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“Wow, four months.” He smiles. “My little girl is gonna be a mother. Does your mother know?”
I shake my head. “No, and please don’t tell her. I plan on telling her after Pasha’s wedding. The last thing I want to be is the table discussion for the night.”
He chuckles, knowingly. “My lips are sealed, babygirl. Now who’s the lucky fella?”
“His name is Desmond.”
“Is he one of the fellas the three of you—”
“No, not all.”
I can tell he’s relieved. He wants to know how we met. Wants to know what his intentions are. I tell him everything. When I’m done filling him in, he pulls me into him and kisses me on the head. “It’s going to work out. I’m going to do whatever I can for you and my grandbaby.”
I nod into his chest. “I know.” We both welcome the silence as he holds me for what seems like forever until I finally sit up. “I couldn’t have an abortion, Daddy. This baby is a part of me.”
He smiles, cups the side of my face in his warm hands. Then strokes my cheek with the back of his hand the way he used to when I was a little girl. “Baby, you don’t have to explain anything to me. That little baby is going to be smothered with love. And don’t you worry about your mother. She’ll come around. Trust me. The minute she sees him, she’s going to melt.”
I smile. “Daddy, how do you know it’s going to be a boy? It could be a girl.”
He shakes his head, reaching over and rubbing my stomach. “No, babygirl, you’re carrying my grandson.”
I start crying again. “I’m so sorry, Daddy.”
“Sorry for what? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“For making you so ashamed of me.”
He scoots closer to me and pulls me back into his arms. “Oh, babygirl, I’m not ashamed of you. I’m your father. And my love for you and your sisters will always be unconditional; no matter what. You hear me?”
I nod. Having my father here and hearing his words is the soothing balm I needed for my wounded spirit. I kiss him on his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”
He squeezes me. “I love you more.”
Persia
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
“Mother…what are you doing here?”
She raises her perfectly arched brows, placing a neatly manicured hand on her hip. “Well, hello to you, too. Are you going to invite me in, or do I have to stand outside in this damn August heat?”
I take a deep breath. I’m inclined to shut the door in her face, but I can’t. I step back and allow her in. “What brings you here? Paris is down at the store. And Porsha’s over at her office.”
She sits her handbag up on the coffee table. “I know where they are. I’m here to see you.”
“Me?” I ask, frowning. “What for?” I eye her as she takes a seat on the sofa. Then she has the nerve to ask for something cold to drink like I’m in the mood to play hostess to her. “What would you like, water, cranberry juice or seltzer water?” She tells me seltzer water with very little ice. A few minutes later, I’m handing her a glass. I sit across from her; watch as she takes a sip. “So what is it you want to talk to me about?” I ask, wanting this to be over with as quickly as possible.
“I thought it was time you and I have a nice, l
ong chat. Wouldn’t you agree?”
I raise my brow. “A chat for what?”
“It’s time for you and me to clear the air before Pasha’s wedding next weekend. I’d hoped to do it a few months ago, but after how rude you were during brunch, I decided to ignore you.”
“So then why are you here now?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.
“Because I decided that it was time for me to confront you. There’s going to be a lot of family at Pasha’s wedding that we haven’t seen in a long time. And the last thing I want is for there to be any mess.”
