All Alone

16

Taylor and I catch the bus and come home happily chatting away.

We open the door and Joan and Rob are packing garbage bags.

"What's up? " I ask.

"Your sister's on the way," Rob says.

Taylor and I squeal excited and dump our bags helping them pack. We put in pajamas, dresses and shirts, robes, hand and body lotion, deodorant, bras and underwear.

Joan is packing hats, blankets, diapers, onesies, bottles and wipes.

Taylor and I go upstairs and pack two duffel bags each of a toothbrush, face soap, bras, underwear, tees, tank tops, jeans, dresses and a pair of pajamas.

We go back downstairs and jump into the back of Joan's SUV. Rob starts the car and drops us off by Aunt Karen's house.

"Now behave and don't give any trouble, " Joan and Rob says before heading to the hospital.

Aunt Karen made us chocolate chip cookies and we eat them while watching 'switched at birth' on Netflix.

Aaliyah comes into the living room and we're all shocked to see each other.

"I didn't know Aunt Karen was your mom," Taylor says.

"Is she your real aunt though?" Aaliyah asks. Taylor nods exposing that aunt Karen is Joan's sister.

"So we're cousins!" Aaliyah exclaims. "Yeah!" Taylor and I exclaim. We laugh and Aunt Karen comes in offering pizza.

We all agree and she orders a large pizza and barbequed wings.

We all dig and continue watching 'switched at birth'.

At about ten o'clock we all head to bed. Taylor and I get our own guest room so no one has to share.

I drift off slowly.

"Wake up sweetie," Aunt Karen says gently shaking me. I groan and open my eyes.

"Good morning, " I say yawning and rubbing my eyes. "Morning love. Breakfast is ready," Aunt Karen says.

I get up and take a shower before putting on a jeans and black shirt.

I go into the kitchen where pancakes are on plates placed on the counter with a choice of nutella, maple syrup or honey.

I take one pancake with nutella and another with maple syrup.

Aaliyah and Taylor join me soon after and sit talking about the baby.

Aaliyah's school bus arrives and she grabs her bag and leaves before telling us goodbye.

Aunt Karen gives Taylor and I a ride to school. We thank her and go inside. First we stop at my locker so I can collect my books then we stop at Taylor's so she can collect her's.

We head to math class where Ms Hindsbury is going into a detailed explanation on algebra.

The rest of the day is a bore and I'm all jittery about the new baby.

When we back to Aunt Karen's Rob is there and is sitting in the couch chatting to Aunt Karen.

"Hey ladies, wanna see your little sister, Jamilah?" Rob asks.

Taylor and I nod and get in the SUV along with Aaliyah and Aunt Karen.

When we arrive at the hospital it smells funny and I become conscious of disease but more than anything it reminds me of the day mom died and I have to fight back tears but Taylor sees and gives me a quick hug.

We arrive at room 21 and the nurse opens the door. "Spouse and two people at a time please," the nurse says. Aunt Karen and Aaliyah wait outside while Taylor, Rob and I enter.

Joan is breast feeding a tiny baby which is wrapped in a pink blanket happily drinking away.

She smiles at us and we both get a turn holding our sister, Jamilah.

After chatting we leave allowing Aunt Karen and Aaliyah to have a turn seeing the baby.

After our visit we all climb back into the SUV and head back to Aunt Karen's place.

On the way I wonder what it'll be like having another Matthews around.

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Baby's finally arrived!! How will things go?

Read on.