On Our Block

Chapter Forty Five*

Amara POV

I sit with my family, excluding my husband because he's at work and should be on his way home now. The kids are outside playing in the snow including the grown ones, which includes Manny, my dad and the Twins. Ray and my uncle are with Oscar so it's my mom, my aunt, Monse and Jasmine with me, as we cook for Christmas.

Monse:How come none of the guys are here to help?

Jasmine:The last time they were they put too much of everything in everything, it was ruined.

Mom:Not to mention they "taste tested" everything they didn't screw up.

Monse:Where is Enzo?

Me:With the boys and the Twins outside.

Jasmine:Speaking of babies, is this gonna be the last one? Or should we be expecting one more?

I shrug rubbing my belly.

Me:I'm going to say yes. We agreed to keep trying until we had a girl you know two girls, two boys even.

Mom:I'll believe it when I see it.

Fran:You too huh?

I roll my eyes and I chuckle.

Me:Funny yall say that, because my boss said the same thing. But nah any new kids are accidents.

Oscar:Nothing I make is a accident.

I turn seeing him and the fathers walking in, the grown kids coming in after them, Enzo in Manny's arms.

Me:Your oldest was.

Omar:Really ma?

I shrug and kiss his cheek.

Me:It's okay, all of you are, but you're the best mistakes I've ever made. Wouldn't change it for anything.

He rolls his eyes and I rub his cheek messing with his side burns, his head tilts into my motions, my big baby.

Cesar:Are you crying?

I blink looking at Cesar seeing everyone looking at me, I sniff and shake my head.

Me:Nah, I just cut some onion and rubbed my eyes.

Manny:You lying.

Me:Shut up you idiot!

Omar laughs and pulls me into his arms hugging me tightly. Everyone shuffles out to the living room but Oscar, I look at him as he leans on the stove looking around at some of the food done or food set up ready to be prepared. I bump him softly and he looks at me and smiles, I match it and he pulls me into his arms, he kisses me before kissing my forehead.

Me:Have any visitors?

Oscar:*sighs* Yeah, she and her sister weren't too quiet either. Had to threaten their asses. Dewayne even got pissed off they were causing a scene.

I sigh and he starts to rub my stomach, but it's not as comforting.

Me:If she finds her way here I'm killing her Oscar. I can't let her do that to our babygirl.

Oscar:She won't... I won't let her. You know that, not to mention she doesn't have any rights, she has no edge... But forget her, how was your day, Gorda? I missed you.

The African American urge to cut my eyes at him for calling me that is so strong but the bilingual urge to ignore because of the context there. I shrug and play with his facial hair.