Anixa was determined to find me the perfect outfit to wear for my baby shower. We were at the mall just chilling and talking.
"So how are you and Brendan?"
"We are okay, he wants me to come meet his family."
"Whoa! How's that gonna go, Jamaican girl, Italian family?"
"I've talked to his mother on the phone and she is really excited to meet me, I can't say the same for his dad."
"Uh oh."
"He wants him with a good Italian girl."
"I'm sure he'll love you though."
"We'll see, I'm going in two weeks home with him."
"Wait where is Brendan from again?"
"Typical, Jersey."
We both fist pumped and started laughing.
"But enough about me, what's the deal with Xavier?"
"There is no deal. Why?"
"I've seen him around, he looks depressed, what'd you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything Anxia, I told him that me and Trey were gonna work on us and he kissed me, he said he loved me and that I was making a mistake."
"Do you think your making a mistake?"
"No."
"That's all that matters."
"So check this. Marcus wants me and Trey to come home so we can meet his girlfriend."
"What!"
"I know. He says they've been serious for like 5 months now and that she really wants to meet us because he talks about us so much."
"What's her name?"
"Natalie."
"When are you guys going to go?"
"Next weekend."
"Definitely let me know how that goes."
"Yeah, I'm gonna go visit my parents gravesites and probably do some shopping for the baby."
"You find an apartment?"
"Yeah Marcus just signed the lease for a complex in Hyattsville, see I'll be 15 minutes away."
"I know but it won't be the same as being neighbors."
"I know."
I pouted. Things were changing for all of us. A lot.
The next weekend Trey and I left Friday night to make the trip back to Cincinnati. It seemed like Marcus had stayed up waiting how excited he was when we finally got in, but it was late and I was tired from the ride. The next morning my nose woke up to the smell of breakfast, I rushed downstairs shocked to see a girl in the kitchen, in her pajamas at that.
"You're up!"
She turned to me smiling. I forced a smile back. She was shorter than Marcus and brown skinned. She had long hair and her body resembled one seen on the latest music video, I could see why Marcus was into this girl.
"Daniela I know this is weird but I've heard nothing but great things about you."
She grew even more cheerful when she saw my stomach.
"The baby!!"
She ran over to me placing her hands on my stomach. I was kind of startled so I just smiled.
"Am I creeping you out? I'm sorry, I love kids. I'm so excited."
"So you must be Natalie?"
P"Oh my gosh, sorry. Yes, I'm Natalie. Marcus' girlfriend."
"And I'm Daniela."
We shook hands.
"So how is life in DC?"
"It's cool."
"You go to Howard right?"
"Yea."
"I was looking there for medical school but I don't know if I could do DC it seems so busy."
"It is, so you're going to medical school?"
"Yeah, I graduate this year with my degree in Biology and then I'm looking University of Miami school of Medicine."
"Wow. That's a great school."
"Hard program to get into though, fingers crossed."
"You'll make it."
"Thanks Daniela."
"Just call me Danni."
We sat down and she made me plate of the breakfast she'd made for us all. The guys slept in and we caught up. Natalie was a sweetheart and I definitely liked her more than Marcus' last choice. She was sweet and genuine, a little ditzy but it could be overlooked and I knew Marcus was happy. I was glad to know he was enjoying his life instead of worrying about me all the time. We were washing up dishes when Marcus came in. He kissed us both on our foreheads, wiping sleep from his eyes.
"My two favorite girls, how you doing this morning?"
We both weren't able to answer before I felt his hands on my stomach.
"Hey Uncles baby, you sleep good? You eating good? I love you.. You know Uncle loves you?"
Hearing him coo made us giggle. He kissed my stomach before fumbling around looking for something to eat.
"I'll let you two talk, I'm gonna go wake up Trey."
I walked up the stairs to find Trey knocked out still. He was so cute when he slept. I wondered if our child would sleep like him, one arm over his head and the other on his stomach. I went and leant over him whispering in his ear.
"Trey."
He wriggled his head around.
"Awww baby wake up."
"No. I'm sleepy."
"You want me to let you sleep?"
He turned over ignoring me. I shook my head and headed for the bathroom, I'd missed being home and wanted to get out, I was going to start my day without him. I was walking around the mall aimlessly when I decided to stop in Aldo. I couldn't wear heels for another 4 months but that didn't mean I couldn't prepare. I was trying on some Blue Suede shoes when I heard him call my name.
"Danni?"
I looked up and there was Chris. He ran over to me scooping me up off of the bench.
"Hey Chris!"
I said when he let go.
"You look great!"
He looked down and noticed my stomach.
"Oh shit! You're pregnant!"
"Yeah 5 months."
"I know Trey is happy!"
"He is, he is. How are you?"
"I'm fine, I'm doing good, getting ready to move."
"Move where?"
"Virginia to work on this music thing I got going."
"What! You'll be by me then huh?"
"Yeah, I will, I will. I tried to hit you up but I think you got a new number."
"Oh yea, my bad, I should have facebooked it to you."
We exchanged numbers.
"Who you in the mall with?"
"Myself."
"Oh okay, You eat?"
"Earlier, I was headed to get a snack though."
"My treat."
I smiled handing the box to the young sales girl.
"Sure."
I paid for my shoes and followed Chris to the nearest pretzel stand. He paid for our pretzels and slushies and we sat down.
"So how's school? DC?"
"Everything is cool. I'm doing good, getting ready for the little one."
"Yeah I bet, how'd your brother take it?"
"He was okay. He's excited now."
"Yeah."
"But what's up with you?"
He'd gotten more tattoos, a lot more, his style was more hipster now, a large change from his thug attire he used to wear.
"Nothing man, got my associates and now I'm working on this demo trying to get me a deal."
"Oh word? What you rap?"
He chuckled.
"A little bit but I sing."
"You too huh?"
"What you mean?"
"Trey sings."
"Oh word?"
"Yeah, he's not serious with it now at least though. So when do I get to hear you sing?"
"I'll email you a few songs I got now."
"Okay."
I text him my email address. We were so busy talking I didn't notice how much time had went by until my phone went off. I mouthed sorry to Chris answering to an angry Trey.
"You were asleep.. I'm at the mall.. I'm almost done Trey.. Okay,I'm coming... I didn't know you wanted to come.. Alright.."
Chris smiled.
"Still the same huh?"
"How'd you guess?"
"I'll let you go though."
He helped me up.
"Alright Chris is was good seeing you! Make sure that you hit me up when you get to VA? When are you moving?"
"Before the fall."
"Alright! Hit me up!"
We hugged before going our separate ways.
That night Marcus made me promise to cook for him and I couldn't but to oblige. It had been a very long time since I'd cooked dinner for my big brother and I knew that it would mean a lot to him. I kicked everyone out of the kitchen while I got to work on Marcus' favorite, homemade lasagna. I was putting plates on the table when they all bombarded the kitchen, Natalie last, practically knocking me over.
"Goodness! I didn't even say I was done yet!"
I said raising my arm barely missing Marcus' head trying not to drop the basket of bread that was in my hand.
"We've been looking in here like every 5 minutes."
I shook my head before sitting down to join them. Marcus blessed the food and it soon grew silent as the sounds of forks clinking on plates, chewing and smacking took over. I was into my food when Natalie spoke.
"Marcus that apartment complex in Miami emailed me back, they have some spots available for the summer."
I looked up meeting eyes with Trey who as just as confused as me. I started speaking in mid-bite. Natalie quickly stopped talking when she was shot a look from Marcus.
"Wait, Marcus you're moving to Miami?"
I asked lost.
"I'm thinking about it."
"Why?"
"Go to grad school, probably at the University of Miami."
"Okay and when were you going to tell me this?"
"Danni, I didn't know how to tell you."
"Yeah that you're moving across the fucking country."
"Your exaggerating it's down the coast."
"Whatever it's far.How are you going to see me and your neice or nephew?"
"That's why God made planes."
"Don't start with me Marcus, we barely see each other now."
"Yeah and whose fault is that?"
He glared at me then back at Trey.
"Well I guess this probably is a good time to tell you I'm selling the house."
"You're what?"
I shrieked on the verge of tears.
"I'm selling the house."
"Who do you think you are? How are you going to just sell mommy and daddy's house?"
"Look, we are both grown and we're not here. I don't want to be responsible for taking care of a home anymore."
"Mommy and Daddy worked hard for this house! And you just want to give it up because you want to move Miami with some girl."
"You moved to DC!"
"I GO TO SCHOOL IN DC! On a scholarship! What are you talking about there's no comparison."
Natalie and Trey just sat quietly watching the train wreck occurring in front of them. It was like a tennis match, back and forth, back and forth.
"Daniela, no matter if we keep the house or sell the house it's not bringing mom and dad back. It's not. So we have to learn to let some things go, I want to move, I want to live life! You're grown, you've got a child on the way, you're living your life, you've moved to a new city, let me live mines."
"I never said you couldn't! But you don't have to sell mom and dad's house to do it."
"The decision is final, I'm trustee of the estate, I'm selling the house."
I shot my drink in his face and stomped upstairs. I had slammed my door but instead of the loud thud I was expecting it to create, I heard Marcus voice instead. He turned my light on and I turned around with tears streaming down my cheeks. I plopped down on the edge of the bed and just stared at him. He leaned on my dresser, rubbing his hand over his face before speaking.