ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ꜰɪꜰᴛʏ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ɴᴏᴠᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 10, 2020

i was pacing. not the cute kind of pacing. the anxious, palms sweaty straightening pillows that don't need it kind of pacing.

taraji sat on the armrest of the couch watching me, calm as ever, sipping ginger tea like this wasn't the biggest reveal of my adult life.

"you want to rehearse again?" she asked, raising a brow.

"no" i mumbled.

she smirked. "you sure? i can be your mama again..just say the word."

"you were way too dramatic last time."

"i was accurate" she corrected.

i laughed under my breath, just as the driver text came through. they here.

my heart dropped into my stomach.

i quickly checked the little basket by the front door — two neatly folded shirts, ribbon-tied, sitting next to a silver frame with the sonogram photo inside. the words "coming soon" were etched across the glass in soft white script.

before i could rethink everything, there was a knock.

taraji kissed my temple. "go on, baby."

i opened the door.

my mama stepped in first, "lord" she said, pulling her sunglasses off. "it's hotter here than it was in charlotte."

rico followed right behind her with his duffel bag half open, grinning wide. "what's up, sis?"

i hugged them both, tight, almost forgetting how much i needed this.

my mom hugged raji "hey my baby."

"hey mama d"

rico then dapped her up, "wassup sis"

"hey, wassup my guy." she dapped him back up and did that shoulder hug one hand thing.

"where's my other little angel?" my mom asked searching for laila.

"she went out with tab right fast to grab a few things. she'll be back in a few, but.. until then come sit down. i got something for y'all."

"don't tell me it's a gospel CD" rico muttered.

"boy—"

"okay, okay" he laughed.

i handed mama her package first. then rico. they looked confused.

"open it" i said, heart beating wild.

mama opened hers slow and just rico ripped his. they looked at the shirts and then looked up at me.

mama's face shifted. her eyebrows were drawn in confusion, then disbelief, then something rising behind her eyes.

rico blinked. "...yo. for real?"

i nodded, smiling through it. "that's your niece or nephew or both" i said, pointing at the frame. "about eight weeks in now."

my mama set the shirt down and walked right over, hands on my face, searching me like she had to see it to believe it. "i... i'm gonna be another glam ma?"

i swear i saw taraji freeze for a second.

"yes, ma'am."

rico stood still for a second, shirt in one hand, then blurted out, "this why you would only call in the dark? you didn't want me to see you had mamas nose."

i burst out laughing through my tears. "boy bye but to answer you, yes... that's why. i was also really nervous"

"proud of you big sis. ima be a funcle. the fun uncle"

"yeah" i said rambling through his hair, "you are"

mama pulled me into her arms, holding me for a long time. "i thought something was going on. i felt it. God told me." i think that's something the elderly just says.

taraji stepped forward, hand on my back. "she's been incredible."

mama smiled at her through tears, then reached over and took her hand. "and i know you been taking care of my babies"

"like it's my job" taraji said.

rico clapped once. "so who's ready to feed this baby? because i'm starving and i know you cooked."

i laughed again, pressing the frame to my chest.