Page 99 of Certified Pressure 3
When the doors opened, I stepped inside and pressed for the first floor. My heart was pounding, but my mind was clear.
By the time I walked out to the driveway, I already knew where I was going. I hit the unlock button on one of Pressure’s car and climbed in. The seat still smelled like his cologne, and that alone almost made me lose it again.
I started the car, gripped the wheel, and looked out at the gates opening in front of me. I had heard one of his cousins mention the hospital’s name while everybody was running around earlier. That’s where I was going. I plugged my phone into the charger, waited for it to cut on and punched the hospital into my GPS.
If Pressure wanted to build a family with her, if he wanted to play house and forget about everything we had, they were all gonna remember me before this night was over.
If I couldn’t have Pressure Mensah, then Pluto and that baby wasn’t gonna have him either.
They was all about to feel the same pain I just felt, and I meant every word of it.
Trill-Land Royal Care Hospital
My baby was eight hours old, and I couldn’t stop starin’ at his handsome face. He was small, his skin was a smooth reddish brown, and his lips looked just like Pluto’s. The nurses had already done all the checks earlier to make sure he was straight. Since he came five weeks early, they kept him in the incubator for a while to make sure his lungs was developed and that his breathin’ stayed normal. They pricked his lil’ foot to check his blood sugar and wrapped him tight in a blanket while another nurse checked his temperature and his weight. When they finished and saw that everything looked good, they brought him right back to us.
Pluto was still layin’ in the bed lookin’ tired but beautiful, her hair wild and her skin glowin’ under the light in the room. Every few minutes, she would peek over at me and smile. She was just as in love with him as I was.
When I first saw my son’s chest rise, I swear my heart stopped. I ain’t breathe until I saw him move his arms. I ain’t know how bad I needed that moment until it happened. The last time I was in a delivery room, I left without a baby. Now, lookin’ at my boy, I felt like God gave me another chance to get it right.
All my people had come through earlier. My mama was here with her eyes wet and her smile wide like she just met the best thing in the world. My pops came too, standin’ tall beside her, noddin’ like he was proud. Aunt Treasure made her way to Pluto’s bedside to check on her since she was a doula and all. She made sure Pluto had water, and that her pressure was normal. She said Pluto was strong and did everything right. I could see how much that meant to her.
Zurie had been in here earlier, sittin’ on my mama’s lap, askin’ when the baby was gonna wake up again. When Pluto told her she had to be quiet around him, she covered her mouth and whispered, “Okay.” When Mama took her home with her for the night, she waved at me and blew a kiss before they left.
Now it was just me, Pluto, and our baby. The room was quiet except for the sound of the machines beepin’ softly and Prestyn breathin’ against my arm. I held him like I was scared somebody would try to take him. I had no plans of lettin’ go.
Pluto laughed softly, her voice still raspy from all the cryin’ and pushin’. “Pressure, can I hold him now?”
I looked over at her and shook my head, smirkin’. “You had him all to yourself for nine months. It’s my turn now.”
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “I can’t believe he came early.”
I grinned, lookin’ right at her. “That’s that dick I gave you that did it.”
She laughed for real. “Boy, shut up.”
“I’m serious,” I said, still smilin’. “I knew I was in there doin’ damage.”
She shook her head, still smilin’, then sighed. “You play too much. I’m hungry, though. I don’t want none of the hospital food. I want a big juicy burger with everything on it and a large Coke.”
I smirked and nodded. “Say less, I got you. I’mma go get it myself.”
“Extra pickles,” she added, smilin’ soft now. “Don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” I said, grinnin’ at her.
Then she reached her arms out. “Pressure, let me see my baby.”
I stared at her for a second, then leaned down to kiss Prestyn’s little forehead. “A’ight, but when I come back, you gon’ give him back to me.”
“I promise,” she said softly.
I stood up and handed him to her, watchin’ how careful she was when she took him. She looked down at him, whisperin’ that she loved him so much. My heart felt heavy again, but this time it was from love, not pain.
I leaned in, pressed my forehead against hers, and said, “I love you, Pluto. When they let y’all leave here, I’m comin’ home to you.”
She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Okay, Pressure.”
I kissed her lips, grabbed my tux jacket off the chair, and headed for the door.
