, and didn’t have a job. She didn’t even have to be this way because she was a beautiful woman despite all of the bullshit she was doing.
“You need anything ma?” I was trying to change my ways and let the past stay in the past. Instead of bashing her and arguing with her, from here on out I would try to work on our relationship. I did want to be a part of my brother or sister’s life and I wanted my son to know his grandmother, since I never got a chance to know mine.
“No, I’m okay,” she said. I knew she was lying. I unzipped my purse and pulled out three hundred dollars.
“Here you go ma. Just take it,” I told her. She took the money and put it inside of her bra. My mom had been through some shit in her life. She lost both of her parents at a very young age and she had me when she was about fifteen. I don’t think she’s ever had a job, and she had been on drugs for as far as I could remember. Maybe if I was a little bit more active in her life and gave her that motivational boost that she needed, then she would go through rehab. After she and I had these babies, we were going to get her life on track.
After my appointment and I came from the back, I noticed my mom was still sitting there. She was there before me, so I didn’t know what she was waiting on.
“You must be waiting for somebody to pick you up?” I asked.
“No, I’m waiting for the rest of these muthafuckas to be seen,” she responded, pointing at about six other girls who were pregnant. They were all waiting to be called to the back. I could tell she was mad.
“The hell you waiting on them for?” I asked.
“Cause I can’t leave until the doctor has seen each one of them. We all rode on the van.”
“What van?”
“The van that takes pregnant women that doesn’t have a ride, to their doctor’s appointment.” There was no way I could just leave her there like that. There was no telling how long she would be here waiting on all these damn females to be seen.
“Come on ma, I’ll take you home,” I told her and she didn’t object. She grabbed her things and followed me to my car. When I got close enough to see my car I just stopped dead in my tracks. Mega was sitting on the hood of my car in his all-white attire. He had a toothpick in his mouth. He smiled from ear to ear when he saw me.
“Tay! Tay!�
� he stated my name with his arms wide open. He was trying to be funny calling my name like that. Mega was smiling from ear to ear. I swear he had the personality of Stevie J from “Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta”. My mom and I continued to walk towards my car. I unlocked my car and pressed the button to start it.
“You can go ahead and get in ma; I’ll be just a second,” I told my mom. I was going to try to make things right with her but that didn’t mean I wanted her in my business.
Mega got off the car and gave me a hug. There wasn’t any hard feelings between us so I returned the gesture.
“Wassup?!?” he said to me.
“Nothing much. What’s up with you?” I asked. I had been trying to stay clear of the man for I don’t know how long. JaMel and I were at good place right now with our relationship/friendship and I was just glad that my life was going back to normal. He and I had become so comfortable on the friend level that he would bring baby JaMelia by sometimes.
“Nothing…just been trying to figure out how long it was gone take you to tell me,” he smiled.
“Tell you what Mega?”
“That, that’s my baby you carrying!” He pointed towards my stomach with his toothpick. This nigga was too damn cocky, I swear. That’s the shit that had sucked me in when I first met him.
“Mega, what are you talking about? This is not your baby I’m carrying.”
“It’s not?” He put the toothpick back in his mouth.
“No Mega, it’s not,” I said and folded my arms across my chest.
“You’re about what, seven months pregnant?” he asked knowing damn well he already knew the answer.
“Yeah I am!”
“I ain’t the smartest man in the world, but I could’ve sworn seven months ago you were in Miami letting me drop this big dick off in yo guts!” He grabbed his dick through his jeans and I saw the full print of it. Jesus please help me! This man is too much!
“Whatever Mega, I’m not doing this here with you.” I went to get in my car but he stopped me.
“I know everything Ms. Lady, and since you got yo’ husband thinking that’s his baby you carrying, you let that nigga know that he’s a dead man walking if he think I’ma let another nigga raise mine!!!!” He had his finger in my face and I knew he meant business. Just when I thought this shit had died down, this right here happens. I wanted to cuss my pussy the fuck out for even getting moist off that shit Mega just spit! Ugggghhhh!!! I wanted scream. I just walked off.
“You look good as fuck in that car too ma!” he yelled as I jumped in the car and pulled off. Yes, I still had my pink Bentley that he bought me.
My mom and I were quiet the entire way to Cuthbert. I figured that maybe she heard the conversation between me and Mega. I just didn’t want to talk about it though. I pulled up to her project so that she could get out.
“Ma, since we’re both seeing the same doctor, you can just schedule your appointments on the days that I have mine. I have to go every week, but when it falls on a week that you have to go, then you can just catch a ride with JaMel to Albany and we could all go together. That way you don’t have to ride on that van,” I told her before she got out.
“Okay, I will. Thank you Taysia.”
“Don’t be telling me thank you. You are my mother,” I told her and she closed the door. I still couldn’t believe that my mom was about to have a baby. She ought to be a shame of herself.
Chapter 35
NaTaysia
It had been so long since I’d been in Cuthbert. I was really enjoying living in my apartment over in Albany, so I don’t think I would move back anytime soon. I decided to stop by Mrs. Mildred’s house. I know she would be talking shit, and I was ready for it. When I pulled up she was already sitting outside in her rocking chair. Soon as I got out the car she started smiling.
“Heeeeyy Mrs. Mildred!” I gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug as I always did.
“Taysia, chiilllllle where you been?” She hugged me and gave me a pat on the back.
“I’ve been hiding Mrs. Mildred,” I laughed as I honestly told her.
“You can’t hide from life chile, but I’m glad you’re okay. I thought you had forgotten about Mrs. Mildred. What you got there in that tummy? Tehehehe,” she started laughing.
“A baby boy, Mrs. Mildred; I’m seven months,” I laughed with her.
“Are you tellin’ me that Mrs. Mildred gotta great grandson?” She was dead ass serious with this question. I didn’t even respond. “Taysia, you don’t hear me talking to you?”
“Yes ma’am, I hear you.”
“Well answer the question chile? Is that my great grandson you carrying in your stomach?” She looked over her glasses as she always does.
“Mrs. Mildred, I honestly don’t know,” I told her.
“Mmm hmm... well I tell you what. When you have him, bring him over here and let Mrs. Mildred take a good look at him. I’ll save you some money on a DNA test. You know them grandmothers always can tell.” I wanted to tell her about Mega already thinking the baby is his, but I just kept it to myself. I sat and talked with Mrs. Mildred for a good little while. I promised her that when I had my baby I would bring him over to see her. My next stop was Kira’s house.
Back then when I pulled up at Kira’s house I would hear her and Jay arguing and fighting. This time I pulled up and all I could hear was her screaming Rock’s name to the top of her lungs. That’s all these two did was fuck. Seemed like every time I called her they were fucking like rabbits, and when she called me he would bend her ass over while she was on the phone and I’d have to hang up. They were going full force. I could hear the bed beating down the wall. I started banging on the door.
“CUT THAT SHIT OUT AND OPEN UP THE DOOR!” I yelled. They were still in there fucking, as if they didn’t hear me banging. Kira finally came to the door with her hair flying and shit. Her hair was already short so she looked a mess.
“Damn Tay, quit cock blocking!” Kira laughed as she opened the door to let me in. Rock was going through the house spraying air freshener.
“Hey Rock! Ewe, y’all so damn nasty I’m scared to sit down,” I told them.
“What’s up Taysia? When was the last time you heard from my boy? You know he been asking about you?” Rock said. I was actually glad that he brought Mega’s name up.
“Speaking of yo’ boy, let me tell y’all what the fuck just happened. So, I had my weekly doctor’s appointment today right. After my appointment, I walks outside and guess who’s sitting on my car in all white with a damn toothpick in their mouth. Mega!” Rock fell out laughing.
“Girl are you serious? What that nigga said when he saw your stomach?”
“Bitch, this nigga knows how far along I am and everything! Now which one of y’all told him?” I asked looking back and forth from Kira to Rock.
“Don’t look at me bitch, you kept this shit away from me too! Hell, I just found out two months ago!”
“I’on get in other folks business!” Rock threw his hands up.
“Well anyway, Mega knows and he’s pretty much telling me that this baby is his,” I sighed.
“Well is it?” Kira asked.
“No it isn’t,” I lied. I didn’t know whose baby I was carrying. The only people that knew that was me, Jamel, and Mrs. Mildred.
“Girl, you better figure something out. You know that nigga crazy!” Kira said.
“And is!” I agreed.
“I got some shit to tell you too. Hold on.” She walked towards the back to see where Rock was. He had jumped in the shower.
“I’m being stalked. It’s like everywhere I go, somebody is following me.”
“Kira, quit acting like you don’t know who’s stalking you.”
“Okay, okay, I think its Jay. I don’t want to tell Rock because he may just kill Jay. I hate him but I don’t want the nigga dead.”
“Well Kira, you gotta do something before you end up dead! You know he’s on that shit now!” I reminded her.
�
��Yeah you right. I gotta figure something out. So what brings you back to Cuthbert? I’ve been tryna get yo’ ass to come down here for I don’t know how long,” she stated while pouring up a shot of Remy.
“I knew it was something else I had to tell you. Have you seen Debra lately?” I asked her.
“Nah, last time I seen Mrs. Debra was at the hospital when you got shot.” She turned up her glass.
“Well she’s pregnant!” Kira literally spit out all of her Remy that she was about to swallow.
“What?!?" Kira was just as shocked as I was.
“I know right!”
“Are you sure Tay? How you know?”
“Well today was my second time running into her at my doctor’s appointment. The first time I saw her I couldn’t tell if she was or not. I saw her today in there and her stomach was damn near bigger than mine,” I told her.
“Oh my God! Who the hell is she pregnant by?”
“Hell I don’t know, probably one of her crackhead friends. I didn’t even ask. I could care less. I told her she needs to get her shit together. I brought her back home. I’m going to try and get her help, and help her as much as I can. She is carrying another life, which is my sibling. She’s my mother and I can’t let her go out bad like that.”
“That’s what’s up Tay! I’m glad you finally coming around. Your mother needs you.”
“Yeah, I know she does.”
Kira and I chatted up for a few before I left to head back home. I felt good visiting my hometown. I had one more stop to make before I left. I went by the house that JaMel and I once shared together. When I opened the door to our home, the house scent brought back so many memories that I had just left behind. Everything was still in place. All of my belongings were just the way that I left them. I intended on leaving them just like that, just in case I ever decided to come back. I called JaMel to let him know that I was heading back to Albany. He wanted me to stop by the club first.