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Throughout the wedding planning, Brandy was too happy with her new family to give Charles a hard time. Things were going great as the family looked forward to blending with a new addition.
Six months later, a blushing bride and her belly walked down the aisle to a man anxious to love her forever. Finding out she was with child resulted in moving up the wedding date. Charles didn’t care, as he would have married Brandy the same day he put the ring on her finger.
Monica wasn’t present as she was bailing Tony out of jail from a DUI arrest. Needless to say, the bride wasn’t upset about Charles’ ex being absent. She only got an invite because of Chase. No baby mama meant no unwanted distractions on her big day.
Other than the reason of Monica’s absence, their wedding day was amazing. Family and friends came together, celebrating a dream come true. Brandy would have never had this day with Jay. Unless she paid for the whole thing and dragged him down the aisle. This alone should have been a turning point, understanding that the past was dead and gone. No need to conjure up wild scenarios of being hurt.
The newlyweds decided to save the honeymoon until after the baby was born. Brandy wanted to be able to fully enjoy her husband by celebrating their marriage with just the two of them.
“What do you want to name the baby?” Brandy asked him, sitting in the doctor’s waiting room.
“If it’s a boy, we will name him after me. Girl, you pick the name. Deal?” He replied rubbing her belly.
“Deal!”
“Mr. and Mrs. Jones?” The nurse called out. “Dr. Thomas is ready for you.”
“Well, here goes!” Brandy said.
“I’m a little nervous.” Charles said helping her down the hall.
While the doctor finished setting up, they exchanged cheesy love faces, anticipating the news of their child. Charles couldn’t help but admire the gorgeous glow on his wife. He constantly attempted to make her feel beautiful, knowing how much her body was changing carrying their love child.
“I have to ask,” Dr. Thomas said. “What made you two change your minds about waiting until the baby is born to find out the sex?”
“We couldn’t wait anymore. And we’re ready to finish up the baby room.” Charles replied. “Well, Brandy is ready to finish it. Whatever she wants I’ll do it.”
“That’s a good attitude Mr. Jones.” Dr. Thomas replied, rubbing the warm gel on Brandy’s belly. “So Mr. Jones, what are you hoping for?”
“I want a boy.” He answered quickly.
“And of course I want a girl.” Brandy added.
“Well we are almost ready to see the verdict.” She replied scanning the probe.
Charles studied the screen as the image of his unborn child appeared. Gushing over the new life they created out of love.
After a few minutes which felt like hours to the excited couple, it was time for the big reveal.
“And there you have it. Mrs. Jones, you have your girl!” Dr. Thomas said with excitement.
“Yes!” Brandy shouted, doing a small victory dance while lying on the table.
“Oh man another Brandy!” Charles joked. “Guess I’ll teach her basketball.”
“Um NO!” Brandy interjected. “I’LL be teaching her basketball. You always lose remember”
“I won a few games Brandy.”
“Only a few.” She joked. “Oh my God I cannot believe I’m having a girl. Thanks so much Dr. Thomas!”
The doctor was in awe at the love shared between the two. Charles kissed his wife, helping her to get cleaned up. There was nothing but true adoration in that room and no thought, doubt, or toxic behavior could eliminate the passion in that moment.
The happy couple became more ecstatic about their new bundle of joy. Charles secretly hoped that the new version of Brandy would take on his “slow to anger” temperament.
________
It was finally down to the last month of Brandy being a pregnant lady. The family rushed to finish the baby room and packed a bag for the big day to meet Eve. She decided on the name from her great-grandmother who used to perform at The Cotton Club in Harlem. Charles restored an old photo of Eve’s great-great grandmother for the room as a sweet token of her lineage.
Brandy was ready to meet her daughter, along with getting her normal body back. Nervous about how she would be able to bounce back from the pregnancy, she got a personal trainer on hand to get started in the gym as soon as she healed.
Body insecurities grew worse when Monica came over, strutting around with her slim figure. The two women called a truce once the news of a new baby. But that didn’t prevent callous exchanges, which never caught Charles’ ear. The thought of him no longer desiring her began to fluster. Pregnancy hormones mixed with her usual anxiety was NOT a healthy combination.
“So Brandy, are you ready for the baby’s eviction?” Monica asked gathering Chase’s school work.
“Too ready.” Brandy said pushing out a fake laugh. “I need my body back and I’m ready to get started working out.”
“We when I was pregnant I worked out around the house. It wasn’t hard for me to lose that weight.” She taunted.
“Monica you’ve always been small. You didn’t gain much weight in the first place.” Charles chimed in.
“Yea that’s true. But I had a stomach afterwards.” She replied playing with her waistline.
Charles rolled his eyes at his ex’s exaggeration.
“Baby don’t worry about all that. I just want you to be healthy after the baby is born. Don’t overdo it.” He said giving his wife a kiss on the forehead.
“No Charles this weight has to go!” Brandy snapped. “The doctor said that I’ve gained 50 pounds. That weight can’t stay. Monica, what type of exercises did you do while you were pregnant?”
“I’ll give you this DVD my sorority sister gave me. It’s not hard at all. Well, I have an appointment with the Lord.” Monica grabbed her purse. “Chase! Sweetie come on your grandma is going to kill me if you’re late for bible study.”
“Tell Ms. Wanda I said hey.” Charles said rubbing his wife’s shoulders.
“I will. Bye Brandy! And I’ll bring the DVD tomorrow when I drop off Chase.”
“Thanks.” Brandy replied rolling her eyes.
She attempted to get up from the sofa to show Monica the door. However, the baby’s weight showed her the laws of gravity, pushing her down.
“Baby stay put.” Charles said.
Embarrassed by her husband’s comment, she scoffed at him making it known she was struggling to get up. She didn’t need him to acknowledging that in front of his ex of all people. Finding a comfortable spot, Brandy flipped channels, worrying about the weight gain. Wondering how her husband REALLY felt about it.
“Ah. That’s that. The kid is gone and now it’s just me and you.” He said rejoining Brandy, snuggling close to her.
“What do you want to do?” Brandy asked continuing to flip channels and thinking.
“I could give you a foot rub or run you a nice bath. Whatever you want baby.” He replied kissing her slowly on the neck.
“A bath would be nice.” She smiled.
“Before that, I need to talk to you about something.” He said with a change of tone. “I wanted to wait until Chase and Monica left.”
“What’s going on?” She asked, settling on a crime documentary.
“My job is downsizing and they are giving me one more week before I’m out.” Charles said, uneasy about how her response to the news.
“What!?!” Brandy yelled. “Don’t they know that you are having another baby? I’m not working full-time right now and maternity leave is right around the corner. What in the hell are we going to do? Am I going to have to get a part time job to carry us?!?!”
“NO! Why would you even think like that?!? Baby I have savings and I’m getting a severance package from work so we’ll be ok for a while. We just need to cut back on a few things until I find something else.”
“I can’t believe this. What did you do!?” She chastised.
“Huh?” He asked taken aback.
“What did you do? If the company is downsizing, they’re probably getting rid of the weakest employees first! Were you slacking on your work? Coming in late a few too many times? Getting too caught up in Monica and her drama that you couldn’t do your damn job?”
“I know you’re pregnant and that’s messing with your moods a little bit so I’m going to let that go.” Charles said getting up. “Your bath will be ready in a minute.”
Brandy pushed, rolled back, and pushed again; standing up to follow her husband. She wasn’t done with her harsh opinions on the job loss.
Like clockwork, she found a way to compare him to Jay. Convinced that the inner fears were beginning to unfold. Already uneasy about Monica flaunting her figure, the anxieties rushed in at an all-time high.
“I wasn’t done talking to you!” She shouted, making her way to the bathroom.
Charles cleaned the tub, trying to make everything perfect for his wife. Praying that the gesture would get her to shut up and calm down. However, she only cared about giving him grief over something that was beyond his control.
His hope was to receive a more supportive response. Nerves already rattled from being the head of the house and on the brink of being laid off, Charles refuse to give into his wife’s antics.
“So you’re ignoring me!?!?” Brandy yelled. “I don’t even want the damn bath now!”
“That’s fine.” He calmly replied. “I’ll just run it for myself.”
“Go to hell!” She shouted before shuffling into the bedroom.
Hurt by her words, Charles stopped cleaning and went to grab car keys the dresser. He needed a break from his wife’s wrath and the stress of losing his job.
“And where are you going?” She yelled watching him stuff the wallet into his back pocket.
“To hell...” Charles scoffed. “That’s where you want me to go right? I just wanna make you happy baby.”
“Shut up Charles! You drop this news on me and now you’re being sarcastic!”
“I’m not. You want me to go to hell. I’ll go to hell. Do I need to get you anything?”
“Stop talking to me!” She shouted.
“Lower your tone Brandy.” Charles said getting fed up with her shouting.
“NO!”
“Fine. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. It’s obvious you don’t want me here right now.”
“You walk out that door and I’ll...”
“You’ll what?” He interrupted in an unyielding tone.
The look on Charles’ face was a distraught combination of rage and agony. He wasn’t aware of the emotions building up inside. Her husband’s look and tone made Brandy calm down quickly. Unknowing of what he’d do next, she backed off, allowing him to leave in peace. Charles slammed the door and got into his car. There was no agenda for where he’d go, but staying there listening to harsh words wasn’t an option.
As she heard the garage door open, Brandy sat in the living room and cried. Confused on how her husband confiding in her ended in him leaving. She knew her reaction hit below the belt. Regretting what she said to him, she laid on the sofa, scared that wasn’t coming back.
At 12 am, Charles pulled back into the garage. He had gone out with his boy Phil to get a few drinks and catch up. Spending time with his friend allowed the mixed emotions to fade, putting everything in perspective. To his surprise, he found Brandy in the bathroom, moaning.
“Baby what’s wrong?!?” He asked, hastily rushing to her side.
“I think-I-I think the baby is coming!” She leaned over the sink.
“Ok baby relax, I got this!”
Charles rushed into the bedroom to get the baby bag.
“Charles I’m so scared.” Brandy yelled out.
“It’s ok baby. It’s ok. I got this. C’mon let’s get you to the car. I have the bag. Do you need anything else?”
“I can’t think right now.” She cried.
“Breathe baby! Just breathe!” Charles said in excitement. “We’ll be at the hospital soon. Let’s get ready to meet our princess Eve!”
He remained calm, helping a panicked wife into the car. Brandy was happy he came home just in time to take her to the hospital. Fear and stubbornness prevented her from calling to let him know she wasn’t feeling well. Fortunately, fate stepped in, sending him home minutes after the pain started.
Charles drove as fast as he could, making sporadic checks on her breathing. He knew everything to do which helped ease her fears of childbirth.
Sixteen hours later, Eve came into the world. The couple wasn’t concerned with the argument. Exchanging kisses between themselves and the baby, Eve was a sweet surprise to help mend their differences, for a while.
________
As Eve settled in at home, the family dealt with more changes. Monica and Tony separated due to his growing violent behavior. Chase was then allowed back at Monica’s home. The custody filing was no longer on the table, just as long as she promised a divorce would soon follow
Charles made it a point to do whatever he could to take care of his family and to not have his wife worry about a thing, especially money. He wasn’t able to fulfil his last week at work due to their daughter’s early arrival, however that was NOT going to stop him from being the provider for the family. Swallowing pride, he got a part-time job at a hardware store along with doing yard and construction work in the neighborhood. All the while actively interviewing for a better paying job.
Brandy was content that her husband was working so hard. However, it put a strain on him being around to help with the baby. She lost a lot of sleep and took on being the full-time parent since her husband worked around the clock to make money. He saved well, but Brandy’s panic moods urged him to stay employed.
Looking for something else to complain about, she grew tired of Charles not being there when she wanted. Not to mention, her jealousy of Monica grew more as she didn’t stick to working out. Often fussing at him for working and then fussing because the money he brought in wasn’t what she expected. Charles tried his best to keep it together but Brandy was pushing his buttons. All in all, he chopped it up as a temporary situation, not allowing his wife’s behavior to break his spirits. It also helped that he had a beautiful daughter to welcome him home especially on the days his wife didn’t.