Page 36 of Mercedees: Forever An Atkins
“First off, you already have the signs, Cedees. You’re after anything salty or sour, you are a victim of morning sickness, and your hair texture are both oily and dry with the oily being near the ends. I don’t have any kids to show for it, but I’ve been through enough pregnancies to know the symptoms. Plus, you have the glow,” she explained.
“Baby, what’s wrong with her?” my father questioned for a second time.
She eyed me before poking her head out the door hollering, “She’s pregnant, Ryan!”
Throwing her a hell of a glare, I said, “Jesus Christ. Why would you tell him that, Mama? You’re the only one thinking that. Now I got to hear his mouth.”
Before I could finish my sentence good, my father was standing in the doorway of the bathroom. With his hands in his pocket, he went from head to toe with a blank expression. I didn’t know what to expect. This was the one thing I didn’t want him to get wind of. I wanted to avoid any kind of conversation regarding my love life. However, this was going to bring it to the forefront.
“It’s been thirty days Mercedees, and you ain’t brought me back nothing. Not only have you got yo’self caught up in a marriage but now you pregnant. Is this what y’all call living life on the edge? I mean goddamn, do y’all even got traditionalism in you anymore? Or you one of them pan things that don’t see gender but personality bullshit,” he ranted. I had two choices. I could either tell him the truth about Arion or keep him waiting until I figured out what the hell was going on with my life as a whole. “Them wheels turning so let me make something clear. If you lie to me, that’s it. Ain’t no coming back or cleaning it up.”
Bracing myself on the sink counter, I released several deep breaths with my eyes closed. I had to accept whatever was coming my way. I glanced over at my mama, and she gave me a nod of approval. These were my parents after all, they would have to support me, right?
“His name is Arion Greek. I found him my birthday night at Kira’s club. If I’m pregnant, it’s 100 percent his. Me being pregnant is a longshot though.”
“Castina take her to figure this shit out and call me when you done. Cedees, if you pregnant, you and that nigga better arrange a time and place to see me. I’m not playing ‘bout my blood. I want an answer ‘bout my grandchild within the next couple ofhours and that date by the end of the week.” He walked away not giving me a chance to say shit else.
“Mama, why did you do that knowing how he is? Dammit!” I shouted slamming the door.
“I meant no harm baby girl, and you know it. Me and Ryan are in a good place right now and keeping this from him would change that. This is also something that you need to handle as soon as possible. If you don’t want it, you need to get rid of it, and if you do, you need to mentally prepare yourself. A child isn’t something to be indecisive about. I prayed for a successful pregnancy every time and failed. I think that’s what really drew a wedge between us. The cheating was something I could’ve got over because he only did it once. You are the daughter I never had. Let’s go find out what’s going on and make some decisions,” she advised.
I loved my mother and even though I wasn’t biologically hers, you couldn’t tell me shit ‘bout her and vice versa. Castina was all I knew. I never knew her and my father went through so much, but it quickly made me realize why he was so attached to her. They created life together whether it survived or not. Adjusting to them seemed a lil’ easier now.
“Fine Mama. Let me freshen up and then we can go. I didn’t come over here for all this,” I said annoyingly.
Opening the door, I walked out heading for my bedroom upstairs. I bypassed my bed and went straight for the shower. Twenty-minutes flew by, and I was wrapped in a plush towel drying off. I grabbed a simple two piece set out the closet and got dressed after moisturizing up. I was back downstairs to my mother in another fifteen.
Nothing was said as we left out the front door. She decided to drive, and I was glad of it. I had too much on my mind to even think straight at the moment. I didn’t need Akira in my ear saying off the wall shit, so she wasn’t getting a call until I wasready. Knowing my father, he was probably on the phone with my Uncle Senior telling all my business. I had no choice but to call Bentley. I grabbed my cell from my purse and called him up. He was the only one that seemed to support all my crazy shit without the extra lip.
He answered on the first ring with, “Wassup Cedees.”
“A lot actually. Are you busy?”
“Nah. I just put the kids down for a nap while Heidi finish cooking. What’s going on?”
Sighing deeply, I asked, “Can you meet me at Nurturing You? It’s a women’s clinic. I, uhm, I think I got into some shit and need you.”
“I’m on the way.”
“Thank you. Oh, and don’t tell anybody what’s up. I’m already nervous as fuck.”
“You know I got you. Give me twenty, and I’ll be there.”
The call ended just as fast as it began. Bentley and my father had a lot in common, if I was being honest. They only spoke when spoken to and when it was necessary. You wouldn’t know they were there if it they didn’t let their presence be known.
“Is there a reason why you want Bentley there? I thought you would’ve called Royce, Heidi, or Striker. Shit, maybe even Akira. Why him?” she inquired.
“Bentley doesn’t run his mouth the way everyone else does. I just need a minute, Mama. He’ll give me that.”
Nodding, she continued to drive us through the city until we were at our destination. The entire ride over, all I thought about was what kind of mother I would be. Castina was the epitome of a woman who bodied motherhood. I wanted to be just as fierce in my role as she was. She didn’t drop the ball even after her and my father split up. Whenever I called, she answered. Every graduation, recital, competition, and neighborhood event mymama was in the crowd. All I wanted to do was mirror that kind of love and support.
There was no indecisiveness about this. If a bitch was knocked up, I was keeping it and all that wild shit I participated in had to stop. I was free the way I was because I didn’t have anyone to worry about. If I was carrying that nigga baby, I was turning a new leaf.
Entering the lot, she found an available spot. As I climbed out the car, my nerves bounced off the charts. I was beyond anxious to know the results. To get married in Vegas, come home, realize me and the nigga share a birthday, just to wind up pregnant was some shit you read in a book. A bitch was just resting to live her life in a carefree manner.
Walking inside with my mother on my heels, I stopped at the receptionist desk. “Hi, is Dr. Bloom available? My name is Mercedees Atkins.”
“One moment.” She picked up her receiver and dialed a number. She spoke lowly to where I could barely pick it up. When she placed the receiver back down, she put on a smile saying, “She’ll be right out. Have a seat for me.”
