Chapter 35

SeniaMarie Milano

I had just left my maternity shoot and was honestly exhausted between getting Tae to keep still and forcing Rah into the pictures I don't know which had me drained more. He really just wanted me and the baby to have our moment but I wanted him to be apart of one of the most important moments in our life.

Rah dropped my nana and I off as him and Tae went on to get some more groceries for tonight's dinner.

I was now in the kitchen with nana as we started whipping up dinner tonight since Rahmik's mom and dad were coming over.

I was really excited too, although Rah's dad did scare me a bit, so his presence near me always made me feel uncomfortable. Especially since I felt like he didn't like me and everyone knows when someone doesn't like them. Energy never lies.

Rah would tell me not to worry bout nothing and it was the fact that he didn't like anyone, but I knew that was bullshit.

I remember about two years ago or so, Ms. Michelle was hosting their annual Christmas party and Candace along with her parents was there. I literally watched this man laughed up in this girls face and held a conversation. I was a bit jealous but part of me understood since their dad were partners and Rah and Candace practically grew up together.

What even made it worse was Dre coming to me and telling me how his dad was basically forcing conversation between her and Rah.

Which he obviously wasn't interested in. It was crazy of him knowing that I was there and knowing of my presence but still continued to do what he did.

Til this day I don't think Rah knows that I know.

I had nothing against Mr. Ford but I definitely had no reason to try and be liked by him either.

"Rah isn't back with them stuff yet?" My nana spoke getting impatient.

"I-"

As if on que the house alarm buzzed as Rah came straight into the kitchen with Tae on his tail digging in a big bag of Doritos.

"I got caught up in some stuff." He stated as I looked towards him and he clearly had a look of agitation on his face.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yea." He answered as he continued unpacking the bags not looking at me once.

"Rahmik." I spoke calling to him as he finally looked towards me.

"I'm aight babe." He said assuringly but I knew better.

"Listen I gotta go make this call I promise I'a get back to." He said coming to me and wrapping his arms around my waist as I looked up at him.

"What's going on?" I asked with knitted brows.

"We gone talk..."

"I promise." He said sealing it with a kiss as he turned his back and was now headed towards the den.

Sighing I turned back to counter picking up where I left off.

I definitely knew something was up with him, but I really didn't know what it was considering I was never involved in that part of his life.

"Hand be me that old bay." I walked over to the cabinet where the seasonings were and gave her the old bay and some other ones incase.

"Here you go." I set them beside her.

"You know he's been trying. Just take it easy." She said looking at me with a small smile and I couldn't deny that.

"You're right..."

"I been meaning to have conversation whitchu'." She spoke.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Well Charmaine and I talked and with a little convincing and, we'll I guess more opportunity we've both decided to move on back down here." She spoke as my eyes had widened in shock.

"Nana are you serious..." I held my hand over my mouth in disbelief as she nodded.

"We talked about it."

"You, the baby, Tae. Our family is already small so we both figured the best thing was to stick together." She said simply as if she had it set in her heart.

"Besides, you gone need all the help you could get with the new addition." She said placing her hand on my belly.

"Na-I don't even know what to..." I said shaking my head.

I was heavily overwhelmed, words definitely couldn't get me through what I was dealing with right now. I was too happy, and I was honestly thankful, I didn't want anything else other than this right now.

"Come here chile." She said pulling me into a hug holding me tightly as the tears ran down my cheeks.

Lord knows I needed this woman.

Rahmik Ford

My moms and pops were down stairs with Nia an em' right now and all I wanted to do right now was lay snug underneath my babymoms.

Grabbing my phone I made my way down stairs where Nia and Miss Eloise had the whole place scented up.

Alone? Nia could've put shit down. But them two together was a whole different ball game inna kitchen.

"Wassup." I said slapping hands with Dre and hugging my moms.

"How's everything been with y'all?" She asked considering her and Nia ain't being able to talk like that due to the fact that she on maternity leave now.

"We been good." I answered looking over at them set the table.

"You really needa tell her chill out." I heard Dre scoff.

"Watchu mean?" I asked as he tilted his head towards the living room couch and seen she got more baby stuff after I clearly told her not to.

"Ma come on with allat."

"I couldn't help myself Rahmik this my first grand baby. If I see it I like it, it's his." She said raising her voice and making hand gestures.

The way my mama was carrying on right nah' you'd think I had her held at gun point.

"I don't need nobody telling me what and what not to get for him. Now excuse me." She said lightly pushing past me going to the dining area.

"I'm glad all this shit falling on you." Dre shrugged as I mushed his head.

I walked further to the dining area where I saw my pops who was already sitting down with a smug face.

The table was already loaded as everyone was already seated except for Nia and I'd decided to wait on her. I watched as she brought out the deep dish of collards and sat down and I went on to do the same.

"Grace." Nia's grandma spoke as we all bowed our heads and got settled in.

"Dear Lord, we come to you on this beautiful blessed evening asking of nothing. But to just give you thanks and the honor of preparing this table before us. We want to thank you for your guidance and most definitely your protection over our lives. Your healing and your grace dear Lord, we could not thank you enough. Amen." She ended.

"Amen." Everyone spoke in unison.

Everyone started to make their plates and get comfortable.

"So Nia," my mom of course started

"How's this baby treating you. You know them Ford boys don't play." She asked as Nia placed some Mac n cheese on her plate and I took me a couple pieces of turkey legs.

"Honestly so far so good. I haven't really experienced anything major with him."

"Don't get me wrong when he moves, it's hell, but other than that I got a pretty good baby." She smiled.

Other than when his ass don't move at all.

"That's good, its crazy cause my pregnancy with Rahmik was a wild one, Dre was way more smooth going."

"It was?" She asked and my mom nodded.

"Yes it was one of the most horrid experience I've ever been in. I was afraid to lose myself and especially my baby. It was a lot." She said as Nia's eyes went wide.

"I honestly had no idea."

"Girl you don't got nothin to worry about. Your support and everyone you got gone be here for you." She assured her.

"Hmm hmm." Miss Eloise chimed in.

"I've honestly been praying this be a easy pregnancy, cause I'll be needing you back at the store like yesterday." She sighed causing Nia to laugh.

"I know the new assistant isn't that bad." Nia said cautiously as my mom rest her fork down.

"I had two different dresses measurements mixed up. It was a disaster darling."

"I could only imagine."

"Yea so you and my baby need to hurry up. Grandpa Garret's already making plans himself." She said causing my brow to raise as I seen Nia tensed up.

"Yea..." I started

"Like what?" I asked looking over to him as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it down.

"I was saying that it was no other than acceptable than for him to attend Leman Manhattan preparatory s-"

"Nah..." I started shaking my head.

"Nia and I ain't done discussed none a that yet. We taking our time on that." I said directly to him as his smug look became more visible.

"Rah boy, it ain't much of a discussion." He said with his brow raised.

I tilted my head to the side as I unnoticeably gripped my fork without even realizing until Nia's hand rested on mine.

Nigga had me all the way fucked up.

"Now sir, Senia and Rahmik got at least about two years to decide what they'll do when it comes to his education."

"As for now we're gonna sit and enjoy this meal and enjoy our baby when he gets here. All they got is time to worry about what's best for their child." Miss Eloise spoke shutting shit down.

"I agree." My mom followed.

For the rest of the night the ladies had really hit it off. Tae and Dre went upstairs to play the game and I was really just observing most of the shit I had picked up on.

Like the fact that my pops went dead silent after not getting the response that he pro'ly was expecting to.

I ain't really wanted nobody imposing on my child's life already. He thinking he done had shit planned out and I'an for allat. Most the Ford men with money went to Leman Manhattan, shit, I went until my ass ended up in some juvenile center.

Remembering all the strict shit I grew up on I wasn't tryna push none a deht' shit on my kid.

I'd be damned if I let that shit repeat itself on my seed.

Time had passed and they'd left Miss Eloise was cleaning up the kitchen and Nia had just gotten out the tub and was putting on her night robe.

Right now a nigga just needed a blunt.

"You did good tonight." She complimented.

"Man I really wasn't tryna make nun escalate but if it needed to, I'a set shit off." I said in all seriousness.

"Babe I feel like..."she trailed off avoiding all contact with me as she made her way over to the beds ottoman.

"Maybe you should tell him." She finished with a lil shrug.

"Nah, ain't no talkin to that nigga, you know that outta all people..."

"Shit just mad different when you talkin' to someone who don't got no feeling's, no consideration, a greedy ass motha'fucka who don't give a fuck bout nobody bout himself. I-" I was now looking pass Nia staring blank at the wall.

"You know-"

"Before I got sent away that nigga dead ass told me that if it weren't for my mama he woulda' never takin' a chance on havin' kids." I laughed lightly, but wasn't shit funny.

"Nigga said havin' kids be your biggest downfall, said that's some weak ass shit and told me not to have em. Not to make that mistake like he did." I shrugged and sighed.

"Youn' know half of it bro..." I spoke lookin' down.

"Rahmik..."

"I know you haven't told me half of what you been through. You may have your fathers ways but you are not him, y-"

"And how you know deht' Nia?" I asked staring at her as she was now propped up on the ottoman with tears set at the brim of her eyes.

"Because I do, the way you care, they way you express your love for the people around you Rahmik."

"God know that you're the realist man that I've ever encountered. Strong, genuine, loving, stubborn, all in one and I wouldn't have it no other way," Her voice cracked and I couldn't even lie, part of that broke me.

"You are not him Rahmik." I watched as she got up and made her way over to me sitting on my lap.

"You're not him and you never will be." She continued as I looked her directly in her eyes as the tears carelessly fell.

"I seen how you love us." She smiled small looking down at her bare belly.

"I seen you trying and breaking your back for us, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that."

"No words can explain what I feel for you," she spoke softly looking deeply in my eyes as I wiped away a tear from her face.

"And I love you for that. Always."

"I love you too Nia."

I was trying hard as hell not to show nothing, but this girl really had me fucked up inside, it really wasn't shit I wouldn't do for this lady right here. And that was a fear I ain't even knew I had.

I swear she was the only one who held everything that it would take to break me, but I'd never let her know that.

.......