Later that day....

I yawned and smiled at the customers walking by.

Man if my feet could talk they would be cussing my ass out. I can't wait to drop this baby because I am tired of sausage toes.

I heard laughing and I immediately looked up with a smile, but I couldn't lie and say my smile dropped and there she was Ms. Stephanie Mills.

Keep it professional never let a bitch see you sweat!

I placed my smile back on my face, which her and her companion were really receptive of.

"Hi, did you find everything you were looking for?"

I only asked because its a part of the job, not that I gave a damn.

But then again I can't let her think she's getting to me.

"Yes, thank you so much"

She replied with a smile.

I begin scanning her items, I couldn't help but wonder is she buying this lingerie for Michael.

She need to buy a damn feed bag with that horse-

Now Tayler be nice!

"Look I wanted to apologize. Although, Michael explained your relationship. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable." Stephanie apologized.

I couldn't control the words I would later regret, I could care less about Michael.

However, his view of this relationship intrigues me.

"What did he say?" I asked as I concluded scanning.

"Your total is $65.55 will that be cash or card?" I added.

"Uh cash"

She said that and begin to search her bag for her wallet.

Maybe its me, maybe I have pregnancy ears. It sounded like she was boasting when she said cash.

Bitch I got money of my own!

I just smiled waiting for her to retrieve the cash.

"I mean if you don't have it-"

She quickly interrupted me

"Oh no I always have it" she winked and handed me a $100 bill.

Bitch be careful cause your right eye about to go to the left.

"Oh yeah back to your question"

Bitch you ain't forget

"He just said you guys are friends and he's not the father of your baby."

Ouch! put the knife deeper Mike. I couldn't lie and say my whole world wasn't snatched from under me. I was holding on to the last ounce of hope that maybe Michael would come clean and want to be a family. This isn't the Michael I know, he loves children. The thought of him abandoning his child, that isn't my Michael. The thought of him hurting someone else, that isn't my Michael.

I guess this just proves my Michael is gone, and I should be done with this new one.

I gave her back her change.

"He's right, I wouldn't want to be with Michael anyway. Between me and you Michael has been around more than a circle and touched more than a door knob. Plus I'm not his type Michael believes in playing with toys and giving them to the less fortunate, if you know what I'm saying." I winked at her.

"Here's your change, you have a great day."

Of course Michael hasn't been around, I took his virginity. I mean he has been with other girls, but not like he was with me.

But she didn't need to know the truth.

I walked off to the employee bathroom before she could say anything else. I know I had more customers to attend to. Hell! more than one person works here they can help.

Breathe Tayler! Breathe! I refuse to waste a single tear on Michael, but I can't help but to be angry I was there for him, I loved him passed his pain. I understood what he was faced with, I stayed faithful and I even lied to everyone about how this baby was conceived to save him from backlash from his parents and this is how he repays me?

~

With the motivation of money doing my job was easier, but with my thoughts spinning about Michael, the baby, and the idea of singing again I became quickly frustrated and ready to bust out of my seams trying to get home.

As soon as I pulled up in the driveway my dad was standing there by his car.

I immediately became alarmed, I sighed saying a silent prayer that nothing was wrong and I grabbed my purse.

I quickly made my way to my dad.

"Daddy why are you outside?" I asked.

"Get in the car, we need to go somewhere." he replied.

"Where?" I further questioned him.

"Just come on." he opened the car door.

I slid in the passenger side of my dad's Chevrolet caprice.

Nervous wasn't the word, the last time my dad behaved this way and told me to go somewhere he dragged me to Michael's house and announced my pregnancy to everyone.

Once we turned in the opposite direction of Michael's house, I silently let go of the breath I was holding.

But now I wondered: WHERE THE HELL ARE WE GOING?!

I turned the dial up to the radio to get lost in the words that belong to Blue Magic 'Sideshow' .

I felt this song spoke to me and I slightly became choked up.

See the man with the broken heart, you'll see that he is sad,

He hurts so bad (so bad, so bad)

See the girl who has lost the only love she ever had

There's got to be no sadder show to see

No doubt about it, satisfaction's guaranteed

So let the sideshow begin

Hurry, hurry, step right on in

Can't afford to pass it by

Guaranteed to make you cry

Let the sideshow begin (hurry, hurry)

Hurry, hurry, step right on in

Can't afford to pass it by

Guaranteed to make you cry

Damn why can't I get Michael off my mind?

Why can't I get him off my heart?

~

After 15 minutes of driving we pulled into an apartment complex named Gardens .

I admired the apartment buildings as we drove by.

What are we doing here?

After finally pulling into a parking spot my dad stopped the car and without a word got out.

I just rolled my eyes getting out, now I'm not in the mood for the cold shoulder. I followed him through the hallway of identical doors, we stopped at door 112, then he turned to me.

I rubbed my protruding belly because now my son was up.

"Dad what-"

Before I could finish he put his hand up stopping my words from coming out.

"I just want to let you know that it took me a long time to accept this." he sighed.

I shifted my weight from my left foot to my right foot, indicating I was uncomfortable.

"Baby I never wanted this for you, but because you have been so strong through this whole ordeal baby you made me strong. I watch you wake up every morning, go to school, and then you go to work and not once have you complained. Not once have you shown me you are giving up. Baby girl I am so proud of you from the time you were born to now."

I smiled as he spoke with this burden of a secret on my heart, I know if he ever figured out he would not be proud, but ashamed of his baby girl that was deflowered and lied about being raped just to protect a man she desperately was in love with, who was desperately trying to get rid of her.

"You have made me so happy, don't you ever think you are a disappointment. Daddy will always be there for you just like I always been, but its time for you to grow up. I know you're going to object, but baby you are becoming a young woman and once you graduate you are going to want to be like your friends, moving out and being independent. Donna and I thought it will be a wonderful idea to get you your own apartment."

"What?" I asked.

My mouth gaped open. I searched his eyes for the truth.

"This apartment is yours." he said.

He raised the key up and I opened my palm holding it gently in my hand.

Here it is the guilt, the shame, but I couldn't spill my guts. So I just let a lone tear fall and jumped into my father's arms giggling. I felt him kiss my head and in that moment I knew I would never be my daddy's baby girl again.

Now I had a child of my own who would hold onto me and I would kiss just like this and make them feel safe.

In this moment I also wished this never happened, but my baby needs me just like I need my father.

"Ok stop all this crying and check your pad out" he encouraged.

I heard him sniff

"Daddy I know you not crying be a soldier. Got boogers and snot coming out get it together. " I teased.

"I know you ain't talking big ol' water bag!"

We shared a laugh and I put my key in the door.

My key!

As soon as my dad cut the light on I felt the air leave me. I slowly walked in scared a big black hole will suck me in and all this up and I would wake in a cold sweat. I begin laughing and once again, I jumped on my daddy

"Baby you are not my baby anymore and you are carrying a baby. You know your daddy old about to knock the caps off my knees."

I giggled as I placed kisses all over his face and thanked him over and over again.

"Daddy a swing chair? you got me a swing chair?" I screamed as I sat down and kicked my feet to swing a bit.

I jumped up and went to the furnished kitchen.

"Donna spent all day decorating." he commented.

"Oh my gosh!"

I went in the hallway and saw 3 doors the only door on my right was the bathroom.

"Oh daddy! a bidet?"

I got a rich people toilet!

"We didn't put a curtain in yet, but we figured you needed an extra bathroom for guest because I know you hate when strangers use your bathroom."

He walked up on me putting his hands on my shoulders.

"Wait till you see your bathroom."

I turned around giggling running to what I assumed was my room, which was straight ahead. I opened the door and magically my feet was glued to the floor.

"This was especially made for you princess go ahead and look."

My father nudged me and I walked in examining the design on the wall and the bed, I couldn't resist I laid on the bed and closed my eyes.

"Oh I could get used to this, feels like I'm sleeping on a sheep's back." I joked.

My dad walked away to another room that caught my eyes with the color scheme. I struggled to get up because of my belly, the best part is my dad laughed and didn't even help me. I rolled to the side to get up. I walked to the bathroom.

"Daddy! look at this shower!" I excitedly said while examining every inch of my bathroom.

Oh my gosh! what did I do to deserve parents like this. I looked all around avoiding the mirror because my tummy will be on full display and I don't want more guilt to pile on.

"You haven't seen the best part yet."

My dad was full of surprises tonight. I don't know how anything could get better than this.

My dad took my hand guiding me out my bathroom and out the room, back to the hallway. We went to the right this time where there was a single door, I think I know what this is.

I looked at my dad and he smiled then opened the door.

I walked in the door fixated on the scene before me. This time my feet were glued, the only thing I can do is a 360 planted in the same spot. I begin to tear up.

The fact that my parents loved me enough to buy me my own apartment, furnish it, and now they cared enough to decorate my baby's room. This is something I just couldn't afford to do, but they stopped everything just for me.

"Me and your uncle put the crib together and Donna decorated the room, but mostly me because I want the best for my grandson. " he explained.

I couldn't speak.

"Do you like it?" he asked me.

I faced him with tears in my eyes and laughed. The only thing I could do was, you guessed it jump into his arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around his wide body and sobbed in his stomach.

"Baby please don't cry" my dad begged.

As he soothed me, my crying ceased.

I looked up at him.

"Daddy thank you so much for-" I paused.

"For all of this. You have no idea what this means to me that you love me enough or see me as mature enough to have my own home, I love you so much. I couldn't have gotten through all of this without you and Donna and I swear daddy I will make you proud." I promised him.

I hugged him.

"No need to thank me baby you just graduating, raising my grandbaby, and achieving your dreams is thanks enough."

"How could I ever repay you?" I asked.

"Baby this is what I'm here for to help and you'll do the same for him when he's here. Uh-oh."

My father and I giggled as the little one kicked.

"I guess he knows we talking about him." I looked down at my tummy.

"Maybe he likes the room." my dad added.

I smiled as my eyes examined the room.

Though I feel so elated, there goes the guilt crowding the room smooshing me till I want to disappear. How can I tell him now?