A Love Like This

Chapter XXIX

The delicious aroma of breakfast food filled my nose, interrupting my peaceful slumber. Slowly opening my eyes the smell I found so intoxicating was short lived. The thought of eating food kicked in my morning sickness. Hastily tossing the covers from my body I darted into the bathroom, praying I made it to the toilet this time. I snatched the toilet open and instantly release everything I had ate the night prior into the porcelain bowl. 

I wiped the my mouth with the back of my hand before flushing the toilet and went to wash my hands. Whoever said morning sickness wasn't that bad needs their ass whooped. Because this baby was surely fucking me up. After brushing my teeth and washing my face I left out of the bathroom and made my way down to the kitchen.

Although I was out of the danger zone this little munchkin inside me decided to mess with me even more. So much so I was placed on bedrest. I was barely able to eat food. I couldn't keep things down all the time. And when I did I ended up throwing it up hours later. The only thing Baby Murphy seemed to like was nuggets from Chick-Fil-A, bacon burgers and pasta. Every now and then in the morning I was able to eat very light, like a half of pancake or French toast, an egg and one strip of bacon. We became worried that myself and Baby Murphy wasn't meeting the weight marks. So in between meals I would have a smoothie to fill me up.

Emerging into the kitchen I expected to see Adrian but instead I was greeted by Renae. Renae has been with me everyday since I was placed on bedrest. She made sure I didn't lift a finger. Although I felt horrible that she was taking care of things I needed to she assured me not to feel like a burden. Besides Adrian and Melanie, Renae had became my rock. I was grateful to have her with me.

"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling ?" Renae asked placing a plate on the island along with a smoothie

"I got sick when I woke up but I'm feeling okay now" I said lowering my eyes to the plate.

"I know you've been eating pancakes most of the week. So we're going to try French toast. I made you one scrambled egg with no cheese and two sausage links" she says giving me a soft smile "and just in case a strawberry mango smoothie"

"You are an angel" I replied smiling at her

"I need to make sure my daughter and grandbaby okay. I know you're probably feeling defeated with everything going on with your pregnancy but I promise Vixen. It's going to be worthwhile once you meet your baby"

One thing about Renae she knew what to say to make things better. I felt that with how rough this pregnancy is it was my karma. My karma for aborting the baby Isaiah had left me with. Everyone tried to tell me it wasn't. But I truly believed that it was. The baby couldn't help that its father was a sick individual. I wasn't mentally prepared to carry a child I could possibly hate or even want to do something to harm myself just to get rid of it. Chante likes to tell me to forgive myself and be kind to myself. At times I simply don't know how.

"How did you know ?" I questioned cutting into the French toast

"Adrian let me know you've been struggling with that. I understand that it was a tough decision but baby you're stronger than what you're giving yourself credit for" Renae said stroking my cheek

"Thank you. I honestly don't know what I would do if I didn't have you. Speaking of Adrian where is he ?" I inquired as I began to eat my egg

"You don't have to worry about that. You're stuck with me now" she chuckled before waving her hand when I mentioned Adrian "he said he and Lalo had some business to handle. Like I don't know what that means" she says rolling her eyes.

Keeping my mouth shut I gave her a look of confusion as if I didn't know what she was talking about. Renae slanted her eyes at me momentarily before making a plate for herself.

"Vixen I know my child. No matter what he thinks he can hide from me" Renae says glancing over her shoulder "when you become a mother you'll understand"

"Since you know, how do you feel about it ?" I asked honestly curious about it. I still had my reservations about it. It doesn't matter how safe and cautious you are, there were people out to get you. And that was my biggest fear.

"I just pray for him. We both know how headstrong Adri can be. There's no talking him out of anything. So I do what all mothers of black men do. I just pray" Renae said ending her words with a sigh.

"That's all I do for him. I just want him to come home in one piece. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost him" I replied

A silence fell before us. Adrian was pretty levelheaded but like Renae said he is very headstrong. I hope that one day he can finally leave this drug life behind him. Not only does he have his life to think of. He now has to consider the life of our unborn child. Money is never an issue for us. If he were to stop bringing in the side income we would still be able to live comfortably and help our future children through college. We both had degrees that would help us obtain amazing jobs. But not only that we both had our own business. Although my law practice is on the back burner to my high-risk pregnancy. Adrian's art gallery had blossomed into something he never thought it would. I just hope one day he comes to his senses.

Lalo passed the neatly rolled blunt to me, before tucking it between my lips I lightly blew the ashes off. Lalo and I decided to meet up at one of our warehouses. It was an abandoned factory that was placed on sale for dirt cheap. Being the savvy guy that I am. I registered it as my art warehouse. Lalo didn't think it was a good idea at first but after he seen how much back and forth the art pieces came and went he was sold.

As a cloud of thick smoke escaped my lips I watched as the half naked women bag up the work momentarily before I looked over at Malachi "yo when we supposed to meet up with Santiago again ?" I questioned

"In a couple of weeks. I'm not even going to hold you but something sus with that nigga bruh. I can't pinpoint it. But it some shit with him" Malachi replied taking the blunt from me

"Yeah I noticed the shit too" Lalo chimed in

My eyebrows furrowed hearing Lalo agree with Malachi. I, personally know Lalo not a bitch nigga. He spoke highly of Santiago and even said he enjoyed working with him but why the sudden change of heart ?

"I thought that was yo nigga Lo" I said with a chuckle although I was dead ass serious

"He been on some weirdo ass shit Ace. Dead ass I think we need to stop fucking with him. It's like he has a vendetta against you for no reason" Lalo explained shaking his head "A nigga love money but not more than you bro, real shit"

Lalo extended his hand out to me for a dap. Dapping him up I nodded my head letting him know I heard him loud and clear. This wouldn't be the first time my presence made a muthafucka feel a type of way. But for Santiago to be on ten over nothing is what baffles the fuck out of me. I didn't know that nigga from a can a paint so what could I have done to him.

"What yall going to do ? I say x the nigga out" Malachi suggested while a sinister smirk curled along his lips

"We could but the nigga stay with guards like he Obama or some shit" Lalo said

"Money talks bro. Watch his crew closely. I guarantee there a nigga in there ready to jumps ship and a few stacks will make that jump fast and worth it" I stated standing to my feet

I began pacing the floor as various ideas of how to knock Santiago off flooded my brain. It was one thing to talk big shit to keep upon our first meeting. But to be a sneaky, underhanded muthafucka and speak about me to my girl. The woman of my unborn was a different story. I can't deny, I hate Lalo unintentionally placed us in this position. Regardless of the situation we're going to make some shit shake. It's just a matter of time and when.