“Don't tell me of deception; a lie is a lie, whether
it be a lie to the eye or a lie to the ear.”
Samuel Johnson
Screams echoed up and down the hospital corridors sounding like a wounded animal. Meesha had experienced more than her fair share of childbirth. Four times to be exact, but not one of her precious sons had tormented her in labor like this. This little girl was kicking her dead in the—well let’s just say it was giving her more than a lady singing the blues.
“Carlton!” she bellowed again and again.
Carlton held on to his wife’s hand, allowing her to squeeze it in a death like grip. Sweat poured from Meesha’s usually perfectly made up face. Frowns gathered around her eyes and tears gushed forth.
“I’m here, Meesha,” Carlton reassured. “Push, baby. Push. He’s almost here.”
After a seven-hour labor, Meesha screamed and pushed one final time and the precious new life entered the cruel, heartless world.
“It’s a girl,” the doctor announced as Carlton beamed with the inexplicable joy of having his first daughter. Tears swelled in his own eyes as he looked down at the grayish brown bundle.
The doctor smiled and congratulated the couple. Carlton, with the doctor’s assistance, cut the baby’s umbilical cord. Afterward, Meesha, with tears streaming down her face, reached out for her daughter and the nurse laid her against Meesha’s chest where Meesha cuddled her against her breast and kissed the baby on her forehead. In turn, Carlton kissed Meesha on her forehead and rubbed the sweaty strands of black hair from off her face.
“I love you, Meesha,” he mouthed.
“And I love you, Carlton Porter. God got all of this time. No boy like the ultrasound said. Can you believe it? We have a girl, Carlton."
Tears slowly ran down Carlton's cheeks as he leaned down and kissed Meesha on the lips and the tiny newborn on top of her head.
"Isn’t our daughter beautiful?”
“Yes, sweetheart, she is. Our first daughter. She's perfect."
Meesha studied the little human and smiled between her own tears. "Yes, she is perfect in every way. "
"We're going to name her Makena Grace, right? You said if we ever had a daughter that would be her name."
"Yes. It's the perfect name for a perfect baby," Meesha said, staring at her bundle of joy.
"She's just as beautiful as her mother.” Carlton continued staring at his wife and newborn daughter in total adoration.
Nurses then whisked her off to the other side of the room where they poked, preened, cleaned, and weighed her while she wailed.
“Nine pounds, ten ounces,” one of the nurses said to the other. After they were done, one of the nurses brought the precious little one back over to her waiting parents.
Carlton reached for his daughter wrapped in a pink nursey blanket and matching cap. He stared at her until Meesha interrupted.
“Bring her closer, Carlton.” He held her until the nurse informed him that they would be taking Meesha to her room and the baby for examination.
Once inside her room, Carlton sat down and Meesha quickly fell asleep in exhaustion. Without warning, his mind fell on Avery and her unborn child. The two of them had not spoken to each other personally, other than an occasional handshake at church. But for the past few weeks, Avery hadn’t been attending church. He learned from overhearing Meesha talking to one of the housewives that Avery had been placed on bedrest until the birth of her child.
Carlton continued to be concerned about whether the baby she was carrying was his or not. It was definitely a possibility, but he had been praying and asking God to not let it be his kid. He already felt extremely blessed when it was revealed through DNA testing that Peyton’s son, Liam, was not his biological kid. He reasoned with God again, praying if God allowed his affair with Avery to remain under wraps, he would be devoted to Meesha and the boys, and now their daughter as well.
As if reading his thoughts, Carlton’s phone text chimed. I think I might be going into labor. Waiting on Ryker to get home. Thought real baby daddy would want to know.
Carlton cussed underneath his breath. Why was she contacting him? He looked over at Meesha sleeping before stepping out of her hospital room to call Avery. No answer. He called again. No answer. He followed up with a text. I will be praying for you and your baby. God bless you, Sister Avery.