The Marriage Counselor. (Woman x intersex)

fifty-nine.

Danielle and her boys in the MM.

UNEDITED

chapter fifty-nine: Danielle's parents house.

"Look at her! Oh my God!" Danielle's older cousin Georgina squealed as she looked down at Nubia who slept in her car seat. She was in a small red velvet dress, her white stockings covering her small, chubby legs. Her soft soled dress shoes held her tiny feet, her bow over her loose black hair leaving a flower sitting on her forehead.

"I don't know who she looks like more, Dani or her daddy." Georgina's younger sister Milan responded as her eyes traveled up and down Nour's body. Danielle nearly snarled, Nour immediate wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing the side of her face lovingly. The house was nearly crowded with family, everyone greeting Danielle from the moment she walked in.

"I think she's beautiful just like her mother. Don't you think?" Nour asked as he grabbed Danielle's left hand, kissing the large diamond ring that sat on her finger with a smirk. Danielle just smiled at her cousins, Milan's eyes slowly faltering as she grinned awkwardly.

"Girl, where'd you get him from? Amazon?" Georgina whispered harshly as Mason ran up
to Nour. Danielle just chuckled before sipping her Shirley temple that the bartender had made for her.

"Daddy, do you have my phone? Delaney isn't here yet."

"I didn't know she was coming. Did she text you that?" Nour asked as he gently slipped a hand into Danielle's purse and grabbed the phone before handing it to him.

'Daddy?" Georgina mouthed to Milan causing Danielle to push her eyebrows together. Both women slowly looked at Danielle, their faces going blank as they saw the glare on her face.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Danielle asked harshly causing Nour to look over. They both shook their heads knowing how their cousins temper could be.

"How about we get something to eat? Hm?" Nour asked. Danielle nodded, peeling her aggravated eyes away from the two sisters as Nour grabbed the car seat and walked over to the couch. He placed her by Danielle's feet after she sat down and smoothed her dress over her hips.

"Thank you papa. I'm not too hungry, but can you make sure the kids eat? She's going to wake to eat soon." Danielle asked. She still hasn't seen her father and mother for the night and they've been there for nearly an hour. She was growing worried, looking around after she lifted Nubia from her car seat once she started to fuss.

A few more of her family members came up to her and asked her how she was doing. She answered vaguely knowing her relatives didn't truly care and just wanted to know her business. All they needed to know was what they saw. Her kids were loved and so was she.

She finally saw her dad who scurried down the stairs, most of the men in the room asking where he's been. Danielle just watched as he opened the front door, Nasir and Delaney walking in. Danielle pushed her brows together in confusion before looking around to find her lover who was at the dinner table feeding Sophia. The boys were next to her eating, Danielle watching as Delaney walked behind Mason before scaring him by grabbing his shoulders.

She wasn't sure what the sunken feeling was that she felt, but she suddenly felt out of place as she sat there holding her child. Everyone who talked to her only wanted to pry, no one else attempting to keep her company but instead shooting her side glances and pointing fingers.

Danielle slowly stood, walking to the stairs and carrying her daughter carefully as she climbed up toward her childhood bedroom. She walked down the quiet hallway, hearing hushed whispers coming from the guest room. The door was ajar, Danielle peaking inside to see Nasir and Adel speaking quietly, both of them sitting on the bed.

"Do you think that the chemo will work?" Nasir asked Adel as he grabbed his hand and kissed it. Danielle's eyes widened, the woman pressing her lips together as she backed away from the door slightly.

What the fuck?

"Adel! Adel!" Danielle heard her mother's voice crook from the master bedroom. Her voice sounded hoarse and frail, it being shaky as the old woman used all of her strength to call out for her husband. Danielle gasped quietly, Nubia starting to whine as she walked further from the guest bedroom to make it seem as if she wasn't prying.

"I'm coming-oh Danielle! I was just going to come downstairs and get you. Did you need some privacy?" Adel asked as he leaned in and kissed his daughter on the cheek. She smelled cologne that she knew wasn't his against his stubbled jaw, pulling her head away and clearing her throat.

"Hi baba. Yes, I was just a little overwhelmed by the noise downstairs. Why haven't you both been down there? I haven't seen mama." Danielle asked as she tried to keep her voice as stable as possible. Adel noticed but didn't question it, clearing his throat.

"That's what we wanted you here for. She's in her room..I know you haven't seen her since thanksgiving, but a lot has changed.."

"Yeah. I noticed." Danielle grumbled. Adel ignored her comment, both of them walking to her mothers bedroom. The door opened, Danielle looking around in confusion at all of the medical equipment that surrounded the room. There was a nurse sitting in the love seat next to the bed, the tv low as Daphne stared at it with glossy eyes. The oxygen tube was in her nose, the woman's hair wrapped in a turban.

"Mama?" Danielle asked quietly as she stepped forward. Daphne looked over slowly, her lips turning at the corner as she saw the small infant in her daughters arms.

"Dani.."

"What's going on? What happened? Is this why I haven't heard from you as much?" Danielle asked her father as she looked over at him with angry eyes. Adel nodded slowly, clearing his throat as he tried to hold back his tears.

"Yes..she's been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. She's dying, Danielle." Adel breathed quietly. Danielle shook her head as the tears welled in her eyes. She was ambivalent, her thoughts loud and racing. Nubia started to fuss as her mother's tense energy found her small body, Adel attempting to take her but Danielle shook her head.

"Let me guess..I'm the last to know, right?" Danielle spat. Adel sniffed while shaking his head as Daphne slowly attempted to sit up.

"I wanted it that way. We've known for a small while." Daphne responded.

"No. You waited last minute so you can do your fucking penance. Because you know everything you've done and said to me was wrong and you don't want to die with that burden in your heart. Fuck this." Danielle spat before walking out of the room and into her childhood bedroom, shutting the door and letting out a shaky breath as her tears streamed down her face.