Chapter 10

Project Nursery

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Do I have racial induced stress days at work? Yes, defiantly. From the moment I walk in, it's "Denise, we need this. Denise, we need that." Which is stressful, because my name is Linda. Denise is the other Black woman who works here. By the time it's 10 am, someone in the copy room makes a joke about Colby Bryant, and then looks at me to make sure it's ok. I smile like it's ok, but really, my head and neck are starting to throb. I spend the rest of the afternoon training my interns, answering questions like, "Yes, Black people use shampoo", and "No, I don't know any good reggae clubs around here", and "No, I can't tell you where to buy weed!"

That's when I reach for new Excedrin Racial Tension Headache. Excedrin works fast, taking me from "Oh no you didn't" to "Oh yes you **** would."

MAX POV

"Fang, no stupid jungle themes!" I practically shouted at Fang, who was holding up a wallpaper theme sample with jungle animals on it.

We were at Baby's R Us, looking at things for nurseries. I was practically eight months pregnant, and we still didn't have anything for a nursery…or a new condo yet, but that's another story.

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Fang's so sweet when he's trying to be patient.

"I like the Classic Pooh Bear theme." I showed him a sample. It's neutral, not to girly, and it's kind of sweet."

"Classic Pooh it is." Fang grabbed the wallpaper sheets, and we went on to get bed sheets, a crib, changing table, and a rocking chair, not to mention clothes, wall decorations, a baby bathtub, bottles, binkies, and all those other baby things.

"Hi, welcome to Baby's R Us!" an overly happy worker greeted us. "My name's Brianna. Can I help you with anything?"

"Uh…" God I did not want her help. She was way too cheerful. But the only way to get her to go away would be to ask her where the stupid cribs were.

"Can you tell us where the cribs would be?" Fang must have been thinking the same thing I was.

"Of course. Right this way." The over-cheerful girl led us to the crib displays.

"Thanks." I faked a smile. She walked away.

"Thank God." Fang whispered in my ear. I stifled a laugh.

After searching through the cribs, we ended up picking out a glossy black crib, with a matching changing table and clothing drawers. We then went to get the bedding, the curtains, and everything we needed for the room.

I think it took us about two hours to actually get everything we needed—thank God that I had had that shower—otherwise it would've been three!

We went out to lunch afterwards—I was starving!

"Where do you want to go to lunch, Max?" Fang asked as soon as we drove out of the parking lot.

"Italian." I instantly said. "No…wait, Chinese. No, Italian."

"Italian?"

I nodded.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Ok." Fang nodded. He took us to the Olive Garden, and as soon as we were seated, Fang started up a conversation about names.

"So…do you have any name ideas?"

I shrugged. "I don't know…I really like the names Olivia, and Jacob." I took a sip of my lemonade. "Do you have any names?"

"Well…I like the name Tamina, for a girl, or Will, for a boy."

"Will?" I laughed. "With parents like us?"

Fang flashed one of his rare smiles. "Good point."

"What about Nick?"

"You mean like your name when anyone asks for your name?"

"Yeah."

"I like it…we can always call him 'Fnick', like Iggy does."

"So, we have Olivia, Jacob, Tamina, and Nick?"

"Yep."

"Can you believe it?" Fang asked, after a few minute's silence.

"No…" I said quietly, lightly moving my fork around my ravioli, smiling.

"But I can't wait."

I was excited. I know it's all I keep saying, "I'm excited to be a mom" yada, yada, yada, but I just can't wait! I know that I will do well—I've had practice with the Flock, and I will have Mom to help. I still can't believe that this kid…this kid is mine. This little creature is Fang's. We created a baby, which was ours, to hold, and to love.

Our Baby.