I couldn’t see my new daughter because of all the sheets covering my body. The doctor was stitching me up. “I can’t see her,” I complained in a panic as I remembered that dream!

“Wait a minute, Mom,” the nurse said. “We’ve got to clean her up and weigh her. She’s a big one.”

Finally, the nurse wiped the blood and mucous off her and brought my baby to me.

“She weighs eight pounds. Twenty-one inches in length.”

My baby was wrapped in a white receiving blanket. I released a sigh of relief. My heart melted. My daughter looked more like Trae than our sons. She had his eyes, his mouth, and even his ears. She had my complexion and a head full of hair.

“She looks like Trae chewed her up and spit her out,” I whispered. In that dream, I had given birth to a son who looked like Kyron. I thought of the second therapy session I had listened to just before I went into labor. The one where Kyron said he’d came inside of me and had hoped I’d gotten pregnant by him again. I breathed another sigh of relief. The DNA test had been correct. Trae was the father.

“What are you going to name her? Princess?” Angel asked. “Her daddy is going to be crazy in love with her.”

“Taylour. Taylour Macklin.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

ANGEL

I had never witnessed a live birth before, other than the home video Kaylin shot when I birthed Jahara. I never liked to look at it that much, so this was like the first. Just seeing my little niece draw her first breath, and to hear her first cry, I was awestruck. But I had to admit, it was nasty! The cut, and then all six hands digging around in her stomach. Yuck!

“I love you, girl,” Tasha said drowsily. “I’m sorry I cussed you out.”

“No you’re not! But you did good. You know you my sister.” We hugged, holding onto each other longer than usual.

I felt like I was on a different level after watching Tasha give birth. It was a spiritual awakening. What I saw was scary, but beautiful. I knew Tasha was glad that it was over. She had been on bed rest the past couple of weeks, dealing with Trae coming home and having to leave again, and not to mention those fucking tapes. There was only so much a sister could take.

“Get some rest, Tasha.” She nodded and immediately dozed off.

I checked on the baby in the nursery, then headed to the elevator. I decided to go out to get a bite to eat. I was surprised to find Scarface still waiting in the waiting room.

“Is Mrs. Macklin okay?”

“Yes, she had a healthy baby girl. They have three boys, so we are all excited.”