Page 31 of Through Treacherous Weather
“Her mom got out of jail, and she came and got her.”
“Oh okay. Finish eating your food. I’m going to go put my things away, and then we can watch a movie before bedtime.” Lauren carried her bags toward the staircase.
She had just put a load of clothes in the laundry when Justice walked into the laundry room. “You just bust up in the house after being gone for a week and act like shit is normal? No apology for leaving your kids for a week?”
“Do I get an apology for you treating me like dirt? I’m not apologizing for shit. I get up every day no matter how I feel and hold you, these kids, and this house down, because I love y’all. Even on days when I don’t feel like it. Even on the days you get on my nerves. Even on the days you don’t deserve it. I have no problem supporting you and playing my part but the moment you forget that you’re lucky to have me and start taking me for granted and treating me like shit is the day I leave your black ass and never look back. This past week was just a warning.”
“Let’s go to the Justice of Peace and get married tomorrow.”
Lauren’s brows furrowed. “Nigga, what?”
“I’m sorry. I miss you, and you’re right. I was fucked up. All the way up, but that was no reason to treat you like that. Since we locked in, you’ve become one of my best friends. Maybe I did take you for granted because being here without you for the past week has been some certified bullshit and not just because these kids are bad as hell.”
Lauren chuckled, but she didn’t say anything. In her opinion, Justice deserved to grovel a little more, and she wanted to hear it.
“You’re it for me. And one of the main reasons why is because you know how to check my ass without thinking twice. You know what I need and when I need it.”
“I didn’t know what you needed when this last situation had you stressed.”
“Babe, you know me and what I need when it counts. You’re not psychic, and you don’t have to know all the answers. I decided to do what you and a few other people suggested. I go to therapy next week. I’d love to know what that muhfucka can tell me that I don’t already know. Mommy issues perhaps? I don’t know, but I’m willing to try.”
“That’s all I ask. That you try. And we can go to the Justice of Peace. I’m not pressed for a big wedding, but I do want a big rock. You’re not getting out of that part.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t even try. You sure you don’t want a big wedding?”
“Baby, I’m wedding tingz out, okay? Somebody in your family is getting married every six months. I don’t even have that much time to lose weight before I have to squeeze into a tight dress for Winter’s wedding. I’m good.”
Justice walked toward her, so he could hug, kiss, and smell her but before he could take three steps, she gripped the edge of the dryer and doubled over in pain. “Ohhhh shit, this isn’t a Braxton Hicks. This is the real deal,” she groaned between clenched teeth.
“Ahh hell. How long you think we got?”
“I don’t know. My back started hurting this morning, and it’s been going all day. If it was from back labor, I could already be dilated. I took a shower before I got here, so I’m ready. My bag is already packed too.”
“Aight, I’m about to call my pops and ask him to bring Nana over here, so she can watch the kids. Denim can hold them down until she gets here.”
Lauren nodded. When the contraction subsided, she walked into her bedroom to get her hospital bag from the closet. She was anxious but lowkey ready to meet her baby and get her body back. She tried to enjoy pregnancy because she knew it would be her last one, but she was over it and ready to push baby girl out.
Justice walked closely behind her as she descended the stairs. When Denim saw the bag, his face crumpled. He assumed her and Justice had argued, and she was leaving again. “What about the movie?” his throat bounced as he swallowed hard.
“We have to take a rain check, bud. I think the baby is coming,” she smiled. “And you have babysitting duty until Nana gets here. Cool?”
He returned the smile and nodded. “Cool. I got that. Good luck.” He wrapped his arms around her, and she hugged him tight.
“Thank you, baby.”
Denim was a teenager, but he was still a kid at heart and so sweet. He had to grow up too fast while living with his mother and in various group homes. Despite his age, Lauren and Justice never put too much pressure on him. He rarely had to babysit and all he had to do around the house was keep his room and bathroom clean and keep his grades up. He was good with the kids but that came naturally. Lauren and Justice never forced him to be responsible for them. Some of his classmates were already having sex, sneaking out, and doing drugs. Denim wasn’t in a rush to be grown. He was appreciating finally living an easy life and having someone that cared about him enough to make sure he was good and not force him to carry the weight from their bad decisions and poor parenting on his shoulders.
Lauren had just fastened her seatbelt when the second contraction hit. “I will not miss this shit,” she held onto the door with her eyes closed.
“You good?” Justice’s head whipped in her direction. “Fuck we should have put a towel down. What if your water breaks?”
“It feels like elephants wearing stilettos are stampeding through my belly, and you’re worried about your car seats,” she growled.
“My bad.” He apologized, but he was praying with everything in him that her water didn’t break in his Maybach.
They didn’t live too far from the hospital that she was going to deliver the baby in, so by the time he arrived, she hadn’t had any more contractions. They weren’t super close together, so hefigured she had some time. Justice walked in to get a nurse to bring out a wheelchair, so he could park the car.
“I’ll get you in a room and hooked up to a monitor and then we can check your vitals and get you registered. This your first baby?” the young, black, nurse spoke in a comforting tone.
