Chloe
I’M COMING,” I YELLED OUT. I don’t remember the distance from the patio to the front door being so far. And of course, I’d have to pee. “I know you think you’re in charge, but not today. Mommy is having lunch with your Aunt Alex, so please be nice.”
I have officially become one of those pregnant women. The kind that stand around rubbing their belly and talking out loud.
I opened the front door, breathing hard.
“What’s wrong?” Alex immediately went into mother hen mode. She stepped inside, closed the door, and we kissed on both cheeks like chic European women when they greet their friends.
“It’s just your godson reminding me, he’s in charge.” We laughed. “It’s bad enough he kept me up most of the night. Whoa.” I rubbed my belly where the kick landed. “Seems Parker still thinks we’re in Brazil at a soccer match. Want to feel?”
“Are you sure?” I placed her hand on my belly and Parker immediately kicked. Alex covered her mouth with her other hand. “He’s a little excited.”
“Talk to him.”
She directed her voice to my belly. “Hey little man, it’s your Auntie Alex. I can’t wait to meet you. Whoa.” She jumped back.
“Seems he can’t wait either. Come on, let’s eat before he starts round two.”
“Lead the way.”
We walked down the hall and I heard Alex laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“You’re waddling.”
“I don’t waddle,” I protested.
“If you say so, but it’s cute.”
“Have a seat.” We sat down, said grace and started eating. I waited to see if she was going to offer any information. Nothing. “Okay, I can’t take it any more.”
“Take what?”
“Tell me everything.”
“Everything…”
“Chick, I’ll waddle over there and slap you.”
She patted her chest laughing and choking. “What do you want to know?”
“I know you met at the party, but how did you go from that meeting to marriage?”
“We bumped into each other at the airport.”
“And…”
“When he came here on business we connected and a year…sixteen months later, we got married.”
“Alex, that story is a bunch of crap and you know it.”
“What?” Her smile covered her face.
“I want details. What’s he like and don’t recite his bio, because I spent the morning researching him.”
“What do you want me to say…he’s wonderful. He’s everything I wanted but didn’t know I needed.”
“Blah, blah, blah…what about the good stuff?”
“Good stuff?”
“Yeah,” I rubbed my belly. “Is he a good kisser, any disgusting habits, how was it the first time, you two, you know? Help me out here, I’ve got no husband, no man, and the last time I had sex I got more than I asked for, if you know what I mean.” We laughed.
“We agreed not to talk about our personal life.”
“Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to live vicariously through you, if you don’t tell me anything? You are over there shacked up with a yummy chocolate drop, while I’m here with swollen ankles. Give me details.”
“Calm down. I’ll say this, God has truly gone above what I dreamed and expected…in every area.” She cocked her head to the side and a wicked smile covered her face.
“Really?” I smiled as my mind filled with several salacious possibilities.
“Oh, yeah. Girlfriend is enjoying marriage.”
“Oh, my. Things are that good?”
“Better than you could imagine.”
“You know, I have a vivid imagination.”
“I know.”
“Oh, my.” I took a big sip from my glass and began fanning my self. “Is it getting warm, or is it my pregnancy?” We laughed hard.
“He loves God and it shows. It’s like the more he loves God, the more he loves me. Jonathan never gave me that.” She bit her lower lip and continued. “I know he loves me, and not just because he gives me amazing gifts.”
“What’s he given you besides that incredible ring?” She got quiet. “Alex…”
“A jet.”
“A jet?”
She nodded. “Yeah. And this.” She pulled the sleeve of her sweater back, revealing an amazing pink alligator Happy Sport watch with floating pink diamonds.
“Oh, my God. That’s beautiful.”
“A pair of incredible diamond earrings and he paid off my house.”
Now it was me sitting with my mouth wide open. “He did what?”
“He paid off my, our house. He said he wanted us to have a clean slate.”
“Wow.”
“I know. He’s pretty amazing. And yes, I know about the money. I’m not stupid.”
“About that…”
“I understand. You were just being a good friend and I appreciate that, but I did my homework. When we broke up…”
“You broke up…when?”
“January…it was all my fault…Terrence crap.”
“He knows about Terrence?”
“Yeah…they met. That’s a whole other story.”
I sipped my water. “I can’t believe you went against type.”
“What are you talking about?” She sipped her iced tea.
“Physically, he’s nothing like the guys you’ve dated.”
She bit her bottom lip and that wicked smile was there again. “I know. He’s…”
“Very tall, for you. You usually go for a slightly shorter type. What is he, about six…”
“I’m not sure exactly, but I know he’s over six feet.”
“Really.” I started smiling. “Tall, dark, handsome and…”
“Big hands.” She quickly covered her mouth with her napkin.
“Oooo, Alex.”
“What?” She lowered the napkin. “I’m just stating a fact. My husband has large, strong, soft hands…and he knows how to use them.”
Now it was me choking and laughing. “Okay, next subject.”
“You asked.”
“And now, I’m changing the subject.” I sipped my tea. “So, tell me, what’s going on with Bas and Kendell?”
“What did she say?” she answered my question with a question.
“A bunch of half statements.” Alex sipped her coffee. “Alex, what’s going on?”
“They broke up,” she confessed.
“What! Oh.” A sharp jab from my belly passenger. “Even Parker can’t believe that. What happened?”
“Short version, he wanted to get married and she didn’t.”
“Excuse me. Did you say, Bas wanted to get married?”
“Yep.”
“And she didn’t?”
“Yep.”
“Wait a minute. Did I miss something?”
“I didn’t believe it either when he told me.”
“What did she say?”
“I haven’t spoken with her.”
“Wait, wait, wait…I know I have pregnancy brain, but you said you haven’t spoken to her?”
“We’ve spoken, but she hasn’t said anything about Bas.”
“Are you kidding?”
“No.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it on the table next to her empty plate. “I’m trying to stay out of it because Bas asked me not to get involved…but it’s been hard. I wanted to go over and wring her neck, but…”
“You’ll need to get in line behind me. First she calls me with some story about Moses to get me home and now I find out she broke up with Bas.” I shook my head. “I think she’s bi-polar. I know she’s your cousin, but…”
“Hey,” she raised her hands up in a defensive pose. “You don’t have to tell me. She’s been talking about getting married since we were kids. I don’t know what’s going on with her.”
“What did Bas say?”
“He’s been talking to Moses.”
“And…”
“He said he’s waiting on an answer from God.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’ve got an answer for him…forget about her…move on…I love my cousin, but I always thought…never mind. What’s going on with you?”
“Subject change.” I nodded.
“Yes. Are you ready for my godson’s arrival?”
“Not quite. Since I’ve been grounded by my doctor, I’m going to stay here in the guest house for a little while. I want to be close to my mom.”
“I can understand that.”
“So next week, daddy is sending a crew over to convert one of the bedrooms into a nursery. I believe everything will be ready in time.”
“Orlando still doesn’t want to be involved?”
“Nope, and I’m fine with it.”
She reached over and patted my hand. “Parker is going to be surrounded by love.”
“He already is.” I sniffled.