She's On Top

2: The Beginning of the End

2004.

"VROOOM! VROOOM!! Oh no! It's an emergency! Weee-hoo! Weee-hoo!" A small Averi sang out, as she rolled her toy ambulance around playfully while mimicking the sound of an ambulance.

"Averi, stop being so loud. I need a nap before I have to work tonight. Can you please keep it down for mommy?" Shayla asked calmly, from the comforts of her bed.

"Sorry, mommy. It's an emergency. Those cars over there crashed and the ambulance people need to help them. I'll tell them to be a little more quiet because my mommy's trying to sleep, though." Averi said, innocently. Before Shayla could say anything else, she heard Averi chastising the two dolls she'd positioned as paramedics in the toy ambulance.

"You guys have to be very quiet. My mommy is taking a nap. If you can't be quiet, we're gonna be in a lotttt of trouble, okay? Be quiet." Averi said sternly as she pointed her little finger at them, causing Shayla to chuckle quietly to herself.

"Averi, can you come here for a second? I know it's an emergency there with your little crew but I need your help. I'm think I'm coming down with something and since you're my favorite little doctor, I was hoping you could help me figure out what it is. I'm sure your team can handle that little crash on the floor by themselves, right?" Shayla curiously asked, anticipating another adorable response from the child.

"Well... I guess I can help. Let me get my doctor kit. Hold on, mommy. Don't panic." Averi instructed, while grabbing her toy doctor kit off the floor and tossing it onto her mother's bed. The 4 year old struggled to climb onto the bed but her mother picked her up and carefully placed her on the bed in front of her.

Averi picked up her thermometer and held it to her mother's head before letting out a deep sigh. "Mommy, I think I know what it is. I know what's wrong with you." She said.

"That fast? Wow, Dr. Averi—you're quick! What is it, my little physician? Is it bad news, doctor? I can't handle any bad news. Am I gonna be okay?" Shayla asked dramatically as she clutched her chest, trying to stop herself from laughing.

"Mommy... Mommy... Mommy... Relaxxxx." Averi said as she reached for her mother's hand. "It's okay. You have 'SleepyMommyitis'. A lot of mommies get it. You just need a nap and not to go to work tonight. If you do that, you'll feel better tomorrow." She continued.

"Wow! So that's what this is? Hmm... I thought it was something more serious. You're the expert and I trust you so I'll listen to what you said. Thank you for being the best doctor and for listening to me, Dr. Averi. The greatest doctors are the ones who LISTEN to their patients. Always remember that, okay?"

The young child nodded as she began to put her doctor instruments away. She moved the bag of toys over to the end of the bed and she crawled back over to her mom, carefully nestling her head under her mother's neck.

"Mommy, I love you. You're my best friend." Averi whispered.

"I love you too, Pooh! You're my little best friend, too. You mean the world to me, Averi. You're the BEST blessing God has ever given me and I hope you never forget that." Shayla kissed the forehead of her beautiful brown skinned princess and held her in her arms as they both drifted off into a nap.

6 hours later...

"Averi, be good for your dad tonight, okay? No tantrums, no crying, and try not to keep him up too late. He has to work in the morning. I'll be back to pick you up in just a few hours, okay? As soon as I get off, I'll be here to get you. Got it?" Shayla looked at the child through the rear view mirror with a bittersweet feeling beginning to settle in on her.

"Got it, mommy!" Averi said with excitement as she realized they were pulling up to her father's house.

Shayla brought her '04 Lexus GS to a slow but eventual stop near her ex-boyfriend's driveway. Before she could get all the way out of the car, Marquis excitedly rushed outside to greet the pair. "Is that my little princess and her beautiful mother?" Marquis asked as he stood beside Shayla's car door, extending his hand for her to hold onto as she exited the car.