Her forehead wrinkled into a frown, and she stopped chewing her apple but kept a grip on it in her palm. Free stepped aside, and Ivana stood behind him. She had showered and changed into an old jogger set I left behind in a drawer. Her hair was in a blunt-cut bob, and it was still intact as she admired her daughter from across the room. Confusion immediately spread over Ivy’s face, and she hopped off her barstool. Her rounded orbs bounced from Free to her mother and back again.
“Mama?” she managed to utter, still very much in shock. “I don’t understand. She’s here? Alive? How?” Her questions echoed in the air almost like a high-pitched shriek cutting through.
“Ivy, baby, it’s me.” Ivana’s tone softened in a way I hadn’t heard since she’d been here.
This was her child, and I would be inhuman and lying my ass off if I said I didn’t feel the twinge of jealousy from it all. She came to embrace her, and Ivy’s eyes bucked in her head from her touch. She was like stone, stiffened in shock where she stood as the woman who birthed her held her close.
“My sweet baby girl. Look at you. All grown up.” Ivana stroked her braids and pulled away to take her in. “Gorgeous.” She complimented, running her fingers through the loose box braids.
“I don’t understand.” Tears filled Ivy’s eyes.
“I know, baby girl. I know. But… these are the facts. I love you. I am here, and if I can help it, I’m never leaving you again.” Her hands graced Ivy’s cheeks, and she stared into her eyes.
In order to keep myself busy, I went back to work on breakfast. I could feel Frequency eyeing me. My hormones wereoff the chain, so everything was a trigger right now. Seeing this, his ex, the only other woman besides me he was known to love, hit me like a pile of books on my chest. I washed my hands of egg and got to work making French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon with a side of fruit. There was enough space in the kitchen for them to seat themselves at the table and still have privacy while I cooked. Frequency was at my side, peering down at me.
“You good?” He kept his tone low.
I loved that he was so attentive, making sure I was okay.I definitely wasn’t, but I couldn’t let him or anyone else know.
“I’m good. I am just going to make breakfast and give you some time down here. I don’t want to interfere. Plus, I got a few things I need to deal with myself. Chevy and I were going to video chat so that we could go over some work stuff since we are both out of commission right now.”
“Okay. Get some rest too. I don’t want you worrying about the work shit either. I’m always going to provide for you, Harbor. You and this one will never have to worry about a thing,” he assured me, rubbing circles around my belly.
“I know.” I nodded.
It was a lot to deal with, so I could only imagine what he was going through.I worked quickly with breakfast because I was beginning to fill overwhelmed and out of place in the room. I knew that Free loved me, but his entire life had been flipped upside down, so I knew that he was dealing with plenty without me and my emotions in the mix. This shit was heavy, and it was matters of the heart, which was always sensitive. I made plates for everyone and one for myself, even though I had completely lost my appetite by this time. I carried my food upstairs anyway and decided to eat while I chatted with Chevy.
She picked up, and I propped my phone up on a pillow while I sat in bed and picked at the fruit on my plate. I could tell from her eyes that she probably slept about as good as I did. Herhair was swept up into a high bun messily on her head, and she seemed to be in a kitchen.
“Hey, chick,” she greeted me.
“’Sup,” I dryly replied back.
“Ugh, what is wrong? That baby kicking your ass?” she teased.
“Among other things,” I muttered. “Did you talk to Knowledge?”
“He’s sleeping still. He got in late last night after meeting with Frequency. Why?”
“So you probably haven’t spoken to him or know what’s going on.”
“No, I don’t. Girl, just spit it out. I need something to distract me from what I got going on.” She rolled her eyes at the camera and moved around the kitchen whipping up food.
“Ivy’s mother is back.”
I heard something clatter to the ground, like she had dropped something, and then her ass popped into the camera.
“Bitch, what?” She lifted both brows.
“His fucking baby mama is alive. I guess she was with this dude, Arrow. Free’s father was tied up in it all. It’s a fucking mess,” I ranted, finally able to vent like I wanted to.
“What the fuck? So is she there now?”
“Downstairs with Ivy and Free having breakfast,” I revealed, pretending to perk up while she shook her head in disbelief.
“Harbor.” Her head tilted in sympathy. “How the hell are you not going crazy right now? And what is she like? How did Ivy take it? I have so many questions.”
“You aren’t the only one. Ivy was shocked. Hell, I was floored, and so was Free. I don’t know what to say or do. And she’s not exactly friendly. It’s taking everything not to jut flip the fuck out right now. This baby is coming soon.” Just the thought of it all was beginning to exhaust me.
