Chapter 11

Nicki sat in the waiting room looking at a Magazine. She came across her fashion boutique review and smiled reading it. Barbz was doing great in sales and marketing even with competition on the rise.

“OMG, Hi miss me-rahj”

Nicki looked over at a fair skin woman with big hazel eyes and thin lips. Nicki smiled, but laughed on the inside at how the lady had pronounced her name. The woman seemed to be checking her out with this weird smile on her face.

“Excuse me, but do I know you?”

“Well no, but I’ve seen you around the school my daughter will be attending.”

“What school would that be?”

“Stephenson. The elementary.”

“My son goes there.”

“Yes, I’ve been told so much about him and his advancements.”

There was an awkward pause as an older lady came into the room and called out for a young girl, who look to be very nervous and shaken. The woman broke the silence as the girl trailed behind the glass door.

“I’m Sidney.”

“Call me, Nicki.”

“Okay, Ms. Nicki, so I’ve been told you’re the woman to see about special place advancement classes.”

“Yes, it’s the building near the school…”

“I know, I want my daughter in the program.”

Nicki paused then cleared her throat.

“I don’t have that kind of power, Sidney, right? I just put in applications for people and only six new ones are chosen every year. Does she excel in academics?”

“Yes, science and reading.”

“Fill out an application and I’ll see to it.”

Nicki smiled as her nurse came to get her. Sidney returned the smile and proceeded to leave the office.

“Ms. Maraj come on pretty lady.”

“Yes, Angela.”

———

“Grammy!”

“Pumpkin, that’s not anything to play on.”

LJ stood on the TV stand and jumped falling into pillows he had aligned on the floor. Sonya dashed around the kitchen to see he wasn’t hurt, but she was pissed. She grabbed him and sat him on the sofa.

“LJ, don’t do that! You scared Grammy!”

She fussed looking at his eyes glossing over. She grabbed him into a hug. She whispered a prayer over his head and looked into his eyes. Looking like his mother. She smiled causing LJ to smile reminding her more of her daughter in law.

“Grammy where’s mommy?”

“She’s at the doctor’s.”

“Is she sick? I want to see her.”

LJ hadn’t seen Nic since last night. He was upset when he didn’t wake up in his bed, but got over it when he seen his Grammy in the bed next to him. Grammy always pretty with her liddlo nose. LJ reached up and pulled on her nose.

“I got your nose Grammy, now you can’t smell!”

“Pumpkin if Grammy can’t smell then the cookies will burn up.”

LJ’s eyes grew big and he pushed his hand into her nose and ran to the kitchen. He jumped up to reach the oven, but couldn’t get to the handle. Sonya came around the corner to see LJ on the stool.

“Pumpkin, NO!”

She was too late. LJ snatched the hot pan of cookies out of the oven and when he realized they were hot, he dropped the pan on his foot. He screamed and cried from the pan leaving a burn mark on half of his foot. Sonya called an ambulance and then Nicki and Safaree. They’re going to kill me.

———

“I’m what?”

Nicki asked for the third time. She began to cry and shake her head vigorously. Fuck! She had come in because she had missed a period, but she hadn’t had sex in 6 months and here the doctor was telling her that she was 5 months and 2 weeks. She hadn’t gained any weight and had her cycle up until now.

“Yes, you’re pregnant.”

“Is the baby okay, I mean I haven’t gained any weight or anything just an appetite.”

“Not all women gain weight when they get pregnant.”

“But I did my first time.”

“Maybe not this time.”

Nicki’s phone began to buzz. She picked it up and answered once she saw who it was. Sonya’s voice boomed threw the phone as LJ cried in the background. It was a lot of noises going on.

“Mom?”

“Nicki, baby. I need you to get to the children’s hospital quick. I’ll explain once you get here.”

“What happen?”

“LJ’s foot got burned, badly.”

“What? Why? How?”

Nicki was fumbling to get her stuff together and shoes back on. The doctor passed her two prescriptions and her purse. She snatched everything and jogged out the building trying to get in her car. She dropped everything on the ground and opened the door. She quickly snatched everything up, threw it in the car, checked again and got in and drove off.

———

Safaree rushed into the hospital and asked for LJ. The lady pointed to the double doors and told him room 106. Nicki had called him after she got there to make sure he was coming. He had been in a meeting with some new business partners and couldn’t reschedule. He pushed open the room door to a distressed Nic, his mom’s weary smile and LJ in the bed with his foot casted.

“Hey Big Guy!”

SB gave him a look and the smile disappeared off his face.

“I’ll talk to you about this later.”

“Faree, don’t start. It was an accident.”

“But he knows not to go fucking around with the oven!”

“Calm down and watch your mouth.”

“I’m grown ass man, Onika this my fucking mouth…”

“Okay! I have enough stuff going on don’t start your BF.”

He looked over at his mom, who was smiling ear to ear now. She was staring at them as if she had a secret.

“What’s up ma?”

“Ask Onika.”

“Nic?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Naw now, I’m leaving for Texas tomorrow.”

“Well I’ll wait….”

“Tanya, not with your bullshit right now.”

“Lloyd, watch your mouth, okay? It’s not a big deal.”

“She’s pregnant!”

Sonya blurted out. Safaree looked over at Nic as if to question her about it and she nodded her head. He picked her up and kissed her with so much passion she forgot that she was pissed at him. Sonya cleared her throat and glared at SB.

“What?”

“Karen.”

“I know man, I love her, but I’m in love with Onika.”

“We’ll talk later.”

Safaree looked over at Nic, who’s face was red and glowing. He looked over at LJ who was staring at the TV with his headphones on. Clueless. I’m bout to have another baby with the woman I’m in love with, who gives me butterflies, completes me, kids and love. Damn, I want to make Onika my wife.