A House Is Not a Home by James Earl Hardy Read Free Book Online

spent the next two minutes cooing at each other—playing with the other’s hair, pinching each other’s cheeks, rubbing noses, and catching up on whatever had happened in the twenty hours since they last spoke on the phone.
    The way they dote on each other, the way Mitchell’s mother holds her, the way Destiny hugs her by the neck . . . you’d think she was her mother.
    As it turns out, she is.
    Mitchell will never forget the day—May 28, 1997. His mother and her husband, Anderson, invited him and his brother, Adam, over to their home for dinner in Longwood, a suburb just a few miles from Newark. She told them she had a “surprise.” She revealed it in their living room.
    Mitchell was anxious to hear the news. “So, what’s the surprise?”
    â€œWell,” she began with a pause, “I’m pregnant.”
    Mitchell’s mouth opened—but nothing came out.
    Adam didn’t have that problem. “You’re what?” He couldn’t believe it.
    â€œI’m pregnant,” she repeated.
    â€œ Pregnant? ” Adam winced. He said it as if it was a disease.
    â€œYes, pregnant.”
    â€œAre . . . are you sure?”
    â€œYes, I’m sure. The test came out blue—twice. And Dr. Suarez confirmed it yesterday.”
    Adam still couldn’t believe it. “You . . . you . . . you’ve got to be kidding.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.”
    â€œBut, Ma, you’re . . . you’re . . .”
    â€œForty-nine? Yes, Adam, I know my age. It can happen to a woman of my years. Rarely, but it happens.”
    â€œBut . . . how?”
    â€œYou know how—we had that talk when you were ten.” She giggled.
    â€œYou’re . . . gonna . . . have . . . a . . . baby ?” Adam said, as if to himself, still in disbelief.
    â€œYes. Don’t sound so excited.” Her eyes fell on Mitchell. “You’ve been quiet about the news.”
    After opening his mouth a couple of times and saying nothing, he finally did. “Wow . . .” He turned to Adam. “We’re gonna have another brother. Or our first sister.”
    â€œWhatever it is, it will be the last sibling you two have,” she promised.
    Now that he could speak, Mitchell had twenty questions. “How many months are you?”
    â€œTwo.”
    â€œSo it’ll be a Christmas baby?”
    â€œYes. My due date is the twenty-fourth.”
    â€œAnd Dr. Suarez said you’re okay?”
    â€œYes. But he wants to monitor me. There are risks and there could be complications. But since I don’t have anything like hypertension or diabetes, they shouldn’t be anything serious if they do arise.”
    â€œAnd how do you feel?”
    â€œI feel fine. I was having hot flashes and a little nausea, but it’s passed. At first I thought I was going through the change. But then I got that same sensation in my belly I had when I was pregnant with you two.” She rubbed her stomach.
    â€œWill you work through the whole pregnancy?”
    â€œProbably up until the seventh month.”
    â€œDo you plan to take some time off after it’s born?”
    â€œA year.” She laughed. “You should’ve seen the faces of the folks I work with when I told them why I’d be taking a leave of absence.”
    Mitchell included Anderson in his next query. “What are you two hoping for, a boy or a girl?”
    Anderson shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. So long as it’s healthy.”
    â€œI hope it’s a boy,” admitted Adam.
    Mitchell’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
    â€œBecause then I’ll have someone to call little brother.”
    â€œBut all the kids in the family have been boys. It’s about time we had a girl. I’ve always wanted a little sister.”
    â€œActually,” she interrupted, “she—or he—will