Page 59 of Kobalt

She shook her head and swung her legs over the side of the bed. I tried to push her back down, but she refused to lie down. “Would you stop?” she asked in a slightly annoyed voice.

“I’m sorry, baby, but that shit took a lot out of you. You’re weaker than you probably feel,” I admonished.

“I’m fine. I need to use the bathroom. Just give me a minute, please.”

I bobbed my head and rubbed my eyes. “A’ight.”

She grabbed her purse and headed into the bathroom as I wandered aimlessly around the room. I felt so lost and helpless in a way that I never had before. While I waited, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my email. Coach had sent over some contracts for some athletes to use the farm for a training camp, and in addition to his, Reighvyn had sent some contracts too.

What should have been a happy moment was overshadowed by whatever was going on with Kaimera. After I scanned the contracts and forwarded them to my attorney for his review, I returned to the bathroom and banged on the door.

“Kai, are you okay in there? Open up.”

She slowly twisted the knob and pulled the door open. There was a soft, quivering smile on her lips but a worried look in her eyes. I gripped her chin. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I’m okay,” she replied softly and opened the door wider.

“Do we need to take you to the doctor or the hospital? You’ve got me worried here.”

“No. We can make an appointment with my ob-gyn when I return.”

“Why? What’s that got to do with food poisoning?”

“I’ll probably be food poisoned for the next eight months or so,” she stated, pointing at the sticks on the counter behind her.

I frowned with confusion. “I don’t get it.”

“Before we left for the retreat, my cycle was late. I didn’t realize it right away, though, because I was busy preparing for us to leave and getting my clients in order. It wasn’t until the second day of the retreat that I realized I was almost a week late. Last night, I ran down to the little tiendita while you were asleep and brought those five pregnancy tests,” she explained, pointing to the sticks again.

I slowly walked inside of the bathroom and picked them up one at a time. Each one confirmed what the previous one had said. “We’re having a baby!” I exclaimed, lifting her into my arms and spinning her around.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Yes, we’re having a baby.”

“Thank you, Jesus! My wife and I are having a baby.” I ran onto the lanai with her where our unfinished meal remained, and I shouted, “We’re having a baby! Nosotros estamos teniendo un bebe!” I repeated in Spanish.

“Felicidades!” someone called back, and then another voice and another as people all around shouted their congratulations to us.

It wasn’t until I walked back inside, still carrying my wife, that I realized something was wrong. I felt the wetness on my neck, and I heard the sniffles she released. I sat down on the bed with her on my lap before I turned her gaze to me. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her face was tear stained.

“Spicy, why you crying, baby?”

“I’m so scared, Kobe.”

“Shh.” I knew what she was thinking about, but I didn’t want those memories to dampen our happiness. I knew we would never forget our loss, but that didn’t mean that this pregnancy had to be marred by that fear. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that we’ve got enough faith and love between us to make it through anything. Our love, our faith, and our strength is the key to resolve every situation. We will trust and believe that Almighty God has great things in store for us and our little one. We’re not going to breathe negative energy into a possibility and give it the power to have life. You understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied with a trembling smile.

“Good. I love you.”

“I love you more, Mr. Harden.”

“Im-possible, Mrs. Harden.”

I brushed my lips against hers and slowly claimed her mouth.

“I pray that I didn’t shake that baby up out of you just now, though,” I teased after our kiss broke off.

“Kobe.” She swatted me and then laughed.