“What happened?”
“You passed out.”
“Raymond?”
He gritted his teeth. “You wake up, and the first word out of your mouth is Raymond!”
“No, I-I . . . he was here and then I passed out. I just wanted to know what happened.”
Garrett’s face was like granite. “He’s gone. However, he didn’t leave without dropping a few nuggets of information. Why didn’t you tell me you two have been talking to each other?”
“What? Because we haven’t. I mean, not really.”
“Don’t lie. I went through your phone. I know there was at least one conversation before we went to Dubai. How many more were there?”
Imani was starting to get worked up. “You went through my phone? What’s the matter with you? I’m not Shannon, Garrett.”
“You should calm down.” She thought the statement was ironic coming from him when the bulging vein on the left side of his neck looked as if it was going to pop out. “You getting all agitated is not safe for the baby.”
The color drained from Imani’s face. She must have been hearing things. Her words came out very slow. “What are you talking about? I’m not pregnant.”
“Dr. Anderson came over to check you out. He gave you a blood test. Apparently, you are pregnant.”
Imani was shocked. More than just shocked but in utter disbelief. She lay back down on the pillow before she could pass out again. Her words were quiet. “How’s that possible? You and I have been very careful.”
“Yes, we have. I just have one question. Is this déjà vu?”
At first, Imani didn’t understand. Then, dawning hit her like a ton of bricks. “What are you asking me, Garrett?”
“I think you know, but if I have to spell it out, I will. Is this baby mine or Raymond’s?”
Imani was horrified. Everything happened so fast. It wasn’t until she felt the stinging in her hand from slapping Garrett hard across his face that she realized she’d hit him. “Get out. Get out! Get away from me this instant!”
With pain in his eyes, Garrett stared at her for a brief moment, then got up and walked out of the room.
Imani was left with the shock of finding out she was going to be a mother with a husband who thought she was a tramp and had betrayed him. What the hell was she going to do?
*****
The day of the custody hearing had finally arrived, and the three weeks before had been hell. Imani and Garrett hadn’t said more than a few words to each other while walking around as if the other didn’t exist. He’d even began sleeping in the guest bedroom the same night they found out they were going to be parents.
How could Garrett not believe she was carrying his child? It was more asinine than those who believed both Elvis and Tupac were still alive.
Imani felt ill. Not just from the morning sickness, but because she honestly felt stuck. She had no idea how to reach Garrett. How were they supposed to move forward? He was her husband in every way, and she loved him. Only, he was allowing the pain and betrayal of the past destroy their future.
Before going into the courtroom, they came face to face with Raymond. He spoke. “Garrett, Imani. I wish we could have come to a private resolution, but if this will give you a better sense of security, then I’m fine with it.”
Garrett’s jaws clenched. He didn’t say a word. He’d lain awake more nights than he cared to admit wondering if Raymond was giving up on this fight because he was planning for round two with Imani’s child. Garrett didn’t know who the father was, and it was taking everything within him not to kill Raymond. All he knew was that, if she were pregnant with Raymond’s baby, he would lose his sanity. Imani had given him hope that the world wasn’t as bleak as his experience would suggest. And, hope that she could restore his faith in people.
He loved her, and the mere thought that the child she carried wasn’t his was all consuming. He hadn’t eaten or slept much since he’d found out about the pregnancy.
Garrett pulled Imani close while guiding her away from Raymond and into the courtroom by touching the small of her back.
Great. Imani watched the interaction between the two brothers. She had replaced the doggy bone known as Shannon that the two used to fight over. Only Garrett was being stupid. He was missing out on the joy of this pregnancy by holding on to something that had nothing to do with her.
She didn’t glance in Raymond’s direction. As a matter of fact, she had been practicing her expressions for this very moment. It pissed her off that she even had to. That so many people were caught in the cross-fire of their hatred for one another—Garrett and Raymond took sibling rivalry to a whole other level.
Shannon was already in the courtroom when they walked in. There wasn’t even really a trial. Raymond stood before the courts and withdrew his petition, giving up any rights to his son. Garrett was named the legal parent. Surprisingly, Imani’s petition to adopt Garrett Jr. was put on hold and court was adjourned. He hadn’t even discussed it with her, and it hurt to the point of physical pain.
Garrett was icing her out. Was he preparing to leave her?
As they were leaving, Shannon called out to them. “Garrett.” She even acknowledged Imani with a nod. They stopped walking just outside the courtroom. “I want
