Chapter 3 : Pure Contradiction
DiamondI sighed heavily and slumped down in my seat.
“You okay?” Amir questioned me.
“Yeah. Just a little tired. It’s been a long day.” I said as I looked out the window.
“So, you wanna go home?” He asked.
“I mean…did you have plans or something?” I asked.
“My mom kinda wanted to meet you the right way and spend some time with Major. I wanted to take Ryan to go shopping or something too. I feel bad about what happened.” He said as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
I looked back at Ryan and Major in the back seat. Major was bobbing his head to the music on the radio and Ryan was slowly drifting off to sleep.
“Maybe later?” I said to Amir.
“Aight. That’ll get Asia and Alayvia some time to get ready because she wanna see them too.” He said as he got onto the highway. He was referring to his big sister Asia, 24, and his niece Alayvia, 4. They lived in with him in his apartment.
“So your mom never met Alayvia or Major?” I asked.
He shook his head no. “She kicked Asia out when she told her she was pregnant. I was working, so I left with her. I wasn’t going to let my pregnant sister live on the streets. Her baby daddy wasn’t tryna do shit for her. So, we came to live with my aunt here in the Bronx and then after a month or so I got an apartment and she just put it in her name. Then I met you soon after.” He smiled.
“Damn. What’s wrong with your mama?” I asked.
“Man, I don’t know. She just expected more from Asia.” He said.
“So, do she know you have Major?” I asked.
“Yeah. My aunt told her.” He said as he got off on our exit.
“Oh. So, everybody knew except me right?” I asked.
“Yo, don’t go there with me.” He said.
I rolled my eyes. “You right. I don’t even feel like arguing with you.”
“Good.” He said as he pulled up in our apartment building parking lot.
I got out of the car and opened the back seat door. I took Major out of his car seat. “Ryan, wake up.” I said as I reached over and slightly shook his shoulder.
“I’ll get Ryan.” Amir said as he opened his door and picked him up.
I walked into the building with Major in my arms. It felt weird holding my boyfriend’s baby. I mean, he wasn’t even mine. I was thinking about how it would be when our baby comes. That means when we move out, we’d have 3 kids in our house. I have to worry about so much now.
I stuck my house key in the door, then turned the knob. Da’nay was on the couch painting Josie’s nails and Micah was playing the Xbox 360.
“Hey ya’ll.” I said as I put Major down on the floor, then went to go hold the door open for Amir and Ryan.
“Diamond is that Amir’s son that he told you about?” Josie asked.
“Yeah. That’s Major.” I said as I closed the door behind them.
“Sis. I gotta talk to you.” Dannie said to me.
“Okay. Well, come in my room. I gotta get Ryan situated first. I said as I followed Amir to Micah and Ryan’s room. He laid him down on his bed.
“You okay, Lil Man?” I asked him. He shook his head up and down. “You still in pain?” He shook his head up and down once again.
“Okay. Well, try your best and go to sleep. I’m going to go to the pharmacy and get your prescription.”
“Okay Sis.” He said as he rolled over and closed his eyes.
“You can take my car.” Amir said.
“Oh. I know.” I began. “But, I think I’ll walk. It’s only a few blocks away.”
“You sure?” He asked.
“Babe.” I said as I looked up at him.
“Aight.” He said as he kissed me and walked out the room.
“I’ll be back.” I said as I leaned over the bed and kissed Ryan’s forehead.
I turned the light off and closed the door.
“Dannie. Come with me I gotta go get Ryan’s medicine.” I said. “And. Ya’ll leave Ryan alone while I’m gone. He don’t feel good.” I said to JoJo and Micah.
“Kay.” Josie’s high pitch voice chimed.
“Be good. Amir gone tell me if ya’ll act up.” I said before me and Da’nay walked out the door.
“What you had to tell me?” I asked Dannie as we walked down the stairs and out the door.
“Don’t be mad at me.” She said.
“Girl. I know it ain’t nothing that bad for me to get mad.” I said.
“Well, I told Amir you were pregnant.” She said.
“I figured you did. I told him when we was at the hospital and he said he already knew. I then knew you told him because you the only one that knew.” I said.
“So, you not mad?” She asked me.
“Nah. He was going to find out anyway.” I said.
After we picked up Ryan’s medicine, we headed back home. Once at home, I gave Ryan his medicine and then headed towards my room to take a little nap.
I plopped down on my bed and closed my eyes until I heard my door creak. I kept my eyes closed because I knew it was Amir. I felt my bed move as if he was getting on it. His lips touched my cheek then my door closed back. I opened my eyes to see Major balled up beside me. Sound asleep.
I smiled and rubbed the back of my index finger on his cheek.
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Amir
I called my sister and told her to get ready. It had been a few hours and I was going to go ahead and wake Diamond, Major, and Ryan up so we could head out. Aunt Princess came home from work and she took Dannie, JoJo, and Micah with her over Cinsear’s house for dinner. I could tell she had a little attitude with me for what happened, but she had to realize that I made a mistake and Diamond moved on from it, so she should too.
I walked into Diamond’s room to see her changing Major’s pull-up.
“He peed on himself in his sleep.” She said as she wiped him, put on another pull-up, and sat him up.
“There go your daddy.” She said as she gave him to me.
“Thanks.” I said as I swooped him up and held him.
“Let’s get ready to go.” I said to her.
She stood up and removed her shirt.
“Oh damn.” I said as I laughed.
“What?” She asked.
“You look bloated as hell.” I said.
“It’s your fault.” She laughed. “I’m going take a quick shower okay? I’ll be ready in 10 minutes.” She said as she put her hands on my forearm and stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
“Aight. Hurry that ass up.” I said as I smacked her butt and walked out of her room behind her.
I went into Ryan’s room and woke him up.
“Lil Man. Get up. We bout to go out.” I told him.
“Where?” He asked.
“You’ll see.” I said as I walked out of his room.
I took Major in the living room where his bag was. I put his Rugby Polo on him and his Polo boots. I was wearing the same thing.
“Now you fresh like your daddy.” I said to him.
He giggled. “Yeah. Now I’m fresh.” I laughed at him.
Soon Diamond came into the living room with Ryan.
“Ain’t ya’ll cute?” She laughed as she looked Major sitting next to me.
“Ya’ll ready?” I asked her.
“Yeah. Let me just get my purse.” She said as she walked into the dining room where her purse was sitting on a chair.
“Okay. Let’s go.” She said as she got her keys and walked out the door. Ryan grabbed his crutches and followed behind her. I put Major on the floor and he walked behind Ryan. I turned off the lights and closed the door behind me.
We all got into my car. “How is Asia and Alayvia going to fit?” She asked.
“Major car seat gotta go on the end and Alayvia just gone have to sit in Asia lap.” I said as I headed towards my apartment.
We pulled up and they were sitting on the porch with some dude. Alayvia was sitting in his lap smiling and Asia had her fingers intertwined with his.
“Who is that?” Diamond asked me.
“I don’t know. But I’m about to find out.” I said as I turned off the engine and got out of the car.
“Uncle!” Alayvia yelled as she jumped out of dude’s lap and ran towards me. She jumped in my arms and gave me a big kiss on my cheek.
“Hey, kid.” I said as I kissed her back.
“Amir. Hey.” Asia said as she stood up.
“Wassup. Alayvia go get your jacket. We gotta go.” I said as I sent Alayvia in the house.
“What’s happening, Amir? I haven’t seen you in years.” The dude said to me.
“I know you?” I asked him. “Who is this cat, Asia?” I asked my sister.
“Umm, this is Alayvia’s dad, Camden.” She said. “You met him at the house party we threw when mama was in Florida that weekend.” She said.
I balled my fists up tightly and bit my bottom lip. This is ridiculous. Asia used to talk so much shit bout this dude. She didn’t even want him to be in Alayvia’s life, but now everything is so peachy four years later? For one thing, I was taking care of her and my niece. She couldn’t tell me that she was seeing this nigga again? She had him in my crib when I wasn’t there? How she think I’m supposed to trust her ass now?
I shook my head as Alayvia came back out the house with her jacket on. “I’m ready Uncle.” She said as she stood in front of me and smiled.
“Go to the car. Auntie Diamond over there.” I said as I pointed towards the car.
She inhaled, then exhaled with excitement as she ran towards the car.
“Hey Auntie!” She exclaimed as she stood on her tippy toes to look inside the car.
I turned around and faced Asia who was still holding hands with Camden.
“We gotta go. Ma waiting on us. Lock my crib up, Asia.” I said before walking away from her and ol’ dude. I walked up behind Diamond who was getting Alayvia situated in the car.
“That’s not gone work.” She said as stood up and put her hand on her hip.
“Tell Asia to hurry up.” She said turning around to see Asia kiss Camden, then walk towards us.
“Who is that. Alayvia looks like him.” She said.
I gave her a ‘leave it alone’ look. “I’ll tell you when we get back home.” I said as Asia walked up to us.
“Get in. Alayvia gone have to sit in your lap.” I said as she got in the car. Alayvia climbed in her lap and we all got into the car and pulled off.
“Brother, you mad at me?” Asia asked me as we walked into the ice cream parlor.
“What you think?” I asked rhetorically as I sat Major my mother’s lap.
“Well, he had a change of heart…and I did too.” She said as she sat down. “Hey ma.” She spoke, then directed her attention back to me.
“This ain’t even the place to be talking bout it Asia.” I said ending the conversation.
After we ate our ice cream, we all drove to 5th Ave. in the city. We did some shopping, then at the end of the night, my mama promised to come around more often because she wanted to be in all of our lives. She apologized for putting Asia out, which forced me to leave. She realized she made a mistake and she missed out on Alayvia’s first 4 years of life and Major’s 2. She knew she was wrong and I was happy she realized it, but I also wondered what it would be like adjusting to her being back in our lives again.