Shattered

You're Almost There

Only a week, I've got only a week left of my pregnancy and I'm getting married tomorrow.

Everything is literally just moving so fast.

Honestly,  the person that is the most excited about the baby is Ethan. He keeps asking when he'll get to meet him.

Yup, him, Elizabeth , Janice and Charlotte are absolutely sure that it's a boy while the rest of us dont care about the gender, we are just happy to have an addition to the family.

We're currently at a restuarant –which Nathan's bougie ass decided to book privately for the family – celebrating the last time I will be Ms Summer and Nathan's last day on the market.

"Oh no! The best moment was when mom tried to force Gemma to help at the greenhouse the first time she came over. " Charlotte laughs.

"Tried to? She succeeded ." Nathan says which causes all of us to erupt in laughter.

Elizabeth and Usher actually eloped.  It's funny because nobody was against their relationship they just thought it would be fun.

"It wasnt that bad. I had fun with you Mrs Hart." I tell her and she laughs.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Travis here was still choosing the outfit for Trevor. " Arraine busts in and says.

Her tall  husband who I met at the hospital when she was giving birth is behind her with their son in his arms.

"Hello family." Travis says waving to everyone.

We all shout greetings back to him at once.

The meals just keep on coming and we all enjoy ourselves, it's literally one of the best moments of my life.

I look at Charlotte,  who literally became my best friend within the short period of two months and now after basically a year we are inseparable.

She taught me how to laugh through the most serious matters. She taught me that not everyone deserves kindness and is the number one bad bitch.

I turn to Mrs Hart, who became a mother to me. Who taught me so much about this life thing. Who helped me escape Jeremy's palms and became self aligned and finally happy with therapy.

I look at Tyler,  he has always been my safe space indirectly. I could go to his coffee store anytime and I'd always feel safe. I'd feel happy. Nothing bothered me. So many times he had tried to warn me about Jeremy but I didnt listen.  And he still didnt give up on me.

I look at Elizabeth, who brought out the bitch in me. I wont lie to anyone and say that I didnt hate her because I did. With more passion than one can comprehend.

I turn to Arraine. She has always been like a sister to me. She is one of the people who always believed in me. Without a single thought.  She was able to hire a poor black girl with no work experience who was a twenty two year old mother to a two year old. 

She believed in me enough to refer me to Nathan, even though I had never professionally designed for anyone. She has always believed in me.

I turn to Ethan. My first born son. Who at some point in time was the only person that mattered . I want to apologise a million times for placing him in as much danger as I had in his father's claws. Because this child deserves nothing but the best he deserves gold and diamonds.

And lastly but not least, I turn to Nathan. This man, who taught me love. I thought I knew love whenever I looked at my parents,  but I realized I knew nothing compared to the love this man has shown me.

I've recieved unconditional love from this here man. I've experienced a love that is biblical. Man, I have walked in the pages of the first Corinthians thirteen, because of this man.

He has shown me the love God had sculpted for us humans to enjoy and bare fruit from.

A love that is kind. A love that is forgiving. A love that is thoughtful.  A love that is unconditional. A love that is protective. A love that listens. A love that never gives up.  He has shown me a love.

That I'm grateful for every moment of my life.

Now I understand what Jhene Aiko meant but 'if I were to die today, there's not a thing that I would change.  I've lived well.'

Yes I have lived well.

I agree maybe the chapter that involved Jeremy wasnt the best of my novel, but I progressed and I grew from it.

I fully understand the love that I deserve and I dont see myself settling for any less than that.

And lastly I'm grateful to God. It's not every woman that survives abuse the way I have. Some leave with scars deeper than mine while some dont leave at all.

I've really experience mercy.

"What are you thinking about?" Nathan whispers in my ear.

I'm pulled back to the present. Were the table is filled with joyful chatter.

Ethan's smile is what has my attention though. It's a smile I want to freeze and frame. I love it.

"How God has been merciful towards me." I tell him smiling at him.

"He really has hasn't He?" He asks smiling.

"So what gender do you think the baby is going to be?" I ask.

He chuckles and looks at me as if I'm crazy.

"Babe, I dont care what gender the baby is. As long as he or she looks like you then I'll spend the rest of my life happily." He says.

I chuckle. He has his way with words.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asks.

"Are you?" I ask.

He chuckles.

"I asked you first." He says.

"Yea, well I want to know so that if you arent then I can pull put out as fast as possible." I tell him.

"Talking about pulling out, it's been a while." His raspy voice says in my ear.

"Behave yourself young man." I scold swatting his chest.

"Hey, I'm older than you." He says and I laugh.

I'm about to reply when I hear what sounds like a butter knife connecting to a champagne glass.

Oh how I miss wine.

Focus Gemima

I turn towards the sound just in time. Everyone is staring at Tyler.

"I–um – I would like to congratulate Gemma. My college friend who used to be and is one of the best people on the planet.

Congratulations on both the wedding and the baby. " he says raising his glass which we all toast to.

"Gemma, please dont kill me but I'd like to move the focus from you for a moment." He says and we all chuckle.

I nod raising my class of cherry fizzy drink.

"I'd like to take this moment to thank a particular lady. Charlotte I want you to know that you are amazing and –"

"What are you doing?" Charlotte whisper yells.

"The past few months with you have been awesome. In you I've found a friend, a sister and a lover and I'm grateful for that. You've made me laugh at times I thought I had no power left in me. This is the part I think Nathan is going to kill me for.

So call me selfish if you want to but I want that for the rest of my life. " Tyler says. He pushes back his chair and is now kneeling.

"Ty stop." Charlotte says. Tears are now forming.

"Auntie don't cry. " Ethan says and my heart swells.

"Charlotte Mai Hart, will you marry me?" He asks.

The entire table gets pin drop quiet.

Charlotte nods her head so fast that I get a whiplash for her.

"Yes! Yes!" She screams kissing Tyler. How cute.