Chapter 22

It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a sunny but blustery autumn day. The world was darker now because the November eighth Presidential election put an apparent racist, sexual predator and outright fool in the White House. No one knew what to expect. What advances would he roll back that would have long-term ramifications?

Thanksgiving was a season of counting our blessings, and I thanked God for so much. Although I missed Brian, every day, I was thankful for my girls who decided that they wanted to throw me a baby shower. I didn’t want one, but I told them that if I had to have one, it couldn’t be a surprise. I needed to know the date.

Tracy and Vanessa agreed because of my condition. They planned it for the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and that was all I knew; the rest was a surprise.

My other condition was that the baby’s gender wouldn’t be made public. Again, they agreed.

Tracy and Vanessa told me to be ready promptly at two o’clock, when a driver would pick me up and take me to the celebration. I changed clothes at least three times.

The sound of the hawk blowing outside told me to dress in layers. I’d been getting warm lately, so I thought a cute, sleeveless, collared blouse under a burnt orange and brown sweater would be good. Leggings and Uggs would ensure comfort. I topped the look off with a brown cape, trimmed in faux fur. I was cute.

When Tracy told me that a driver would pick me up, I assumed a limousine driver.

Keyword: assumed.

I was standing in front of the window waiting when John pulled up in front of the house, jumped out of the car, and grabbing his hat so that it wouldn’t get carried away by the wind. My eyebrows rose in surprise.

Before he could ring the doorbell, I gripped the doorknob and attempted to slowly open the door, but the wind forced the door against the wall and carried John into the house.

“Shawty, this wind is disrespectful.”

I grabbed the thickest shawl wrap that I had while staring at him. He sounded as though I knew he was coming to get me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked with a frown. “Didn’t they tell you I was picking you up?” “I didn’t realize you were coming to the shower.”

“Lachelle, I ain’t trying to go to no shower. I told Tracy to let me know how I could assist and she asked me to pick you up and drop you off. That’s it. That’s all.”

I knew some of Brian’s family would be there to celebrate and I didn’t want any drama; even though John and I were just friends.

“I’m not trying to be mean, but…”

“No explanation is necessary. I’m just here to help. I don’t want you to feel as though you have to explain who I am to those who don’t know me, yet.”

Keyword: yet.

“John, you really need to stop.”

“I’m just teasing. Are you ready? I don’t want Tracy and Vanessa beating me down for getting you there late.”

After he helped me with my cape, we walked to the car. My girls didn’t give me much information so I thought I’d see what I could get from John.

“Where are we going?”

He looked at me as though I was crazy.

“To your baby shower. Duhhh!”

“I mean where, as in location, fool?”

“You’ll see when we get there. Don’t ask many more questions. I’m sworn to secrecy.”

John skipped the subject and told me about his foundation and the work that he was doing in the community with both boys and girls.

I was impressed.

“I created a foundation to serve the communities in the cities where I’ve played. Every summer we run basketball camps in the underserved sections of the cities, boys and girls can enroll.”

Turning the corner, he continued. “In two of the cities that I’ve played in, we’re emulating Steve Harvey’s mentoring program for young boys where we bring in some ballplayers to talk about life skills and of course, shoot some hoops.

Just as I imagined John with the boys and the girls, I noticed we were a few blocks from my church.

“I know where we’re going.”

“Well, you should. But, you ain’t heard it from me.”

Laughter filled the car.

I motioned to direct John to the entrance of our church hall. I was relieved that they knew I’d be comfortable at church. They didn’t spend too much money and I really loved that.

John parked and ran to my side to open the door. Just as I swerved my legs to get out of the car I saw Keisha sitting in hers across the street from the church putting on make-up; our eyes met. Her mouth dropped when she saw John open the door for me. I wasn’t sure if I had enough time to tell John to get back in the car and just drive away.

Keisha got out of the car and must’ve forgot something because she turned on her heels and headed back to her car. Thank you, Lord.

“John, act like an Uber driver and just leave before Brian’s sister gets over here. That’s her.” I said tilting my head to the side.

“Let me say bye to the baby. You know it’ll miss me.” John replied with a sly grin.

I wanted to whack him but mouthed through clenched teeth. “Get out of here.”

He laughed. “No problem. I’ll hit you up to see if y’all need help taking…”

I barely heard the ending of what John said as I walked into the all familiar church foyer. Keisha came in behind me, huffing and puffing. Did she run after me?

“Oh hey, Keisha.”

“I should ‘hey’ you. Who was that? My brother died six months ago and you already got a new man?”

“First of all, don’t start no mess today. And second of all, that was my ride here. If he was my man, he would’ve come inside. I don’t have anything to hide from you.”

The focal point of the grandiose church foyer was a body length gold trimmed mirror. Keisha took a minute to look me up and down while I glanced in it lying my hair down.

My friends must’ve realized that I was in the foyer. Hushed voices replaced the conversations I heard coming from the multi-purpose room. Our sanctuary was gorgeous, but the multi-purpose room was always the warmest place in the building to me. I couldn’t wait to see how Tracy and Vanessa decorated it.

“I’m going in now.” I told Keisha.

“I’ll let you walk in by yourself. I know you don’t want me ruining your moment.”

The look of disdain on her face hurt me. But, I wasn’t going to focus on that. It was time for me to enjoy what my girls had planned for me.

Breathe. Just breathe and enter.

Anticipation grew as I pulled the large, wooden double doors.

“Surprise!”

I looked over a sea of family, friends, sorors, colleagues, and schoolmates. And Brian’s family was there in full force. I was surprised to see males there too. It was a coed baby shower.

After I scanned the faces, I noticed the beauty of the room. Lovely pink and blue pintuck tablecloths sat under centerpieces filled with cute African-American babies, boys and girls. Sashes of the same color wrapped around the chairs for guests and balloons filled the air. The fireplace was lit which added to the warmth of the room. There was a selfie section with props and pink and blue cupcakes.

Tracy and Vanessa hugged me. Vanessa whispered as she smiled. “Just act like it was a surprise.”

They led me to a regal chair, fit for a queen in the center of the room.

I couldn’t help but to think about Brian and how happy and proud he’d be at this moment.

My guests and I took selfies, filling the room with love and laughter. Vanessa led the games. The first one we played was to see who could guess the width of my tummy using toilet paper, some of the ladies almost used an entire roll. Wrong. But, Sister Maxine’s guess won the prize.

“Vanessa, please give her a big gift bag because she was nice in her guess and still won.”

She moseyed up to the front to get her gift with her cell phone in her hand, she snapped a picture with Vanessa, “You don’t mind, do you, baby? I told some of my co-workers I’d see you today.”

“Of course I don’t. Let’s give them duck lips.”

And duck lips they did.

Tracy and a few friends from church served non-alcoholic, signature drinks, Rubber Ducky punch, in champagne flutes. The buffet line flowed well, no long lines at any one time. We dined on the best African-American cuisine, fried chicken, string beans and macaroni and cheese.

And the cake. It was the most gorgeous, cutest and tastiest cake I had ever tasted.

“Do we have to cut the little brown babies on the sides?” Those ponytails on her look so real, and those Jordan’s on his feet. Who made this cake?”

Tracy laughed. “I’ll try not to cut too much of the babies. Details later.” After we’d eaten, we sat in a circle, and First Lady Kendra stood. “This is the time when we’re going to give you advice; our pearls of wisdom. I want you to remember that you have a village who will always be there to help you.”

Attending baby showers hadn’t been one of my favorite things to do in the past, but when I attended them, this time of the shower was always my favorite.

Lady Kendra encouraged others to come up. “Now, I know I’m not the only one who has words of wisdom. Who’s next?”

People picked up their champagne flutes, looked at their phones and did other things to avoid speaking. I heard the squeaking of a chair and saw Janis, my co-worker, strutting up to the front.

She tapped the microphone before speaking. “There was no way I could let today pass without telling you how I love you, or I’ll say how much we love you. Will everyone here from Loving Our Babies please stand.”

Six of my co-workers stood at their places.

“Not only are you our supervisor but our friend. Remember to love yourself as much as you love everyone in your life and that baby will grow to be happy, filled with joy.”

With my arms outstretched I reached up, and she walked over to my chair and reached down to hug me.

“Thank you for that reminder. You know it’s hard sometimes.”

“Just remember I’m here and can’t wait to babysit.”

Brian’s Aunt Louise from Philadelphia had a full Pentecostal moment when she stepped to the microphone.

Without blinking an eye, she began. “This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Will everyone from the Jackson side of the family stand.”

At least ten people did as Aunt Louise directed. From the time that I spent with her while Brian was alive, I knew that she craved attention. She got it today.

“Lachelle, we are Brian’s blood family. And my nephew loved him some you. Although he is not here in the body, we are. We’ll be here to help you raise that baby in the Lord. Stay focused on Proverbs twenty-two and six which says, ‘train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it.”

Then I noticed her feet moving, faster and faster and she broke out into a shout. Her husband, Uncle Cleveland, got up and assisted her back to her seat.

Tracy and Vanessa stepped to the forefront together to share their wisdom with me, and already I had tears in my eyes because their love permeated my heart.

But before they could speak, Keisha stood and tapped her spoon against her flute. One of Brian’s cousins encouraged her to sit down, but she didn’t. “No, I’m gonna get this off my chest.”

Tracy gave me a look. I’m giving her the hook.

With my eyes, I signaled. Let her talk.

Tracy gave Keisha the microphone and the look that everyone could interpret. Don’t play with me.

Keisha rolled her eyes. “Word on the curb is that I don’t like my sister-in-law. I want to set the record straight.”

Sister-in-law. Uhm, first time I’ve ever heard her call me that.

“My brother was so much to me; brother, father figure and my best friend. I want to keep it real wit’ y’all. I felt that Lachelle took my brother away from me. But, that’s all squashed.” Looking at me directly, she continued. “I ain’t got nothing against you. I wish you happiness and I know that you and the baby will be fine. Shoot, I hope you let me babysit.”

Babysit? She was going a bit too far. That probably wouldn’t happen until my baby could talk, walk and everything else.

Appreciating her openness, I got up to hug her but felt woozy. I stumbled as I walked toward her. Tracy and Vanessa’s eyes widened. Before everything faded to black I felt arms around my waist and heard Vanessa scream. “Lachelle.”