Walk With Me 1

16

Nicki

Rihanna is leaned against the island countertop as I massage her lower back.

"You did this to me." She groans in pain.

I gasp.

"It wasn't all me."

I stop massaging her sore lower back and move to finish up dinner. Rihanna straightens her posture and her big belly protrudes.

She's 6 months now. It's a girl. We're all so excited to meet her.

I rub on it and she just stares at me.

"You have nothing to say for yourself?" Robyn pries my hand away from the top of her belly.

"I'll be in bed."

"Rih, are you really pissed?"

"Yeah." She grabs a donut and walks away from me.

I sigh and shake my head.

Rihanna turns around, "But, you can give me a hug and a massage."

"Get on the couch then." The food is on the slow cooker anyways.

I follow her and she puts both arms on the backrest of the couch and is on her knees on the cushion. I pull the back of her shirt up and massage gently like she wants me too and she sinks into the touch as I lower my hands to her lower back. Apparently the baby puts a lot of pressure around this area with the distribution of weight.

I usually can't stand pregnant women, especially because of their hormones and attitudes but Robyn is the only exception. She's our daughter's other mother and holds a special place in my heart.

"That okay?" I ask her.

Rihanna sighs in relief, "Yeah, perfect."

"Tell me how much longer you want me massaging."

I move my hands carefully and tenderly along her hip line.

"This baby hurt so much."

"I'm sorry bout that, Rob." I'm semi-apologetic, mainly because these hormones got her catching a tone all over the place. "Wanna talk about it?"

She sighs, "It's not a big topic, it's a physical toll more than anything. I haven't been able to breathe right since the last month. She's just pressing into my organs." She says. "I can't wait to see her and hold her though. I guess then the pain won't matter because Baby Maraj-Fenty will be in our arms."

I get the biggest lightbulb, "We should thing of Baby Maraj-Fenty's name. Middle name too if you want."

Robyn hums in agreement the waves at me to stop. I'm moved to sit down and she sits next to me, slightly on top of me. I rub on her belly and hold her like she wanted me to.

"Jazmine."

"I like that."

"Amina. I've always loved that name. Or Jamila."

Robyn snuggles into my chest and I think up of more things.

"Okay, so we have Jazmine, Amina, Jamila and any more?"

"Mattea. I love that."

"Mattea Maraj-Fenty."

"I love it."

"How about Jazmine Maraj-Petty? You think that flows right?"

"Jazmine." Sounds perfect and I can tell in Robyn's eyes that she loves it too.

"So that's her name. My little Jazmine flower." I rub on Robyn's belly and she tears up slightly.

"Since I was a little girl I've always loved that name."

I wipe away her tears gently, "Did you know someone with that name?"

"No, I've just always loved it."

"That's our baby's name now, Rih. It's so beautiful too."

I hold her as I'm tight as I can as careful as possible. I give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

It's been a while since I've been back to work. I've talked to Miss Hill and she's granted me maternity leave which is ironic cause I'm not the one pregnant. But I'm grateful, and am not complaining. I give my students their assignments online and while it isn't the same, I wouldn't have it any other way. I get to see and watch my baby grow and come closer to being with us.

I miss being around Beyoncé every day but... I just don't know how to approach her. I mean, she won't be teaching next year ever again and it doesn't sit right with me because I'm so used to our schedule. We see eachother so damn often that I feel it's gonna be a big shock to not see her again.

Even though I saw her with that man, I don't want to leave her alone. I'm invested in that woman and I've never cared about any other person this way.

"Whatchu thinkin' about, baby mama?"

"Um... nothing."

"You can tell me things, y'know."

"Rob, it's nothing."

She sighs and grabs me by the jaw, shaking my head.

I laugh, "The hell you doin', Rob!?"

"Talk to me."

"It's nothing seriously."

Almost on cue, there is a jab coming from her stomach, that I feel in my side. It doesn't hurt but it's kinda funny. I'm being ganged up on by two people.

Rih raises her brow.

"We demand to know."

"No!" I quip and laugh.