Modern Family

Chapter Nine : Glow and Grow

Chapter Nine | Glow and Grow

It's funny, sometimes, how we can get so caught up in our whirlwind of a life that we forget to check in on the people who matter the most. But I wasn't that person. I always made time for the people, especially for Tookie. She's pregnant with triplets, I wasn't going to let anything keep me from checking in on her.

That's exactly what I was doing when I found myself dialing her number after a hectic day at the arena. My luggage was in tow, rolling behind me as I made my way down the hallway, the familiar buzz of excitement that always surrounded the backstage area of Raw still in my veins. The moment she picked up, I couldn't help it. I bombarded her with questions.

"How's the pregnancy going? How are the kids? What are you doing? Are they driving you crazy yet? How was your day? Are you sleeping? How are you feeling, by the way? Do you need anything? Anything at all?"

I was relentless. But that's how I am with people I care about. Tookie laughed on the other end, and I could hear the relief in her voice. Sometimes, it's like she just needs to talk. I get it—life gets busy, but we always make time for each other.

"Trinity, slow down! I'm good," she chuckled. "Okay, okay, let me break it down for you. The triplets are doing great, and yeah, my belly's getting big. The kids are their usual wild selves, keeping me on my toes, but you know me. I'm making it work. I'm taking it one day at a time. Oh, and we watched you on Raw last night," Tookie added. "You and Jon looked so damn good. Like, seriously. You were shining, girl!"

I felt my chest warm at her words, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. Tookie knew how to make me feel good about myself, especially after a long day of performing for the fans. Jon and I had been giving everything we had lately, so hearing that we looked good from Tookie felt like a genuine compliment, not just a surface-level one.

"Thanks, babe," I said, my voice softening as I imagined the way she'd been sitting there with the kids, cheering us on from their living room. "That means a lot, honestly."

Tookie was the type of person who understood the pressure, the hustle, and the dream that came with our jobs. She didn't just see us as wrestlers but as real people.

Then she hit me with something I wasn't expecting.

"I've been thinking about doing a maternity photoshoot. You know, something fun and bold to celebrate the pregnancy. I want it to be bright and colorful. And you know, I was thinking I need a custom wig like one of yours. Something fierce," she said with a little giggle. "You always have the best wigs, girl. You inspire me."

My eyes brightened at the thought of creating something for her. I'd always loved the idea of helping her out with her glam, especially because she was so into experimenting with new styles. Tookie was the queen of doing things on her terms, and if she wanted something custom, you better believe I'd make it happen.

"I can make a wig for you, no problem," I told her. "And maybe we can even do a whole glow theme to go with your photoshoot idea. You know, like neon lights, high energy... something that screams 'you' but also 'mama!' I've got all sorts of ideas running through my mind right now."

She was silent for a moment, and I could hear her breathing through a smile. "I would love that. A glow theme? Girl, you know that's exactly what I'm talking about. I want these photos to be unforgettable. Something different, something me. It's gotta have that pop!"

We bounced ideas back and forth for a while—colors, designs, locations—and I couldn't help but get excited. I knew that, no matter what, Tookie's maternity shoot was going to be next level.

As I continued walking down the hallway, trying to find Jonathan, who was probably off talking to someone about his own thing, Tookie's voice filled my ear again. "Oh, and before I forget, Phil sent me a link to a house. It's on this compound that he, April, and Reeva have been thinking about buying. It looks gorgeous, and I want you to check it out. I'm sending you the link. Let me know what you think, and feel free to share it with Jon. I'd love to know what you guys think of the idea."

I was a little taken aback. A compound? That was definitely a big move and not something you casually considered unless you had a lot going on in your life. I could hear the excitement in Tookie's voice as she talked about the house, but I wasn't sure how I felt about the whole compound idea.

"Would you live in a compound?" I asked her, still a little curious, but not sure if it was something I could picture for myself.

"Oh yeah, with all these kids, girl, I need my village," she replied, a laugh in her voice. "And you know Phil and April, they're practically family to me. Reeva, too. It would be perfect for everyone to be close by but still have enough space to breathe. Plus, you know, extra hands to help with the babies. That's a blessing."

I understood the appeal. Having your family close by could be such a comfort, especially when you've got a growing family of your own. It made sense, and I couldn't argue with the logic. I mean, who wouldn't want a little extra support when you've got three babies on the way?

"I'll let Jonathan know and maybe we can pinch in on the payment for the compound," I said thoughtfully, already imagining what it would be like to have everyone under one roof—or, I guess, within the same general area. It definitely had its pros, but I couldn't shake the thought of how strange it might be to live that close to so many people. Still, for Tookie, it sounded like the perfect fit.

"Yeah, send me the link when you get a chance. I want to see it too," I added, feeling a little more open to the idea than I initially had. "And I'm sure Jon would be down. He's all about making sure we're good. You know how he is."

Tookie sighed contentedly on the other end. "You two are so cute. I swear. But for real, you've gotta take a look at this house. I think it might be exactly what we need."

I could hear the excitement in her voice again. It was that same energy I had when I was starting to make big moves when I was looking at new opportunities and new possibilities. And I wanted to be there for her in this journey, just like she had been there for me all these years.

"I'll check it out, girl," I said as I finally spotted Jonathan across the hallway. "I've gotta run, but I'll hit you up after I take a look at the place. Let's make sure we plan this wig thing, too. It's happening."

"I'm counting on you, girl," she said, laughing again. "You always come through."

"I got you," I replied, grinning as Jonathan walked up to me, clearly ready to head to the next part of our day. "Talk soon. Love you."

"Love you, too," she said before hanging up.

As I slipped my phone back into my pocket, I couldn't help but smile. My girl was good. She was always pushing boundaries, doing things on her terms, and keeping her head up no matter how challenging life got. I knew this pregnancy would be tough, but I did not doubt that Tookie would handle it with the same grace and strength she handled everything else.

And as for that house, the wig, and the glow maternity photoshoot? We'd figure it all out together. That's what we do. We're a team. Always.