The Arrangement

Christmas Gifting

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing and with one eye barely opened, I answered the Skype call. "Merry Christmas!" Ava's joyful voice shouted form the other side of the screen. I couldn't help but groan. These kids had me locked right in between them. "Morning Aves." My groggy voice sounded rough and raw to my ears. "Merry morning Christmas. Or is it merry Christmas morning?" She smiled widely. "Why do you look like you just woke up?" She questioned me

"Hey C" Michael, in the background, greeted me. "Hey guys." I saw the whole gang appear. "Wow you look...beautiful" Jake said but I could see his shoulders shake as he laughed silently. "Thanks." I rolled my eyes. "Okay, enough of thus teasing. Where is my Godbaby?" Ava said holding her waist. "I think you mean Godbabies." I turned the camera around and it showed the two babies sleeping on my lap with their arms wrapped around me like a vice.

"Ohhh look at them! So adorable."

"I know right." Belle woke up and her instant rise caused her to bump into my hand which made the phone fall. "I'm hungry." She said, wiping her eyes of the sleep. "Merry Christmas to you too." I said and pinched her cheek. "Belle?"

"Aunty Ava!?" She squealed and grabbed my phone. The two were in a conversation, barely noting my presence. I just let them have their catch up. Which was just Belle talking about any and everything that she did in Eastern cape with Ava commenting here and there. The love these two had for one another could not go unnoticed. "Okay, mommy aunty Ava wants to talk to you." Belle handed me the phone.

"Oh, now you remember you have a friend." I pouted. "Miss ma'am if I were you I wouldn't do that, you look like a dead rat." I couldn't help the laugh I let out. "Ouch!" I exclaimed.

"You'll be fine" Ava said. "I have to be. Now, tell me friend. How are things that side?"

"Well everyone misses you and Baby Belle. We've had a snow storm cut the power in the cities which caused more accidents meaning a full working ER. Everyone keeps asking me when you'll come back. Mrs James keeps trying to hook me up with her son."

"What! I thought she'd given up already."

"Nope. Not now, not never."

"Wow. So tell me, are you upstate now?"

"Oh yes, I drove up here with the help of a friend."

"Would I happen to know that friend?" I put air quotes on that last bit. "Its not what you think it is. Its more of a...just having fun."

"And yet I never asked."

"But you got an answer though. Which means now, you can not ask me about him." She said

"Sure. As long as he treats you well then I'm fine."

"That he does my friend."

"That's good." She turned a light shade of pink on her cheeks. "Are you good friend? You seem flustered."

"Its probably the heat in this room. Look friend, let me love and leave you. Something came up."

"Okay, tell me what's happening alright."

"Sure."

"Merry Christmas's I love you!" She ended the call.

"Its my first Christmas here."

"Let's make the best of it hey?" She nodded and we stayed in bed just talking until Kelvin woke up.

We made the bed and cleaned around the room. I quickly walked to the main house and made them water to bath. "Merry Christmas" I greeted, Makhulu, mama and Milicent's mom were already up and slaving away in the kitchen. "Merry Christmas mntanam." Makhulu kissed my cheek. "Ufuna itee? (Would you like so tea?)"