Love's Bind

Ch. 18

Alexis's POV
I woke up to the sunlight in my eyes. I looked around and remembered where I was and what happened. I sat up and felt pain. I sat on the bed and reached for my phone. I had several text messages and missed calls from Caleb. They were mostly about him apologizing, but one caught my attention. It said that he couldn't get into the apartment. I threw my phone down and got out of the bed and walked into the kitchen where I heard talking.
"Good morning," I said to Mrs. Raymond and her husband.
"Good morning," Mrs. Raymond said.
"How are you feeling?" she asked looking at my face.
"I'm in a lot of pain," I said looking down.
"Aww sweetie. Do you want any medicine?"
"Yes please."
She went into a drawer and got out a bottle of Ibuprofen.
"Here," she said giving me two pills and a bottle of water.
"Thanks," I said taking the medicine.
"Alexis, this is my husband Cameron," she said turning her attention towards him.
"Hi," he said standing up and shaking my hand.
"Hello."
"Sit down and get comfortable," he said smiling. I smiled and sat down at the island. Mrs. Raymond sat a plate of food in front of me and I got happy. I didn't realize how long it had been since I last ate. I blessed my food and started eating.
"So, Alexis, what are your plans for college?" Mr. Raymond asked out of the blue while fixing his food.
"Well, I have a full scholarship to whatever school I want to go to, but I haven't decided yet. I want to go to a HBCU so I'm looking at Howard and Spelman," I said.
"Why those schools?"
"Honestly I'm considering Howard because a lot of well know black people graduated from there and I'm considering Spelman for the same reason but mainly because my both my mother and grandmother graduated from there."
"Oh really? What do they do?"
"They're both lawyers here in Atlanta."
"Really?"
"Her mother is Andrea Patrick," Mrs. Raymond said.
"Oh shit. Foreal?" Mr. Raymond asked.
"Yeah," I said laughing.
"Your mother is the best lawyer is Georgia," he said.
"Yep," I said. I saw Mrs. Raymond give him a look and he stopped talking.
"So what do you do?" I asked him.
"I am a pediatrician," he said.
"Really? What made you want to do that?"
"I love children."
"Well why not be a teacher?" I asked.
"I always wanted to be a doctor so I put that with my love for children and boom. I became a pediatrician," he said smiling. I started laughing and went to wash my plate off.
"Don't worry about that Alexis, I'll take care of it," Mrs. Raymond said.
"Okay," I said.
"So me and Cameron were talking and we want you to stay here for a few more days just for safety reasons."
"Okay. That's fine with me."
"Alright. The locks are already changed. I have the keys for you. And I'll give you a spare key for our house. You wanna go over there now to get your stuff?" she asked.
"Sure. I need to brush my teeth first," I said.
"Alright. I'll be in here when you finish."
I walked back into the guest room and grabbed the toothbrush she gave me and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I finished I carefully washed my face and fixed my hair. I grabbed my phone and went back into the kitchen.
"You ready?" Mrs. Raymond asked.
"Yeah." We walked out to her car and I looked at her house. It's really nice I noticed. The drive to my apartment was kinda relaxing. When we got there, she handed me the key to get inside it went in with me.
"I'm going to get my stuff together, take a shower, and get dressed. It may take a while so get comfortable. You're welcome to anything," I said smiling and walking upstairs. I got come clothes out of my closet and folded them into my duffle bag. I got some shoes, my curling iron, and just in case stuff. I got my clothes out for today and went into the bathroom to take a shower. I was in there for about 30 minutes before I got out. When I got out, I moisturized my face and put on makeup. I put on a full face to hide the bruising. I put some on my neck too. I straightened my hair and then got dressed. I put on some jeans, a white Polo t-shirt, and white huaraches. I packed the rest of what I needed and grabbed my car keys and charger. I walked downstairs and went into the den and saw Mrs. Raymond.
"You got everything you need?" she asked.
"Yeah. You ready?" I asked.
"Yeah let's go," she said getting up.
She grabbed her purse and walked out.
"I'm taking my car so I'll follow you back to your car," I said locking the door.
"Alright." I got in my car and turned on the radio. It felt good to be back in my baby. I trailed Mrs. Raymond all the way to her house and got out. We walked into the house and I went into the guest room and put my stuff down and put my phone on the charger. I was texting Dre when Caleb called me. I hit declined and finished sending my text. After a while I fell asleep. My phone woke me up and I saw that Dre was calling me.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Come over here. I need to talk to you," he said.
"Is mama there?" I asked.
"Girl if you don't bring yo ass over here and chillout wit allat petty shit," he said. I rolled my eyes.
"Alright. I'll be there in a few," I said hanging up.
I got out of bed and turned the light on. I fixed my hair in the mirror and made sure my makeup was still good. I grabbed my keys and my phone off of the charger. I turned the lights off and walked out the room. I went into the living room and saw Mrs. Raymond sitting on the couch watching tv.
"Hey," she said. "How was your nap?"
"It was fine. My brother just called he wants me to go come over. Is that fine?" I asked.
"Yes honey. You don't have to ask to do anything you wouldn't do if you were at your mama's house. I want you to make yourself comfortable. Okay?"
"Okay," I said smiling.
"Before you leave, here," she said handing me a house key. Just as I was about to say something somebody walked in.
"Ma, who's car is that outside?"
I turned around and saw this fine ass boy. He was about 6'3, brownskin, with tattoos on his arms, with tattoos on both of his arms.
"Christian, this is Alexis. She's going to be staying with us for a few days," Mrs. Raymond said.
"Wassup," he said smiling.
"Hey," I said blushing. The more I looked at him the more he looked kinda familiar.
"You drive that car out there?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"That bit is nice," he said.
"Thanks. Well I gotta go," I said turning to Mrs. Raymond.
"Alright, honey," she said.
I started walking out and noticed Christian looking at me. I started blushing and walked out the door. While I was driving, I was racking my brain trying to remember where I recognized him from. I got to my mama's house and walked in. I looked around to see if anybody was here. I walked upstairs and went into Dre's room.
"Wassup my nigga," I said flopping onto the loveseat by his bed.
"Don't wassup me. Where yo lil ass been? I ain't heard from you in a while."
I had to think of some lies real quick.
"I been busy getting settled in at the apartment and dealing with stuff for the baby," I lied.
"Oh ok. How have you been feeling?"
"I've been alright."
He looked up at me. "You care to elaborate?"
"I've been craving a lot of food and the morning sickness hasn't been the best," I said.
"How have you and Caleb been?" he asked.
"We're not on speaking terms right now," I said.
"Why not? Who ass I gotta beat?"
"Just some stupid shit," I said.
"Tell me," he said getting serious.
"Well, he came home and saw Bryce at the door and got mad and we got into an argument."
"Why would Bryce be at your door?"
"He lives in the same complex as us and he heard that they were getting new neighbors so he came to greet us," I said.
"You messing with Bryce again?"
"No Dre."
"Oh ok. I went to your apartment earlier. You weren't there and it looked like you had the locks changed. What's up with that?"
"Somebody tried to break in the apartment and I got scared and packed a bag and left. Then I got the locks changed," I said lying again.
"Who are you staying with?"
"Mrs. Raymond."
"That fine ass teacher you're real cool with?"
"Yeah."
"Why are you staying with her when you got this house to come home to?"
"Because Dre.."
"Because what? You don't want to see Mama?" he said getting mad.
"Yes."
"Alexis I need you to grow the fuck up and let that shit go. I see the hurt in her eyes everyday when she comes home to one child instead of two. You hurt her bad Alexis and you're being childish as hell about the whole situation."
I sat and thought about it for a little while. He got up and sat next to me on the loveseat.
"Look, I'm just trying to help. I didn't mean to come off like I did, but I'm worried about both of y'all."
"Why?"
"Because I care about y'all. We're family Alexis."
"I know. It's just what she said hurt me. You know? To have your own mama say that to you?"
"I know Alexis. But she just wants the best for you. You have so much going for you right now."
I sighed and felt the urge to throw up. I ran to the bathroom and when I finished I felt weird. I rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash and went back into Dre's room.
"You straight?"
"Yeah. I guess it was something I ate earlier."
"Or the fact that you're pregnant," he said.
"Yeah. I'm bout to go."
"Alright. Bye."
"Bye," I said walking out. My drive back to Mrs. Raymond's house was rough because I didn't feel good. I walked in the house and saw Christian sitting in the kitchen. I walked by and was almost to my room when he grabbed my hand.
"Hey," he said. I turned around.
"Hey," I said looking up at him.
"I just wanted to tell you that you look nice," he said smiling.
"Thanks," I said laughing. He let go of my hand and I went into my room. I changed into my pajamas and took my makeup off. I got in bed and turned the tv on. About ten minutes later I fell asleep.