You Had Me at Hello Page 10
I pulled up twenty minutes early to my appointment. I had decided on waiting until I returned home for summer to tell everyone about the baby. I was heading home tomorrow, and nobody except for Azariah knew. I was surprising everyone.
“Breionna Richards,” a nurse called.
I stood and followed her into the appointment room. She asked a few basic questions and left me to prepare for my ultrasound. A few short minutes later, a knock came on the door.
“Come in,” I called.
“Good afternoon Ms. Richards. I’m Dr. Brown. How are you today?”
“I’m good.”
“That’s great. Let’s get you ready to find out whether you will have a prince or princess.”
I smiled as I laid back on the table. She squeezed a cool blue gel on my small protruding stomach and placed the scope on it. A few seconds later, I watched as the outline of my baby came into view. The heartbeat was music to my ears, and I couldn’t stop the tears that fell.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s see if the little one will cooperate.” She moved the scope around a little more. “We have a little boy!” She shrieked.
I closed my eyes and cried more because for once, I wanted Ziyon to be here and he wasn’t. I opened my eyes as she was taking pictures of his boy parts. I couldn’t believe I was about to be a mom.
Twenty-five minutes later, I was walking out of the doctor’s office not able to pull my eyes from the pictures. I took a picture of his boy parts and sent them to Ziyon.
Me: (4:42pm) – Ziyon Mikell Kelly Jr.
My Love: (4:43pm) – Wow! I’m sorry I missed it Ma. When will you be here?
I decided to make him wait a while before I responded. I grabbed something to eat on my way home. Pulling up to my condo, I realized how much I actually enjoyed Florida and thought about keeping it and raising my son here rather than in Rhode Island. I know my family would want me to be there, but I seriously was considering making Florida my new home permanently.
My Love: (4:55pm) – You’re ignoring me again?
Me: (5:03pm) – no I just walked in the door and I’ll be there tomorrow. Zari’s picking me up from the airport.
Ziyon never responded, and I truthfully didn’t care. I sat on the couch and watched CSI reruns and ate my burger and fries from Burger King. I ended up dozing off on the couch.
My alarm blared the next morning, waking me from my deep slumber. I dragged myself off of the couch where I had slept and got ready to head to the airport. I walked through my condo slowly. It was paid up through the end of the summer. I opened the door to the empty bedroom and decided at that very moment, Jacksonville, Florida would be our new home with or without Ziyon.
***
Eight hours later, I was back in Rhode Island. The moment I stepped outside of the airport, Azariah was waiting. She ran towards me and stopped in her tracks as she saw my protruding belly.
“Bitch! When was you going to tell me I had a godbaby on the way?” She asked, walking over and placing her hand on my stomach.
“You know now, so there’s no need for me to tell you.”
“Boy or girl?”
“Boy.”
“Due date?” She was rambling off question after question.
“August 2nd.”
“Awwww Bre! You’re gonna be a great mom! Have you told your parents?”
She lifted my bag into the backseat of her mother’s Ford Explorer.
“Nope. Everyone will be finding out together.”
“What about school?”
“I’ll take time off to take care of the baby. I mean, I already have an Associate Degree, so I can get a decent paying job and then continue on for my bachelors. Plus, I’m staying in Florida.”
She whipped her head in my direction.
“Oh is that right? What triggered that?” She asked as she pulled into traffic.
“I’ve been here all my life. Although it was hard to leave in the beginning, I actually grew to love Florida, and I think it’s the perfect place to raise my son.”
Azariah nodded.
“I feel you. Just make sure you have room for me to come too.”
We laughed and played catch up on the way to my parent’s. I can’t lie, it felt good to be back home around all of my family.
Chapter Twenty
“Hello” Beyoncé
Ziyon
I leaned against my car outside of Breionna’s parent’s house waiting for her and Azariah to pull up. Her parents had put together a small function for her return. I was nervous about how they would feel about her being pregnant. Just as I finished my black & mild, I noticed Azariah turning onto the street. I stood up straight and she rolled to a stop in front of me. I walked around to the passenger’s side of the truck and opened the door. I leaned in and kissed Breionna hard. Surprisingly, she didn’t back away like I thought she would. She actually embraced the kiss and kissed me back. I unbuckled her seatbelt and scooped her in my arms.
Without breaking the kiss, I walked her into the house. I was glad that there was nothing in front of me because I was sure if there were, we both would have ended up on the ground. I opened the door to her house and placed Breionna on the floor. All conversation ceased. Her mother’s eyes instantly dropped to her stomach. Her hand instantly flew over her mouth.
“I knew it! It doesn’t matter how far away you are; I knew something was up. I dreamt about fishes then I noticed how you stopped posting full body pictures of yourself on Facebook. Oh my God!” She walked over to Breionna and placed her hand on her stomach. “Am I getting a grandson or a granddaughter?”
“Grandson,” I answered before Breionna could.
Her mother smiled and pulled her daughter in for a tight hug. I stood off to the side and allowed her to mingle with her family and Zari. Her father pulled me aside, and I can’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous.
“Congratulations are in order huh, son?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“All I’m going to tell you is take care of my daughter and my grandson. I trust you, and it’s not very often that I do that. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I promise.”
I stuck my hand out to shake his. Instead, he grabbed me and embraced in a manly hug.
“Welcome to the family, Ziyon.”
“Thank you.”
We joined everyone else in the house where we all ate, laughed and everyone became caught up with Breionna since she had been gone.
“Can I have everyone’s attention please?” I asked, as everyone finished eating.
Breionna looked at me nervously as I walked over to her without breaking eye contact.
“Bre, first off, let me thank you for blessing me with a little one. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to bear my children. I know we’ve had our ups and downs, and I know a lot of times you wanted to hurt me.” Everyone laughed, including Breionna. “But just know, I appreciate you sticking with a nigga. I love you Ma, and I have since the first time I laid eyes on you exactly one year ago today at your job. What I didn’t know was that you would steal my heart the way you did. It’s alright though, because I wouldn’t want anybody else to have it. I guess what I’m asking you is, will you marry me?”
I dropped down on one knee and revealed a 5-carat princess cut diamond engagement ring. Everyone gasped, and Breionna’s hands shot over her mouth. Tears raced down her face as she nodded her head yes. I stood up and leaned over to kiss her.
“You should have known I would have said yes,” she started. “You Had Me At Hello.”
We shared a passionate kiss, and I can easily say, I became the happiest man alive. I have my dream woman and a little Ziyon on the way. I couldn’t have asked for anything else.
The End!
Acknowledgements
Book number ten and it gets harder. I have to thank God because without him, nothing is possible.
My father; I love you unconditionally and just know, we will overc
ome any and every obstacle together. We’ve made it this far; we can only go up from here.
My mama; I love you and that will never change.
My Siblings; all six of y’all are my motivation. I couldn’t have asked for better sisters and brothers.
My Mini Me Moe; I love you little lady and I’m glad I can be a positive role model in your life. Reach for the stars baby girl, the world is yours.
Shamika Smith and Tierra Strothers; you two are two of the best test readers I could have ever asked for. You both delivered exactly what I asked for and I appreciate it.
Ant; I love you! We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs but we’re gonna get it right. We’ve been through it all but together we’ll get through it. I couldn’t have asked for a better best friend; thank you for always being my number one supporter :)
Huge shout out to my cover models Careem and Carelis. I loved the provided picture. It definitely made the cover POP!
Brittani Williams; you straight killed this cover! I couldn’t have imagined it being any better!
Brooke Martin; thank you for being extremely patient with me! I appreciate all you do.
Breionna Evans; thank you for allowing me to use your name :))
HLFG; thank you for the continued support! You are the best group I could’ve ever asked for.
#TBRS; I Love yall! #SquadLife
Finally; my supporters! Y’all are simply amazing. Y’all have made my writing career very successful and I can’t thank you enough. Ten books later and you’re still rocking with me. #TeamLeondraLeRae
If I forgot you, please charge it to my head and not my heart, I love y’all nonetheless!
Leondra LeRae’
Copyright Information
You Had Me At Hello
Copyright © 2015 Leondra LeRae
Published by Don Dyvas Publications
Cover Design by Brittani Williams
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission from the publisher or author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
This is a work of fiction. It is not meant to depict, portray, or represent any particular real persons. All the characters, incidents, and dialogues are the products of the author’s imagination and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or person living or dead is coincidental and is not intended by the author.
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