Page 18 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

Nine

Royce

W ith everything going on, I knew Klarity had questions on why a nigga was doing this and I had answers.

Now wasn’t the time though. I was prolly scaring her lil’ cute ass by now so I wasn’t going to throw that marriage contract at her.

I claimed her for a reason and unbeknownst to her, I couldn’t let her belong to anyone else but me.

My timing was late as hell but now that I was in the picture, there was no turning back.

Dr. Bloom stood over Klarity’s body performing the c-section. Surprisingly, Klarity clung to me from the moment the anesthesiologist put that big ass needle in her back. I had to check myself for a minute ‘cause I almost put that nigga on his ass for causing her more pain than she was already in.

“You good, My Baby?” I asked as I sat next to her holding her hand.

“I can feel them tugging at me. This shit feels so weird.”

“Are you hurting though?”

“No, I’m fine. Make sure Essence is okay… please.” The plea in her eyes said she was more concerned for her daughter than herself. As long as I had breath in my body, they both were making it out this bitch alive and healthy. She ain’t have shit to worry about.

I stood and Dr. Bloom reassured me before I could assess or ask a question. “Mom and baby are good, Daddy. I just cut the sack, and she will be making her entrance right about…. now.”

Essence was removed from Klarity’s stomach and all she did was cry showing how strong her lungs were. Dr. Bloom extended the scissors in my direction after clamping the umbilical cord. I proudly took them and cut it. Shit, all Essence would know as her father was me. I was gon’ make sure of that.

The smile I wore couldn’t be contained. I was really excited in this muthafucka like Essence came from my nut sack. With my mouth to Klarity’s ear, I was raining kisses on the side of her face between praises. She just had a whole baby with a nigga.

“She good, My Baby. She pretty as hell, too. You did good.”

“Royce don’t leave her side. Follow her wherever she goes. I know how hospitals operate, and I refuse to have her snatched from me.”

“I got eyes on her, but I ain’t leaving yo’ side, either. Trust me, ain’t nobody leaving this room if we ain’t leaving together.” I was loud enough for everybody in here to hear me. They all shared a look, but no one went against me.

When Essence was done getting cleaned up, the nurse brought her over to me wrapped in a blanket.

“She’s six pounds three ounces. Mom might’ve gone into labor early, but baby’s weight pushes her out the window for premature.

Everything sounds good on her so right now there’s no worries.

Her tests and shots will be performed over the few days Mom is recovering here.

And yes, you can be present for all of them if you’d like. ”

Nodding, I cradled Essence in my arms and immediately fell in love with her. I didn’t know perfection could be made without my help. She had the nerve to try and open her eyes like she could really see who the hell her daddy was. My face was starting to hurt from how hard I was cheesing.

“Is she okay? Let me see her,” Klarity spoke softly.

“I told you she was good, baby.” I stood and allowed My Baby to see the cutie she made. Tears fell as she eyed her. I expected nothing less. This was a life she carried for eight and a half months.

All Klarity could do was cry and nod. The events of her labor went fast so I understood the confusion, the sense of being terrified, and joyous all at once.

After all, she was leaning on a stranger for support and having to trust my words.

My word was law, but anything could go wrong.

If a nigga could control one’s life span, then I would.

However, that was all on OG. I was just grateful to experience something so special.

Dr. Bloom worked and I cooed over my lil’ baby.

She was too goddamn adorable, and she was just as red as she wanted to be with a head full of hair.

She looked like My Baby, so I knew she was gon’ be trouble for me when she got older.

Putting lil’ niggas in the dirt the second they looked at her.

I hope she was ready for a sheltered life.

‘Bout an hour and a half later, we were stationed in our private room. My Baby did her recovery with me and Essence by her side. I didn’t allow the nurses to do shit for her until Klarity said so. The most they did was wipe her down.

Now Klarity was in bed still worn the fuck out but no longer in unbearable pain. She could finally start to relax in peace. Our daughter wasn’t being put down no time soon, so she had no worries. Essence was the safest in my arms and you couldn’t tell me any different.

My cell vibrated in my pocket as soon as I started to doze off.

It was time to settle down and get some rest. It was already a lil’ after midnight.

Everybody and they mama, including mine, should’ve been home and in the bed knocked the fuck out.

Yet, Iris was hitting my line. I answered already knowing what she wanted.

“Yeah Ma?”

“What room y’all in? How are they? Do they need anything?” she was firing off twenty-one questions back to back.

“In the private room on the east wing. Why you ain’t took yo’ tail home, Ma?” I threw back.

“I’m yo’ damn mama. I don’t have to go no damn where. Wasn’t it you that said she was my daughter-in-law and that was my granddaughter she was birthing?” I chuckled off her response. She was gon’ use my words against me every time.

“Hurry up, Ma. Come see them and then take the crew home with you. They’ll meet them when they get discharged.”

She hung up and I pocketed my phone. If I knew my mama, she wasn’t coming in here alone.

More than likely, she had the entire family with her.

She never listened. I was hoping she did this time though.

This was something that was sprung on her last minute and Klarity was new into both our worlds. I was leaving her no time to prepare.

“Royce, I can only deal with your mother and Seri right now. I don’t feel like seeing nobody else or faking a smile right now. I’m tired,” Klarity spoke softly.

“I got it, My Baby. Relax for me, aight? You want her to stay in this onesie or what you got packed?”

“Has she had her first bath yet?”

“What that mean?” I questioned. When I told her this was my first time doing this shit, I wasn’t exaggerating. I ain’t have a reason to be there for nobody else and they lil’ demons. “I ain’t let them do shit. She literally been in my arms since they handed her over in the OR.”

“The nurse will come and wash her off as well as wash her hair. It’s a quick lil’ bird bath but that’s all she needs.

And… I’m sorry for being a burden on you.

I wasn’t expecting to go into labor so suddenly.

Thank you for being here and making sure we were safe.

I don’t know why you chose us but we’re appreciative,” she voiced.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. She was apologizing as if I was going to be somewhere else but here. She might’ve not known it, but it was always going to happen this way. From the first time I put Mercedees and Striker on her, I knew the end result. It was her playing catch up.

“You’ll know soon enough on why. Stop asking questions and accept me, beautiful. I promise I’m the best thing that’ll ever interrupt your life, My Baby. Rest up though. I got this. I’ll have my mama bathe her and shit before she gets up out of here. You cool with that?”

Nodding, she said, “Thank you, again. And Royce, don’t take your eyes off her. I don’t care who’s in here. The nurse should bring in some bottles as well. My milk hasn’t come in yet and she needs to eat.”

“Anything else, my love?” I inquired.

I was smiling from ear to ear seeing her in mommy mode. I was loving her lil’ HBIC shit she had going on but still making me feel like I had some control, too. It fit her. Hell, if she was my wife she was gon’ have to show she wasn’t no pushover.

“That’s all. I’m just really tired and want everything to be still. Can you handle that please?”

“I can,” I replied with that same goofy ass smile still plastered to my face.

A light knock came through and in walked my mama with my Pops, CJ, and Serinity behind her. Surprisingly, it was just them. My mama must’ve known how this shit worked because she was respecting Klarity giving her the time she deserved.

Serinity walked over with CJ placing him on the bed and immediately pecked Klarity’s face over and over telling her how proud she was of her.

I wanted to mush her rude ass right on up off my woman, but I kept my cool and let her have her moment with her cousin.

Iris came right to area for Essence. She’d been asking me for grandkids, and I’d be damned if these ain’t fall in her lap.

Pops stood shaking his head as his gaze shifted between me and Klarity.

I already knew what he was thinking. I beat him at his own game, and he couldn’t stand it.

“Oh my God. Look at this beautiful baby girl. She is all of perfect,” Iris cooed.

“Will you give her a bath, Ma? Klarity said something about washing her off and her hair. You know how to do that, right? You can’t get the umbilical cords and shit wet.”

“Of course, I know how to wash a damn baby boy. This ain’t my first damn rodeo. Give her here.” She gently removed her from my arms and walked over to the sink on the backwall.

“CJ, how you feeling man? You good?” I had to check in on lil’ man. I was sure he ain’t know what the hell was going on.

“Mommy had my baby?” His lil’ face was scrunched up out of confusion.

“She had yo’ lil’ sister, big man. Yo’ grandma giving her a bath. You want to see her?” He nodded wildly, and I stood grabbing him with me. We walked over to baby girl, and she had her eyes wide open looking up at my mama like she knew her. “How long she been up?”