Equalizer Ch.5
A Black man who owns a soul food joint is closing up shop when he finds a noose under the canopy of his windows. Footsteps run away as figures disappear in the dark.
Robin laid comfortably on the examination table.
"Alright Ms. McCall time to see the baby," the OBY GYN said squeezing the gel onto Robyn's bare lower stomach. She then applied the probe wand to her stomach.
"It's a little cold," Robyn said.
"Sorry about that," the doctor said.
"So, doc how far along am I?"
"You're just shy of twelve weeks. Also, that thumping is your baby's heartbeat."
"Awe, I have a baby in my belly. It's a little person," Robyn said.
Yes it is. At your next appointment we can do the noninvasive prenatal paternity test.
When the appointment concluded, the doctor gave her a sonogram from her 4D ultrasound. Later on, she would debate on keeping it in her wallet or posting it on the fridge to share with everyone.
As she drove away from the Women's center she received a text from Harry to come to the bar.
At the bar an aged Black man sat at a booth waiting from Robyn.
"Hello, how may I help you?" Robyn asked.
"It's my restaurant. I've been in my neighborhood for fifteen years and now gentrification is making it harder and harder to pay for overhead and rent. Not to mention some of the new people aren't the friendliest," he said handing over a picture of a noose hung from his restaurant's canopy.
"Somebody's threatening you."
"And the business."
"That's not all a friend of mine who owns a Mexican bakery got this put on her door."
It's graffiti that says, "Go back over the border".
"We're going to get to the bottom of this and find who's trying to scare people off."
Robyn went to Harry's lab to see if they could find any surveillance.
"The footage looks grainy. All I can make out are three dark figures who left the noose and vandalized the bakery."
"I wish that the footage was a little clearer. Could you try using your face recognition technology?"
Harry gave her a look that said, "You gotta be kidding me."
All of a sudden Robyn felt a pang in her stomach and held her belly momentarily.
"Hey you alright Rob?" Harry asked with a concerned look.
"Yeah just got a stomach bug I'm recovering from."
Harry didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push the matter.
Just then Robyn got a call from the OBY GYN's office.
"Hello, May I speak to a Ms. Robyn McCall."
"Speaking," Robyn said.
"After looking more closely at your ultrasound we found that you are carrying twins. We would like you to come in later today so we can examine the other baby more closely."
"Alright what appointment times do you have available today?"
"I have three forty-five, four thirty, five o' clock and six thirty."
"I'll be there at four thirty," Robyn said with the nod of her head.
"Got somewhere to be ?"
"Yeah, but about the three men on the video there must be some way to identify them. Ugh," Robyn grabbed her stomach again and bent over.
"Rob, are you sure you're well enough? You seemed pretty sick last time, and I don't want you to strain yourself."
"I think I'll take a ginger ale from the bar," Robyn said with a grunt.
At the bar, Mel slid Robyn a can of ginger ale after helping herself to a Coca Cola.
"Rob. We're worried about you. Arre you sure that you just have a stomach bug?"
"Well actually, the truth is that I'm pregnant."
"What?! How? Who? How long have you known?"
"I'm in my first trimester and I've only known until about recently."
"Whose is it?" Mel raised her eyebrows in a knowing look.
"I don't know yet. I have to talk to Dante and Miles. I don't know how they will take it."
"I'm sure they'll be excited and competitive over you," Mel said with a smile.
"I've been holding off on telling them, but I can't go on like this."
"Hey, I am here for you."
"I have to go back to the OBY GYN it turns out that I am carrying twins. Why don't you come with me."
"Sure! I'm here for moral support."
The two friends went to the OBY GYN appointment. The walls of the room were sterile and blank safe the posters about female reproductive health and pregnancy.
"So, when are you going to tell them the news?" Mel asked as they waited for the doctor.
"I'll tell Dante tonight. Miles I'll tell later this week."
The OBY GYN entered the room and said, "Hello Robyn. Who's your friend?"
"She's more like family. This is Mel," Robyn said as she laid on the examining table.
Mel shook the doctor's hand.
"I love to see mothers to be with a strong support system."
"You haven't seen the rest of my crew," Robyn smiled.
The doctor sat down and got the probe along with the gel. "So, what I want to see is how the other baby's organs are functioning."
She quirted the gel onto Robyn's belly and then slid the probe along.
Mel watched the large projected screen as the outline of a fetus came into view.
"Wow I can't believe that is happening inside you! I remember when you had Dee!"
"I know right. I didn't think I would be here at this point of my life."
"It's so sweet and look, I see the other baby," Mel giggled as the other baby came into focus after hiding behind its twin.
" Do you think you'll want to know the gender beforehand?" the doctor asked.
"I think I'll wait until my gender reveal. My aunt and daughter want to throw me a gender reveal since it wasn't a thing when I was carrying my oldest."
"Gender reveal?! I have the perfect ideas for games and foods," Mel said gleefully.
"I need to sort out ho the Daddy is before I go and invite people to a gender reveal."
"It should be a shower/ reveal!" Mel said excitedly
"Right but I want to have the father with me before I go inviting family and other folks. It would be too embarrassing to not know who the father was then."
"Don't worry Rob. I'm sure either Miles or Marcus will be thrilled to know you're carrying his child," Mel said holding her hand momentarily.
"I sure hope so instead of them saying "Girly you dropped a bomb on me."
The doctor giggled to herself as she continued on with the ultrasound.
"How's everything looking Doc?" Robyn asked.
"It's looking great. I see no abnormalities in either of the babies.
When she got back home from the appointment Robyn took off her gym shoes and noticed that her ankles and feet in general felt swollen.
Aunt Vi was in the kitchen whipping up dinner. "Hello Robyn, how did the appointment go?"
"Well, I found out I'm having twins, but I'm holding off on the gender until the gender reveal slash baby shower."
"Can you feel any movement yet?" Aunt Vi asked as she stirred in a pot.
"I felt some pangs but no movement yet," Robin said rubbing her feet.
"Hey here's a thought; why don't you have Marcus over for dinner tonight and then tell him about the baby?"
"I just found out today that it's two babies and that might be a good idea. If he's here, he's less likely to make a scene or completely freak out. We can talk on the porch."
"I've found that a good meal helps men accept surprises better."
"Alright, I'll text Marcus right now."
Robyn texted Marcus and soon received a text back.
"Auntie Marcus said that he's coming for dinner."
"Excellent. Now I'm going to throw these rolls into the oven."
Later when Marcus came to dinner he looked rather dapper with a fresh haircut, sweet-smelling cologne and silk shirt that went with some slacks.
"Marcus you look handsome as always," Robyn said before he planted a kiss on her lips.
"You look beautiful as always," Marcus said before getting in another kiss.
Marcus then made his way to hug Aunt Vi and greet Delilah.
"Whatever we're having it smells wonderful!" Marcus said clapping his hands together.
"It's cassoulet. My famous dish," Aunt Vi said pleased with herself.
"I'm sure that I will enjoy it," Marcus said with his mouth salivating.
Indeed, Marcus wolfed down the dish like he was in an eating race.
Robyn laughed and said, "Slow down honey it's not going anywhere."
"It's so good. I think this is the best thing I've ever eaten."
"It's wonderful to have someone enjoy my cooking with such vigor," Aunt Vi said satisfied.
"So, Marcus how is everything at the precinct?" Aunt Vi asked.
"It's going well. They're definitely keeping me on my toes."
"How's painting coming Aunt Vi? Robyn tells me you're taking a class," Marcus said.
"It's very gratifying to be able to express myself and let my creativity flow. What I love about it most is that you never get too old for art," Aunt Vi smiled.
They went on talking and eating until their bellies were full and their tongues were tired.
"Dee why don't you help me clear the dishes," Aunt Vi said hinting that they should leave Marcus and Robyn alone.
"Hey Marcus, could we talk on the porch?" Robyn asked.
'Sure baby," Marcus said following her out to the porch.
"I'm glad that you're here. This all feels right," Robyn said.
"Yes it does with you in it, my world feels right," Marcus said holding Robyn as he went in for a kiss.
"Marcus, I'm pregnant." Robyn said with a smile.
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