Heaven Right Here Page 17
“So, doctor, what’s the verdict?” Hope asked as El once again took a seat across from her. “How crazy am I?”
“We still have to conduct further tests to adequately gauge your mental state. But what I’m certain of right now is that one of your worries is over. You’re going to have a baby.”
42
Baby Mama
It took several seconds for the doctor’s words to sink in.
“I’m pregnant?”
El smiled and nodded. “While I advise a visit to an obstetrician, I am ninety-nine point nine percent sure you are with child. The mood swings, bouts of depression—all common among some women in the early stages of pregnancy.”
“But that’s not possible. In fact, I just had a period last week.”
“Continued menstruation in the early months, or for some women throughout their pregnancy, is not uncommon. The test is conclusive, Hope. You’re going to have a baby.”
Hope walked out of the doctor’s office in a fog and dialed Cy as soon as she left the building and could get a signal.
“I know why I went off on Millicent!” she blurted as soon as he answered the phone.
“I take it you just left your appointment with the therapist?”
“Yes! And I know why I’ve been acting all crazy: the mood swings, the depression, the bitchiness, everything!”
Cy was unconvinced. “He gave you a complete diagnosis in an hour, in one visit? Wow, he must be some kind of doctor.”
Hope reached her car and got inside. She was bursting to tell him the news. But for years she’d planned how it would happen—with candles, dinner, Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” playing in the background.
That’s what I’ll do, she thought as she eased into traffic on Wilshire Boulevard. I’ll make us a nice dinner and buy some nonalcoholic bubbly.
“I’m pregnant!”
Wait, did I just say something? Did “I’m pregnant” just fly out of my mouth?
“You’re … what … baby! Are you sure?”
Dangit, I must have said it! Who is this walking around in my body, and where is the disciplined, controlled old Hope Jones?
“Oh, baby. I didn’t mean to blurt that out. I had it all planned how it would happen.”
“Well, you know what they say about that, right?”
“What?”
“That life is what happens while you’re making your plans. Wait a minute, how am I standing here talking to you calmly? We’re going to have a baby!” They’d waited so long for the news, Cy thought he was dreaming. But surely she wouldn’t say she was pregnant unless there was not a single shadow of a doubt. “Baby, what did you do, a home pregnancy test?”
“No, the doctor Viv recommended is a licensed medical doctor as well as therapist and works from a holistic viewpoint—you know, mind, body, spirit. So before prescribing any medication he does this whole physical workup as well as mental. The last thing I was thinking about when the assistant asked for a pee sample is that it would be used to detect pregnancy. He told me he was checking my hormone levels!”
“And you’re absolutely sure?”
“I’m getting ready to be. I’m heading over to the hospital right now so I can get tested again, by an obstetrician this time. I don’t want to take a chance with a home pregnancy test. Oh, Cy, I can’t believe it! We’re getting ready to have a baby!”
All of a sudden the reality of being pregnant hit her, and Hope broke down into an all out boohoo.
“Baby, where are you? Is it safe for you to drive?”
“I’m just so happy,” she forced between sobs.
“Pull over, baby. Maybe I need to meet you and drive you to the doctor myself.”
“I’m okay, baby. I’m just so overwhelmed.”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to you, baby. Especially now. You’re carrying our future.”
Hope pulled over to wipe her eyes, blow her nose, and pull herself together. Three hours later she pulled into the circular drive of their condo’s front entrance. Having gone to the hospital, where they confirmed she was indeed pregnant, and then to the bookstore and the gourmet grocery shop, she needed help carrying her purchases. She had no problem carrying the night’s dinner— it was the almost twenty baby books she’d purchased that were the backbreaker, the ones that should take her from birth until when the child was eighteen!
She entered the penthouse and was surprised to hear music. Turning to the doorman who’d helped her carry the books, she asked, “Is Frieda here?”
She’d called her cousin, mother, Stacy, and Viv, and while Frieda hadn’t mentioned anything about dropping by, she wouldn’t have put it past her.
“No, the lovely lady hasn’t been by today.”
Hope frowned. “Okay, well, maybe I accidentally set the radio timer.” She tipped the concierge assistant, closed the door, walked toward her bedroom, turned the corner, and got the shock of her life.
The floor of their master suite was covered in orchid petals. Candles were burning, a mound of presents covered the king-sized bed, and the sounds of Eric Benét drifted toward her ears. Cy stood to the left of the bed, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, looking finer than she’d ever seen him.
“Cy!” Hope gushed, tears already streaming down her face. “What are you doing home? You told me you had important meetings. What’s all this? And you’re playing our song!”
Hope knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t help it. She rushed over and folded herself into his arms. He lifted her off the floor as he devoured her mouth in a kiss.
“This,” he said, as he planted kisses all over her face and neck before setting her down on the edge of the bed, “is for the mother of my child.”
“But when did you have time?”
“I’ve got connections, woman. And no part of my business is more important than this moment.”
Cy walked over to the sitting area where a bottle was chilling in a silver bucket. It was then that Hope noticed the massive floral arrangement on the coffee table. It contained her favorite, bird-of-paradise, and other exotic flowers. She couldn’t stop the tears.
Cy popped the cork on a bottle of nonalcoholic champagne and poured the bubbly into two crystal flutes. His eyes devoured Hope as he walked to where she sat. He sat beside her.
“First, I want to thank God for answering our prayers. I want to thank Him for His faithfulness, and for the amazing blessing He has given us.”
“Thank you, God,” Hope whispered.
“Thank you, Father,” Cy said. “And now, I want to thank you, Hope, for giving me everything I’ve ever wanted and so much more. I love you with my whole heart, baby, and I’m going to devote the rest of my life to taking care of you and our family. I love you.”
They drank the champagne, their eyes never leaving each other. Cy took Hope’s hand and stood. “May I dance with my baby’s mama?”
His words made Hope’s heart dance with joy. She smiled and melted into his arms as their anthem played:
“Can we just feel this way together till the end of all time,
Can I just spend my life with you?”
43
The Glamorous Life
Stacy smiled as she sipped hot cocoa and watched Darius play with large foam building blocks. She was so happy she’d decided to postpone her surgery. Even though Dr. Livingston had assured her the invasion would be minimal and that he instead of a radiologist would do the procedure, Stacy didn’t want to deal with recovery and chemotherapy during the holidays.
It was amazing what a reminder of one’s mortality could do. Since getting the diagnosis, all of Stacy’s priorities had shifted. The week after hearing the news, she’d gone over to Bo and Darius’s house and made a peace pact—with Bo. A couple days later, Darius dropped his lawsuit. Thrilled not to have to shelve out thousands for lawyer fees, he gave Stacy an all-expenses-paid Caribbean cruise for Christmas. She and Frieda had a ball, so much so that at times Stacy forgot about
the lump.
Darius Jr. spent Christmas with his father and came home with so many presents Stacy joked about having to add on a room. Tony called regularly to check on her; she appreciated the thought. Every day Stacy counted her blessings; so much so that she wasn’t even tripping that she had no date for New Year’s Eve. Instead she was going to be the third wheel with Frieda and Shabach, going to the Kingdom Citizens celebration and then to a private after party at the home of one of the record execs.
“I’d better call her,” Stacy said aloud. She wanted to find out what Frieda was wearing.
As she reached for her phone, it rang.
“Happy New Year,” Tony said cheerfully.
“Happy New Year’s Eve,” Stacy replied.
“Yeah, auld lang syne and all that.”
“So, Mr. Johnson, what’s up?”
“Well, uh, that’s what I called to find out.”
“Nothing much. Watching my son play, chilling out. What about you?”
“Just sitting here chillaxin’. I’m surprised you’re not out getting a mani-pedi and whatnot, at the hair salon or something.”
“What are you trying to say, that my hair looked jacked Sunday?”
“Naw, naw, but I’m sure you’ve got some hot date tonight, somebody to kiss when the clock strikes twelve.”
“No, little Darius will probably be asleep by then. At any rate, I’ll be at Kingdom Citizens. I’m going with Frieda.”
“I was thinking about going to that. Darius and Shabach will be playing, right?”
“Uh-huh. It’s going to be a jamming show. You should come.”
“Can I come with you?”
“Ooh, Mr. Johnson, are you asking me out?”
“I don’t know that I’d call going to church a date exactly. But, yeah, it would be cool to hang with you if Frieda doesn’t mind.”
“She won’t. You know she’s seeing Shabach.”
“Yeah, I heard. So, hey, should I come pick you up instead?”
“I have to drop Darius off at his father’s, for the nanny.”
“That’s cool.”
“Okay, see you around eight thirty.”
“So, Melody, are you going or what?” Natasha had had just about enough of her best friend’s pouting, even if it was over the phone.
“Who cares about that stupid service!”
“You care, that’s who. You’re just mad that Hope and Miss Vivian canceled our dance routine.”
“She makes me sick. I’m not taking no kind of classes just to get to dance in their church. Trying to take over everything … I’m the one who got Darius’s club together. I’m the one who has his MySpace page blowing up. And I’ll still get to dance, only it will be on MTV and BET. And later tonight, if I’m lucky.”
“Okay, girl, what are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about bringing in the New Year with my man, that’s what!”
“Please, you know Officer Anderson ain’t gonna let you out on New Year’s Eve. You better come to church if you want to see your man.”
“I know how to handle my mama, trust. But I do need a little help though. This is what I want you to do for me.”
As she laid out her plans, Melody’s voice dropped to a whisper, even though she was the only one in the room.
Frieda walked into the bedroom and closed the door against Shabach and his noisy crew. Since moving her into a roomy, two-bedroom apartment last week, he was trying to act like he owned the place—and her. Frieda liked Shabach, but it wasn’t like they were married. She knew it was time for them to have a talk. But, she thought, no need to mess up the holidays.
“Hey, girl,” she said when Stacy answered the phone.
“Frieda, I was just getting ready to call you.”
“Well, here I am. And with good news. Shabach ordered a Hummer stretch for us to ride in to the concert. So can you meet us over here?”
“Are there going to be any hardheads? I’m asking because Tony just called and wants me to ride with him.”
“I knew he wanted to hit that.”
“Girl, everybody isn’t always after the nana. Tony is more serious about God than I am. We are just friends.”
“The only way a man is just friends with a woman is if he’s gay. And sometimes even that don’t work, as you well know.”
“Whatever, Frieda. Like I told you. I’m living for God now. There’s no more time for foolishness.”
“I hear you, Stacy. You’re right.” Frieda decided to back off from teasing her friend. Ever since Stacy had told her about the cancer, Frieda had become aware of her own mortality. She’d even demanded Shabach start wearing a condom again. As long as he lived in Atlanta and she lived in LA, there was no way she was going to chance getting a present another bitch had left him. “So, you down for the limo?”
“Let me call Tony. I’ll call you back.”
Stacy hung up and immediately called Tony.
“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind,” he answered.
“No, I’m just calling to see if you want to ride in Shabach’s limo with Frieda and his crew.”
“Uh, that would be a pass.”
“Why?”
“The Word says yield not to temptation. And that’s Shabach’s middle name. I hope your girl knows who she’s dealing with.”
“Tony, what do you know?”
“Probably nothing you don’t. Shabach is a ho, smokes weed, and is in deep with the hip-hop thugs. That’s not the type of Christian I want to hang around. And you shouldn’t either.”
Stacy couldn’t argue. Tony was right. She’d have to pass on Frieda’s invitation to the glamorous life.
44
Party Over Here
Frieda leaned into Shabach as she finished off another flute of Cristal.
“You were great tonight, baby,” she said before trailing her tongue around his ear.
Shabach played off the compliment by pushing her away, even as he shifted to give his stiffening shaft room to grow.
“Frieda’s right, dog,” Shorty agreed. “Tonight was fire! You took Darius to school and showed old boy how it’s done in the big leagues!”
Shabach finished off a shot of Patrón and melded himself into the limo’s plush leather. He had to agree, the night’s show had been tight. Darius had been on point too, but Shabach would never admit it out loud. D’s bass player, Randall, had been especially good. Shabach rubbed his chin as he plotted how to pull one of LA’s best bass players away from the comp.
The limo pulled past a gate into a circular parking lot filled with Maybachs, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and stretch limos. An inebriated crew of seven spilled out onto the cobblestone drive, ready to finish the party that had begun earlier at the Palladium, the place Kingdom Citizens’ Christian Center had rented out for their New Year’s Eve celebration.
Music and chatter competed for dominance as Shabach and Frieda walked through the door of the after party. Almost immediately she spotted Darius and Bo being openly affectionate as they cuddled on a love seat in the living room. The room was filled with beautiful people, and Frieda knew she fit right in.
“Baby, I’m going over to the buffet, I need something to soak up this champagne.”
Shabach made his way through throngs of people in the fifteen-room mansion belonging to Darius’s record exec. So this is the house that Darius built, he thought as he made his way through the rooms. The longer he stayed in California, the more he was convinced that his beautiful four-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom home in Atlanta wasn’t enough. He wanted to be here, in Beverly Hills, where the movers and shakers moved and shook.
“Hey, Shabach, you were great tonight!” a young fan gushed.
“Thanks, baby girl. But if you don’t mind me asking, isn’t it a little past your bedtime?”
“Not unless you’re going to get in the bed with me,” Melody pouted before turning to sashay away, showing him the luscious backside that always caught men by surprise.
Randall looked at the tempting morsel presenting herself like an appetizer. “Little girl, you better go home before you get into trouble.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting into it with you.”
“Is that right?” Randall said, already walking around her. “Well, you take care, trouble.”
Melody huffed, walked into the bathroom, and checked the makeup she’d had professionally applied at the Mac store. It made her look older and sophisticated, or so she thought. I’m a woman, damnit! And before the night was over, somebody was going to recognize!
Melody gave herself a long, hard look in the mirror. She jiggled her young, tender breasts, prominently displayed courtesy of a push-up bra. She rearranged her curls to cover one eye and formed her mouth in what she felt was a luscious pout. After turning to make sure her mini skirt fit perfectly over her onion and applying another coat of devil-red lipstick, she sat on the commode, pulled out paper and pen, and put part two of her plan into motion.
Back out in the dining room, Frieda was stacking her plate with a variety of delectable goodies: teriyaki shrimp, sirloin tips, and a mound of caviar on top of her rice pilaf.
“Hey, girl, you’re going to mess up that figure,” Darius teased as he sidled up beside her.
“No, mamí’s gonna stay tight, believe that.”
“Where’s your friend?”
“Who, Stacy?”
“Uh-huh. I thought she’d be here with you.”
Frieda didn’t know how much of Stacy’s business she should share with Darius. Then again, she couldn’t help but be a bit messy. “Oh, you didn’t see her at the Palladium? She had a date.”
“Oh, well, that’s cool. I’m glad to hear she’s enjoying herself, what with the diagnosis and all.”
“Darius, trust me. The last thing Stacy is thinking about tonight is a diagnosis. But I’ll give you this. You got the D right.”
With that, Frieda disappeared into the crowd.
Before Darius could process what Frieda had meant by her last statement, a stranger walked up to him.
“Someone told me to give you this,” the attractive Asian woman said with a mild accent. Before he could question her further, she was gone.