Life Changes

Chapter 10

"Wow. It looks like a sorority's party happened in here." Smiling as Ce walks into the kitchen. She points her head to Chris's mom on the couch. Snoring. I just got done making coffee. "Good morning mama." I hand her a mug. "Hey girlie." She yawns. "Have to leave today huh?" Making my heart sad. It's nice to have this time with her. It doesn't get to happen often. "Yup. The kids and my board are all going nutty with out me." Laughing as she sips the cup. "So?" Raising an eyebrow to her. "We will be coming back. All of us together. Maica invited us for Christmas. Well, she actually demanded it." My heart overfills. I knew they were bonding but wow. This is incredible. "So I get to have everyone huh? Even my nephews." Sighing happily. She nods. Then looks nervous. "They will love him. He will adore them. Everything will be fine. Trust me. Plus, Lin, Memere and I will be here. That will make it more comfortable for the boys. I am pretty sure Hanny may be around. Jeff's coming with Casey too. We got you. All of you. Always and forever. Till the end of the line. We are family Ce don't forget that ever." Patting her hand. She takes a deep breath. A groaning comes from the couch. I attempt to hide my snicker. "Sweet girl, I love you. However I am going to take a page from you and your friends' book. Shut it." Her giggle soft. "Sorry Ma." I laugh back. "It's ok. I did this to myself." Groaning as she sits up. Just at that moment my mom comes around the corner. She looks rough too. "Sweet Jesus." Not being able to stop my laughter. "I brought you into this world. I can take you out of it. Don't you forget who I am Melanie Cosette Evans." Her hand flies to her mouth. I freeze. My eyes wide. I feel the color drain out of my face. "Oh baby. Baby I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Tears fill her eyes. "Ma!" I yell. "Sweetheart it slipped I swear." She sobs. "Oh Melanie it's ok. We used to joke around all the time calling you that. We are hung over and old. She didn't mean anything by it." Lisa hugs me. "You two never told her? Melanie! How could you?" My mother is mad at me. I'm going to kill her. "Tell me? Tell me what exactly?" Now Lisa sounds pissed. "Ma. Ma please calm down. Both of you." Sighing. Ce looks at me questioning. I drop my eyes. "Coffee Rita? Lisa? I will be more than happy to make you both a." She is interrupted swiftly. "No dear. Thank you. As much as I understand and appreciate you girls' friendship. How protective you are of Melanie. Now is not the time. You need to stand aside now sweetheart." Lisa's gaze doesn't leave me. I hang my head. "Hey everyone! I'm sure this is going to be fun for us to see little princess. Your grandmothers thought they were twenty again last night." Great timing. What the heck is he doing here? Why does he have Linny?

"Hey mama!" Lin gives me a kiss. I kiss her cheek back. Asking her if she had fun. She tells me she did. My eyes widen when I find out who she met today. "It was awesome mama. Hey Memere. Hi Grammy!" She hugs our mothers tight. "Hey there my girl." Lisa sighs. Staring Chris down. He looks to me confused. I shake my head. This is my worst nightmare come true. "Mama I'm going to take a shower. Love you. Look auntie is here too. So surprised! What's going on Mrs. Barnes?" Cracking up as she heads to the guest bathroom. "I'm. I'm going to get ready for the day." Celia says as she abruptly gets up. "Sit. Both of you. Now!" Lisa's face is red. "What's the matter?" Chris is thoroughly confused. "Oh I don't know Christopher. Maybe it has something to do with Rita calling sweet girl Melanie Cosette EVANS!" She yells. His look matching mine from earlier. "Shit." He mumbles. "Something I need to know?" Her voice demanding. "Ma it was a long time ago. When we took that trip to Vegas." Sighing he sits. "You got married didn't you? With out me there? Not even telling me? What the hell!" Her tone hurt. He nods. I can't look at her. "We did. We got really drunk and it just happened." Now looking me in the eyes. Pain fills them. I still am not talking to him. This doesn't help the situation at all. His comment makes me even madder. "We weren't that drunk Christopher." Hissing out the words. His head hangs. He knows I'm telling the truth. "Wait. That trip was a week before you two broke up." Lisa says softly. "Yes it was." Tears flow down my face. Remembering that time. Signing the papers two days after I found out I was supposedly unable to ever be a mom. Recovering from the pain. Emotional and physical. "You mean to tell me that you left her at her worst time as her husband? Not even by a week? You leaving my sweet girl was enough to make me disappointed. The one who stood by you in your darkest days. I just found out why. Now, I find out the man I raised left his new wife when it was her darkest moment? Instead of being a man, seeing what possibilities you could have. Instead of talking to doctors and specialists. You just walked away? When was the divorce finalized?" Her glare at him would melt stone. He can't answer her. "I asked you a question young man!" She yells loudly. "The annulment was done a few days after he left Lisa. She was recovering at home when the papers came to the door." My mother holds Lisa's hand. Knowing her well. Trying to calm her. She is going to murder him. "I can't believe you! All those years when no one but I, your dad and siblings encouraged you. They were there. Holding you up. Not just Melanie and Rita. Clark treated you like a son for fuck's sake! Jeff called you his brother! And Nanie! This is how you repaid them all? Their love and loyalty for you? Who are you? Because I didn't raise you to leave when times get rough. I raised you to be a man!" She is so loud. I hope Linny doesn't hear this.