Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“Atlanta?”
“No, we’re set up out of Athens right now. It’s easier for Mateo’s family.”
“Do you know what I would give to have one night with you?” There’s a desperate need in his voice that drops a hook in me, pulls me from drowning. I’m caught. I’m his, but it’s not time. But, God, I’m tempted.
“Is it a boy or girl?” I force myself to ask, needing to remind myself why I need to wait.
“Tru, don’t.”
“Boy or girl, Ez? You should know by now.”
His breath releases on a tired stream. “It’s a girl.”
I lick at the fresh tears collecting in the corners of my mouth and glare at the little bag of needles and hormones, my weapons to fight for what comes easily to so many other women.
“You’re happy, of course,” I say, keeping my voice as even as I can.
The line goes quiet with his held breath. He doesn’t want to say the wrong thing, the thing that would drive me away. Further away.
“Fair’s fair,” I say, my voice deliberately light. “If I’m honest with you, you have to be honest with me. You’re happy?”
“Tru.”
“This is why, Ezra. This is why you can’t come to me, why we can’t be together right now. I…I’m happy for you. I just can’t watch.”
He clears his throat, and when his voice returns, it’s husky, raspy, stripped. “What about you? Have you been back to the specialist?”
“Yeah.” I swipe at my cheeks. “I’m taking shots now. Hormone shots so I can freeze my eggs.”
“What? You’re…you’re freezing your eggs? What does that mean? How many times do you do it? Are there side effects?”
“Whoa, buddy,” I chuckle and settle on the lumpy bed, laying back. “That gun was loaded.”
“Sorry.” He blows out a quick breath. “I just didn’t know.”
“Because I’m over thirty-five, I’ll have fewer viable eggs. So I do multiple rounds to increase my chances of a pregnancy. And since I’m in perimenopause, my chances are diminished even more. Fortunately, once the eggs are frozen, they don’t age, so I can…you know. When I’m ready. And if I think I might want more than one baby, well, I have to do it more times.”
“Do you think you want more than one baby?” he asks, the curiosity in his voice barely-checked, straining on the leash.
The chaos of Kayla’s house, five kids singing together, fighting, looking out for each other comes to me. Saturday mornings with my siblings, cleaning the house, eating macaroni and cheese.
“I think I might,” I say with a little surprised laugh.
“This could be…” His words break and then rush ahead. “Tru, this could be ours.”
I haven’t allowed myself to think of it that way, that what I’m doing now might be my only hope to have kids…with him. That it may be the foundation for our family. Until we get through this season, through Aiko’s pregnancy, I won’t think that way.
“I better go,” I tell him, pulling his shirt over my face so I can absorb the vestiges of him in its fibers. “I have an early morning.”
“Call again if you need to. I’d like that.” He sighs. “I need it, Kimba.”
So do I. We’ll see…
“Goodbye, Ez.”
I hang up before he says he loves me because there’s no way I’ll be able to stop myself from saying it back. Saying it louder. Meaning it more than maybe I ever have.
I sit up, walk over to the table, pick up the little pouch.
Tru, this could be ours.
This time when I try, the needle goes right in.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Ezra
“It’s just me!”
Mona’s voice booms from the kitchen, and my new daughter Mai, swaddled in my arms, jerks at the sound.
“Hell.” I rock her a bit until the little pinch between her eyebrows levels out. She settles again, her rosebud mouth rooting even in her sleep.
“Jack?” Mona calls. “Where are you?”
“Mo!” I whisper-hiss. “In my office. How ‘bout that inside voice?”
She appears at my office door, dressed in a hot pink flowing dress and wearing dangerously high heels for a woman I’ve rarely seen out of Chucks. Her locs are swept up and pinned with a matching flower behind her ear.
“Sorry.” She covers her mouth. “I’m still getting used to having a baby in the house.”
“So am I,” I say, offering her as much of a grin as my tired body can produce. “You have on makeup and fancy shoes. What gives, Janet? Obama coming to town? That’s the only man I’ve ever known you to dress up for.”
“Very funny.” She walks over to my desk and lays the back of her hand on Mai’s forehead. “Fever broke?”
“Yeah.” I kiss Mai’s hair, inhaling the smell of baby shampoo. “Hers did, but now Aiko’s sick.”
“You’re kidding? You guys can’t buy a break. How’s Noah?”
“Apparently immunologically resistant to every strain of sickness. I told him it’s all the vitamins I’ve been force-feeding him for years.” I nod to her attire. “Where are you headed?”