Having a baby was supposed to be a joyous occasion. The entire process was much too stressful. Her experience was worse than what she’d expected. Harlem couldn’t remember a time where she and Damian had been so far apart emotionally. Physically they were just as disconnected.
They hadn’t made love since they began treatments almost two months ago. Understandable, but she missed the soft touches and firm embraces.
Harlem stared at her cell phone as if looking at it would make Damian return her calls. She had already left three messages, and it wasn’t even lunchtime. Harlem didn’t want to become that girl who was the clingy type, but she was afraid she was becoming just that.
Focus on work, she told herself. Harlem read the same line on her computer for the third time.
She was genuinely worried if their relationship was going to survive. Lately, Damian would disappear for hours at a time without any explanation and come home drained.
Against her better judgment, Harlem picked up the phone and called him. It rang several times and again went to voice-mail. Was he in an all-day meeting? Harlem called the landline to his office. His Admin picked up on the first ring. “Damian Fox’s office.”
“Hi, Natalie. This is Harlem. Is Damian around?”
She paused. “Damian has been off-site this week.”
“Oh.” Harlem was not only disappointed but surprised. She hadn’t known he wasn’t in the office.
Natalie continued. “You know that he and Dana have been burning the midnight oil getting ready for the Landing deal.”
Harlem knew about the Landing deal, but she hadn’t known that Dana worked so closely with him on it. Why didn’t he tell her? Harlem did her best to beat back her jealously. “That’s right. I forgot.”
“Is everything okay? Should I reach out to him?”
“N-no.” Harlem stuttered. “It’s not important. I just wanted to hear his voice.” She heard a beep on her cell. “Natalie, another call is coming through. I’ll talk to Damian at home tonight.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
Harlem disconnected and clicked over. “This is Harlem.”
“Hey. You called?” It was Damian.
Several times! She wanted to scream but didn’t. “Yes. I just wanted to talk to you. You got in late last night and was gone when I woke up this morning.”
He sounded tired. “I wanted to get into the office early. I had several meetings on schedule.”
Harlem sat up. Natalie had just said he had been off-site all week. He was lying. Harlem really started to feel sick. “Yeah? How did they go?”
“About as expected. Wait. Can you hold on a second?” Damian asked. However, before he muted the phone, Harlem heard the voice of a woman in the background. It sounded almost like Dana.
Was it her? Nervously, Harlem nibbled on her lower lip as she waited for Damian to come back on the line.
“Yeah. Sorry about that.”
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” Her mind was whirling with crazy thoughts. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Damian wouldn’t cheat on her. She had to do something. “I miss you.”
He paused before responding. “I miss you too.”
“How about I order us a nice dinner, and we have a cozy night in?”
Damian hesitated. “I’d um . . . love to, but I’ll be getting in pretty late.”
“Again?” She was frustrated. “Whatever happened to you always making me the priority?!”
“Harlem, are you serious right now?”
Are you lying to me right now? “Damian, ever since I started treatments, you’ve been distant. If you have changed your mind, you should have told me before we did the embryo transfer!”
He was silent.
Oh, God. Harlem thought. Her voice trembled. “This is where you’re supposed to reassure your over-the-top and pregnant girlfriend.”
“I haven’t changed my mind. I just . . . I have a lot going on here at the office.” He sighed. “Can we talk a little later? I’ve really got to go into a meeting.”
“At your office?” Harlem waited.
Damian responded after another long pause. “Where else?”
“I know you’re not at your fuckin’ office!” Harlem screamed into her phone before disconnecting and slamming it down on her desk.
*****
Damian had run out of time. Harlem didn’t deserve this. He had to tell her everything.
“Mr. Fox, is everything okay?” His nurse from the Cancer Treatment Center of America asked. “Should I call the doctor?”
“No. I’m fine.” Damian leaned back in his bed after receiving his final treatment. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Damian was weak but was still able to make another call. The phone rang a couple of times before he answered.
“Carter.”
“Hey, man,” Damian said.
“What’s up?”
“It’s been a minute since we’ve hooked up.”
Carter had been avoiding Damian like the plague. He felt guilty considering. Still, this whole situation had definitely taken a toll on their friendship. “Yeah. It’s been a minute.”
“We should get together soon.”
“We should.”
“I’ve got some important news. How about tonight?”
Carter had been dreading this moment. What news could Damian have other than telling him that Harlem was pregnant? He scratched his forehead. “I don’t know if I can do tonight.”
Damian understood his hesitancy, but he didn’t think he would have the strength to have this conversation more than once. “It’s important. I really need you to come by the house tonight.”
Carter wanted to slam his head against a wall. He sighed. “Sure. What time?”
*****
Harlem was in the family room
