Toxic

Chapter 31

May 6th, 2020

"She's in labor right now, I'll go up there once the baby is here for the test."

"You don't want to go up there and see him being born just in case he might be yours??" 

CJ was currently having lunch with his mother at one of those hole in the wall spots. It was a hidden gem and they loved it.

CJ had gotten a text minutes prior from Veronica saying that she was 4 cm and they baby would be there at some point today. That was a vulnerable moment that he didnt want to be apart of, especially with the baby's paternity still in question. He would undoubtedly be a present and participating father should the child be his, but not a minute before. He had too much on his mind to be at Veronica's beck and call for a whole day. She had run out of favors with him a while ago. She had been a pain in his ass for her entire pregnancy, he was just glad it was coming to an end.

"So how have you been baby boy?" He had been distant for months now, and it was unlike him.

"I been good mama, just been maintaining, working, the usual"

Kimberly squinted her eyes at her one and only child, knowing that was complete bullshit. She wasn't going to push him, so she decided to change the subject. "Look, your daddy upgraded my ring on our vacation"

CJ looked at the ring impressed "Pops got nice taste" 

"Chile, this is my doing. I'm sure he probably got the idea from all the hints I had been laying out for him" Kimberly had spent months before their 30th anniversary leaving Kay jewelers catalogs around the house, it had gotten to a point where she went as far as highlighting and circling the one she wanted.

"Aint nothing gone ever change with you is it?" CJ laughed

"Not as long as I got life in me" She giggled

"What's so funny?" Carter said as he joined his wife and son

"Boy mind your business" Kimberly playfully rolled her eyes

"You is my business, what's up son? How you doing?" He said as he kissed CJ on the forehead 

"Everything is everything pops, how you doing?"

"That lil lady right there keep me on my toes, keep me working too... she always wanna spend money"

"Oh whatever, CJ's lil friend is in labor"

"Oh shit nie, how you feeling 'bout that?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, CJ continued eating his salad. "It is what it is, ready to take that test so I'll know my next move though"

The trio continued their meal, discussing things here and there, catching up on each other's lives while enjoying the comfort of one another's presence. It was like a breath of fresh air for CJ, he hadn't really been on an outing in months, maybe he did need it...

*******************

At 8:39 pm that night, little Kaiden had made his debut into the world. Veronica flooded CJ's phone with picture while informing him that he could come to the hospital tomorrow to do the test and meet the baby. CJ couldn't lie and say the pictures of the baby didnt put a smile on his face, because they did. It was something about new life that was so precious, so joyous that you couldn't help but to smile.

Cj was currently laying across his living room couch while reruns of Rob & Big played on the tv. He liked the show for some reason, and it was a good way to pass time. Just thinking of the big day tomorrow had him nervous as hell.  He'd bit every last one of his finger nails down to the skin and he was sure they would be sore tomorrow.