“It pays to be content with your lot.” Aesop
Dray was released from rehab on a bright sunny Wednesday morning. Two of his sisters had returned to Seattle and Vegas weeks ago, but his sisters from Mississippi were there to help him gather his items and take him home.
Bethany hurried around the house, finishing up last minute details. She was excited that Dray was coming home today. This would be the first time he would see their new home, except for pictures she’d taken on her cell phone. With the help of his family, she had gotten everything taken care of for him to be able to get around the house with relative ease.
She had taken off work for the remainder of the week, and had prepared a delicious lunch of quinoa and brown rice vegetable soup, meatless chicken strips, and a green salad. She wasn’t as particular as he was when it came to food choices, not by a long shot, but she respected his choices. She went to one of his favorite restaurants and picked up several slices of cake for dessert. A huge “Welcome Home, Dray” sign in decorative lettering was strung on the massive porch above the front door.
Dray looked at the welcome sign as his sister pulled into the driveway. He chuckled. It felt good to be out of rehab and coming home. He was glad his sisters and Bethany had gotten him moved from his apartment and into the bungalow. His sister, MaKayla, was between jobs, and agreed to stay at the bungalow with him as much as he needed her. Bethany didn’t want to officially move into the home until she was Mrs. Hawkins, so she moved in with her parents when the lease ended on her apartment. That’s where she would remain until she became Mrs. Draymond Hawkins.
Bethany would go to their new house everyday and check up on Dray after she got off work, and of course be there as much as possible on the weekends, but no sleeping over unless it was in the spare bedroom. That’s why she was grateful for Dray’s family’s support. His sisters adored him and their family bond was tighter than gorilla glue. She loved that about them.
Dray’s sister, Teena, honked the horn and Bethany opened the door and raced outside. Dashing to the car, she opened the front passenger door, embraced Dray, and planted a big sloppy kiss on his thick, kissable lips and then proceeded to help him inside the house. He had a wheelchair and some other items he might need while he further recuperated. From what he was told by the doctor, it would be at least six or seven more weeks before he would be able to return to work. He had to continue outpatient physical and occupational therapy, but so far he was doing well. With crutches and Bethany’s help, he made it inside the house.
Teena and MaKayla followed with the items they’d brought home from rehab for him. After standing next to him as he cautiously walked into the living room, Bethany made sure he was steady on his feet before turning around and going back outside to help bring in the rest of Dray’s things.
“Man, everything looks nice, real nice,” he said looking around the circumference of the open space. He could see the kitchen and family room from where he stood. MaKayla brought the wheelchair over to him.
“Here, get in the chair so you can go on a tour of your house,” she said. “Bethany did a remarkable job decorating this place for your knucklehead self,” MaKayla teased.
Dray sat down in the wheelchair, propped his feet on the foot pieces, and then Bethany steered him through the two-bedroom two bath bungalow. Everything was decorated perfectly and all the rooms were full of furniture except for the bonus room-slash-office in the back of the 1,800 square feet house.
The downstairs walk out basement, which he didn’t take a chance trying to get down stairs, was equipped with a full wet bar, kitchenette, and a perfect space for Dray’s exercise equipment. Another room in the basement would be used as a media room. They also would have to get furniture for the media room. There was a half bath downstairs too.
After they finished the tour, Dray reached up toward Bethany. Grabbing her around her waist, he pulled her into him. Bethany leaned down and Dray kissed her deeply. “Thank you for all of this. I’m so blessed to have you. I can’t wait until you become Mrs. Draymond Marcell Hawkins.” He kissed her again.
“Please, stop with all the mushy stuff,” Teena said, laughing as she entered the kitchen.
“I think it’s our cue to leave,” said MaKayla.”
“Leave? I thought you were staying with me?”
“I am, but not until Bethany goes back to work, which won’t be until Monday.”
“But we’ll be back and forth over here. And Mommy is coming by tomorrow. We just thought you two would want to spend some time alone, you know?” added Teena.
“Yeah, I do want to be alone with my soon to be wife,” Dray remarked and looked up at Bethany again. This time he took her hand and kissed her on it.
“Aren’t you going to stay for lunch? I made enough for you.”
“You know we don’t do much of that plant based eating,” MaKayla said. “I’m going to stop and get me some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits.”
“And I’m not hungry right now,” said Teena, “but thanks anyway for the offer. I’m going to get home and take advantage of having the day off. When the kids get home from school and the hubby gets home from work, that’s all she wrote. No more relaxing. Anyway, if there’s anything you need, just give me a call.”
“Thanks, sis,” Dray said, reaching out his hand toward her. “Give me a hug.”
Teena walked over to where Dray sat in his wheelchair. She wrapped her arms around her brother and he returned the embrace. MaKayla walked up and joined in while Bethany grabbed her phone off the kitchen island and took a couple of pictures.
Chynna sat in her new car a couple houses down, waiting and watching. She had been watching as Bethany’s fake behind ran up and gave Dray a hug and a kiss while his ugly sisters got his stuff out of the car. “Humph.” She thought of something else her foster mom used to tell her, Sit back and wait ‘cause those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and if you’re lucky, God will let you watch.