Breaking Free

41.

The day of the embryo transfer had arrived, and Kierra and Tasha sat in the clinic's waiting room, their hands intertwined. The quiet hum of the air conditioner filled the room, but Kierra's heart was racing, anticipation and nerves buzzing in her veins.

Tasha squeezed her hand, her calm presence soothing Kierra's nerves. "We've come this far. Everything's going to be okay," she whispered.

Before Kierra could respond, Dr. Adams appeared at the door, her kind smile offering reassurance. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Kierra took a deep breath and nodded. "We're ready."

In the procedure room, time seemed to slow down as the doctor prepared for the embryo transfer. Tasha never let go of Kierra's hand, staying by her side, her steady grip a source of comfort. The procedure itself was quick, but every moment felt monumental. Kierra held her breath, knowing how much had led up to this point—the doctor's appointments, the medications, the hopes, and the setbacks.

"All done," Dr. Adams said, smiling down at them. "Now we just wait."

Kierra exhaled slowly, relief and hope flooding through her. She looked at Tasha, who was grinning back at her, eyes bright with emotion.

"We did it," Kierra whispered, feeling tears prick at her eyes.

Tasha leaned over and kissed her forehead softly. "We did."

As they left the clinic, the sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over everything. The day felt full of promise, and the two of them walked to the car, hand in hand, talking about the future and what came next.

Later that evening, they got ready to meet Kierra's parents and her brother, J. Drew, for dinner. The drive to the restaurant was filled with the sound of their favorite 90s R&B playlist. When Brandy's "I Wanna Be Down" came on, Tasha turned the volume up, giving Kierra a playful smile.

"This is my jam!" Tasha laughed, breaking into the song with full energy. Kierra grinned and joined in, their voices blending as they belted out the lyrics. The air in the car was light, full of love and joy.

Mid-song, Kierra leaned over and kissed Tasha's cheek. "I love that we do this."

Tasha smirked and winked. "Always."

When they arrived at the restaurant, Karen and Bishop Sheard were already waiting, their faces lighting up when they saw the couple walk in. J. Drew stood up from the table and gave Kierra a tight hug. "You two look happy," he said, glancing between them.

"We are," Kierra replied, smiling as she took her seat next to Tasha.

Karen, reached across the table to squeeze both their hands. "How are my girls doing?" she asked, her voice filled with warmth.

"We're good, Mommy," Kierra said, exchanging a quick glance with Tasha. "The embryo transfer went perfectly today."

Karen's eyes filled with happy tears. "Oh, honey, that's such wonderful news. I'm so proud of you both."

Bishop Sheard smiled and nodded, leaning back in his chair. "We've been praying for this day. God's timing is perfect."

J. Drew chimed in with a grin. "So, when am I going to be Uncle Drew?"

Kierra laughed, and the table erupted in conversation. They talked about everything—the wedding, the IVF process, and even their careers. Tasha mentioned how she was balancing work and preparing for motherhood, and Kierra shared some of her excitement about taking the next step in their journey together.

"So, is the wedding still on track with everything going on?" Karen asked, her motherly concern evident.

"Yes," Kierra assured her. "We've got everything planned, and it's going to be a small, intimate ceremony."