Page 62 of Papa's Beloved

“Noted. The dolls are pretty fucking sexy.”

The conversation flows as we cook. It’s good to spend time with my baby brother. I beat him by two minutes.

Chapter 47

Nay

Iwake up to the most delicious smells. After relieving myself and washing my hands, I head to the kitchen. I can hear voices when I get closer. When I enter the kitchen, I see Jimmy and Papa. They’re cutting up and smiling. I watch for a few seconds longer before making my presence known.

“Something smells good.”

Papa turns from stirring something on the stove. He crosses the room in a few long strides and pulls me into his arms.

“Did you rest well, Beloved?”

I frowned. I did, but now I have to have a conversation. I don’t want to.

“Yes, I slept well.”

“Then why the frown?”

I start to talk, then stop. Jimmy is here. This is not the time or place. As if sensing my thoughts, he comes over to us and drops a kiss on my forehead, and pats his brother on the back.

“Save me a piece of pie, brother.”

“Will do,” Papa says and pats his brother on the back.

I wait until I hear the front door of the apartment close.

“Did you see it?”

“I did, Beloved. Is that what made you so upset?”

I nod my head. “I can’t have the baby. Not with Linden skulking around.”

“How far along are you?”

That’s not the question I thought he was going to ask.

“About eight weeks. I’ll need to make an appointment with an OB to verify the test.”

“What if I told you the Linden problem will be taken care of before your first trimester is over?”

“Can you promise that?”

He nods his head. “I can. I promise you he’ll be taken care of before you hit your second trimester.”

I can wait four weeks. If he’s gone in four weeks, my baby is safe and so am I.

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I say as tears stream down my face. “I want our baby. I just can’t let Linden get them.”

He pulls me into his arms. “I will never let that happen.”

“Promise?”