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We both shared a laugh, and I was grateful for her because she encouraged me without even trying. I needed to channel my energy into uplifting my man and making sure everything was solid on the homefront. He had always been there to hold me up, and now it was time for me to return the favor.

* * *

Messiah had been on my ass about calling security before I left the house, but I wasn’t in the mood to be trailed and followed today. Yaya pulled some strings and got me an appointment with her OB/GYN since my regular doctor was on vacation and wouldn’t see me for three weeks. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

Dr. Malone was really sweet and informative. The nurse came in and gave me a cup to pee in, which I expected. I sat nervously on the cool exam bed as I waited for them to come back with the results.

“Alright, Ms. Graham. We’ve got your test results back, so I’m gonna go over them with you. The urine sample did come back positive, but I want to conduct an ultrasound since you mentioned you haven’t had a menstrual cycle in months, due to your birth control.”

Pregnant. My mind began to think about how far along I could have been and what I had been doing over the last few months.

I had been drinking up until the night Solo got arrested, and I wondered how it might have affected the baby. She instructed me to lie down and lifted my shirt up and placed some gel on a probe-looking tool.

“It’s going to feel cold at first, but it’ll warm up.”

I nodded and prepared myself for what I was about to see.

There was a long pause that lasted for an uncomfortably long time as I waited for her to say something. It very well could have been my own paranoia, but I was anxious to know what was going on.

“Alright, there is your little baby right here. Let’s get a little closer so we can hear their heartbeat.”

I glanced at the monitor, but couldn’t decipher what I was seeing. All I saw was black and white circles and lines.

“Ahh, it’s loud and strong,” she cooed as she held the tool in one spot. There were no words to describe the feeling of pride in my heart when I heard the sound of my baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Tears slid down the side of my face and into my earlobes as I sobbed uncontrollably.

“If you look here, these are their two feet, this is their spine, and this is their little bottom.”

She pointed out all of their body parts, and I couldn’t stop crying. My mind still hadn’t fully processed the fact that there was a tiny human inside of me, and I was already in love with them.

“Is the baby okay? I had no idea I was pregnant, and I went to a couple of parties where I drank alcohol.”

Dr. Malone smiled at me warmly as she removed the tool and cleaned my stomach.

“Based on the measurements I captured, you’re about eleven weeks and five days. It’s too early to screen for any abnormalities, but as you get further along, we can keep an eye on the baby’s development, and once you’re further along, we can run any tests you need.”

After she answered all of my questions and printed out my ultrasound photos, I headed out to get something to eat. I had a taste for some potstickers and some Korean fried chicken, so I decided to hit up one of my favorite Asian spots downtown. While I waited for a couple of my clients to confirm our meet-up times, I sat at a table and waited for my food.

My boutique was temporarily closed, but I still had a few pieces that needed to be delivered. I responded to a few more messages when I saw an inbox from Antonio. We had been in communication since I finished his daughter’s dress, but it was mainly about business. He had recommended me to a few people he knew, and I thanked him for the business. Since then, he had sent messages to check on me, but it was pretty casual.

Antonio: Hey, are you busy? I know this may be a little unorthodox, but I have a bit of an emergency, and I don’t know anyone who could help on such short notice.

My face twisted into a frown as I read his message. I wondered what he could possibly want to ask me, but instead of wasting time, I decided to just call him. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hey. I’m sorry to bother you, but I could really use your help.”

“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked as I grabbed my food from the counter.

“I have this gala to attend out of town tomorrow and ordered a custom suit, but the pants legs are too long. My normal tailor isn’t available until Monday, and I’m desperate. I don’t want to go to this event looking like I borrowed someone else’s suit.”

I giggled because I could imagine him walking around with his pants dragging the ground.

“Yeah, we can’t have that. Hmm, my schedule is pretty open. If you want, you can meet me at the shop in the next hour to drop off the pants.”

I wasn’t supposed to be at the shop, but it wouldn’t take more than an hour to fix his pants, and I would be right back out.

“Actually, I was wondering if you would be willing to make a house call. Normally, I wouldn’t mind traveling, but I’m staying with my sick grandmother for a few days, and I can’t leave her side. I can send you the money to buy whatever you need, but I know you’re going out of your way.”

I bit down on my bottom lip as I thought about my options. I didn’t want to leave him hanging, but I had never made a house call for a man. Honestly, I didn’t like to do them at all because everyone’s house wasn’t clean.