Page 85 of Dr. Bell

Sighing heavily, I removed my mask and said, “My family means everything to me.”

Leaning back against the seat, I watched the scenery pass as Alli steered us back to the office. Once there, I showered and changed again, I went to see Russ. He was on a ventilator, but only to keep him comfortable while he healed. Stepping to his bedside, I placed my hand on his shoulder.

“I got you forever.” If he were awake, he wouldn’t accept me saying thank you. He knew what it was.

Minutes later, I walked into Pretty’s private room to find her awake and watching television. A plate of food sat on the side table, uneaten. Her eyes brightened at the sight of me.

“Hey, baby.” I kissed her forehead, then her lips.

“Sean said that Haven and Russ are going to be okay. Is he being honest with me?”

Smiling, I sat down and placed my hands on her belly to play with our baby.

“He’s being honest, my baby. They’re just fine. So are our sons.”

Tears rolled out of her closed eyes. “I love you so much, Adir.”

I kissed her again and mumbled the same affection to her.

Several minutes later, I received a text message.

Gunner:Marco is awake.

Shit… That was perfect timing.

GENIKA

Two days later…

“Iplanongoingto see Adir again.”

“Why did you even go up there in the first place?” I grilled my sister for overstepping my boundaries once again. First, she had to go embarrass herself by fighting Coco at that damn football game. Then, she called me to gloat about how sheactuallyshowed up at Adir’s place of business begging him to take me back like I wasthatdesperate.

Well, I was that desperate. Still, I hadn’t told my sister about Minnie Bell visiting me. That shit was going with me to the grave. My family was wealthy and had connections. However,they weren’t on the level of fuckery that Adir was on. There was no way they’d go up against him. Not successfully anyway.

“What the hell you mean, Genika? You are pregnant with his child! You better not let him think he’s just gon’ get away without taking responsibility! Shit, he got all those damn kids and wants to disown yours! I’m not standing for that!”

“Gensen, I stopped talkin’ to you for weeks just because you went to see that man. Leave him alone, please. Especially after what happened the other day.” She was stressing me the hell out, and that was the last thing I needed. Adir was out for blood, and I didn’t want that shit darkening my sister’s doorstep.

She smacked her teeth loudly. “Fuck everything connected to Adir! That fuckin’ wife of his is the reason you’re in this situation in the first damn place. What you’re doing is stupid, Genika. I just want you to know that. I don’t agree with you letting him get away with this.”

“You don’t have to like it. I’m cool on Adir.”

My comment rendered my sister speechless. It even sounded crazy to me coming out of my mouth. Just a little while ago, I’d confronted Coco about the fact that Adir would in fact be in his child’s life. Now… Now I just wanted this shit to blow over.

“You’re insane,” Gensen mumbled.

“I’m not. I just want to enjoy my new year without stressing over what a man will or won’t do for me and his child.”

Out done, my sister stared at me. She’d shown up a few minutes ago bearing lunch. I wasn’t surprised. I’d gone the entire holiday season without speaking to her. Gensen and I were only two years apart and as close as twins. We got our beautiful bone structure, high eyebrows, and long ginger hair from our mother. Our light eyes were the only thing we inherited from our father. We were absolutely stunning to the eyes and could have had any and everything we wanted. Including a man. Any man.

“So, that’s it?”

I nodded. “Thank you for lunch, though.” I kissed her cheek, then sailed to my office to prepare for my afternoon clinic.

Moving through my afternoon clinic was rough. If I wasn’t thinking about the cramping in my lower back, I was wondering how I was going to raise a child on my own. I knew it was possible. However, I’d never wanted this for my life. I wanted to be married, settled down, and…happy. Instead, I was knee deep in patients and lacking any type of love from a man. Truthfully, it was depressing as hell.

I arrived home and thought about nothing other than enjoying a nice dinner and settling in for a good movie. My living room was covered in baby items from diapers to an expensive swing set. Against my parents’ wishes, I didn’t have a baby shower. Once I realized this was serious business, the fluff of it all died on me. I was no longer excited and no longer looking forward to seeing my baby like I once did. I hated that for me because I truly wanted my baby more than anything.

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