Page 52 of The Stones We Cast
By the time the doctor and nurses finished cleaning Crystal and EJ off, another hour had passed before I could step out and update my family. My smile was wider than any smile I’ve ever smiled. I was a father. A whole daddy. God really did his big one by allowing him to share the same birthday as my mom. That alone told me that my young king was special.
“Congratulations, Zeek.” Jeremiah stood first when I walked in the waiting room. My niece held a teddy bear almost the same size as her. Leann held their sleeping son in her arms who had a tight grip around the balloon strings even in his sleep.
“Thank you, Uncle Jeremiah.” I hugged my brother for a good minute.
One, I needed a hug. Needed to feel his love and have a guarded place to finally exhale and breathe.
“Please tell me you didn’t come out here without any pictures.” Aziza and Bishop were next to congratulate me.
“How is Crystal? Did everything go okay?” Leann moved in my arms next.
“She’s tired, but doing great. Everything went great. Here is a full gallery of my little man.” Handing my phone over to her, I let them crowd around each other while I made my way over to the sleepy-eyed beauty wearing a loopy smile.
“Sunnie Mae, give big daddy some love.” I used to dread this moment. The moment when my son was born and Sunnie had to choose. Her saying that she would be here with him being in his mother’s womb was different now that he had been born.
“Congratulations, Zeek. Is everyone okay?” She buried her face in my neck, and a short shiver caused her breathing to release choppy.
She was scared.
She was terrified of our future.
Holding EJ in my arms made me hopeful.
“Everything is perfect. Come. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.” Taking her shaking hand in mine, I told the rest of my family that I’d be back to let them go see Crystal and EJ.
Seeing Sunnie so quiet and nervous as we walked down the hall made me want to give her every reassuring word to appease her nerves but in a situation like this, actions spoke louder.
“Zeek, I can wait.” Eyes wide and feet planted, she took one look at Crystal breastfeeding EJ and wanted to run for the hills.
Hearing Sunnie’s whispered plea, Crystal smiled at her and motioned for her to come her way. “Hey, Sunnie.”
“He-Hey, Crystal. Congratulations.” Looking back at me, she waited until I nodded before moving closer to see the tiny human I created. “Wow. He’s such a beautiful baby.” Her giggles released a few tears as she cooed over him. “I hate to tell you, girl, but all you did was carry that baby. He’s his daddy's son.”
Fake pouting, Crystal whined. “I knowwww. It breaks my heart that I did all the heavy work for him to come out looking nothing like me. Reach into that bag on the chair. There’s something in there for you.” Sunnie’s doe eyes questioned me before she reached into the bag. In the palm of her hand was a rectangular box.
“Wow.” She gasped, eyes flooded with tears. “It’s so beautiful.” She sniffed, doing her best to hug Crystal without squishing EJ.
Inside was a gold necklace with a lotus flow charm and a personal message in Crystal's handwriting. “It takes a village to raise a child. You’re in Zeek’s life, so that means you’re going to be a part of the village responsible for our son’s safety and upbringing. He might not be yours, but I trust that you will care for him as if he is when he is in your care.”
“I’m truly honored and thankful for this. I promise to never mistreat him, but to love him as if he were my own. Thank you.” Sealing her promise with a kiss, Sunnie kissed EJ’s head and made her way back over to me. “Thank you for this. Thank you for including me.”
Allowing my lips to calm her anxious nerves, I held her in my arms and thanked God for the mercy he poured over me and my loved one.
God’s plans were better than anything I could’ve ever imagined. Me, the sinner and embarrassment to my family, found redemption, thanks to God’s glory beacon, never letting me forget my home.
The End!