Chapter 13
Gianna sat on a mat, listening while the instructor, an ex-yoga teacher, instructed all the men in the childbirth class to sit behind their wives. Leave it to Ramsey to not only sit behind Gianna but also spread his legs wide while cradling his pelvis right up against her butt. He rested his hands on her stomach while fluttering his tongue at the nape of her neck.
Gianna jerked at the sensation of his hot tongue touching her neck. “Ramsey, stop it. The instructor keeps looking over here.”
“Let her look. I don’t care.”
“I do,” she whispered frantically.
“There’s no need to be shy, Gianna. Everyone knows what we had to do to get to this point.”
Gianna’s face turned red.
And to make her blush with hotness even more, Ramsey whispered in her ear, “They know I was inside of you, baby. If they knew how many times...” he whistled. “You wouldn’t be trying to act so innocently right now.”
A flush crept across her face. Gianna smiled, drowning in his heat. His scent. The powerful man that he was. He was so serious about work. Dedicated to it, she knew, but not as much as he was dedicated to her and their baby. He never lost his craving for her since the beginning of their courtship and marriage, and she would never get used to the way he made her feel. Wanted. Desired.
“Okay fathers,” the instructor said. “I want you to hold your spouse’s hand and practice some deep breathing.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “From what I saw last night, you got this deep breathing stuff down already,” Ramsey said, taking Gianna’s hand into his.
“Yes, I do.”
“Okay,” the instructor said, “You’re going to take a deep breath through your nose and release it slowly out of your mouth. So, breathe in...”
Gianna pulled in a long breath then released it slowly. She repeated this while Ramsey closed his eyes, left little kisses beside her face, then kept his face pressed against hers. “I have to talk to you about something.”
“Right now?” she asked, then pulled in a deep breath, releasing slowly again following directions.
“Yes.”
“Ramsey, you’re supposed to be helping me with these relaxation techniques.”
“I am, baby, but this can’t wait.”
“Okay,” she said, “But when I go into labor and snatch your lips off of your face because I don’t know how else to deal with the pain, it’s your own fault.”
Ramsey chuckled. “You’re not going to be that bad. I know for a fact you can handle a little pain.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I saw Geraldine today.”
“Where?”
“In Uptown. You know I had that meeting with the French designer—”
“Un huh.”
“While we were eating lunch, I saw Geraldine walk by, so I got up and followed her.”
Gianna’s eyes grew big. “You followed her?”
“I did. I wanted to see where she was going, especially since you said she told you she was ready to make a change and whatnot.”
“And?” Gianna said, following the instructor’s directions by extending her arm straight up into the air. “Where was she going?”
Ramsey ran his hands up her arm’s length and back down again. “She went to see a therapist.”
“She did?” Gianna asked feeling a sense of relief. Geraldine had told her she wanted to make a change and, according to Ramsey, she was seeing a therapist. That was not only a step in the right direction for her but also the proof Gianna needed that Geraldine was serious this time.
“Yes. I followed her into the office and had a talk with her.”
“Are you serious, Ramsey? I can’t believe you actually followed her. And what do you mean you had a talk with her? You hate Geraldine with a passion.”
“I don’t hate her. I just don’t like her. Anyway, after my chat with her, I realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“That I owe you an apology.”
Gianna put her arms down and gave Ramsey her attention. “Why?”
“You were interested in trying to establish some kind of relationship with Geraldine and I wasn’t being supportive. I should’ve been, but I wasn’t. I was being more protective than actually listening to you, and that’s why I’m apologizing—for not listening when you needed me to. I’m sorry.”
“I appreciate that, Ramsey. Now, tell me how this talk went.”
“It was progress for me because I still don’t necessarily trust your mother, but she does appear to be making an effort, so I invited her over for dinner.”
“You did what!” Gianna yelled so loud the entire class stopped and looked at her. “Oops. Sorry.”
Ramsey buried his face in her neck and laughed.
“Stop laughing at me, Ramsey.”
“You are something else. Why do you react so strongly to things?”
“I’m—I’m in shock...can’t believe you invited her to dinner.”
“Well, I did.”
“To our home?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think about it?”
“I think that’s a huge step for you but I also believe it will help me and Gemma.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Royal wasn’t too fond of having Gem anywhere near Geraldine, so if you think it’s a good idea, you may want to talk to her or possibly him about it.”
“I’ll call Royal when we get home.”
“So, it’s settled? You’re okay with Geraldine coming over?” Ramsey asked as his fingers wiggled up her maternity blouse.
Gianna squirmed and giggled, her body quivering at his touch. “Ye-yes. I’m fine with it. Now stop.”
“I don’t want to stop,” he said, and he didn’t.
“Ramsey,” Gianna said, giggling. “The teacher is going to kick us out.”
“Okay, okay,” he said, “But you gon’ get it later.”
* * *
Gianna was sitting on the sofa, getting hungrier by the second at the smell of whatever it was Carson was preparing for dinner. Ramsey was in his office checking for an email he needed to respond to according to an urgent text from Judy. He would’ve replied using his phone, but he found it easier to do so on his laptop in his office where he could concentrate.
In the interim, Gianna took the opportunity to call Royal, thinking it was appropriate to talk with him first before taking the issue straight to Gemma. If Royal told Ramsey he didn’t like the idea of Gemma being at dinner with Geraldine, chances are he probably didn’t mention anything about the dinner to her just yet. She reached for the remote to turn the volume down on the TV and dialed Royal’s number.
“What up, G?” he answered.
Gianna was smiling when she said, “Hey, Royal.”
“Hey…surprised to see you calling me. What has Ramsey done? Do you need me to handle him for you?”
“No,” Gianna said, all smiles.
“I’m just kidding. You got Ramsey under your thumb. If you’re looking for Gemma, she’s taking a shower at the moment while I’m preparing dinner.”
“You’re cooking dinner?”
“I am—making nachos—got the kitchen smelling heavenly over here.”
“That’s cool. I know Gemma appreciates having a live-in chef.”
A chuckle escaped. “She does.”
Gianna smiled. “Um…anyway, I called to talk to you about something.”
“To me?”
“Yes, about Geraldine. Ramsey said he mentioned dinner—”
“He did,” Royal cut in to say, “And I’ll admit I didn’t like the idea one bit.”
“Why not?”
“Do you really have to ask me that, Gianna? You know, just as well as I do, that your mother ain’t working with a full deck. Need I remind you of the hospital incident?”
“No. Ramsey already has, but he’s come around since then.”
“And so have you, I take it.”
“Well, I—um—look…I think Geraldine is trying, and since that’s the case, we need to try, too.”
Royal sighed audibly. Heavily.
“I know how much you love Gemma.”
“I don’t think you do. You know what you see, Gianna, but you can’t begin to fathom the depths of which I love your sister. I know you love her, too, but it’s my job to protect her and look out for her now. With that in mind, do you think I want Gemma to meet up with Geraldine?”
“No,” Gianna said downcast. “But it’ll be at our house in a comfortable setting. Ramsey won’t allow any discord in the house and he definitely won’t let Geraldine go off on a tirade—not saying I think that’s what she’ll do—I’m just saying. Everything will be fine, and if at any point Gemma wants to leave, she can.”
“All right. I’ll do it for you, but you remember this the next time you bake some blueberry lemon cupcakes.”
Gianna giggled. The blueberry flavors were among Royal’s favorites. “Okay. I will.”
“And thank you for coming directly to me concerning this. You could’ve gone straight to Gem.”
“Could have, but I didn’t want to usurp your authority. I’ve spent a long time taking care of and guarding my sister. Now, that responsibility falls on you.”
“And I gladly accept.”
Gianna smiled.
“When is this dinner with broom-rider, I mean, Geraldine?”
Gianna chuckled. “Wednesday, say around 7:30.”
“Got it. We’ll be there. I’ll talk it over with Gemma tonight.”
“Thanks, Royal. I owe you one.”
“Nah...you owe me some blueberry cupcakes.”
Tickled, Gianna responded, “I’ll have your cupcake payment ready. No worries.”
He chuckled. “Okay, Gianna. We’ll see you on Wednesday.”
“Okay. Enjoy your nachos and tell Gem I said, hi.”
“Will do. See ya.”
“Bye.”