grayson astor

My foot bounced up and down as the man leading the meeting went through logistics for Astor Incorporations Shanghai. It was finally established four years ago and has been more successful than I ever could have imagined. With my father still rotting away in prison, I needed to find someone to manage the headquarters in China. Despite his childish ways, Matthew was the only person I trusted with leading the company out there. He was too honoured to realize what a big responsibility this would be. But, as of right now, everything has been great.

Reaching into my pocket, I removed my phone when it started ringing. I didn't have the contact saved and I didn't recognize the number. But I immediately assumed it must've been Paige. It seems like every other week she has a new number.

I stood up to leave and answer. "Um, sir," the man presenting stopped the meeting.

"Give me a moment?" I left the conference room and brought the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mr. Astor. It's Miss. Taylor. Amelia's kindergarten teacher," the woman spoke.

Amelia started kindergarten a week ago. Kalani and I spent weeks deciding on a private school. We toured each one in the city and finally decided on the one she currently attends. Considering she's currently an only child, we were worried about her ability to make friends and worried she wouldn't enjoy school. But it seems everyday she's up before either of us and urging both of us to get ready.

"There was an incident with Amelia and other students," she chose not to elaborate.

"I'll be there in ten minutes," I hung up, running my hand through my hair with a sigh. I entered the meeting currently on pause for me. "I have to leave. Paul will take my spot," I pointed at the new COO who nodded.

It was a dreadful car ride because I couldn't stop assuming the worst. Amelia has been telling us school is fun and I didn't understand how there was an incident. What does incident even mean?

After I had arrived at the school, I composed myself and made sure I walked into the building looking like a civilized person. I've only ever been to the school twice, and it was for the tour. Kalani is the one who normally drops her off and picks her up. But they organize the school in a way allowing me to know exactly which classroom belonged to her. When I got there, I found Amelia seated in a chair and facing the wall. All the other students were at different tables colouring and playing. The teacher subjecting Amelia to public humiliation infuriated me.

"Amelia, my love," I called out and she turned around to look at me with her swollen eyes. She's been crying.

"Daddy," she jumped out of her seat, rushing over to me. Her hair was previously in two braided pigtails with beads at the end. But all the beads were now gone.

I knelt down, bringing her into my arms. "What happened, angel?" I rubbed her back. These were only children, but I wanted to rain hell fire.

"They were playing and-"

"I was asking my daughter," I stopped the teacher from answering. Amelia is only five, but she isn't incompetent. She's intelligent and fully capable of explaining this situation to me. I had done research and found baby talking your children does nothing for their development and I made sure Kalani and everyone else spoke to Amelia like she was an adult.

"We were playing and they wanted to touch my hair. I told them no because mommy said no one is allowed to touch my hair," Amelia explained and I nodded my head, failing to see what the problem is and why my daughter was crying.

Kalani had engraved in my head that their hair was a huge part of their culture and something special to them. I didn't understand it before, but I certainly do now. She taught me how to take care of Amelia's hair and a lot goes into making it look the way it does and I would be darned if anyone thought they could just touch it without permission.

"The guys were just intrigued by the beads. They wanted to feel," Miss. Taylor further explained. I picked Amelia up as I got onto my feet. How hard were they pulling for them to pull the beads from her hair?

"Does she look like she belongs to a petting zoo? You don't go around touching white children's hair, so because Amelia is black, that creates a plausible excuse?" I asked and her eyes widened. She panted, not knowing how to even respond because any conversation to do with race seems to baffle people. But when Kalani and I were looking for a school, diversity was very important to her. Clearly we made the wrong judgement in choosing this place.

"I'm not...racist. I am pro BLM," her hand went over her heart. "Clearly this is just a big misunderstanding. Amelia just overreacted a little bit when they accidentally pulled her beads out."

"If anyone one of these young delinquents ever puts their hands on my daughter again, you and I are going to have a serious problem. Have I made myself clear?" I watched her give me a nervous nod before I turned around and found our way out of the school.

"I'm sorry," Amelia apologized during our walk to the car.

"What are you apologizing for, sweetheart?" I asked as we got to the car.

"Am I in trouble?" I set Amelia in her car seat. I paused what I was doing to look at her. Seeing the tears in her eyes hurt and I was currently wishing I could knock down all those kids for touching her. I'm supposed to protect her, but clearly that doesn't start until the accused is over the age of five.

I placed my hand on the side of her cheek, stroking my thumb to get rid of her recent tears. "You will never be in trouble for defending yourself. And I promise I will never be upset with you for something like this," I answered before she brought her hand to my ear to play with. She smiled before I kissed her nose and she did the same with mine. Everyday my love for her grows and I don't think I'll ever stop looking at her as anything other than my perfect little angel.

She gave me her devious smile and I already know what she was going to ask me. "Can I please have skittles?" I knew I shouldn't have given Kalani so many skittles when she was pregnant with Amelia. I opened the passenger door, taking the candy from the glove compartment.

"Don't tell your mother."

-

kalani astor

Standing in the mirror, I placed my hand over my stomach as I examined myself. Last time I was pregnant, I discovered my pregnancy on my own. This time we went to my first ultrasound together. Another baby was a topic starting to come up more frequently and both of us were less reluctant than before. We agreed I would get my IUD removed and let fate decide the rest. So, when I did the at home pregnancy test, I wasn't surprised. And when I told him, he was happy and it was a relieving feeling.

I went to my closet, slipping on my brown baby doll dress. After approving my dress, makeup and hair, I left the bedroom and went downstairs. The backyard was being decorated by the event company we were using for the gender reveal party. In less than two hours, guests would be arriving and I was ecstatic I was going to be sharing this special moment with family and friends.

"Mommy!" Amelia yelled when the front door opened. Grayson entered in a hurry while on the phone. Amelia's eyes were swollen and the beads were out of her hair. I would usually be the one to pick Amelia up, but because of the party, I had asked one of her friend's mother's to drop her off. Grayson was supposed to be in a meeting.

"Did something happen?" I asked Grayson when he got off the phone.

"No. No. Nothing happened. The meeting ran short and I picked Amelia up early. Right?" He looked at Amelia and she nodded her head. I had no doubt in my mind this was a lie. Since finding out about my pregnancy, Grayson has been keen on me not experiencing any type of stress. That seems impossible considering I'm still working.

"Right," Amelia gave me two thumbs up.

Now was not the time to fight them on this. From the looks of it, Amelia now had to redo her hair and had to change out of her uniform. "I left your dress on your bed. Can you please get ready? I'll be there in a bit to do your hair," I asked of her and she rushed through the house to go upstairs. "Was she crying?"

"How is my little one?" Grayson completely disregarded my question, kneeling down to kiss my stomach.

"Gray."

"She's fine. I took care of it. I'll go do her hair. You finish up with everything outside," he rubbed my stomach then went upstairs.

There wasn't much time on my hands so I was forced to walk around the backyard, directing everyone to make sure everything was perfect. Yadiel and Paige had arrived early together, looking like they were on their way to a Hawaiian cruise. Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts with these safari hats. This had to be a sick joke.

"What are you guys wearing?" I slowly began to panic. The party wasn't going to be big because I wanted to take a lot of pictures and these two nuisances were going to ruin that.

"You said gender neutral. How more gender neutral can you get than with rainbow Hawaiian shirts?" Yadiel smartly responded. I groaned, playfully smacking his chest. I told everyone gender neutral as in nudes and browns. These two were slowly becoming the death of me. Maybe it has to do with them each being the last born in their families, but they were becoming this dangerous duo giving both Grayson and I a headache.

"You know what, whatever. Please make yourselves useful and help with the snack table," I gave clear instructions then went back to helping the decorators.

As I walked around the backyard, my eyes caught a glimpse of Rocko and Axel in their kennels. Grayson was originally opposed to me being anywhere near them without him. Although they never barked, he knew if they were let out, they would immediately attack. But something in me wouldn't allow me to stay away and I began visiting them everyday to see if I could begin growing on them and it worked. Some afternoons I'll take them for walks and go to the dog park when I know there won't be other dogs around.

"Hi, boys," I crouched down, opening Rocko's door just a smidge so I could hug him. As per usual, the first thing he did was smell my belly. He knew I was pregnant before I did.

After greeting Rocko, I closed the kennel then went to Axel to do the same. He gave me a big sniff before allowing me to rub behind his ear. Amelia loves animals and always insists on playing with them But it's the one thing Grayson will not fold on, and I unfortunately also agree.

Guests were beginning to arrive and I was curious as to where Grayson and Amelia were. I went back into the house, standing at Amelia's room. They were having a conversation I was hesitant on interrupting. But since the door was open a crack, I could peak my head inside. Amelia was seated on his lap while they sat on the ground. He was combing her hair and splitting it into different sections for her chosen hairstyle—bantu knots.

Grayson swore he wasn't going to be capable of getting close with her. But they spend every living moment together and he's got this bond with her even I don't understand. Seeing them together always warms my heart because it makes me excited about bringing another baby into the picture. But it also makes me worried because the three of us are already so perfect together.

"Do you know what the party is for?" Grayson asked her.

"Mommy is having a baby," Amelia snacked on skittles she wasn't supposed to have. Grayson is always giving her these hidden snacks behind my back.

"How do you feel about that?" For someone who isn't good at speaking about his emotions, he was becoming good at making sure Amelia never has the same issue.

I bit my thumb in anticipation for her answer. "Not good," she openly admitted. Grayson stopped what he was doing. "What if you and mommy forget about me because I'm not a baby?"

He looked at her through the mirror. "We could never forget about you, angel. I promise you this baby won't change anything. I won't love you any less," he finished up with her hair. "You're going to be a big sister. Isn't that exciting?"

"Maybe?" She hid her smile before he tickled her stomach. "Okay fine! Yes, it's exciting!" She screamed with laughter.

"Good," he kissed her cheek when she turned around to look at him. Her arms went around his neck as he engulfed her in this tight hug I wanted to be involved in.

"Love you," I heard her quietly whisper and I had to tilt my head up so I wouldn't cry. I cannot ruin my makeup right now.

"I love you, baby," he whispered back and I took it as my cue to walk away. What I did was so very creepy.

The two of them eventually came back downstairs and Amelia was in her usual cheery and preppy mood. A few of her friends were also here and she was able to play with them. When it was time for us to do the reveal, Grayson approached me while I was speaking to Eva and Ariana. He hovered over me, moving my hair to rub my shoulders. He pulled me away to the four foot box wrapped like a present.

"Did I tell you how good you look?" Grayson looked down at me. I went on my toes, leaning to place my lips on his. His fingers curled around my neck to pull me closer as he bit my lower lip. He let out a satisfied hum before pulling away.

I looked away, trying to regain my train of thought because I lose everything when he touches me.

"Amelia. It's time," I called her and she quickly ran from her friends to the very front where Grayson and I were. When she realized a crowd was slowly growing, she held onto Grayson's leg in attempt to hide behind him.

My heart felt like it was racing a mile a minute. I was looking throughout the backyard and seeing all these smiling faces from people who care about the family Grayson and I are building. It made me happy to know I had this support network and life would continue to be pleasant and full of happiness.

Standing on the other side of the box, the two of us slowly lifted the top. The crowd gasped at the coloured balloons pouring out of the box and into the sky. The gasps soon turned into cheers and I turned to Grayson, seeing the smile on his face he doesn't normally share with anyone other than me and Amelia.

We're having a boy.