How To Love

89

Jalanee Coleman

"Aw look at how all my babies grown up." My mother said pinching Ty's , my brother, cheeks. "Let's get a photo of y'all. Where's Arianna?"

"She upstairs." Kayla replied dryly. "Maybe I should go get her." She said turning around.

"No,no. It's fine. Let's just get you three." She said pushing us all together with me in the middle. "Ma" Ty started.

My mom raised her hand up,with her phone in the other hand. "Uh uh I don't wanna hear it."

It was crazy how all of us all had a different relationship with her. She wasn't the best but she most definitely loved us all.

I smiled as she snapped a few photos. "Kayla you're a very pretty girl why don't you smile."

"Mama" Messiah cried out in Joe's arm. "That's my cue." She said walking off.

"This is going to be a long night." I said under my breath.

Omniscient POV

"Wassam Twin." Kentrell said to Jalanee's younger sister,Arianna. "You getting big on me." He laughed.

"What did you want me to do? Stay the same height?"

"I see you getting that mouth from your older sister too right? You wanna do me a favor?"

"What?" She said sitting down in the chair. "Go tell yo bald ass daddy to come up here. Tell him I needa talk to him in private,but don't be loud." He said to her. "Pull him to the side or something."

"And why you can't do it? You scared?" She giggled. "Could never be me and plus my daddy not bald."

"Since when you got cut like that? I remember you use to make me drive you and take you everywhere every time you came down to Br." He said laughing back of the memories.

"What's in it for me?" She said with a sassy attitude.

"Whatchu want?"

"100 dollars."

"That's all? You know who you talking to?"

"You're right. Make it 1000." She said cheesing. Kentrell dug in his pockets,removing the rubber band from the stash of cash. He pulled out a couple of bills and handed it to her. "Don't be telling nobody I'm giving you money either,I'm gon have to give everyone a band."

She nodded and ran out the room. Kentrell sat himself down on the couch,feeling his adrenaline rushing. His mind was all over the place,and he didn't know what to expect.

He was so nervous and wanted to ask for Jalanee's father blessing quickly and get it over with that he'd forgotten he even told her father.

"Kentrell,son. Never thought I'd see you again. Not living with my daughter in this beautiful home. Got lost on my way up here" Her father said closing the door behind him. The two men dapped each other up,and both sat across from each other.

"I never thought I'll be back with your daughter again either. The world crazy."

"You know what they say,you can't keep two people in love apart."

"I'm sayin. But how you been? How's your wife and stuff?" Kentrell asked trying to start the convo.

"Everything been boring since three of my kids moved out. We all grown and doing our own things. Still stuck with the little one. You and my daughter ?"

"We straight. Just letting time go by."

"How did you two get back together? She don't tell nobody nothing." He laughed.