Page 104 of His Lucky Blessing

California was nothing like I expected it to be. Atlanta was a grimy ass city, but LA was some real street shit. The air was different, and the culture was different as well. Everyone appeared to be rich but it was nothing like that Atlanta rich, you really had to be rich to live the fuck out here. We took an Uber to the hospital.

“You nervous?” Lucky asked.

“As fuck,” I rubbed my hands on my jeans. “It’s been a few months. What if she doesn’t remember shit but my name?”

“I hope when she sees us, she’ll remember more. I’m so excited to see her. I missed my damn sister. After she gets well, I’mma slap the shit outta of her for leaving and not telling me. We don’t rock like that,” Blessyn stated.

The drive took us a little longer than expected due to traffic. I grabbed my daughter and jumped out of the SUV as soon as it pulled up to the entrance of the hospital. None of us knew where we were going and it didn’t matter. Blessyn stopped at a desk and asked where she was located. Merci was moved out of CCU to a normal room. I thought the elevator ride would never end. When the doors popped open, we were greeted by a young black nurse.

“Blessyn?” She held her hand out to greet Blessyn.

“Yes,” she shook her hand.

“And you must be Perce.”

“I am.”

“Okay, so let me tell you guys now. Every day she’s getting better with her memory. Today she was able to remember her mama’s name and something about a baby she had but died. The scan of her brain states that memory loss is only short term. Don’t be upset if she doesn’t remember certain things. I wantedto tell you both because as her sister, Blessyn it’s going to be harder for you,” the nurse told us.

“We understand. We just want to see her. You gotta understand we thought she was dead,” I told her.

“Technically she was but a little girl saved her life. She was left for dead, but we won’t relive that. We’re glad she’s here with us. You guys can follow me.”

The door opened and Merci was sitting up in bed eating. She was skinnier than I had ever seen her. Apparently, she tried to get herself together for us, but her hair was so thick that she couldn’t get it all in a ponytail. It didn’t matter her appearance right now. She was alive and well. My daughter called her name out but Merci didn’t notice her so I wouldn’t let her down. She started crying so I stepped out for a second to get her together. When I walked back in, Blessyn was holding her sister and crying.

“I’mma take the kids for a little walk. You and Blessyn enjoy this time with her,” my brother took my daughter out of my arms and juggled them both out of the room.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea that this was going to happen to me. Maybe if I hadn’t left, mama would still be alive,” Merci said as she wiped her eyes.

“Don’t apologize. We’ve all made mistakes that we can’t take back. Perc and I are just excited that you are alive. Mama’s death had nothing to do with you. When you get better, we’ll talk about it,” Blessyn told her as she waved me over.

“Is that true, Perc? You standing there like you don’t really wanna be here.”

“I gotta a lot of emotions running through me right now. I’m happy as hell you’re alive and I’m not mad but I don’t wanna touch you right now. Nothing against you it’s just me getting myself together.”

“I’mma catch up with Lucky. I’ll let y’all get some alone time and then I’ll come back to braid this thick ass hair down,” Blessyn brushed her hair back with her hand.

I stood in the room with Merci like we strangers. This was not how I was expecting our first encounter to be. It was weird seeing her. All I could think about was us having sex the night before she left. She promised me that she was going to call the nigga and tell him that she wasn’t coming but she still ended up leaving. Now she sat here like things were going to be normal. I loved her but Merci couldn’t be trusted. Something this traumatic should have been the wake up call she needed.

“I know you’re pissed off with me and I know I lied to you. At first, I didn’t know why I was here and then I had a dream about the last time we spent together. You told me to cancel a trip. I couldn’t remember your name, but I knew I had to be comfortable with you because I let you in my home. I remember my condo because it was my favorite place.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it. I don’t want to think about the thought of you thinking you had to sneak and leave. It would’ve been better for you to keep it real with me.”

“I know. I should’ve just told you. You know how I was and if a nigga was going to spend a bag on me for a trip, I was going,” she shrugged.

“Look where that bag got you. Everything ain’t ‘bout a fuckin’ bag. The same bag I got if not more, but it wasn’t good enough. If you wanted trips, then why not say that?”

Merci laid her head back on her pillow and stared at the ceiling. She let the tears roll down the side of her face. I got closer to her so I could wipe her tears. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

“Perc, I gotta tell you something. I don’t want you to get mad with me.” I wiped her tears. “Please don’t be mad with me.”

“I’m not gon’ get mad.”

“I’m pregnant.”

I snatched my hand away from her and stormed out of the room.

Ibroke down as soon as he walked out the door. There was no sense in my hiding it because as small as I had gotten, my stomach was protruding and there was no need to keep the secret from him. It wasn’t about me trying to be with him. I was wanting to be truthful with everyone around me. My life almost ended because of my selfishness. His reaction didn’t shock me. We had just loss our daughter, and I knew how he felt about me. The thought of having another nigga’s baby was going to sit right with him.

---