Drama Queen (16 page)

Just when Kayla thought the worst was over, Karen told her she had to deliver the birth sack.

“It's not another one in there, is it?”

“No, but it's gonna be some pressure.” She felt Karen pulling on what felt like her insides and began to moan again. “All done.”

“Seven pounds, three ounces. Nineteen inches,” Nicole called out. “Vitals are great.”

“I told you it'd be today,” Karen said.

“You also told me it was a boy,” Kayla said wearily. “I don't even have a name for her.”

Geno walked over with the baby and handed her to Kayla. “What a day. What a day.”

“It sure is. Congratulations, Kayla. You did good. Geno, you did good too!” Karen said as she was leaving. “I'll check on you later. Happy Thanksgiving.”

Kayla was exhausted. They moved her to a regular room and she fell asleep immediately. When she woke up, Geno was still there, holding the baby.

“Hi, Mommy. You feel okay?” he asked.

“Yes, a little tired. What time is it?” she asked.

“A little after ten. I called Roni and she's on her way. She's mad because she missed the whole thing. You hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Well, someone is. Nicole said you're going to breastfeed. I'm supposed to get her when you wake up. Here, hold her while I get Nicole.” He passed the tiny little girl to Kayla and she could not help but smile.

“Hi, Sweetie. I'm your mommy. You ready to eat?” She kissed the top of her forehead and looked at her. She tried to see who the baby looked like. She was light in complexion, but Kayla knew that would change by the caramel color of her ears. Her eyes were closed, but Nicole said that they were brown. And she was bald, with the exception of a patch of hair on the very top of her head.

“Ready to do this, Kayla?” Nicole asked as she came in the room.

“I guess so. She's gotta eat.” Kayla laughed. Nicole showed her how to hold the baby properly as she fed her, and Kayla felt like a pro as her daughter greedily sucked on her breast.

“Let me see him, let me see him!” Roni cried as she entered the room. “He's gorgeous. I can't believe I missed it, Kayla. How are you feeling? Did it hurt? How did Geno wind up here?” She didn't give Kayla a chance to answer. Geno came in with a big bouquet of balloons announcing
It's a Girl.

“You must have the wrong room,” said Roni.

“You're crazy. How is she, Kayla?”

“It's a girl? How in the world? It's a girl!” Roni looked from Kayla to the baby to Geno.

“Say hello to your niece, Aunt Roni.” Kayla passed the baby to Roni.

“Hi, Sweetie. You are so beautiful. You are gonna be a diva, just like your mommy.”

“Don't curse her, Roni,” Geno said as he tied the balloons to Kayla's bed.

“I can't believe I had a girl. She doesn't even have anything to wear home from the hospital.” Kayla looked at Roni holding her daughter.

“That's the least of your worries. Aunt Roni will have her hooked up. Now what you do need to worry about is a name.”

“Yeah, you need to pick one, Kayla, or she will be Baby Girl Hopkins,” Geno said. “What was the boy's name gonna be?”

“Joshua Maxwell,” Kayla told them.

“That was nice, but it definitely won't work for a girl,” he said.

“You got that right. What about Destiny?” Roni asked.

“How about no. That's corny and everyone is using that because of Destiny's Child.”

“She's right,” Geno said. “You had to think of some girls' names before you knew it was a boy. What were they?”

“Knock knock! Everyone decent?” Terrell stuck his head in the door, followed by Toby. He looked at the balloons and shook his head. “How'd you manage that?”

“Ultrasound reading was wrong, I guess,” Kayla told him and he gave her a hug.

“She's beautiful,” Toby said as he looked over Roni's shoulders at the baby. “I guess you don't need the camera, huh?”

“Sure we do. This is a video worthy moment. Start filming. I'll be the host, of course.” Roni handed the baby to Kayla as Toby took out his video camera. “Today is Thanksgiving Day, and we have so much to be thankful for. We are here with Kayla Hopkins, who has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Kayla, what are you thinking about naming your precious daughter?”

“Her name is Jenesis Sade Hopkins. But her nickname is Day,” Kayla said proudly.

“Day,” Toby said. “I like it.”

“It's not as tight as London,” Terrell said recalling one of the girl's names he had suggested to Kayla early in her pregnancy, “But Jenesis Sade is pretty. And Day is player for a nickname.”

“Beautiful Day.” Geno took the baby from Kayla. He was amazed at her tiny body and thought the name suited her. Kayla had always talked about naming her daughter Jenesis with a J, after her mother.

“Now how did you wind up taking my place in the delivery room, Geno?” Roni asked.

Kayla and Geno recounted the events of the night for everyone until Nicole came in and announced that Kayla and the baby needed to rest. She took Day back to the nursery and everyone said their good-byes.

“Thank you again, Geno,” Kayla whispered as he kissed her cheek before he left.

“I told you I would always be there for you, Kay. She's beautiful and so are you. I'll come back and visit both of you tomorrow.”

“Okay. We'd both like that.” Kayla closed her eyes.

“Kay and Day. What a pair.” He chuckled as he walked into the hallway.

The hospital registrar came by the next morning to get the info for Day's birth certificate. Roni told Kayla she had called Craig and left a message on his cell phone that she had given birth and was in the hospital, but he still had not called or come by.

“Father's name?” the crabby white woman asked.

“Craig Coleman,” Kayla answered.

“Is he here?”

“Not right now.”

“We need him to sign the certificate if he is to be registered as the father. If not, a name won't be listed.”

“He'll sign,” she told her. She wanted Day to know her father's name, even if he opted not to be an active part of her life. She called his cell and again got no answer. When she hung the phone up, it rang instantly. Kayla thought it was him returning her call, but it was her parents calling to congratulate and let her know they were on their way.

“Hi, Kayla. You feeling okay?” Yvonne knocked as she came in the door. “Let me see my goddaughter. She's gorgeous! Hi, Day. Auntie Von bought this for you to take your pictures in and wear home.”

“Thanks, Von. I told Roni last night that she had nothing to wear.” Kayla looked at the soft pink and white outfit with the matching hat that Yvonne had given her.

“We got that all taken care of. Don't worry about a thing. You just rest up. When are they releasing you?”

“Tomorrow morning.” Kayla sighed.

“What's wrong, Kayla?”

“I left messages for Craig but he hasn't called or come up here. I need him to sign her birth certificate.”

“He'll show up. You told me he's changed, right? He's been coming around and he promised to be there for his baby. Just relax.”

“Okay, Von.” Kayla sighed. They dressed Day and got her ready for the photographers. The nursery had just brought her when Craig arrived along with Darrell.

“I hear I have a princess in here.” He winked at Kayla. She was not amused.

“About time you decided to make an appearance.” She scowled.

“Is this my new niece?” Darrell asked, “Hi, Kayla. It's nice to see you again.”

“Can I at least hold her, Kayla?” Craig reached for the small bundle Kayla was clinging to as if her life depended on it.

“We've been calling and leaving messages for your trifling behind since last night and now you want to waltz in here and hold her like the proud papa?”

“I didn't get any messages, Kayla. I lost my cell the other night at the restaurant. We had mad dinner parties for Thanksgiving and I don't know what happened to it. I swear. The only way I knew was when Darrell called me a little while ago. We came straight here.” He pleaded with her. She looked at him doubtingly and he looked at Darrell for support.

“He did lose his phone. So if that's what you were calling, he wouldn't have got the messages,” Darrell added.

“Lying for your brother?” Kayla asked.

“No. The only way he knew was because Yvonne left a message on my voice mail a little while ago.” Kayla looked over at her friend who shrugged at her.

“She looks just like you, Kayla. Hi, Princess. What are we gonna name you?” He rubbed noses with his tiny daughter.

“She already has a name,” Kayla told him.

“How you gonna name her without my input?” He looked at Kayla.

“Don't go there,” she warned him and he knew it wouldn't be worth the fight.

“Well, what is your name?” he asked the baby.

“Day,” Kayla and Yvonne answered simultaneously.

“Day? What kind of name is that?” Craig frowned.

“It's her nickname. Her full name is Jenesis Sade Hopkins,” Kayla informed him.

“Genesis, like the Bible?” Darrell asked as he took the baby from his brother.

“More like Geno,” Craig said accusingly.

“First of all, it's Jenesis with a J, as in Jennifer, which is my mother's first name. And Sadie was my grandmother's name. That's how I came up with it. Secondly, Geno's real name is Antonio Giovanni. His nickname is Geno. So you can kill that thought before it even enters your mind.”

“Jenesis Sade. Day. I think that is very elegant, Kayla. You picked a beautiful name.” Darrell looked at her, seeing why Craig liked her.

“Okay. Since you've explained how you got it, I like it too.” Craig rubbed her arm.

“I need for you to sign her birth certificate,” Kayla told him.

“I know. What do I need to do?” He took a deep breath. He knew that news of Day's birth was gonna come out sooner or later, and now it was time to pay the piper. He had a plan, though. Looking at his brother holding his daughter, his heart filled with love, he knew this was the right thing to do.

“Sorry, I didn't know you had visitors,” Geno said as he peeked in the door.

“It's okay. Come on in, Geno.” Kayla motioned for him to enter. And he did with a big vase of pink roses and the biggest teddy bear Kayla had ever seen.

“Aww, Geno! That is so cute!” Yvonne stood to help him with his gifts. “Where did you find a bear that big?”

“If I tell you, I'd have to kill you.” He smiled at her and passed her the flowers. She put them on the nightstand next to Kayla's bed.

“What's up?” he said to Craig and Darrell.

“Geno, this is Darrell. And uh, I think you met Craig,” Yvonne said.

“Wussup?” Craig mumbled.

“Nice to meet you.” Darrell smiled.

“Hi there, Miss Day. You're all dressed up.” Geno walked over and looked at the baby.

“She had her first photo shoot.” Yvonne laughed.

“The first of many. You just watch,” Geno told them. “How you feeling, Kay?”

“Good. Our first night was okay,” she answered.

“You ready to go back to Mommy?” Darrell asked Day as she began to squirm.

“Let me take her for a sec.” Geno held out his arms and Darrell passed the baby to him. He paced the floor and rocked her, rubbing his face against hers affectionately. He turned and looked at Kayla whose eyes met his and they smiled at each other. Craig knew the look well. It was the look he gave Avis the first time he held his son. A look that said, “Look what our love for each other created.”

Kayla looked over at Craig who was sitting, looking at Day's birth certificate. “You sign it?”

“No.” He looked up at her.

“What are you waiting for, her eighteenth birthday?” Kayla chuckled.

Craig glared at Geno then looked her in the eyes and replied. “I want a blood test before I sign anything.”

You could hear a pin drop in the room as all eyes landed on Craig. Even Day seemed stunned by what her alleged father had just said.

“What are you saying, Craig?” Kayla felt her blood go ice cold as she sat up in the bed.

“I think we need to give them some privacy,” Yvonne said as she pulled Darrell's sleeve.

“Yeah, no doubt,” Darrell told her as he stood up.

“You okay, bro?” he asked Craig as they headed out the door.

“I'm fine.” Craig nodded.

“We're going to the gift shop for a while. Kay, you need anything?” Yvonne touched Kayla's hand. She knew that Kayla was offended by what Craig had said and she had good reason to be.

“No, you go ahead. Can you send the nurse in to take Day to the nursery, though? As soon as possible,” Kayla told her, still staring at Craig. She did not want to expose her child to what she was about to say, whether she thought she could comprehend it or not.

“I'll get her right now.” Yvonne hurried out of the room and gave the nurse Kayla's request.

“I'm here to pick up a package?” the cheerful nurse said as she entered the tension filled room.

“Yes, can you take her for a while?” Kayla asked.

“Sure thing.” She smiled as Geno passed Day to her and she placed her in the bassinet. “We'll change her out of these fancy clothes and bring her back for her next feeding.”

“Thank you,” Kayla said. She watched the nurse wheel the baby out and then closed the door behind her. “Now, I'll repeat my question. What are you trying to say?”

“I'm saying I want there to be no question whether this child is really mine.”

“
This child
has a name. It's Day. And I have no reason to tell you that you're her father if I had any doubt that you weren't,” Kayla told him.

“Naw, Kayla. Here this brother comes waltzing in like he's fucking Father of the Year, you're looking at him like he's Romeo and you're Juliet. I'm not gonna be played out like some sucker taking care of a kid that might, just might not be mine.”

“Have you lost your damn mind? I think you forgot something. I am not your girlfriend, lover, significant other or wife. Hell, I'm not even your mistress. I don't care if I look at Sam Sausage-head like he's the greatest thing that ever walked into my life. That's my business!” she yelled.

“Hold up, Kayla. You don't even have to justify that with a response,” Geno said. “Look, man, if you want a blood test, that's your business. But believe me, if I was lucky enough to be Day's father, you'd better believe I am more than willing to step up to the plate and take care of my responsibilities. Quiet as it's kept, I was begging Kayla to tell me I was the father. I wanted to be. So don't come up in here trying to hate because Kayla and I are friends. And hell yeah, I'm acting like Father of the Year, because I was there when she was born, unlike you!” Geno sat down in the chair.

“Whether I was there when she was born or not . . .” Craig yelled.

“Hey, hey, hey! Y'all need to chill. I can hear you all the way down the hall.” A voice stopped Craig before he could finish. “Whatever the problem is, y'all need to squash it. This ain't the time or the place.”

“Who are you?” Craig gritted on the big guy who walked through the door.

“What's up, Terry? You're right, man. I didn't realize it had gotten out of hand.” Geno stood and greeted his friend's brother.

“What's up? I'm Terrell, a friend of Kayla's.” Terrell introduced himself.

“Another friend, Kayla?” Craig looked Terrell up and down and stood to leave. “Yeah, I'm definitely gonna need that test before I put my name on anything. You call me so we can have that taken care of. I'll holla.”

“What was he talking about?” Terrell asked Kayla. Her head began to pound and she closed her eyes and sat back. She tried to make the room stop spinning but she couldn't.

“Kayla? Kayla?” She heard Geno and Terrell calling her name as she passed out.