Page 22 of Bern and Isley
“Hi,” I responded dryly before turning my attention to Bern. “I need to talk to you.”
“I need to go anyway,” Alyssa admitted. “I’ll see you around, Claybern.”
“Cool, be easy,” Bern responded. He turned toward the door. “Come on in, Icey.”
I trailed him into the house. The smell of bacon grease instantly made me nauseous. I sprinted to the bathroom to vomit. The peanut butter crackers I snacked on earlier didn’t taste as good coming up. I rinsed my mouth and washed my hands before returning to the living area where Bern sat on the arm of the sofa.
“You good?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed. My eyes watered.
“So did you take a test yet?”
“Yeah.”
“And?” He crossed his arms over his bare chest.
“I’m pregnant.”
It was like the blood drained from his face when the words poured from my mouth. We both were quiet. It was completely silent outside of the ticking of Ms. Cynthia’s grandfather clock.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“I can’t have a baby right now.”
“You can… it’s just a matter if you want to. What the nigga got to say about it?”
“He doesn’t know.”
“You planning on telling him?”
“I don’t know…I don’t know shit.” My voice cracked. “I can’t take care of a baby and Aunt Fee. It’s too much.”
Bern came and sat next to me. His eyes watered but he blinked hard and fast as he grabbed my hand. He interlocked his fingers with mine. “Please calm down, Icey. You can’t get all worked up. I know this shit seems impossible, but you know I’m willing to do anything I can to help you.”
“That sounds good and all, but I can’t depend on that. You have your own life.”
“You’re not asking me to do anything and you can depend on me. We’ve been friends for damn near twenty years. Why would you say you can’t depend on me?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I sighed. “I’m just saying it’s not your responsibility. And that I would still be a full-time single mother. That’s not how I wanted things to be. It’s not the way I envisioned motherhood.”
“So what’s your options? You’re not thinking about getting back with that nigga, are you?”
“Hell no… that’s not happening. If I decide to tell him, I’m only open to co-parenting. And I honestly can’t imagine having to deal with him for eighteen years… Termination may be the best option.”
“I support whatever decision you make, but I really hope you don’t rush to decide. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”
I nodded. He made a good point. I didn’t want to rush my decision, but if I wanted to end the pregnancy, I would need to decide within the next few weeks.
Chapter 12
Bern
I searchedthe cabinets for ginger tea. I read on Google that it was good for nausea. Poor Isley had vomited numerous times since she’d stepped into my house. I finally located the tea amongst the many varieties my mom kept in her stash. I grabbed a sleeve of saltine crackers as well. Even though I suspected Icey was pregnant. The confirmation knocked the wind out of me.
Isley was growing a baby in her belly. She was pregnant for a nigga who didn’t even deserve her conversation, let alone her body. That shit made my stomach knot up.
I placed a tea bag into the cup then leaned on the counter with my arms crossed as I continued to contemplate the way Isley’s life was about to change.
