Thirty-three-year-old Sasha Coles was a beauty and she knew it. The problem was that most people underestimated her mind. Watching people’s expressions when she decided to allow them to be privy to her intelligence was one of the joys of life to her. Until a little over a year ago, it had been her and her mother, Stephanie. To be honest, since the age of sixteen it had only been her. That was the year her grandmother passed away and her mother was no more. Sasha was not sad at the death of her grandmother. The woman had treated her as if she had committed a crime against America. Sasha had been blamed and held accountable for destroying her daughter’s life.
Her mother was not treated much better by her grandmother. Her grandmother seemed to hate both of them for causing her embarrassment. Which in hindsight did not make a lot of common sense since it was her father who was their sole financial support. Sasha did not know all of the details until she turned sixteen. That was when she first met her father, Al “Turk” Day and he gave her the option of getting to know him. All her life she had been told he was a drug dealer and her life with him would be dangerous. Sasha believed her mother and decided to keep her distance. However, he did share a few truths with her recently. He had purchased the home where they resided in Atlanta. He paid for their living expenses, cars, her private education and just about everything else. That was when Sasha realized she was the reason they got to live the life of leisure.
Why did they treat her with such disdain? Why was it so difficult for them to love her? Sasha went through life watching her other kids her age enjoying life. She was not allowed to have friends at the house, go to birthday parties, go on group trips, or spend holidays with others. She led what she always called a solitary life. She wasn’t lonely because she had no problem keeping her own company. But there were no family moments even during holidays. Growing up it was clear that she was not wanted. Her mother felt that providing a roof over her head, food in her mouth and clothes on her back was enough.
A few months after meeting her father, her grandmother died. Her mother was free, at least that was what she declared to Sasha. The insurance money put her on easy street. Her mother hung around during the week while she was in school, however, when the weekend arrived, she would not see her mother again until the beginning of the week. During her last year of high school, Sasha basically lived on her own. Her mother was out every night. For a while it was a different man every week. Then she would disappear for weeks at a time with whatever man could afford to take her away. Later it was a month here, and there. Then it was a call from the Caribbean, Florida, or Mexico. Soon Sasha stopped trying to figure it out. She was not surprised when her mother did not show up for her graduation from high school. Fortunately, Sasha received scholarships and had a choice of schools she wanted to attend. Her mother showed up just as she was packing to leave for college. The only advice her mother gave her was to get a job so by the end of her freshman year she should get an apartment. There was no reason for her to waste money coming back to the house. During her freshman year Sasha stayed in the dorm during the holiday breaks, then at a hotel when the campus closed down. During her second year, she applied for a job on campus and was able to get an apartment.
As far as love and romance went, unfortunately, Sasha learned early on that men had an aversion to women with a brain. The last real boyfriend she had, Allen, the butt-hole ‘never to be mentioned from her lips again’, broke up with her. Him leaving because he felt she was more ambitious about her future and not as much for them as a couple, cured her of trying for a committed relationship with anyone. If she hadn’t learned anything else from her mother, it was not to put her life on hold waiting for a man or anyone to give her love.
While she really did like Allen, hearing how it was ‘women like her with all their degrees’ that were blocking his opportunity to get a good job every day, she could do without. It wasn’t her fault that he did not want to put in the work to finish his degree. He was the one who decided to quit college during their senior year because he was ready to make big money. Only to find himself laid off two years later. Then he declared he needed to be his own boss, but wanted her to finance his dream. When she suggested they split the startup costs, he declared she didn’t believe in his skills. If he did not believe in them enough to put up half the money, why should she? So after a year and a half of her taking care of all the bills, and him blaming her for his downfalls, Sasha applied for a position at the United Nations. When she received the call that she got the position, she packed her bags and caught the next flight to New York. She left him and her mother behind in Atlanta without looking back. Other than the one ass of a boyfriend she lived with for a while, Sasha pretty much stayed alone.
For the last five years she had enjoyed her life. Did she get lonely? Sure, but she had friends she could hang with when she wanted to. And there had been a male friend here and there. It was only around the holidays when friends were off with family that she wished she had a place to go rather than spending the time at home, alone. Sasha thought this year would be different. She had met a man who invited her to spend Christmas with him in Washington DC. It was kind of nice to have plans, but then those plans changed…drastically.
As it turned out the man had targeted her to get to her family. Family she never knew about. Sasha discovered her father, whom she did not really know, was not what her sweet, loving, honest preaching mother had told her. The holidays had brought a dimension to her life she never anticipated.
It seems that her father, was the brother to the First Lady. No, not the first lady of the church, but Tracy Washington-Harrison, the wife of JD Harrison. Making Sasha the niece to the freakin’ President of the United States. That connection had put her in danger. To protect her, they sent another member of her family she wasn’t aware of. A sister with an attitude who happened to be a covert agent of some kind for the United States government, Monique Day.
After an enlightening conversation and a fight or two, they had come to the conclusion, that they actually liked each other. In addition to Monique, Sasha now had a stepmother, Morgan Ryan Day, who was very pregnant and due any day now. Al, her father was the only person who called her Morgan. Everyone else called her Ryan. Sasha was sure there was a story to the names, but hell, she was still trying to catch up to the fact that she was a member of the First Family. Besides, she had to admit, this had turned out to be one of the best holidays she had ever experienced in her life.
“You really should sit down, you look like you are about to burst.” Sasha laughed.
Ryan frowned at her. “Do you like your pretty face?”
“I do,” Sasha smiled at Ryan. “Thank you very much. Instead of you fixing me a sandwich, why don’t you let me fix you something?” She walked around the other side of the island.
“Monique said you can’t cook.”
“I can’t do the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, but I can cook enough to survive.” She looked in the refrigerator. “What do you have a taste for?”
“I want a peanut butter with pickles and banana sandwich,” Ryan replied.
Sasha closed the refrigerator door then glared at her. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, it’s what the baby wants,” Ryan replied as she sat at the table.
“If it makes you eat like that I don’t know if I ever want one of those things.” Sasha pulled the bread from the cabinet.
“Those things?” Ryan raised an eyebrow. “They are babies. I thought I would never have one either, but here I am. You are going to have one someday.”
Sasha smirked. “You have to have a man to make something like that to happen.”
“With your looks and that body, a man is not far away.”
“After the situation with, Dylan Myers, I can wait on having another man in my life.”
Ryan nodded. “That was interesting. It’s a good thing that your father kept an eye on you or we would have never known the danger you were in. Have you explained everything to your mother?”
“Ha..…ha,” Sasha laughed. “I haven’t spoken to my mother since she left for her cruise.”
“Before Christmas?” Ryan frowned, “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Sasha replied then continued making the sandwich.
“Your mother doesn’t know you’ve met your father and his family or who we are?”
Sasha looked up. “No. I’ve called her several times, she has not seen fit to return any of my messages.”
“When was the last time you called?”
“Yesterday.”
“And she still hasn’t called you back?” Her voice rising with each question. “Did you leave a message?”
“I did.”
Ryan stood. “Do you think something may have happened to her?”
“No,” Sasha smirked. “She’s been posting on social media. She is still alive and having big fun with some man.”
“How do you know?”
Sasha pulled out her phone and placed it on the island. She pushed a button then turned it to Ryan. “There’s several pictures of her, in her bathing suit at the pool with drinks. She’s okay.”
“How do you feel about her not returning your calls?”
“It’s been my life since I went away to college. I’m used to it. As long as I know she is alive and well, I live my life and she lives hers.”
“With all that has happened in the last few days don’t you think you need to talk to her? If for no other reason than to get some answers on why she kept you and your father’s family apart.”
Sasha stared at her. It seemed like she was getting worked up about her mother. “It’s nothing to get upset about, Ryan. Stephanie is who she is and I’m okay with that.”
“Well, I’m not,” Ryan yelled. “A mother is supposed to be there with her children when they are going through difficult times. This is one of those times for you and she should be here helping you. Damn it!”
“Okay,” Sasha stopped what she was doing somewhat confused on what was happening. She wasn’t sure why Ryan was getting so upset. “Are you okay? You look like you are in pain.”
“I am…DAMN IT!”
“What?” A now concerned Sasha walked over to Ryan. “What’s wrong?”
“I said I’m in pain.”
“From the baby?”
The look Ryan gave her caused Sasha to step back and call out. “Al....Al.....you better come, quick.”
Sasha followed Ryan to the hallway. Al and Monique came from the SIT room walking briskly towards them.
“Well don’t just stand there, Al Day, don’t you see me pissing on myself,” Ryan yelled.
Monique burst into laughter at the sight of Ryan standing with her legs gapped open and her hand braced against the hallway wall.
“Your water broke, darling, the baby is coming.” Al walked calmly over to her. “Morgan, you are not pissing on yourself.”
“You’re wobbling,” Monique laughed. “Now is not the time to be doing the Wobble.”
“Stop it, Monique.” Sasha looked like she was trying hard not to laugh. “Al, get her overnight bag.” Sasha took Ryan’s hand. “You come with me. I’ll get you cleaned up a little before we leave. Monique, pull the car around front.” Sasha turned to Ryan. “I don’t know anything about birthing babies, but I’m going to do what comes natural.”
“See, you have that mother instinct,” Ryan nodded as Sasha helped her out of the wet clothes. “You must have learned something from that trifling mother of yours. I don’t mean to talk about a woman I don’t know, but right now I think you need your mother and she should be with you.”
“We are going to worry about that another day,” Sasha said as she continued to work. “Right now let’s get this baby on its way.”
“Albert Epstein Day.....” Ryan yelled.
Sasha’s head snapped up at the loud voice. “Whoa…the whole name. Al, you better get in here.”
“I’m right here,” Al appeared in the doorway.
Monique patted him on the shoulder. “You get her calmed down. I’ll meet you at the car.”
Sasha eased her way out of the door. “I’m going with you.”
Monique grabbed their coats. “Looks like you made it into the family just in time to see another generation come to life.”
“Yeah,” Sasha replied. Then wondered where she would fit in with this new family of hers.
An hour later, Sasha was in the hospital suite where Morgan Ryan Williams Day, was sequestered off as members of the First Family gathered inside. Looking around the room, Sasha found it hard to contain her excitement. She’d never been a part of a family event. Not like this. Hell to be honest, no family events that she could remember. She had heard about them from friends at school, but never experienced one of her own. Seeing all the people around to welcome this baby into the world thrilled her, but made her wonder if anyone was around when she came into the world.
As a child, no one celebrated her birthday. She never had a birthday cake or received birthday gifts from her mother and certainly not from her grandmother. But looking around the waiting room, it seemed like everyone, from both sides of the family, was there to welcome this child into the world. Was this normal or did this just happen with some families?
“Why are you frowning?” Monique stood in front of her.
“Does everyone come around for babies to be born all the time?”
“If we can. The same way we celebrate birthdays, and holidays.”
Sasha exhaled. “This is different.”
“Different how?”
“It’s strange to see this many people around for something like this.”
“We celebrate birthdays, from the youngest to the oldest,” Monique replied. “That’s what families do.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Sasha replied. “I never really had family around.”
“You had your mother and grandmother. Didn’t you have birthday parties when you were little?”
“No.” Sasha replied.
Monique frowned at her. “You never had a birthday party?”
“Nope. But if I ever did, I think I would have wanted a pony.” Sasha joked. “Crazy, right.”
“No, not crazy. A little over the top, but not necessarily crazy. I wanted a tank.”
“A tank?” Sasha frowned. “What in the hell were you going to do with a tank?’
“Shoot shit down, hell I don’t know I just wanted it.” Monique exhaled. “What about birthday dinners where they gave you gifts and a cake?”
“No. I got presents at Christmas, but never for birthdays.”
Monique looked at her until her cellphone buzzed. Even while answering she still stared at Sasha until she began paying attention to the caller.
Sasha exhaled then glanced around at everyone wondering what they all thought of her now that they had met her. They all seemed welcoming, but she still had no idea how she fit in. Would they celebrate her birthday like they were celebrating the birth of this baby? Yes, she was Al’s daughter, but knowing that did not necessarily make them family.
“Sasha.”
She looked up to see Valarie’s daughter walking towards her. What was her name, again? This was one of the cousins she had met. But there were so many people introduced to her in a short period of time it was hard to remember everyone’s name.
“Kaylan,” the woman smiled. “You look so lost over here. Are you okay?”
Sasha was grateful the woman gave her name. “Kaylan, hi. Yes, I’m fine.”
Kaylan laughed as she sat next to her. “All of us at once can be a little intimidating. Especially to someone new to the family. Let me help you out. You know my parents, Ben and Valarie, and Grandma Lena. The man sitting next to her is her husband Senator John Roth. You know Uncle JD and Aunt Tracy. The guys playing cards are Ryan’s brothers, Donnell, Scott, Jerrell and Devin. The older couple is Grandma Martha and Ryan’s father, Chief Williams.” She leaned over and whispered. “Don’t mention that to anyone. I don’t think Uncle JD knows yet.”
“He doesn’t know that his mother is dating Ryan’s father?” Sasha gasped.
“I don’t think so,” Kaylan smiled. “That’s why he keeps glancing over at them.”
Sasha smiled. “He doesn’t like the man?”
“Uncle JD likes everyone, however, we don’t know how he’s going to feel about Grandma Martha dating.”
Sasha smiled. “There is a lot of drama with this family.”
“It takes some getting used to, that’s for sure,” Kaylan replied. “You want to go grab a cup of coffee while we wait?”
“Sure,” Sasha replied.
They stepped around the corner, then came right back into the waiting area.
“Here they come…here they come,” Sasha said excitedly.
“What is it?” Monique asked.
“They wouldn’t tell me and the baby is in white.” She shrugged as she watched her father carrying the baby in his arms. She listened as he spoke.
“Allow me to introduce all eight pounds, and six ounces of Ryan Tucker Day,’ he announced.
“It’s a boy.” Everyone in the room cheered.
Sasha watched on feeling a little of the excitement in the room, but also wondered, if anyone cheered when she was born. The moment passed when she glanced to see a man standing behind her sister place a possessive hand around her waist. She elbowed Monique to get her attention then whispered, “You got damn good taste.”
Monique looked over her shoulder at Grayson, then shrugged. “He’s okay.”
“If you don’t want him I’m open.”
“Do you like your genitals where they are?”
“Monique!” Tracy scolded her.
“Oh… did y’all hear that?” Monique glanced around the room.
“I’m going to steal her for a moment,” Grayson said as he took her hand and led Monique from the room.
“When did that happen?” JD asked.
“I’ll catch you up later,” Tracy replied.
“On a number of things.” Martha sent an intentional look her way.
Sasha saw that look and decided to step away from that situation too. She walked over to the door to see Grayson kiss Monique then turned to walk away. Monique walked back into the room and stood next to Sasha. “I need your help.”
“You don’t need any help with that man.” She smiled. “He is ready to lick you up one side and down the other.”
Monique shrugged. “He already did that.”
“Then what do you need help with?”
“I have to meet a mother and there is this other thing for a friend.”
“Whose mother?”
“Grayson’s.”
Sasha smiled. “You are in like Flynn.”
“What in the hell does that mean?” Monique questioned.
“Oh my lord, are you that out of the relationship game to not understand the basics?” Sasha rolled her eyes. “Come on, allow your big sister to teach you a few things about mothers.”