Almost 5 years later. . .
Deniece Janell Anderson. . .
“Kids! Come here. All of your parents will be here later.” I heard lots of footsteps coming down the stairs like a miniature stampede. In a quick minute they were all in my living room.
I looked down at the bunch of kids. SO much had changed in these past years. Dre just turned nine. Amelia is eight. Cassie is six. Elijah, Malachai, and Trinity are all five. But, we have a few more additions. Shawny always said she wanted two kids. Now she has Trinity Shanell Smith along with Jerimiah Ta’Shawn Smith, her three year old son. Alex bonded more and more with us over the years. She gave us another addition to our group, three year old, Patricia Marie Roberts. After all the bullshit with Jamal, she finally left him. She’s now married to David, making her a part of the club. Six weeks after that horrifying incident on my honeymoon I got the surprise of a life time. The doctor told me I was having twins. I was blessed with my angels, Nylah Denae and Nicholas Darnell Anderson. They’re now four.
As soon as I snapped a few pictured of the kids in walked the mothers. Shawny, Frankie, and Alex all laughing at something that must’ve been hilarious.
“What y’all laughing at?”
“Just the fact that you wanted a big ass family and here you are sitting in here with ten kids.” They all thought it was real funny.
“Why is my house the hangout house? All the kids choose to stay here instead of any of y’all houses. Why is that?”
“CJ ain’t having ten kids at the house.”
“Chris and I have a hard time with our two.”
“Don’t look at me. My house ain’t as big as yours. We have four rooms.”
“We only have five.”
“Technically, since you mad the basement into a damn underground floor y’all have eight bedrooms.” Who asked Shawny to speak?
“I only did that so you each have a bedroom if y’all visit. Last night these kids almost worked my nerves. Eli, Cassie, Chai, and Trin stayed in Chai’s room. Jerimiah slept in Nick’s bunk bed. Patty stayed in LaLa’s bunk bed. Then, I wake up and who has one of the guest bedrooms? Oh yea them two grown ass kids, Dre and Liah. I swear they gone get married.”
“Girl, CJ will have a damn fit. Dre knows he don’t play.”
“Dre is a mac daddy. He too much. David says he acts just like he’s his son so he might as well be.”
“Niecey, Trin and Chai a little close, too. You better tell your son to keep his hands off my baby.”
“Shawny Boo. You better tell your daughter not to be all up on my son.”
“True , he looks just like his Daddy.” I looked over at Chai.
“Yes, that’s Hakeem’s clone.”
I watched as CJ shoved cake in Frankie’s mouth. They were acting liked a high school couple. Chris and Shawny were playing with Jerimiah like they were newlyweds. Then I looked over at Alex who was watching David show Dre a boxing move. David loved Dre like he was his own. Well for the past four years Dre has been David’s son.
“Mommy.” Chai knocked me out of my mind. I looked down at my miniature man. “I miss Dad.”
I sighed deeply then pulled him into a hug. “I mess Daddy, too.”
“Well, y’all ain’t got to miss me nomore.” I turned around to see Hakeem with a plate of food in his hand.
“Keem, when did you get back in town?”
“Just about an hour ago. I wanted to surprise you. I got the deal for the new fashion line.” Hakeem had stopped dealing after he handled his final business. Him , CJ, and David were all legal.
“You did?”
“Yes. Our new fashion line is called NDA Fashion.”
“For the twins?”
“Of course. Chai got the shoe brand named for him.” Chai went and jumped on his Dad.
“Pops, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” I watched them in amazement. I was so happy Hakeem decided to pull through. The night of the accident he died twice in the ambulance but kept pulling through.” I watched as the twins came to jump on their Daddy. LaLa was Daddy’s little girl. Nick was Mommy’s baby. CHai was our neutral child.
“When are you going to give me another baby?”
“Hakeem, I turn 27 soon. I think I’m done with the babies.”
“Girl hush. We only have three. But, we have an extra room upstairs.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of a spare?”
“I don’t believe in extras.” I laughed and kissed his lips. “DJ, you still my Ride or Die even though I’m legit now?”
“Nope, no more of that. From now on our motto is Family forever.” He kissed me and took his princess for a piggy back ride. I love that man. Forever.
