Page 63 of Only if You Catch Me

“Ready and nervous.” Persia’s hand flew up to her belly. “Ohhhhh shit,” she used her free hand to grip the dashboard. “The first contraction hit. Shiiiiiiiiiit,” she groaned through clenched teeth.

It was getting real. I drove as fast as I could while still being careful. I pulled up to the ER doors and asked the security guard if he could direct me to a wheelchair. I didn’t want to leave Persia, but I had to park the car. Once a nurse pushed her over to the registration desk, I rushed out to move the car. Lowkey, I wished I could smoke a blunt to take the edge off, but I wasn’t going to do it. I didn’t have any weed anyway. Being that I hadn’t smoked in almost nine months, I almost didn’t see the point of starting back.

The hospital was huge and actually had a free shuttle from the parking garage to the door, or valet parking was an option. I chose valet because it was faster. Or I thought it would be faster. I had to wait for an attendant to come out and get my phone number and last name. After walking to the main entrance of the hospital, finding out what room Persia was in, getting off the elevator and finding her room, she was already undressed in bed, and hooked up to monitors.

When I walked in the room, she was having another contraction, and the nurse was putting something in her IV. Walking over to the bed, I leaned down and kissed Persia on the forehead. God was the Big Homie for sure for doing me the solid of allowing me to be there for Persia while she gave birth to my child. I was going to feed her ice, rub her back, whatever it was that she needed. I was also hoping that childbirth didn’t traumatize her to the point of not wanting to have another baby. I was going to let her rest her body for a year maybe a year and a half, before I begged her to have another baby.

Persia’s contraction ended, and she let the bed rail that she was gripping go. I settled into the chair beside the bed and grabbed the remote for the television. I wasn’t sure how long of a night it was going to be.

Persia was in labor for six hours before Kastian Junior was born weighing seven pounds and five ounces. I was in love. Lil’ man was the spitting image of me. I couldn’t stop staring at him. Watching Persia give birth to him made me fall deeper in love with her. The shit women went through while giving birth, and there were really men out there that did them and their kids dirty? Never in my life would I put anything or anyone except God above my wife and child. I was marrying Persia as soon as I got the chance.

Falling in love with her changed my life. Sitting in that jail cell changed me as a person. Staring into the face of my son woke up the beast in me. I would die protecting what was mine. By any means necessary. Finally, I had to give KJ to the nurse, but she assured she’d bring him back soon. Walking over to the bed, I kissed Persia.

“Thank you.”

“Do I get a push gift?” she mumbled. My baby was tired.

“You can get anything you want, baby. Just name it, and I’ll get you two of them.”

She chuckled, but I was dead ass serious. When I first got the news that Ryder had gotten killed, I was hurt for all of ten seconds. But that passed quickly. He did what he did, and he had to deal with the consequences. I wished things out turned out differently, but they hadn’t. There wasn’t anything I could do about it but move forward. I was so thirsty to marry Persia, I wanted us to go to the Justice of Peace and get married. I knew she wanted a big wedding though, and she deserved that shit. For the rest our lives, I was gon’ give her whatever she wanted. Falling wasn’t so bad as long as there was somebody there to catch you.