Always Be My Baby

It's Time

For Thanksgiving, Ben and Miranda headed back home. The tension between them was at an all-time high. She sighed loudly glad that the music covered her noises. Last week, they'd been late paying their bills for a second time after Ben's job had been late paying him. She'd offered to get a job to help with their expenses and that had a started a fight like they'd never had before. It'd ended with her entire body shaking hot with rage and Ben kissing her cheek before storming out, angry. Two hours later, he'd returned when she was in bed and they made up, apologizing slowly and deliberately. In a moment of thoughtlessness, she'd brought it again as they neared her parents' house: "I, uh, asked around to see if any teachers needed a TA and—"

"Drop it," he said turning the key over.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't have to do anything strenuous. I'll literally just sit right in the room and observe."

"You're nine months pregnant, Miranda. All you need to do is worry about staying comfortable and getting good grades and becoming a doctor. You don't need to add anything else to your plate."

"But—"

Ben pulled behind her a car she recognized as her uncle's car. "I got us. I don't know how many times I have to keep saying it. I can handle it." Miranda searched his eyes to see just how serious he was. She'd just wanted to help. She saw how tired he was. He left early and came home late. The combination of school and work was kicking his ass. And she didn't know if it was his ego or that he genuinely didn't want her to worry, but it annoyed her that he wouldn't accept her offer. "Look, I'll beg my parents for the money. Or beg your parents for the money, but you..." He turned to her. "You just need to relax and take care of our son; I'll take care of you. Like I promised you I would. Okay?"

Miranda nodded. "Okay."

He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out some napkins. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, baby." She let him pick up her hand and pull her in for a hug. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," she said kissing him full on the lips. Being nineteen was hard; and being nineteen while pregnant was a lot. But being nineteen, pregnant and married a whole different thing. She was struggling.

...

Ben did his best to slap a smile on his face as they went into the Bailey house. He wished they could have stayed at home, just the two of them—the three of them. Their child could come any day and he was lowkey panicking. Being married to Miranda just felt right and he was good at it. But becoming a father was something he wasn't sure he was ready for. On the front steps, he hugged his wife, the way he used to do when they first started dating, "Ready?" He asked.

She nodded. "Ready."

They walked into the house and were greeted loudly by her cousins. Ben took a deep breath. This was their first big holiday as a married couple and he wasn't sure how it was all going to play out. "Happy Thanksgiving, everyone," he said hugging Elena and shaking hands with William. He slid Miranda's coat off her shoulders, holding onto her waist.

"Here, let me introduce you," she said taking his hand. "These are my aunts, Jackie and Tammy. And my cousins, Brooke and Saniyah." Miranda looked around. "Where's Yvonne?"

"She went to the store with Drew," the one called Brooke answered with a wink.

"Oh," Miranda answered.

"To the store, Mandy. They went to the store," Saniyah added.

His wife shrugged, shaking her head. He leaned down and whispered in her ear: "They're smoking somewhere."

"Oooh!" She replied laughing making the rest of them laugh.

Ben looked up to see eyes staring at him. He gave a nod, hoping that he wasn't sweating through his shirt. "I'm being stared at," he said beneath his breath.