Unconditional Love Novel – Layla’s POV This is the last call I’m going to make. If he does not answer then it’s apparent that he is not showing up here today. I’m going to cancel the shower and go home. He’s needed somewhere else and that’s more important. I’ll just leave and go back home with my dad. I’m about to hang up, but then the phone connects the call. All I can hear is muffled voices and a lot of shuffling. “Hello. Roman?” All I can hear is a lot of shuffling. Is he at the hospital or not? “Roman?” Complete silence now. I look at my screen to see if the call disconnected. It’s still connected. What? “Hello? Roman are you there? Can you hear me?” I’m getting frustrated and just want to hang up at this point then I hear a voice but it’s not the voice I was expecting.
“Layla, Kenneth can’t talk. I’m not sure if you are aware or not but Keisha is about to give birth to his child. You’ve been constantly calling and it’s only upsetting Keisha. Why are you calling?” Why would she be upset? I haven’t even spoken with him. He didn’t even respond by text. “Ms. Brenda I wasn’t aware. I haven’t spoken with Roman since yesterday.” “Well now you are. You shouldn’t call again. Kenneth will contact you when he’s available.” “I understand that she’s in labor Ms. Brenda but Roman is my husband and I would like to speak to him.” “Layla, you are too smart to be dumb. I just said he can’t talk.” This B……, no Layla you know better than that. “Ms. Brenda, please I’m not trying to cause any problems. I just want to speak to MY husband.” “Layla, I don’t think he will be attending the shower.” So they are AWARE that my shower is today.
He’s also aware that he’s going to miss our special day but he can’t tell me himself. Layla this is not about him; today is about celebrating life inside of you. Nothing and no one else matters. “Ms. Brenda, don’t you think that it would be better if I heard this from Roman? This is his child also. Don’t you think he should be involved in the celebration?” “Layla, if he is the father, how do you expect him to come party while Keisha is giving birth to his child?” Question the paternity of my child, but not the woman he slept with. Stay cool Layla. “Can I please just speak with the Roman? If he won’t be here then at least he can tell me personally. If he says it, then fine I’ll leave him alone with his family.” Clearly that is his family. It’s pretty much complete now. All she’s missing is the ring. He wants me to give them their space, because he wouldn’t have given his mom his phone.
Girl, fight these tears and don’t let them fall. “See now you are talking with some sense. This is Kenneth’s family. Keisha does not want you speaking with him. Every time she hears the phone she gets upset. Then her blood pressure goes up and the baby can’t take much more of that. Or is that your whole play, are you trying to make her lose her baby?” “What? Ms. Brenda, that is just ridiculous. Why would I want her to lose her baby? I love her kids like they are my own. What would make this one different?” “I’m not sure but we both know that they are not your kids. That’s another thing you should work on, stop trying to replace Keisha. You took Kenneth, and you are constantly trying to take her kids away. This is why she gets so upset.” If anything she is trying to replace me. Calm down. You are not trying to steal her kids. You know she is their mother. Take a deep breath. “Ms. Brenda, I didn’t steal Roman. We were engaged when she slept with him and got pregnant.
I thought they were friends. Neither of them said it was anything more. If I would have known that it was more I would have stepped back. I don’t want to argue with you. I shouldn’t be under any stress either. I just want to hear MY. HUSBAND, tell me that he can’t be at OUR baby shower and he wants me to stop calling.” “You better not make my son feel guilty. He is making the RIGHT choice by staying with Keisha while they are waiting on THEIR baby. I’ll ask him if he wants to speak with you.” “Thanks Ms. Brenda. That’s all I asked.” Mom, it’s starting to be too much. I am trying but I think I am failing. I hear shuffling around again and then the sound of monitors in the hospital. I guess they really are at the hospital. Then I hear Ms. Brenda and I wish I would have just stayed in my thoughts until Roman was on the line. “I don’t like this girl. She’s disrespectful. You need to tell her that a party is not important and your child is your priority. Just tell her and get back to your family.”
Disrespectful? Sure. I’m not fond of you either, old bitter bit -. Layla, you know better. It’s low but I hear Keisha clearly. “Please Ken, you promised me that you wouldn’t leave. I need you.” “I know, baby. I won’t leave, I’m just going to step out for a minute and speak with her. I promise I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right back. Just stay calm.” Who said that heartbreak isn’t a real feeling? They are some idiots. This is not imaginary pain I’m feeling in my chest. This is why I don’t allow him to call me baby. I don’t know if he is confusing me with Keisha or not. “Layla?” Wow, usually it’s Lay or Lani. It’s only Layla when he’s serious or upset. What does he have to be upset about? My heart is the one that’s breaking. “Roman, is everything okay?” “Things are pretty complicated right now. Dr. Jeff has called a pediatric heart doctor to come examine Asia.
He isn’t saying much until the doctor comes, so I don’t know more than that. The only thing we can do in the meantime is wait and make sure Key is good. As long as her BP is under control then Asia is good.” I’m starting to wonder if they are still sleeping with each other. Of course they are. “I’m sorry, is there anything I can do? Do you need me to come to the hospital?” “The doctor is monitoring everything. There’s nothing you can do sweetheart. You being at the hospital would only complicate things more. Layla when you call it upsets Keisha. If she knew you were here at the hospital I don’t know how she would react. She almost had a panic attack when I stepped out of the room to take your call. And like I said when she gets upset so does the baby.
I don’t want to stress her out.” Basically, stay my hip away? Got it. What about my stress? Sometimes I think he forgets that I’m pregnant. He hasn’t even asked how I’m doing once. “I don’t want her stressing, I didn’t know what was going on. You left yesterday morning and never even bothered to let me know anything. You didn’t even call to check on me.” You shouldn’t make him feel guilty, this is a serious matter, he couldn’t help how things turned out. It was out of his control. You should apologize. “I’m sorry if I sound like I don’t care or understand. It’s just a lot for me too. I understand the situation, I do. You just didn’t even attempt to contact me. Today is our shower, did you forget?” Don’t cry Layla. Not one single tear.
This is just your hormones getting to you. “Sweetheart, I know it was today and I am so sorry but I can’t make it. If the situation wasn’t so risky then I will be right there you know that. I made a promise to Keisha that I’ll be here especially since there are complications.” My heart breaks a little more. He didn’t hear anything else. It’s all about Keisha. I wouldn’t be hurt if he said it was a promise to Asia. With a shaky voice I respond. “You made me a promise as well, Roman. Did you forget that? You promised to be here. You promised to make up for our wedding. Are my feelings even considered in all of this? I know you have to be there but am I supposed to be shut out of your life until this is all over? You couldn’t even make a phone call?” “Listen sweetheart, I know that I made you a promise too. You have to understand, right now this is more important. There are complications and if I don’t tread lightly with Key then I could potentially lose my child.
I know you understand how serious this is. Would you really want me to take that risk? ” “No! I would never ask you to risk your children for anything. You know that!” “I know Lay, I really do. I didn’t mean it like that. Listen, there’s so much going on right now and everyone is a little emotional and overwhelmed. I hate that I’m not going to be able to be there for you today. I know I haven’t been present during most of your pregnancy, and I’m sorry. There have just been so many problems with Keisha’s pregnancy and her being high risk. It’s not fair but I can’t abandon my child when there’s a chance she may slip away. I would do the exact same thing with our child.” “You wouldn’t abandon your child, but it feels like you already have.
I’m pregnant with your child also. I just feel like sometimes you forget about us. I’m your wife. I understand the nature of this situation and I don’t want to start any more problems. Is there a possibility that you can at least make it for the gender reveal later tonight? You wouldn’t have to be there long. The fireworks would only last for about twenty minutes and that’s the end of the shower. You can go right back to the hospital. You’ll be gone for an hour at most.” “I don’t think I would be able to do that, Lay. You remember that Key signed up for the skin to skin session? As soon as she is born and is cleared, we will start the session. It’s for an hour and I can’t predict what time she will be born or when the session starts. You researched all of this, so you should be familiar with it.” How can I forget? She only did it after I signed up for it and he told her about it.
This hospital offers these amazing skin to skin sessions where they come in and set up an entire mood in the room for a more intimate interaction with baby and mommy and baby and daddy. “Yes I am familiar with it. I just thought maybe you could make an exception and try to be here to find out our baby’s gender. You didn’t show up for the ultrasound. I just wanted you with me when we found out.” There’s silence. “Layla I can’t. Sweetheart, I hate that I am going to miss all of this. Would you rather cancel everything and we reschedule it? I don’t want to force you to cancel, and I don’t want you to feel like you are in this by yourself. I’m at a loss right now. I didn’t expect Key to go into labor today. Tell me what would be best for you.”
Having my husband by my side. “All of my family has flown in and really you didn’t give me enough time to cancel. It’s almost 3:30. Everything has been set up. We are supposed to be using this time to relax before the shower. I thought you had something planned?” How can he ask me that? His family already thinks low of me and they will have a field day with this. Either way it’s going to be very entertaining for them knowing he’s there with Keisha and I’m standing alone again. I rather enjoy the festivities while they talk bad words about me. The least I could do is be a gracious host while being shamed. “I rescheduled what I had planned already. You are right, it’s too late to cancel, so why don’t you just go to the shower and try to enjoy yourself. You deserve this experience anyway. You can text me the baby’s gender right when you find out.
Hopefully, tomorrow I can take you to dinner and we can celebrate together. We will have another celebration to introduce our baby to everyone. What do you think about that? We can even go shopping and buy everything you want for the baby.” You didn’t tell me anything was rescheduled. I’m not Keisha. I’m Layla, your wife. Money does not buy my love. “No, I don’t want to plan another celebration of any kind. They don’t seem to go in my favor. Your family is already going to enjoy my humiliation today, I’m not going to give them another opportunity later. I don’t want to go shopping, I already bought what I needed and wanted. You would know that if you were around more and gave us just as much attention. I’ll get the rest during the shower, if not I’ll do it online. I know you will be busy tomorrow, so please don’t make promises that you will break. My expectations aren’t very high, but I’m tired of being let down. It’s like I always fall in second behind her.
She got to do all of this and you were right by her side. I have gone to almost all of our appointments by myself or with someone else, but had to hear the staff talk about how you were there for Keisha’s. I’m sorry but I don’t feel like all the other expecting moms, at this point I just want my baby to be born so we can move on with our lives. Maybe you will be around then. If she allows you.” I stopped speaking because I knew a breakdown was about to happen and I just wanted to be strong. I didn’t want him to think that I was weak. Even if he’s the one causing me pain. “Layla! You think I don’t know that? You think I wanted to miss today, or any of the appointments? Business and unfortunately Keisha’s pregnancy got in the way. I will always be there for my kids, always! There will be times when one is going to get more attention than the other.
This is one of those times. What do you expect me to do? I can’t win. I’m trying to find a solution and you are just not understanding. This is not about you, Lay. It’s about my daughter’s health. I’m not about to go back and forth with you about this. I can NOT be there Lay. Cancel the shower or don’t cancel the shower; it does not matter at this point. You are going to be pissed regardless. Now you don’t even care about the pregnancy. This is why I have dodged your calls. Yes, Key has been tripping but I knew you wouldn’t understand because you would only be focusing on what everyone would think of you. It does not matter what they think. Let them talk. You have to stop being so insecure about that thing. You are not your mom.” I can’t believe he just spoke to me like that. This is not my husband. This is not the man that I married.
Why has he changed? Or is it me? Was Ms. Brenda right? Is he pissed off at me? Is it because I’m taking time away from his real family? Why put my mom in the middle of this? That was a low blow and unnecessary. “Okay Roman. You can’t be here. I’m sorry for bothering you and your family. I won’t call you again. Enjoy your bonding time. Maybe you will get to at least send me a picture. If not, that’s okay. You are wrong, I understand this is not about me.” “Sweetheart, I am so sorry. I’m just under a lot of pressure right now. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I didn’t mean to take my frustrations out on you. Please tell me you know I didn’t mean any of that. I love you Layla. I am so sorry.” I stayed quiet.
There’s nothing to say. “Baby please say something. I’m sorry, sweetheart please. Please say something. I love you so much and I am sorry I keep hurting you.” “Goodbye Roman. Congratulations on your newest addition to your family. I’ll be praying that everything goes well and she is healthy and Keisha too. I love you.” I end the call and run to the bathroom and throw up everything I have eaten in the past 24 hours I’m sure. I feel a little light headed but it’ll pass. “He loves you Layla, he was just overwhelmed and frustrated. He didn’t mean any of that. Everyone is worried about you and Keisha because you are the ones carrying the babies, but no one is considering what he is going through.”
“He should be going through something. He’s the one who cheated and got his mistress pregnant then got his wife pregnant. He’s the one choosing the mistress over his wife. He’s rich, the prick could have hired someone to help the mistress while he attends his wife’s appointments. I don’t care what pressure he is under, he deserves it.” You are wrong, Roman. I think I have officially become my mom. My demons are here, and unlike my mom’s situation, you are the one who brought them here.