Nouveau

Chapter 74: Taboo

"I never feel too good, too real, too close...
But too good ain't gotta be taboo.
Why can't I just want to be with you?
Why can't you just want the same thing too?
Don't you know we got the right to choose..."
-Taboo, Sevyn

Laive

L somberly washed up. Brushed her teeth and gargled with mouthwash to rid her taste buds of two-time bitterness. The shower camouflaged her tears as Laive slid down to cradle both knees. The Oscar's worthy hair was still intact due to it being covered in her usual silk lined shower cap. Her body felt heavier amongst exiting. Weighed down by water and the few ounces of an extra life she now carried.

She dried off citing soothing mantras to calm down. Laive was kind of scared, disappointed, and above all things...spaced. L dressed in comfort for further relief. Her pajamas were a blush pink short set with the matching camisole composed of silk while both her feet were covered in fluffy white and light pink socks that aided in keeping her toes warm and cozy. The inanimate objects felt the closest to a comforting embrace amongst her moisturized skin.

The trash in the kitchen was tied and taken out. Replaced by a lavender scented one to freshen up the area. She'd wiped down the walls, cabinets, and the floor that was in proximity with disinfectant wipes. Ridding the space of any faint smell of her nauseated episode. Returning to the bathroom, she doused water over her reddened face. Trying to soothe the noticeable inflammation with a cold rose quartz derma roller in the massive arched mirror. Looking to her right, the floor to ceiling mirror that covered the wall showed off her pooched belly. It resembled something similar to a small bloat caused after consuming a hearty meal.

Her body remembered its past life all too well as L tried to reason with herself. They were in love. Her man took care of her and adored the ground she walked on. Or at least she thought so...Tremaine always said he'd never make her a baby mama. Whatever the fuck that meant...Laive started to tear up again. She wondered if this is how her sisters felt when they found out they were with child? How happy, scared, and positive it must have felt until it didn't...

An appointment was scheduled for early AM to retrieve a blood test confirmation and ultrasound. Intuitively, L knew she was pregnant. However, her mind was rationalizing all the ways it couldn't be true. Tremaine pulled out most times, and L had her previous period at full flow even though it was late. Laive was convinced her body just had a moment of insanity, tired of L doing the same thing expecting a different result. Laive felt like she was losing control. And what was she going to do with a baby? Would she even be fit to be a good mother? They were together. Not married or engaged. Just privately committed for now. What about her career? Hell, what about everything?

Laive recalled her and Tremaine's agreement to no longer drink that Mardi Gras weekend considering the night she had at her sister's place. That day L consumed praline and cream king cake, infamous hometown hot glazed donuts, and fried Classic Chicken before eating any of her family's food. She'd gushed to him that the fried chicken and Tony's seasoned French fries were better than the Popeyes he often indulged in. The donuts were made of hot glazed and fluffy dough that immediately melted in your mouth, and that flavor of king cake was just heaven on earth while offering him some.

That had to be the best part about coming home, she needed to figure out a way to pack up her favorite food spots and take them with her. Outside of Laive refusing to share food with anyone else, she was in a maternal state the whole time her nieces and nephews were in the vicinity. Unable to get rid of Isabella at her side with ever so often visits from all the older kids. Cass used that moment as an opportunity to gloat that she was not a parent at the parade and her kids really belonged to Laive. Said she couldn't do anything with them when L was around.