New Beginnings

De'Andre.

Six months later..

“We are going to be late!”

“I’m coming!”

Tariq ran to the door.

“Alright, let’s go.”

We walked outside and went to the doctors office for a check up. We were sitting in the office and I was messing with my engagement ring.

“Why are you nervous?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s just a check up. Make sure the baby is okay.”

“He’s not just the baby anymore.”

“You’re right. He’s De’Andre Brown.”

He kissed my cheek then I smiled.

“Ms. Jones?”

We stood up and walked with the nurse to the room. I sat on the bed and Tariq stood next to me. The doctor walked in.

“Well hello you two. Ready for your check up?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“How far along are you?”

“Six months and thirteen days.”

She pulled up my shirt a little bit and put the jelly on my stomach. She scanned my stomach and asked me a few more questions. She smiled at us.

“There’s your baby right there. Looks like he is growing at a normal and healthy rate. Congratulations you two.”

We waited for a little while then she brought us our ultrasound and then we signed a few papers and left.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Home, please.”

“Of course.”

We got in the car and he drove home. When we got there, there was a package on the front porch.

“I think that’s the paint.”

“To finish the baby room?”

“Yeah.”

He picked up the box then we walked inside. We went into the kitchen and I opened it. Sure enough, it was the paint I needed. I walked to the room and looked at the wall I was painting. It was the same thing off of the movie Up. 

I started painting the last few things that I needed to do before I was done. Tariq walked in then smiled.

“You’re an amazing painter.”

“Well thank you. I’m going to paint over it when he gets older so he can decide. Then when he’s old enough to paint himself, he has a whole room.”

Tariq kissed my head then walked out. When I finished I walked into the kitchen and washed the brushes. He was cooking something so I didn’t disturb him. The baby started kicking so I groaned.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, De’Andre is kicking a lot right now.”

He grabbed my hand and we walked over to the couch. He kicked again so I grabbed Tariq’s hand and placed it where he was kicking.

“You feel that?”

“Yeah, he’s got a strong kick.”

I chuckled then he got closer to my stomach.

He whispered, “Please stop kicking mommy. She’s in enough pain and I hate seeing her like this. I love you buddy.”

He kissed my stomach then I smiled.

“Are you hungry?”

“Is that a question? I’m feeding two.”

He chuckled then went back to cooking. I got up and walked outside to the greenhouse and grabbed some rose petals and a jar of honey. I went back inside and looked for my rose syrup but couldn’t find it.

“What’re you looking for mamas?”

“The rose syrup I made. I thought I put it up here.”

“I moved it while I was looking for oil. Here.”

He opened a different cabinet and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

I brought a pot of rose water to a boil.

“What’re you making? Rose tea again?”

“Yep. it calms him down surprisingly.”

I added the milk and the dried tea petals. After mixing it all together for a while I took the petals out and put it in my mug with the rose syrup and honey. I sat on the couch and turned on Criminal Minds. I took a sip of my tea then Tariq walked over with some chicken tenders and fries. He sat down then we started eating.

Apollo laid down with his head on my lap begging and protecting me and the baby because Tariq loves messing with me.

“Do you have to work tomorrow?”

“I have a few jobs then I’m done. Do you have any meetings?”

“I have one but it won’t take long. I’m going to be escorted there and back.”

“You always are. Elijah has made sure that you are protected at all times.”

“He has too. I’m taking over once he steps down. Nothing bad can happen to me or the baby.”

Once we were done eating he brought our plates to the kitchen then came back to the couch. He pulled me onto his lap and rubbed my stomach for me. His phone went off then he got up. I laid there for a while watching the show then there was a knock at the door. I checked the camera and it was Cam so I answered it.

“What’s up?”

“There’s my favorite sister.”

“I’m your only sister. What do you want?”

“I need a couch to crash on.”

“Again?”

“I literally didn’t do anything. We were being peaceful and enjoying dinner then as soon as I touched my phone because boss asked me to work tomorrow, she started accusing me of cheating again.”

I let him in.

“You need to break up with her. She’s toxic as hell.”

“I will. As soon as I find a new apartment.”

Tariq walked in and looked at him.

“Again?”

“That’s what I said.”

I walked into the kitchen.

“She’s toxic bro.”

“Said that too!”

They started laughing then I made the rest of my tea and walked back into the living room.

“You already know if you need to stay here for a few days while you look for a new place you are more than welcome. You just need to get away from whatever her name is.”

“Hope.”

I choked.

“Hope what?”

“Hoffner.”

“Dump her now and we are getting your s**t tomorrow.”

“What? Why?”

“You remember that girl I fought in seventh grade for making fun of Andrew for having autism?”

“That’s her?”

“Yeah.”

He pulled out his phone.

“Can we go now? She might burn my shit.”

“Can you go baby?”

“f**k it. This might be funny.”

I kissed him then they left. I sat back down and kept drinking the tea and watching my show. Apollo cuddled with me for a while before walking over to the back door and barking at me.

“I’m coming.”

I got up and let him outside and he walked over to the greenhouse and started sniffing around.  A second later he walked away and did what he had to do then there was a knock at the door. I opened it and it was Louis.

“What’s up?”

“Sorry to bother you. My girlfriend wanted to make cookies but I don’t have any sugar.”

“Come on. Really?” I said chuckling.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Come inside.”

Apollo ran over and started investigating.

“Go lay down.”

He walked over to the couch and laid down. We went into the kitchen.

“How much do you need?”

“Just a cup.”

I measured out the sugar for him then put it in a bag. I handed it to him then he smiled.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Have fun making cookies.”

He smiled then left. I cleared out the guest bedroom for Cam then I heard them walk in laughing.

“How’d it go?”

“Well, she was mad.”

“Screamed, ‘Fine go move in with that hoe you’re sleeping with!’ then tried slapping him.”

“Really?”

“I blocked it then grabbed my stuff as fast as I could and we dipped out.”

“Well that’s good. You can stay here until you find your apartment but there are a few rules. Clean up after yourself, no girls, and for the love of god do not make any messes.”

“Okay mom.”

I c****d my eyebrow.

“Really?”

“You know I love messing with you. I do appreciate you two for helping me.”

“Mhmm. go put your stuff up. I’m going to go shower.”

I kissed his cheek then walked upstairs. I started getting undressed then I got in the shower. I washed my hair then my body. I got out and tried putting on the stretch mark cream by myself but it didn’t work out well.

“Baby I need help.”

“On my way.”

He came upstairs and looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do it.”

He chuckled then got on his knees and rubbed the stretch cream on my stomach and hips.

“You know you don’t need this right? I think stretch marks are hot as hell.”

“Well I already have them and I don’t want more.”

He kissed my stomach then stood up. I put on a tee shirt and shorts then got in bed. I fell asleep then around three in the morning Apollo started barking like crazy. Tariq got up and grabbed his gun then walked through the house.

“You dumbass.”

He came back upstairs.

“Your brother was in the kitchen getting something to drink and scared the dog.”

I took a breath then we went back to sleep. I woke up to my alarm at eight so I got up and went to the kitchen. I made a pot of coffee then let Apollo go outside. I grabbed my coffee and walked outside. 

I looked at how amazing the yard looked. I looked at the patio and the grill. My greenhouse and garden, everything looked amazing. I stood there for another minute before I started getting cold so I went back inside. Tariq walked downstairs and smiled at me.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

He walked over and kissed my forehead and rubbed the baby bump.

“Has he been kicking today?”

“Not yet.”

He started making breakfast then Cam got up.

“Well good morning sleepy.”

“That mattress is amazing.”

“Thank you.”

I looked at Tariq.

“Ten bucks.”

“Damnit.”

He opened his wallet and handed me a ten. Cam looked at us.

“Wait what?”

“Made a bet that the first thing you were going to say was something other than ‘good morning’ back. He didn’t believe me and well.”

He rolled his eyes then made some coffee.

“We need to plan out the baby shower.”

“I already said let’s do it here, open gifts in the living room, we can cook, and it’ll be fine. I don’t want to do something super extra.”

“What if I do?”

“Baby showers aren’t guy things.”

“Well I wanna do something.”

“Okay, what?”

“How about renting a boat.”

I started laughing.

“Funny.”

“I’m serious.”

“You are never getting me on a boat.”

“I already did.”

“On the loch, where I know I can swim back.”

Cam looked at him.

“She fell off of a boat when she was six and almost drowned. Michael jumped in and saved her.”

“Snitch.”

Tariq looked at me.

“How have I never known this?”

“Because I don’t tell people. This loudmouth does.”

“Hey, you love me.”

“I’m debating that right now.”

He gasped dramatically so I rolled my eyes. I walked to my office and started getting to work. I already did all of my school stuff so now I just have to schedule my meetings for the day. I went to the room and put on my leggings and a white blouse. I put on my flats then brushed my teeth and did my makeup. 

I walked back to my office and grabbed my things then went to the kitchen.

“Well look at you miss fancy.”

“Shut up.”

“Sophia.”

I took a breath.

“I’m fine. I just really don’t wanna go to the meeting.”

“You will be fine. It’s just a mandatory meeting that’ll be over before you know it.”

“You say that now.”

De’Andre kicked again.

“Damn he has a strong kick.”

I grabbed the counter and sat down.

“Cam, do you work today?”

“No, why?”

“Can you go with? I don’t think I should be driving and I need someone with me when I leave.”

“Sure, let me change.”

“Thank you.”

He walked away and I stayed there with Tariq.

“Can we please do something for the baby shower?”

“Fine, plan it and I will either confirm everything or deny some things. Deal?”

“Yes! Thank you.”

He walked around the island and started kissing me. Cam walked back then coughed.

“Don’t kill our vibe.”

“I will brutally murder the vibe.”

I chuckled then kissed Tariq again then we left. Cam drove us to the warehouse and walked me into the conference room. 

“Hello gentlemen. Let’s get started.”

We all shook hands then Cam stood behind me to make his presence clear.

“So, we need to talk about the agreement we all came to the last time we were here. I made myself very clear when both I and Elijah stated that I would be taking over after he retires. Why am I hearing about one of you threatening to take my job?”

One of the men chuckled.

“Women are not supposed to lead. You are supposed to stay at home and get knocked up. You got half the job correct-”

“Need I remind you that you were only brought in because of your contacts and ties to the government. We have already identified who those contacts are and working with them so you are no longer needed. Yes I am a woman but I am more than fit to run this business and this gang. Anyone can confirm this statement and do not test me because I will put a bullet between your eyes before you can say ‘sexist’. Have I made myself clear?”

I stood up and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Loud and clear.”

“Loud and clear, what?”

“Loud and clear boss.”

“Good. Now that we have made each other known, we have another topic to discuss. Why is there a shortage in product?”

Dominic said, “We have a shipment coming from Colombia right now. We had a problem.”

“What was it?”

“One of my buildings got busted but they didn’t get a lot of the products. My men brought most of it out and into their trucks. They got maybe six bags.”

“Six? Losing one isn’t good. We need to be more careful.”

“Yes boss. I’m working on that now.”

“Good, I also want to have a private conversation with you about the transportation.”

“Alright.”

“How are the sales at the bars in Kankakee?”

“Very good. Since the election is in a few days, people have been coming in more to get drinks.”

“Perfect. Have you checked the bars in Chicago?”

“I’ve done a couple but then had to come here. As soon as I am done I will bring you a progress report.”

“Thank you. If there are no more questions you are dismissed.”

Everyone left besides Dominic and Cam.

“Who said something to the FEDs?”

“I’m trying to figure that out. No one knew about that location other than the people that were just in the room and Elijah.”

“So one of them is the mole.”

“You’ve already ruled me out?”

“Dominic, I trust you with my life and my childs. I know you would never betray me.”

“Who are you suspicious of?”

“I don’t know.”

“Rodney. He’s always making shady calls and is very secretive.”

“If he wanted my job bad enough he would pin this on me, get me killed, then take my job. Little does he know I already named the successor if something were to happen to me.”

I turned to Cam.

“Have Francis tap into his phone and computer. I want him surveillance and the second you see something suspicious, report it back to me.”

“Yes boss.”

“Thank you Dominic. Tell April I said hello.”

“I will.”

He left then I took a breath.

“You did good.”

“Yeah well, now I have to worry about them trying to get me killed to take my job.”

“It won’t happen and you know it. Elijah has known us our whole lives, why would you start talking to the cops now? If anything they want you more than they want him.”

I chuckled.

“True.”

We were walking out then Rodney walked up to us.

“You aren’t fit to be the boss.”

“Explain to me why. And don’t say because I am a woman, give me reasons.”

“You can’t handle the job. The numbers, people, position. How do you think your future husband will feel?”

“You do understand that I deal with more people and do more numbers as the right hand? Tariq is actually the one who is supporting me and wants me to take the job. And I am pretty sure that all of our allies would rather work with someone who cares about their people and the community. Know what-”