When Reality Hits

I found myself sitting at the edge of my bed, staring at my call logs. Eric’s name caught my eye, and my thumb hovered over it for a moment longer than necessary. I couldn’t bring myself to press the call button.

Instead, I sent a simple text: “We need to talk.” It was enough to send a shiver down my spine. Almost immediately, his name flashed on the screen. Oh shit! He was calling. How else would he react after receiving a text like that?

I tried to hold back tears and emotions as I answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hey baby, what’s wrong?”

I didn’t know how to approach this conversation, so I decided to ease him into it.

“I…I uh… I’ve been really sick lately.”

“Okay? I mean, I told you to see a doctor. Did you go?”

“No, but I found out what’s been going on?”

“Okay… Jamira, what’s going on? Talk to me.”

I paused, feeling a lump form in my throat.

“Baby, are you crying?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Mm…hmm.”

“Why? What the hell is going on?”

I took a deep breath, trying to gather the courage to finish the conversation.

“Eric, I’m pregnant.”

There was a long, awkward pause that stretched on for what felt like an eternity. I had to check to see if he had hung up. Then, softly, he finally responded.

“Are you sure?”

“I took two tests. Both came back positive.”

Another awkward pause. I assumed he was trying to process everything the way I had.

“Is it mine?”

At that moment, I could have hung up on his ass. What kind of question was that? But then I remembered how uncertain and stressful everything must have been for him.

“Yes, yes, it is.”

“Have you made an appointment with a doctor?”

“No.”

“Make one and let me know so we can confirm it together.”

“Okay.”

“I gotta go, but get some rest, baby. I’ll talk to you later.”

He hung up, leaving me with my own thoughts. I called the doctor, and fortunately, they were able to fit me in for the next day. I texted Eric to let him know, and I sat in the room, letting my emotions take over.

The next morning, Eric came to pick me up. The drive to the doctor’s office was quiet, that awkward kind where everyone is too nervous to speak.

The office was small and clean. There was just enough space for one person to stretch at a time if they were sitting across from each other. The walls were white with a pink accent wall that created a calming atmosphere. Two large abstract paintings adorned the walls, along with a few complimentary art pieces.

The wait was about twenty minutes. Eric held my hand tightly the entire time, as if he would lose it if he let go. The nurse took my vitals before leading us to the examination room.

The doctor arrived and was very friendly.

“Alright, Jamira? What brings you in today?”

“I took a pregnancy test yesterday and I’d like to confirm the results.”

“Is this the father?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

She washed her hands and put on her gloves before applying that cold gel to my belly. What she said next sent my body spinning.

Once she placed the device on my stomach, it was strong and rapid. The heartbeat of our child filled the room, making everything feel surreal. It was both beautiful and alarming.

“Looks like you’re about thirteen weeks pregnant.”

“Thirteen? As in three months?”

“Yes, it seems like the baby has been progressing well.”

Then she began to show the baby’s limbs and head. There it was, a baby.

“You’re far enough along that if you’d like to know the sex, I can tell you.”

Before I could respond, Eric spoke up.

“Yes, I’d like to know.”

Damn… how did he know I didn’t want a gender reveal? I had been unpacking everything I could about the situation since yesterday, and here he was, wanting to know all the details. Let me catch my breath first.

She pressed down gently on my belly and moved her device back and forth until she got a good look at the baby’s bottom. Right there on the screen were his tiny little balls.

“It’s a boy!” she exclaimed, pressing a button that promptly printed out all the pictures she’d taken from the ultrasound. She gently wiped my belly and removed her gloves.

“Since you’re so far along, I’ll schedule your next visit next week for bloodwork and screenings. We’ll then see you monthly until about halfway through your second trimester, then every two weeks, and finally weekly during your third trimester. You’re all set. The nurse will book your appointment. Congratulations!”

After that, she left us to process our emotions. I finally turned to Eric for guidance. He had a small, unexpected smile on his face.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course! I have a son on the way!”

“Aren’t you scared?”

“Jamira, we’re grown. It’s perfectly fine to have kids at our age,” he chuckled. Besides, I get to have a child with the woman of my dreams.”

He placed a gentle kiss on my lips, instantly dispelling my worries. This man was incredibly adept at that.

Suddenly, I recalled something. Thirteen weeks. Three months ago, I had spent the night at his place after Chris arrived drunk and passed out. I thought he had worn a condom that night.

“I thought you wore a condom.”

He let out a nervous laugh while rubbing the back of his neck.

“About that, I stopped using those a while back, but you just feel so good.”

I was left staring and blinking, utterly bewildered.

“You’re so unhinged, it makes no sense, Eric.”

He gasped dramatically.

We left the room and made the appointment for my next visit. He took me to get some food, mentioned something about feeding the baby, and dropped me off. Before I left, he placed a hand on my knee.

“Look, I’ve been trying to figure out how to say this, but I think it’s best if you move in with me so I can be there for you every step of the way to support you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, and if you don’t like it, we can find another place. I just want to be there for you and my son.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“And Jamira, by the way, this means we’re together, so you’ll have to deal with that.”

“That’s not how it works.”

“If you can have my baby, you can be my lady. I said what I said.”

I rolled my eyes and got out of the truck. He rolled down the window and started yelling, “I love you, baby!”

I flipped him off and blew him a kiss. He caught it, put it on his private area, and left, laughing.

I must admit, this is going to be interesting, to say the least. At least he makes me smile because that man can be unbearable at times.