A Rich Man's Baby (17 page)

K
evin left three weeks ago and I had been missing him. I thought it would be impossible to be so close to someone so fast. And I had only physically spent days with him. But true feelings can't be stopped by distance or time. If I could, I would just move to Italy and stay with him. Damn, I wish I was like ten years younger with no children. I wouldn't even think about it. I would be gone. But it didn't matter because I had nothing to lose now because he was all the way over there and I was over here. And he would never find out. We continued to talk on the telephone every day. When I wasn't on the phone with him, we were e-mailing. I send him jokes and links to funny blogs and Web sites. We had the same sense of humor and laughed at offbeat things that most people wouldn't find funny. Although I was happy with my long-distance relationship, I knew how out of reach Kevin really was. There were so many reasons and obstacles why we wouldn't work, but I could always imagine why we could. I stopped daydreaming when I received an e-mail for the approval for my days off. I was taking all of next week off to get my tubes tied. Tubal ligation surgery was scheduled for next week and I couldn't wait. Getting pregnant would be one less thing to worry about.

Kevin texted me he missed me. It was almost two my time, so it was about eight there. He was playing against this team from Serbia, Partizan Igokea.

On my way home Kevin called me.

“How was your game?”

“It was good, but listen, I was calling to ask you, won't you come out here and see me?”

“To Italy?”

“Yeah, when can you come? I'll get you a ticket. I really miss you, Tanisha. Do you want to bring Kierra?”

“I have to check my vacation time.”

“You know if you come you have to spend at least a week.”

“A week?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

I looked down at my calendar. I was supposed to get my surgery done. But I could reschedule that anytime. Rome would not be waiting forever. And I already had the time off. I was on my way to see Kevin.

 

My plane ticket was eighteen hundred dollars round-trip. He e-mailed me my confirmation. Jamil and Alexis were going to stay home by themselves, and Kierra was going with Tyrone.

I downloaded my application and took my passport photo at lunchtime. It was when I looked down at the four pictures staring back at me that I realized I was really going to see Kevin and I couldn't wait. I took my airline confirmation down to customs to get an emergency passport. Alberta was so happy for me, she asked me to bring her back souvenirs.

My flight didn't leave until six. I had overpacked my luggage. My bags weighed over fifty pounds. I had to carry something on with me so I wouldn't have to pay extra. I didn't know how it was going to be, so I packed everything. I brought like five pairs of shoes, a jacket, several different sets of sexy lingerie, stuff to read, all my perfume and facial products and lotions. It was an eight-and-a-half-hour overnight flight. I didn't know what I was going to do for all those hours. Probably go to sleep. But I had never flown on such a long flight, so I didn't think I'd be able to go to sleep.

 

I stepped off the plane at the Rome Fiumicino Airport and I knew I was somewhere different. None of the signs were in English, but they were close enough to be able to understand:
RECLAMO DI BAGAGLIO
. Before I went to baggage claim I had to go to customs.

“Are you here for business or pleasure?” the customs agent asked.

“Pleasure.”

She opened my passport, glanced at my passport picture, stamped it, and said, “
Ciao
.”

I didn't know what to say back so I just smiled.

“Ciao la sono come? Farla deve aiutare.”

I had no idea what she had just said. I pointed to my bags and the woman smiled at me and pointed to the sign. I followed the arrow and it led me to baggage claim. Kevin was waiting for me when I got out of customs. He had this huge grin on his face. I wanted to run to him, but I just dragged my carry-on over.

“What do you have in there?” he asked as he grabbed my bag from out of my hands.

“A little of everything. I was scared I was forgetting something they wouldn't have here,” I said as he brought me into his chest and hugged me.

“I didn't get a chance to get a haircut,” he said as he brushed his hand over his head.

“You look all right.”

“We are going to have dinner with one of my teammates and his family. Are you hungry?”

“No, I'm still a little sleepy. I just feel like so lost. If you took me somewhere right now I wouldn't know how to find my way home. That's scary.”

“You don't have to worry about me leaving you. Come on.”

 

We rode on the highway to Kevin's apartment. The city looked dreary, chalky, and ancient. All the buildings looked like something out of a history book, very castlelike and old. Some of the streets were paved and others were cobblestone.

His apartment was modern and chic. It was decorated white, red, and black. He had a black leather sofa. It looked like a woman put it together; everything was organized.

“It's nice in here. Who decorated?” I asked.

“Thanks, I get bored a lot here, so I look through home-design books and try to re-create it.”

“So you are an interior decorator too!” I laughed.

“Why you laughing? I have to have somewhere nice to stay, right?”

“That's funny, you just don't look like you would be into interior design.”

“I know.

“So you made the journey to come and see me. I am so glad you are here. I want to take you to see the city a little bit, and my teammate Abejide and his wife, Banke, are cooking dinner for us.”

I wanted to spend time with him, but I also wanted to see the city.

 

Abejide's apartment wasn't that far from Kevin's. His wife, Banke, greeted us at the door. They were Nigerian and very friendly. Banke was very pretty, very thin, and had braids that were twisted. They rested in the middle of her back. She definitely looked like she could have walked a runway. She was so friendly and nice. The moment we walked in the door she gave me a hug. I smiled and pushed back a little. I'm not with all that hugging when you don't know me. Banke's French and African accent was so thick that I had to keep asking her to repeat herself, but she didn't mind. She kept asking me about Los Angeles and New York City. She was speaking so fast; then she would smile and shake her head and I would nod yes, but I was clueless. During dinner, I caught Kevin smiling at me from across the table. His gaze almost melted me. He was so amazing and so was his life.

Banke stuffed us with traditional Nigerian food, and when we were leaving, she said, “You should stay. Don't leave. Kevin has no wife. He is, how you say, very lonely. Please, okay?” she said as she kissed me on my cheek and said, “Ciao.”

 

Kevin took me on a tour of the city. We went to where the pope lived at the Vatican, and then visited the Trevi Fountain. It was this majestic wall sculpture that stood high. The sculptures were of Greek gods, chariots and seahorses. It was surrounded by water. You were supposed to toss a coin over your shoulder and into the fountain to ensure your return to Rome. I tossed a few because I knew I would be back to see Kevin. Rome was so busy because it was a big international tourist city. There were nuns walking down the street in groups, and the Coliseum looked like the movie
Gladiator
; I'd never seen anything like it in my life. There were busy little cars that only one person could fit into called smart cars. We held hands as we walked down the street.

Our week went by so fast. Five days had gone by like one. We spent so much time together. I went to his game and we just sat, talked, ate at all these fabulous restaurants. I came home with more bags than what I arrived with. Kevin took me shopping and bought me shoes and a few nice bags and dresses.

A
fter I got back from Europe, I felt like I wanted to pack up everything and move. But it was back to the everyday grind. I had to get home to the children. I wanted to be with Kevin so bad. Why did he have to be all the way over there? I didn't want to go out anymore. I know it sounds silly, but I had fell so hard for him.

Tyrone was sitting on the sofa when I came in from work. I asked him what he was doing in my house. He looked at me like he had an issue with me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Have you taken a good look at yourself and your children lately, Tanisha?”

“No, why?”

“I know you haven't, because you're never home. I just thought you should know that Alexis has been hanging out with that pregnant girl Chardae, and some boy is dropping her off.”

“She is seventeen. She is going to talk to boys. Chardae is not pregnant.”

“Yes, she is and you need to keep a better eye on Alexis. She needs to be driving and working somewhere better than McDonald's. Instead of showing her the right way, you are letting her find her way on her own, and I don't think that is right.”

“Well, you are entitled to you own opinion, Tyrone.” I couldn't tell Tyrone he was right to his face, but I did think he was right. I had no idea Chardae was pregnant. I did have to spend more time with my children. I didn't want to be an absentee mom. When he left, I went up to Alexis's job. She was so surprised.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I needed to talk to you.”

“I get off in thirty minutes,” she said as I stepped out of the way and she took a customer. I had a seat at a booth. When she got off she joined me and I said, “I don't want you to end up like me. I had two children before graduating.”

“I'm not going to end up like you. I'm not dumb, and I already went to get some birth control.”

“So you having sex?”

“No, but when I do I'm not trying to get pregnant. I know I'm supposed to go to school and stuff.”

“I just don't want you to be out there. I heard Chardae's pregnant.”

“She is but I'm not like her. Mom, it's like you don't even care anymore. You started caring about yourself when Dad left. I don't be really saying anything, but Jamil be real hurt like you forgetting about us. Jamil be like where Mommy at? Ever since Dad left you been changing, Mom.”

I didn't know how to react. I was only one person. I wanted to live in two worlds, but it was becoming increasingly harder.

I
'd been staying with DeCarious and his family. He didn't have to report to training camp until July, so we'd been living at his house in Atlanta still. He did whatever I asked him to do. I had the game all wrong; instead of trying to get with the seasoned veteran, the rookie was the way to go. Because I treated him so badly in the beginning and I guess was challenging to him, he loved me. I hadn't been home in weeks. I said anything I wanted to him and it made him love me even more. I could probably tell him I wanted to have his baby, and he would probably happily impregnate me with all the sperm in his body.

But luckily, I wouldn't have to do it because I was already pregnant. Yup, life is crazy, right? I wasn't even trying as hard, like I was with everybody else. I knew DeCarious for less than two months and I was already pregnant. I knew he was going to be so happy when I told him, because he was so in love. He and Rock were out getting haircuts and shopping at Lennox Mall. I knew he was going to bring me something back, he always does. I was spoiled now. He already bought me a pair of earrings just like his and a heart diamond pendant necklace and bracelet.

I was in his big house walking around thinking about how good I had it. I was so happy I was not going to have to ever go back to work. My baby was going to be the heir to the DeCarious Simmons empire. I saw DeCarious pulling up; I met him at the door.

“Boo, I'm pregnant,” I said before he got all the way in the house.

“What? Yo, for real? Oh, I got to get my daddy on the line.” I underestimated how happy he was going to be. He picked me off the ground and spun me around, then laid me back in his arms and gave me a kiss. Then he almost dropped me and said, “I'm calling my daddy now.” He called his father on speakerphone. “Daddy, guess what? No, get Mama; tell her to come to the phone too. I want her to hear this.” He looked over at me and I looked at him still amazed as hell that he was this excited.

His mother got on the telephone, and said, “What is it, DeCarious?”

He paused for ten seconds and then yelled proudly, “Mama, you going to be a granny. My girl pregnant.”

She began screaming, “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” She asked how many months I was; he told her we just found out and then she asked to talk to me.

Again, I was still in shock so I said, “Hi, Mrs. Simmons.”

“Oh, thank you so much. You know you having my first grandbaby, right?”

“No, I didn't know that. You're welcome,” I said as I handed the phone back to him. Within minutes his phone started ringing nonstop. All his country family began calling from Louisiana to Florida back to Atlanta. I just found out I was pregnant and they were talking about what we were going to name the baby. DeCarious got online and began seeing everything a pregnant woman needed. As soon as DeCarious left I called my mother. She was a little suspicious. She asked what I was doing with my life. She was mad at me basically for leaving her in Philly with Pops. I told her just be happy that she was going to be a grandmom. I called Tanisha to tell her I was pregnant. I knew she would be more excited.

“Yup, what if I'm in the house?”

“You told him. What did he say?”

“He is so happy. He called and told his whole family.”

“Really? That is so great.”