Company

Chapter 89

Drake barely made it all the way in the house before Sandi clung on to him, her head barely reached his chest, she was so small. Drake's large arms wrapped around her small frame he held her close for a few minutes before he released her. Sandi grabbed her son's face and held it.

"This beard has taken over your face Aubrey, I hardly recognized you!" She kissed both his cheeks, then grabbed his large hands in hers and held onto them. "Ugh im so happy to see you."

Sandi greeted everyone, Niko, Ryan, Mark, 40, Chubbs, OB, Future, Hush, Spoons, and so on, she pulled all the familiar faces, all the young men that had grown to be an extra son in one way or another into a warm hug. Once the front door closed. Sandi grabbed her chest and frowned at Drake.

"Where's Tae, Aubrey?" Panic began to fill Sandi's voice and her face was ridden with concern. "What happened? Where's Tae, is she ok, are you two ok? .... Well after the accident, Aubrey?"

Drake grabbed his mother's hand "We're fine, and she's fine." Drake gave his mother a genuine smile. "She went with Oliver to the OVO store to check on a few things."

Sandi let out a sigh of relief and dropped the hand from her chest. "Oh thank goodness, I was about to yell at you, like what did you do!"

"Why does it have to be my fault!?" Drake frowned at his mother with a serious face as if he and Tae did break up.

"Oh Aubrey, hush." She said waving him off, and walking into the kitchen were everyone else mingled.

A spread of finger foods covered the kitchen countertops, two very large crystal bowls held punch in them, candles were lit throughout the house letting off a warm smell of cinnamon. There were conversations coming from every corner of the house as friends and family gushed over the accomplishments of Drake and the OVO team.

Oliver walked into the house behind Tae and his girlfriend Nicky, it had been weeks, Tae's birthday to be exact, since both women seen each other, they walked into the kitchen arm and arm leaving Oliver to carry the bags of clothes that were brought from the store.

Sandi stood next to Drake, her arm locked in with his, in her moment of excitement she immediately put her white coffee mug down on the counter and pulled her arm from Drake's and made her way to Tae. Drake smiled and watched as his mother tightly hugged Tae, kissing both her cheeks, she held onto Tae's hand walking her through the house showing her off to family that she had yet to meet.

Tae looked over her shoulder to lock eyes with Drake, she mouthed "I'm her favorite!" Drake shook his head, then gave her a smile and a wink, Tae spent the majority of the night by Sandi's side. She was excited to talk about the projects Tae was involved in, Drake wasn't the only person Sandi had Google alerts on. The house became quiet as family and visiting friends left, 40, Chubbs, Niko, and Oliver all made their way to their own parent's homes.

Drake rushed off to his room to shower and change. Tae collected cups and mugs that were leftover by guest and placed them in the sink, she began placing them in the dishwasher but was stopped by Sandi.

"Oh, don't worry about that, that can be done later." She said grabbing Tae's hand and pulling her to the living room, Tae sat on one end of the couch, her legs curled under her as Sandi sat on the other end, her white coffee mug still in her hand, she draped a black sweater around her back, then fixed her glasses on her face.

"How was the store?" She asked, then took a sip of her coffee.

"It's good, Aubrey tell you we're going to be opening one in LA in December?

"No, he did, oh Tae that's great!" Sandi smiled at Tae. "I'm so proud of you all!"

"Thank you, but your son and his friends had this way before I got here."

Sandi frowned at Tae then adjusted her glasses again. "Oh don't you dare, your contribution is just as good as anyone else's. Aubrey did tell me about the new position you have now."

"Thank you." Tae's voice was quieter than usual, it always was once she got around Sandi. Drake's mother had a way of knowing things that you didn't even know about yourself. It made her intimidating almost, but it was something Tae also loved about her, she reminded her of her own mother. She'd tell you the God's honest truth if you wanted to hear it or not.

Sandi reached over and grabbed Tae's hand she held it tightly running her thumb over the back of it.

"Are you ok?" She asked with a concerned look on her face.

This time Tae knew what she was asking, there were no secret messages or hidden agendas to the question. Tae looked down at her hand under Sandi's then looked up at the small woman that shared the same nose and mouth as Drake. A sad look crossed Tae's face and that was all Sandi needed.

"I'm ok, I think? Every once in awhile I have small slip ups, but I mean what woman doesn't think about having children with a man she loves. Right?" Tae tried to hide her frown with a forced smile, her eyes began to glaze as she spoke.

"I feel bad, I feel like it's my fault. I didn't know I was pregnant....." Tae looked down and began playing with her fingers. One tear dropped off her cheek. ".......I didn't know."

Tae paused and cleared her throat, she quickly wiped off her cheeks and looked up at Sandi. Then I wonder would I really be ready for a kid?.... Would Aubrey be ready for a kid!?.... Especially with everything that's going on! I'd never want to stop him or slow him down from what he loves." Tae paused and looked Sandi in the eyes, the reflection of the dim lighting caused a dark glare on her glasses. "As long as he's ok, then I'm ok." Tae said with a small smile.

Drake sat at the bottom of the steps listening to Tae speak to his mother. He had stopped midway once he heard the soft voices of the two women. His skin crawled at how hurt Tae was, how he didn't know it was that bad, he would occasionally ask her if she was ok, and she would simply say she was fine. Drake ran his hand over the top of his head and sighed heavily, he stood up and cleared his throat making it sound as if he was just now waking down the steps.

He clapped his hands together. "Ready for the movies!?"

Tae looked up and greeted him with a wide smile. Drake forced the best smile he could, both were trying to hide the pain from one another, but Sandi knew Drake overheard Tae speaking, she knew he was forcing a smile for Tae's sake, and she knew he had no clue until now how Tae really felt.