The Misunderstood Black Woman

Vigorous XXIV

It's been about three weeks since the incident with Bryson's dad. I tried to carry on like it didn't affect me but my insecurities from the past were starting to haunt me. I decided that I was going to avoid his family so I didn't have to relive the humiliation from that night. Bryson apologized after the situation, but my guard was up now and I wasn't sure how to bring it back down.

Since the baby would be coming in a few months, I decided to permanently move in with Bryson. Our relationship was going smoothly and I loved this man with all of my heart. I also decided to start counseling so I could heal myself for the sake of our future. Counseling was starting to pay off by helping me prepare for motherhood. Now I was eleven and a half weeks along, so I would be heading into my second trimester soon. As time continued to move forward, I felt proud of my new growth. My main goal was to be the best mother for my child. Although he or she wasn't born yet, I already had unconditional love for them.

Now, Bryson, had me working part-time so I could remain stress-free. Since I had more flexibility with my schedule, I had more time to check on Yvette so she could have some company. She was now required to attend weekly group sessions that monitored her mental health. The hospital also had a social worker come over to check on Evan every week. Although this was temporary, I could tell that Yvette was exhausted and wanted things to return back to normal.

"Court do you want any coffee or anything before I drop you back off at work?" Yvette asked me while grabbing Evan's diaper, before heading outside.

"No, I'm alright for now. I'm just glad that I'm not nauseous anymore, this baby sure is making me exhausted." I said with an exaggerated sigh.

Yvette chuckled then nodded her head in agreement. Today we spent our morning going shopping for our children, so now I was headed back to work since Bryson was out of town. I was thrilled to finally take my mind off of things since working was a stress reliever for me. I was also glad that the majority of the people were off by now so I had a quiet workspace.

After Yvette unlocked her car, I climbed inside while she strapped Evan in. It was now the third week of December, so the snow was coating the ground like a thick blanket of white sugar. It was freezing so I made sure that I was bundled up so I didn't feel nauseous throughout the day. Once Yvette made sure Evan was secure, she practically ran inside the car to escape the cruel wind. Chicago was known for its brutal and unpredictable weather so I didn't blame her.

"Hey, how's everything going with Tyler?" I curiously asked while scrolling through my emails.

"We're trying our best to co-parent. After I was released from the hospital he's been trying to step up for us. I'm just not sure how I feel yet." Yvette replied without an emotion present in her voice.

I nodded my head slowly while awkwardly adjusting my seat to avoid any tension. Yvette backed out of the driveway, then headed in the direction of the office building. Throughout the car ride, we talked about Evan's improvements, and her future plans to move to the suburbs. That was something that I also planned to do in the future after the baby came, I wanted to purchase a home so I could live comfortably while raising my family.

We were so engrossed in our conversation that I lost track of time. Once we pulled up to the office building, I thanked Yvette and rushed inside so I could finish my work and head home. I was planning on staying here until nine to get caught up on the work I was behind on. I know that Bryson wanted me to rest and take it easy, but I had more tasks to do.

After I arrived at the office, I quickly walked to Bryson's personal office and drew the blinds so I could work without any interruptions. While I waited for my laptop to boot up I took out my snacks and lined them up so I could have easy access. Bryson's office was cozy, it reminded me of his home, the atmosphere made it was easy to relax in here. Once my laptop finished loading, I got straight to work. I had some new clients, but I was primarily focusing on my main ones. If I could keep my current clients satisfied then I was set for a promotion.