Page 40 of Promise to Repeat

He nodded and helped me from the chair. As soon as I stood, water splashed on the hardwood floors and down my legs.

“Damn, baby, you couldn’t wait to get to the bathroom?” He chuckled.

“That’s not pee, Zion. My water just broke.”

His eyes ballooned. “Oh, shit. Okay! Shit, okay. What do you want me to do?”

“Boy, get me to the damn hospital. My bag and the baby’s bag is in the front closet. We can call Doctor Stein on the way.”

“Okay. Come on. My son is coming!” he yelled, picking me up bridal style and rushing me out of the room. He placed me on my feet momentarily to grab our bags, then hurried me out of the house and into his truck. I could feel the contractions coming and breathed through them as Zion hurried out of the driveway and sped off to the hospital.

By the time we made it through the entrance of the hospital, the nurses were already waiting to take me to labor and delivery, and our family was already in attendance as well.

“You got this, Jor,” Junie encouraged.

“Mom!” I cried, reaching my hand out to her. She came over and took it.

“I’m right here, baby. Everything’s going to be okay, and I’ll be here waiting for you and my grandbaby.”

“Arrrgh!” I cried, feeling a contraction rip through me like fire. “Jesus, help me!”

“It’s okay, love. How far are the contractions?” the nurse asked.

“They’re like a minute and a half apart,” Zion answered.

“Okay, let’s get her upstairs, stat.” The nurse wheeled me away as our family shouted that everything was going to be okay and that they couldn’t wait to see our son. Zion held on to my hand the entire way as I squeezed his for dear life.

From there, everything became chaotic.

I was in the room swiftly. Doctor Stein was already inside, waiting for me, and he immediately told me to start pushing while the nurses hooked me up to the machines. I looked at Zion, and his eyes were misty with a smile on his face.

Ziare Landon Sullivan came screaming at the top of his little lungs at 7:09 p.m. on September 4, 2019. He weighed eight pounds and three ounces and looked just like his handsome, chocolate daddy. They hurriedly cleaned him, then put him on my chest. We were both overcome with emotions, so the doctor and nurses stepped out of the room to give us a moment.

To experience a love like ours, have it ripped away in a heartbeat, and then come back with a vengeance was overwhelming yet beautiful.

I had lost hope that this would ever be us when he told me to stop coming to see him. I thought our love was over, but that was never the case for Zion. I understood he needed to do the time alone. I was just happy that, even after I was about to marry a man I didn’t love, Zion still chose me.

I was still his, just as he was mine.

And as I looked down at our baby boy lying on my chest, I knew this was what he promised me—a life full of love, happiness, and peace.

“Thank you,” Zion said, kissing my forehead and lips. “He’s perfect, baby.”

“You’re perfect. I love you so much.”

“Not as much as I love you. I made a promise to you—and to myself—when I was locked up, a promise to repeat the love we shared all those years ago. You make me the happiest, luckiest man on this earth, baby. I’d move mountains for you.”

Tears streamed down my face as I kissed his lips, then kissed my son’s forehead.

“I think I’m the lucky one, baby.”

“We both are.”

I smiled widely.

There was no greater love than the one I shared with this man.

And I was sure that if he had to do it again, he would promise to repeat our life together, . . . all over again.

The End.