Page 41 of Merci

“Yeah. Who this?”

“Hammer.” I paused, and when he didn’t hang up immediately, I continued. “Our issues aside, I’m at the hospital with your daughter. I’ll let her give y’all details about it, but she’s… crying and shit, and I done tried, but I’on knowwhatthe fuck to do.” Gritting my teeth, I released a shaky breath and swallowed hard. “I can take her to my home but?—”

“Nah.” His voice cracked, and the OG that was known for sparing no one sounded like his world was about to crash at the thought of his little girl being hurt. “Bring me my baby. I’ll uh… text you my address.”

Instead of telling him I already had it, I said okay and ended the call.

When I got in the car, Merci quickly wiped her tears. I took her hand into mine and kissed it, praying for her the whole time I drove to her parents’ house. A part of me wanted to be angry at God, but I knew this wasn’t His doing. Humans had a funny way of blaming Him when things went wrong in their lives, and I’d never been that type. And even if thiswasHis doing, I knew it was for a reason. Even if we never knew the reason or felt as if nothing good came out of it, I trusted Him enough to know it was for our good, or His, at least.

Merci was so out of it she didn’t even notice where I was going until I pulled into her parents’ driveway. She looked overat me with watery eyes as her mama ran to the car. Merc made his way out, muttering about there being something wrong with his baby. I didn’t hear him, but I read his lips as I unlocked the doors so they could get to her. Merci gave me a quick hug before Neo opened the door.

“Stay with me,” she requested, taking my hand into hers.

My head shook as Merc made his way to my side of the car. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweetheart.”

“Come on, baby. Let’s get you inside,” Neo said as I opened my door.

“I want you to stay,” Merci pleaded, and before I could respond, Merc said…

“He will,” surprising the hell out of me. I cut my car off and got out, and Merc waited until the women were inside the house to say, “What the hell happened, Hammer?”

“Early miscarriage. We took some home tests a few weeks ago, and they were positive. She had an appointment scheduled with her gynecologist next Monday, and we agreed we’d tell the family after Dr. Robinson confirmed, but we wouldn’t tell anyone else until after we made it through the first trimester.” I looked toward the door as if I could see Merci in the house. “She started bleeding heavily this morning. Cramping real bad. I took her to the emergency room, and they said it was a chemical pregnancy.” A breathless chuckle escaped me. “Doctor said we wouldn’t have even seen the baby on the fucking ultrasound next week.” My head shook before it hung.

“Sorry to hear that, son.” Merc patted my back and squeezed my shoulder. “Regardless of what happened between me and your people, I’d never wish anything like this on you and my daughter. This would have been—is—my first grandchild. I’m truly sorry for your loss, and ours.”

Licking the corner of my mouth, I swallowed hard. “She’s feeling… less than. The pregnancy was so early… I just want herto know that it was real and that it’s okay for her to mourn. That this isn’t her fault. I can’t do that by myself, so whatever issues we have?—”

“They don’t matter right now.”

I agreed, then we made our way inside, where we spent a couple of hours getting her to process what had happened and calm down. By the time her tears stopped, Ariel had made it back home. She didn’t know the details, but after Cujo’s distress signal, she drove back home from Nashville. Kneeling in front of Merci, Ariel cupped her cheek with pure empathy on her face.

“I know you’re not okay, sis, and you don’t have to tell me what happened. Just know I’m here for you, okay?”

With a soft smile, Merci nodded and leaned forward to give her a hug. “I’ll be fine, sis, but thank you. Seriously.” As Merci released Ariel, she looked up at me. “I’m ready to go home, Mr. Freeman. I’m tired.”

“Aight, sweetheart. We can go.”

They all held her close and loved on her for a little while longer before we headed out. As Neo held Merci’s hand, she asked, “You sure you don’t want to rest upstairs, baby?”

“Mm mm. I wanna go home with my man.”

Smiling, I resisted the urge to pull her into my arms. I’d never ask Merci to go against her family for me, or to choose me, but in this moment, she was acting like it wouldn’t have even been a choice, and she’d never understand what that meant to me.

“I ’preciate you calling,” Merc said, extending his hand for me to shake. “When you and my baby are up to it, we’ll have a sit down and talk.”

“Looking forward to it,” I replied, shaking his hand.

“We’re here for you too, baby,” Neo said, pulling me into her for a hug, which I truly appreciated.

“Thank you, Mrs. Lewis.”

“Call me Mama Neo,” she granted, holding me tighter, and that almost broke me.

We headed out, and the ride home was silent. I would have taken her to my place, but I figured she’d want the comfort of her own bed. Once I got her showered and comfortable in bed, I made her some tea because I knew she wouldn’t want to eat no time soon.

“I’ma let you rest,” I said, setting the tray on the nightstand.

“Com’ere,” she requested, holding my hand. Lowering myself into the bed, I held her waist. “How are you?”