Finding Us (Christian Interracial Romance)

Raise a Glass

Cecilia

"To Cecilia, for finally being recognized and nominated for a Grammy!" Sylvia raises her glass of a mocktail.

"To Cecilia!" The ladies including Jacqueline, their little sister Alexa, Noah's sister in law Becca, as well our friend from high school Draya, my cousins Reagan and Misty, and our best friend since day one in our early years, Athena cheer and raise their glasses, joining Sylvia.

I grin and flatteringly place my hand over my heart. "As the maid of honor, I'd prefer to say 'To Sylvia and Noah' because their big day is in ten days. But thank you guys for reaching out to me to check on how I'm feeling and on their special day, I will join drinking an alcohol-free sparkling caramel apple mocktail with you all."

I raise my glass with the ladies' glasses as they clink together and we sip into our individual glasses.

"CeCe, I love your speech. Thank you!" Sylvia acknowledges.

"That was beautiful!" Draya concurs while she nods her head.

"It's no biggie; I have to say express it from my heart." I reply.

"Aww!" Several women clamor at my answer.

"Ladies, I want to say thank you for coming over. I called you all to inform you that the bachelorette party will take place at my mom's house the night before the wedding. Cecilia has chosen a theme and she won't tell you the theme until hours before the bachelorette party would start." Sylvia informs.

"Dang, can't we have a clue?" Cousin Reagan asks.

"Sorry," I reply with a singsong tone. "Not sorry!" Sylvia and I sing in unison. The girls mumble under their breaths for not having a clue.

"You're becoming a legend, CeCe!" Draya congratulates before she takes more sips of her beverage.

"She's riding with the big names!" Cousin Misty exclaims excitingly as she drapes her arm around me while I drape my arm around her "So, Miss Evans. How does it feel to be nominated?" Athena asks me, using her glass as the microphone while my Cousin Reagan starts recording with her phone. I grab a pair of shades from my head and place them over my eyes.

"How does being nominated for a Grammy award mean to me," I hum. "It's a blessing-- it's definitely a true blessing from God, really. I mean, I've always looked up to my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Patrick all my life and believed that someday I would have the opportunity to be nominated." I answer.

"Dang, girl! We're not getting the attitude that most divas have?" Cousin Reagan jokes.

"Hell no," I chuckle humbly and shake my head. I pull the shades from my eyes and lift them at the top of my head. "I'm too modest to adapt that self centered and arrogant behavior. I believe that every artist deserves a Grammy in their lifetime after months or even years of hard work to be celebrated for their talent and creativity they put in their albums."

"That's right, Cousin CeCe!" Cousin Misty concurs. "There's no room for big headed egos."

"Damn right!" Draya agrees.

"That's the truth!" Athena joins.

"CeCe, when is the Grammy's going to take place? We would love to watch you get up on stage to get your award in person." Sylvia queries.

"Usually, the Grammy Awards are held in January or February. I would be elated if you guys come to support me because it'll be a blast. We'll sing along to our favorite tunes!" I answer thrillingly.

"Oh my gosh that'll be so much fun! I'm coming along!" Athena exclaims

"That applies to us as well," Both my cousins Reagan and Misty reply simultaneously.

"Ditto." Sylvia and Jacqueline answer harmoniously.

"You know I can't miss out on this biggest night in music history, girl!" Draya cheers. 

"That's wonderful, thank you!" A big grin plasters on my face and swathe my arms around my best friends for a few seconds before pulling away.

"For the Grammy's night, I would like for us all to--" The sound of the phone ringing cuts Athena off as she glances at who is calling her before her fingers swipe on the screen to answer her phone.

"Hi, mom. I'm with the girls right now. What's going on?"

"CeCe," Jacqueline calls and I turn in my heels to face her. "Thanks for pulling this shower off for my sister. She absolutely loves it!"

"It's not a problem at all, Jacqui. I'd do anything to make you guys elated. All of you are my best friends por vida... for life." I grin and sip my glass of water.

"Sylv, I have to get going; my parents are having a family emergency," Athena notifies.

"Oh okay," Sylvia acknowledges. "Athena, thank you so much for coming over. I'll see you on Friday for the wedding and dinner rehearsals along with the bachelorette party."

"You bet I'm going to these special events. I'll see you and everybody on Friday, I love you!" Athena hugs Sylvia as well as every woman before hugging me. "I love you, CeCe and I'll talk to you later."

"I love you too. Tell the padrinos I love them and I'll see them later. I'll talk to you later, A." I reply.

"I'll let them know." And with that, Athena finishes her glass and places her empty glass in the kitchen sink before she exits. Soon after she leaves, a tight feeling in my chest occurs. "Cecilia..." I look around the room as I must've hear something or someone talking to me faintly in my head. Why am I feeling like this? I walk myself to the kitchen to shake my head violently to get the voices out of my head and put my glass in the sink. I turn my phone on to tap on my notes of the day. The quote in the red font with a serene pink background flashes on the screen.

'Feelings are just visitors, let them come and go.'  

Yeah, feelings are just visitors, they can come and go. There's nothing to worry or be anxious about, right? That's just the devil trying to put fear in my head to worry. That's not the spirit from the Lord. The Devil can get to stepping out of my mind and get the middle finger from me because I won't the enemy get into my head with the negative bullshit erupt my feelings. Not today, Satan! Not today.