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you’ll understand that I have to leave to go handle some business.”
    “When?”
    He paused for a minute before he answered. “In a few hours.”
    Yarni started. “What do you mean ‘in a few hours’?” She squinted her eyes from the pain she felt after her sudden movement.
    “It’s something that has to be handled right away.”
    “So you’re leaving me by myself with our baby? I don’t know how to take care of a baby,” Yarni said, raising her voice in fear.
    “Bambi, your mom, and my mom are here to help you out.”
    “Your momma? You promised you’d never leave me.”
    “I’m leaving only for a few days; and between my mom, your mom, and Bambi, you’re going to be okay.”
    “What if you don’t come back? How am I going to explain this to our daughter? How? Tell me how!” she shrieked, trying her best to lift herself off the bed. The pain was too much to bear, and she finally collapsed back on the mattress in exhaustion and frustration.
    “I’m coming back,” he said as he looked into her eyes to try to reassure her.
    “But what if something happens to you?” she asked with a tinge of fear in her voice.
    Des felt his heart unraveling. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Yarni any more pain, especially on what was the happiest day of their life.
    “Nothing’s going to happen to me.” He took a deep breath before leaning over to kiss her on the forehead. “I promise.”
    “You never know.” She looked away and started to cry. “You just never know.”
    He hugged her and wiped her tears before forcing her to look into his eyes. “Everything is going to be okay,” he said firmly, holding her gently by the shoulders.
    “You can’t guarantee it,” she said, sniffling.
    He sighed deeply, having second thoughts about leaving her and the baby, but he knew he had to. “Baby, listen to me.” He dabbed more tears from her cheeks. “Listen to me,” he repeated in a more tender voice. “We have a child and have been together for how many years? Baby girl, we’re connected forever. I’m willing to do anything that I have to do to make sure that our daughter has all the finer things that life has to offer her.”
    Yarni knew in her heart what Des wanted for his child, but she also knew that he was going to go handle his business no matter what she had to say. She didn’t want to argue at the hospital, and, quite honestly, she didn’t have the strength. Now she understood why they called it labor—she had worked her butt off bringing their baby into the world—and she didn’t regret a minute of it. So she just sucked it up and said, “Do whatever you have to do. We’ll be here when you get finished. Go handle your business.” Then she added, “Just be safe.”
    Des knew her words were only halfheartedly spoken. “You sure?” he asked.
    She nodded, and then they both heard a knock at the door.
    The nurse peeked her head in the door and said, “Your brother, Rico, is outside. He said he’s the baby’s godfather. Should I let him in?”
    “Definitely,” Des instructed the nurse.
    Yarni dried any trace of her tears away and tried to get herself together as Rico entered the room bearing gifts.
    “There’s nowhere for me to set these,” Rico said, amazed at all of the flowers and balloons that Yarni had already received.
    “Hey, Rico,” Yarni said. “You trying to spoil your goddaughter like that already?” she asked, looking at the armload of presents.
    “This ain’t nothing,” Rico said as he walked over and gave Yarni a kiss on the forehead. “This is just all I could carry in. The rest is in the car.” Now that opportunity had knocked, Rico opened the door wide and walked through it. “Yo, Des, man. Come help me bring in all the rest of the stuff.”
    Knowing that Rico wanted to use that time to school him on the situation that needed to be handled, Des agreed. “No problem,” Des said to Rico before turning to Yarni’s side. “You’ll be all right for a