Page 20 of You Make Me Feel

I rolled my eyes as Mama appeared from the kitchen. I stood from my seat as Daddy chuckled at our antics. “I’m sorry, Mama. Do you need any help?” I asked.

“No, baby. Everything is just about done. Well, maybe when it’s time to take everything to the table, I’ll need that help.”

She smiled and sat next to Daddy. I sat back in my seat and watched their exchange. They were so in love, and so were Ki and Laz. I felt like the fifth wheel, me and my bastard child. I would probably be Hagar in the Bible, and my baby would be treated as Ishmael, banned from the city, and cast out of the lives of the people who were supposed to love him. Abraham’s wife suggested he sleep with Hagar to create a son since she couldn’t have any. Then she was jealous after he was born.

I must have zoned out because Ki said, “Nisha, snap out of it. Your phone chimed, girl. You good?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking about my schedule tomorrow and what I needed to accomplish at work later.”

She twisted her lips slightly, indicating she didn’t believe a word I’d said. There was a text from Oliver. He’d never responded to my text earlier, so I figured he wouldn’t. As I read it, I felt myself becoming emotional. This man had a way with words that pulled at all my damn feelings.

I have no doubt in my mind that you will eventually see it. That’s why I’ve been persistent. Kinisha, you are meant to be mine. It’s God’s will. I see it clearly, and one day soon, you will too. I believe that wholeheartedly, beautiful. Sorry I’m just getting back to you. I got busy and didn’t look at my phone. I’ll be praying that your dad’s surgery goes well, and I’m also glad the flowers helped brighten your day.

It wasn’t the flowers that picked me up. It was his words on the card. Although I couldn’t have a relationship with him, his attention felt good. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if Iwanteda relationship with him. Oliver was a nice guy, somewhat cocky, but I liked that. However, once again, I was sure his perception of me would change when he noticed my stomach was growing.

“So, did the doctor say how long the procedure would take?” Kiana asked Daddy, breaking me away from my thoughts and Oliver’s text message.

I wanted to respond, but I remembered what he said about after-hours texts. It meant that I was ready to proceed with him. I wasn’t and didn’t know if I would ever be. Putting my phone away, I tuned in to the rest of the conversation. “He said maybe only an hour or two, but he’ll have a better time frame for us tomorrow before he begins the procedure. He will explain everything in-depth for you guys in the morning,” my dad explained.

“I’m just happy to see you’re in good spirits. Your attitude toward this has helped me tremendously, Daddy, because I’ve been so emotional,” Ki explained. She turned to me and said, “Shut up, Nisha.”

I frowned as my mouth dropped open. “What did I do? I haven’t said a word.”

“Yeah, but I was waiting for you to say that I’m always emotional because of the pregnancy.”

“Well, I mean . . . you are. There was no need to say it since you already know that,” I said with a chuckle.

She stood and playfully pushed me on the arm. Had we been alone, she probably would have cursed. Of course, I overexaggerated the strength of her shove and fell over on the couch. That only caused everyone to laugh. My mama stood to go to the kitchen, so I stood as well. Before I could get there, I received another message from Oliver. That was interesting. I opened it and was caught off guard by what he had to say.

I know what I said about you not contacting me after work unless you wanted what I did, but I’m gonna have to renege on that, baby. Any interaction with you is a welcomed distraction. Text me anytime.

I smiled slightly as my mama said, “Who’s got that beautiful smile on your face?”

I cleared my throat, slid my phone into my pocket, and told her. “His name is Oliver. He’s the IT guy at work and goes to church with us.”

“Oliver Andrews? He works on the computers at the church too.”

I was beyond shocked that she knew him. “Oh really?”

“Yeah. Kinisha, where have you been? He’s been Antioch’s IT person for like three years.”

Somewhere with my head stuck up Jarod’s ass.I secretly rolled my eyes at the thought of him. I swore, when I saw that nigga, there wouldn’t be anything nice about it. “I don’t know, but I ran into him coming out of the restroom about a month ago, and he started working at my accounting firm a week later.”

I smiled as I looked away to see what she cooked.

“Well, it seems like you like him.”

“He’s a nice guy, but I’m unsure how I feel about him. He likes me, though. Things he says make me smile.”

“And blush. Girl, your face is so red right now.”

I chuckled, then had to go to the restroom. I couldn’t even respond to my mother. The smell of the food had gotten to me. I ran so none of it would get on the floor and slammed the door, then regurgitated my hopes and dreams into the toilet because I hadn’t attempted to eat anything since lunch. I grabbed a towel from the cabinet, wet it with cold water, and held it to my face. That offered so much relief.

Once I rinsed my mouth, I rejoined my mother in the kitchen. “I’m sorry. I suppose my nerves are finally settling about Daddy’s surgery, and it made me sick to my stomach.”

She frowned slightly and said, “Humph. Maybe so. Your nerves can definitely cause uneasiness and queasiness.”

She didn’t believe me, but I wouldn’t say a word if she didn’t say anything. I went back to the stove to help her fix plates and prayed that I wouldn’t have to throw up again. As I fixed Ki’s plate, Mama said, “Did you hear that Jarod finally decided to settle down?”

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