A Rich Man's Baby. Daaimah S. Poole

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      The next day at work I walked right past him like we’d never met. He almost came up to me. Then he stopped after he realized I wasn’t speaking and said some smart shit like, “Oh, okay.”

      I was back up on my floor when I heard Stacey call my name.

      “What’s up?” I said.

      “Don’t forget you are representing the eighth floor for Dr. Schmidt’s wife’s baby shower,” Stacey said.

      “No, why me?” I asked.

      “Because I went last time. Annette’s catching up. You have the shortest patient load, and everybody nominated you.”

      “She doesn’t even remember me.”

      “Here’s the gift,” she said as she plopped down a big oval wicker basket full of baby bibs, bottles, onesies, and diapers.

      Later, I was at the shower as the representative from our floor. I said “hello” to the people there and set my gift down. I saw an empty seat near Jeremy’s coworker Tanisha. None of the nurses on my floor liked Dr. Schmidt, and we definitely didn’t like his wife, Jen. She was a roly-poly woman who would come up to our floor at every break and at lunch. She was trying to make sure no one was going to take him from her. Her position was safe. Nobody was interested in him. Now, a lot of nurses had slept with married doctors on my floor, but nobody wanted him because he was the epitome of a nerd, but very nice. However, his stock did go up after everybody saw the ring he gave his wife and the car he bought her.

      Chapter 10

      Tanisha

      “What y’all looking at?” I asked, as I noticed everyone huddled around Jeremy’s desk. I looked over and saw various pictures of a woman holding her breasts and ass up to the screen.

      “Get that off the screen. That is not appropriate. Come on now, this is work,” I said, not able to mask my disgust.

      “I told them that,” Alberta said.

      “What? She sent me the picture and I just sent it out to everyone I know,” Jeremy said as he laughed.

      “I’m sure she didn’t want everyone looking at her goodies. That’s real immature to send someone’s picture around,” Alberta said.

      “She don’t care; she a freak anyway. Trust me.”

      “Jeremy, get that off your screen. You can get fired for that. I mean it. Now!” I was not for it. I had to go to this stupid baby shower.

      “Come on, Miss Alberta,” I said as I picked up my gift and headed to Jen’s baby shower.

      Blue and white streamers decorated the room, and a big cake in the shape of a baby carriage was the centerpiece of the table. There was strollers, bassinets, walkers, and loads of Baby Gap. I felt like my baby bouncer I paid thirty dollars for was inadequate. But that was all I could afford, because no one would chip in. I spotted Jen. She had on a red maternity shirt, black pleated skirt, and black Frankenstein shoes.

      I faked excitement. “Hey, Jen.”

      “Tanisha! Oh, I’m so glad you made it,” she said, squishing her big belly into my ribs.

      “Well, look at you” were the only words I could get out. “Oh my God, you are so damn fat” would not have been appropriate. I took in her unusually large stomach. Her pregnancy was in her ankles, hands, and thighs and butt. She looked like she was in desperate need of a nap. She was carrying a very nice, expensive bag, and her ring was an antique setting with a large diamond in the middle.

      “When do you go in?” Alberta asked.

      “In August. I can’t wait for the baby to get here,” she said as she coughed a little.

      “So, are you coming back after you have the baby?” I asked.

      Jen giggled a little, and said, “Of course not, I’m not going to be a working mom. A mother should be home with her baby, not sending them to day care.”

      She went on and on about how that was what was wrong with the world, mothers not spending enough time with their children.

      Oh, really? Must be nice, I thought as Jen got up to speak to other guests.

      “I so don’t want to be here. Dr. Schmidt don’t know what she got in store for him,” a voice said.

      When I looked up to see who was talking to me, it was Jeremy’s latest conquest and naked-picture poser. I felt so uncomfortable sitting next to her. She had no idea that illicit pictures of her were being passed around. But it wasn’t my place to say anything. They played a few baby shower games, opened presents, and cut the cake. My lunch was over; I had to get back to work.

      “Jen, it was great seeing you. Good luck.”

      “I’ll be up after I have the baby,” Jen said.

      I walked out a little jealous. How did a fat chick with bad skin say she wasn’t going to be a working mom? Miss Alberta was staying the whole time; she wanted to see everything she got.

      I went back to work. Nobody was back from lunch yet except Jeremy; he was on the Internet looking at BMWs.

      “You buying a new car?”

      “Yeah, I don’t know if I’m getting a 328i or 335i. The only difference is like five thousand. I’m going to get a silver one.” He stepped away from the computer and asked for a piece of my cake.

      “No, you should have came up and got some. Plus, I’m mad at you. Why did you show Reginald and Miss Alberta those pictures? Miss Alberta is sixty years old. She doesn’t act like it sometimes, but she is old enough to be your mom.”

      “Miss Alberta came over to the computer. I didn’t ask her to come.”

      “It doesn’t matter. You have to be more respectful of her and me. I am your supervisor.”

      “Okay, I got it,” he said as he reached on my plate for some cake.

      I slapped his hand and then cut him off a piece of cake. I stretched a little and took a long yawn. I heard and felt a bone or two pop. I was ready to get the second half of my day over.

      I sat down and called Horizon Health. I had to get some authorizations for an MRI done before three. Their СКАЧАТЬ