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TIME TO LOVE-Time Will Reveal part 3
Nina has been experiencing false labor since Friday. Today is Wednesday and still nothing has happened with the pregnancy. Tank is going crazy down in Natty. They’re in constant contact with each other and Mr. Parkwood has agreed to fly him home if she goes into labor. This calms him down a bit but not Nina. She’s very impatient at this point and ready to bring their little girl into the world.
The October celebration will be held 3 days from now on Saturday night. Rob will turn 24 tomorrow. Rich turned 19 on the first and Greg Jr made 14 on the second. Rebbie's baby brother Archie Jr turned 9 yesterday. Stoney’s day of birth,which is always included in the crew October celebrations is the 12th. He would be 25 if he hadn’t been brutally murdered nearly 4 years ago. He and Bre’s daughter CJ will be 3 years old on the 11th and Nina has been helping mama Jackie with final preparations for CJ’s birthday party at Granny’s House. It’ll be held Saturday afternoon prior the celebration at The Spot.
Bre, Jb and Lynn are flying home for the weekend. CJ has received a package special delivery at her grandma Debbie’s home. Her grandpa Chester Lee has sent her a baby doll and card from prison. Both had been handmade by him. He’s Stoney’s father and he had kept his word to her and Bre that he would not lose touch with them. CJ loves her doll as she is excited and getting ready for her birthday party. Both celebrations go off without a hitch.
Renee and Chill meet with the accountants today,to go over the books for Crew Enterprises. Every business has shown a great profits. The Chill Spot is number 1 in profits. The Crew’s House of Soul Food is a close 2nd. Crew Cuts & Styles is 3rd but not to far ahead of Crew Details and Granny’s House. Rob’s studio and record Store has shown enough profit to support itself so it’s moving into it’s on suite at The CrewLand Mall. The name they select for it is Jenkins Jams Company, the name Rob has used all along. Reaper has a single on the radio and he’s nearly done with his CD. June's younger sister Brittany sings background vocals on 3 of his songs. He has 11 tracks recorded and mastered. Rob is shopping him to labels and trying to get him signed to a record deal. His father Archie Sr steps in as his manager which frees Rob up to travel with the music.
But these days everybody in the crew are concerned about Nina. She’s way past her due date. Not only is Tank going crazy and bringing everybody in Cincinnati along with him but her parents Al and Jo are just as anxious as her and Tank are. Meanwhile Tank’s parents Pearl and John are trying to keep everybody calm while trying to conceal their own eagerness. This is the 1st grand baby for both sides of the family so they’re all anxious. Today big John calls Pearl from the road to check Nina’s progress.
“Hey baby. How’s everything at home today?” he asks while on one of his many calls to Cleveland.
“Nobody got hurt, locked up or suspended, so far,” Pearl says sarcastically, “But it’s still early.”
Her and John share a laugh.
“Nina hasn’t done anything yet ha?” he asks.
“No baby,” she says, “She’s still wobbling around here, poor thing. She seems so miserable.”
It’s the 18th day of October and Nina is 18 days past her due date.
“She’s so tired of being pregnant John,” Pearl say as she laughs again, “Everytime she comes over, I rub her shoulders and her back while she complains to me about how tired and miserable she is.”
“What’s Weston saying?”
“She’s trying to wait for her labor to come naturally but she gave her until Monday. If she hasn’t done anything by then, we’re going to induce her.”
“She’s got about five days to get it jumped off then ha?” he asks.
“Yes and Tank is about to worry me, her and Joanna to death about it,” she says, “He’s so afraid he’s gonna miss it.”
“Well baby, the man wants to be there to see his first child born and that’s good,” he says, “But the baby’s not coming until it’s ready too.”
“I know but me and Jo want her to have it naturally if she can,” she says, “Instead of a cesarean section.”
“Uh huh okay,” he says then he changes the subject to something else that’s been on his mind. He asks, “They still got Angel locked up?”
“Oh yes and she’d better not get out either,” she says.
“Ajay will kill that girl if they do let her out. That’s a strict one that Ajay.”
“Like you,” Pearl say as she smiles.
“Like me? You think?” he asks as he laughs.
“John, Ajay acts more and more like you as the years pass. I can see it now,” she says.
“Can you see why our baby girl loves him?” John asks.
“Yes, I’ve been able to see it,” she says, “I just wasn’t ready to accept it back then. But she loves a man who’s just like her daddy.”
“She can’t help herself then,” he gloats.
Pearl agrees with John as they discuss they’re feelings about Ajay and Ebony.
“They’re doing good Pearl,” he says, “I visited with all of them when I went through Cincinnati last Tuesday,” he says, “That’s a nice mansion they got them in.”
“Oh I know,” she says, “Me and Jo love the house but we still don’t want Nina to take the baby down there to stay though.”
“Y'all know it’s their decision. We’re gonna have to accept it if they want to take her to Cincinnati,” he says.
Pearl say she understands but she doesn’t have to like it.
“They come home every chance they get. They’re gonna want to go to the club,” he says, “You and Jo will have her the whole time.”
“I know because they run the streets the entire weekend when they do come home,” she adds.
“I know Nina’s ready to have that baby,” he offers, “so she can get back down there with them.”
“Oh yes. She’s been working at the salon but she’s missing baby girl, T-baby and Rebbie like crazy. Not to mention Jeremy,” she says with a slight chuckle.
“I should be there around three or four, no later then five tomorrow morning,” he says, “You’re gonna keep it hot right?”
“You know it,” she answers with a smile.
He’s traveling from Iowa this time. Pearl says she’ll be off from work tomorrow and she’ll be home when he arrives. She’s going back to the graveyard shift for the fall so she can help out at the mall in the mornings. They exchanged hugs, kisses and “I love you.”
Then hang up.
Wednesday morning starts out normal for Nina, just like every other day of her pregnancy. She has backaches, uncontrollable bathroom urges and swollen feet. She drags herself out of bed, gets dressed and goes to work. Only to get there and be told she could’ve taken the day off.
“Nina you know you could’ve stayed in bed if you wanted too,” Tonya say as Nina wobbles through the door.
“I know but I get too depressed and bored just laying around the house,” she says, “I can’t wait until Friday when my baby gets home.”
She’s missing Tank terribly. They’re closer now then ever and they’ve been discussing marriage a lot. Jo and Pearl asked them to promise they’d allow them to give them a wedding. Nina doesn’t want to get married while she’s pregnant anyway. They’re waiting until after their baby girl arrives, then they’ll get engaged and set a date.
“Since I’m here I may as well take a few heads,” she say as she sets up her station, “Hopefully the moving around will bring her on down.”
Her and Tonya usually have a light schedule on Wednesday mornings. By the late afternoon business picks up and it stays busy clean through until the close of the day on Saturday which is 6pm. On Sunday and Monday the salon and barbershop are closed. Nina has already hired and trained a replacement for when she’ll be out on maternity leave. Her name is Justine Carr. She’s Jackie’s niece by marriage. She’s actually the niece of Jackie’s husband Jason. The crew met and saw her a few times over the years. Justine has just recently come to live with Jackie and Jason since they moved back to Cleveland. She attends night school at CSU where Tonya is in grad school. Justine already has experience in Cosmetology. She’s worked in a few shops in Columbus but has been slow to choose a real career. She’s 23 like Tonya and Jr but she’d dropped out of high school and didn’t do anything for awhile. Her uncle Jason took custody of her before she turned 18 and made her get her G.E.D. Finally she’s on the right path and trying to get her life straight. The crew give her an opportunity and so far, she’s working out great. Chill and Renee had introduced her to Kilo. His government name is Kejuan Thomas. They’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately and things seem promising. Justine has stepped up her responsibilities. She’s at work already when Nina comes in.
“You’re ready to drop that load, ha Nina?” Justine asks.
“Yes. It’s time out for this,” she says drawing in a deep breath.
“Or you alright cousin?” Tonya asks as Nina is her first cousin by marriage.
“I don’t know. My butt and everything is hurting me,” she says.
“You’re in labor I’ll bet,” Justine say as they all laugh.
They’ve said that every morning for the past 3 weeks.
Tank calls later just as Nina is putting her 1st client under the dryer. He’s on his usual morning call to check on her.
“How are you baby?” he asks.
“Pregnant,” she answers sarcastically.
“I know you’re tired of it baby but it won’t be long now,” he says.
He has said that daily for the past 3 weeks also. They hang up after a brief conversation and he heads to class.
About an hour or so later as Nina is finishing up her 3rd client of the day, she finally gets some action.
“Tonya I can’t stop peeing,” she says.
“What?” Tonya asks.
“I’ve been to the bathroom several times already. It’s just eleven forty five,” she says, “I can’t even cut if off.”
Before Tonya can respond, Nina sits down in her station chair and all of a sudden her water breaks and spews across the floor in front of her station.
“Call Tank back!” Justine yells, “We’re having a baby today!”
She runs to get some towels and a mop while Tonya runs to help Nina. Justine throws towels down on the floor to catch the fluids, then she calls mama Jo. Nina is finally in active labor. The girls scramble to contact Tank and the rest of the crew in Natty. They need to be on their way if they want to be here for the birth.
Tank and Parkwood are going to fly. He’s telling Nina and running through the Cincinnati airport at the same time.
He says, “I’m flying out in twenty minutes.”
It's only been a half hour since her water broke. During that half hour Nina goes from the salon to lying in the labor and delivery unit of East General hospital. Dr Weston is there and so are Jo and Pearl. Nina’s on the phone with Tank, who’s flight is ready to take off in minutes.
“You’d better hurry baby. My water broke and I’m dilated to four centimeters already,” she says just as she gets her 4th huge contraction and screams out.
Pearl takes the phone while Jo helps Nina with her breathing.
“Come on and get here son,” she orders, “This baby ain’t gonna wait for you.”
Mr. Parkwood’s jet is ready to go and he and Tank take off for Cleveland.
Ebony and the rest are driving up. They left Cincinnati over 30 minutes ago. They’re driving and having very stimulating conversation.
June brings up the subject of sexual positions. Ebony is too embarrassed to talk in front of all the guys. Her girls say very little too. Rich adds his 2 cents but Ajay teaches the class. He not only names more positions then anyone else but he also explains how to do them. Ebony is so embarrassed that she turns a lighter shade. Ajay thinks it’s funny. So funny in fact that he teases her.
“We’re going to try all of them tonight baby,” he jokes.
“The sutra one too?” Rebbie asks as they all laugh.
The foursome doesn’t even know what that is.
“No not until we’re married,” he says.
“When will that be?” T-baby digs.
“I don’t know but we’re going too,” he says.
“All y’all wanting to get married at the same time?” Rich asks.
“Yes,” Rebbie and T-baby say simultaneously.
Ebony doesn’t offer an answer as she looks at Ajay.
“That’s too many damn people,” he say as they all laugh again.
They continue the drive with plenty of conversation about weddings, babies and all. Ajay senses that Ebony is uneasy about the whole wedding talk. He doesn’t know why right now but they’ll talk about it in private as soon as she’s ready.
