Dark Like Me 3: Open Up

2-Almost Surprised

Pushing a huge box labeling 'kitchen supplies' into the kitchen, Visellia gets the twins settled in the living room with their coloring books and a few toys. Her twins are 4 years old and the cutest things ever, almost makes me want children. Visellia then begins to help me unpack the kitchen supplies box, I am so glad that my boss; Mr. Ellwood gave me a few days off to get my new house in order. Trying to get this in order and doing my job was not going to go well. Too much stress.

"How are Rory and Cayne?" I place a glass plate in one of the cabinets over the kitchen sink.

"Rory is making it big with her fashion line in New York City." Visellia unwraps some silverware. "She sent me a gray jumper when I was pregnant."

Rory has her own fashion line, but she includes the women, men, and children who are bigger than average. Her clothing line does not stop there. Rory has shoes, workout clothes, underwear, and sexy lingerie for the Beautiful and Big women and men. Nevertheless, trust me you do not want to see a man in a G-string, unless that is your thing.

"That is awesome, Vi. She sent me something and I modeled in it." I recall the kaleidoscope dress of beautiful colors.

"I remember the day she called me when she saw that. She was crying tears of joy." Visellia empties the box of silverware on the counter and sorts through them. "I think that's when her line really took off."

I smile and move onto the pots and pans boxes. "I think so as well."

The twins look up at me and go back to coloring. I go over to the stereo system and put some music on. Here by Alessia Cara comes on. "Oh, I love this song." Visellia begins to sway to the beat.

I arch my brow at Visellia. She has changed a bunch since she graduated from college. She dyed her hair a reasonable black, she wears glasses, and sort of kicked the Goth look all together. She looks like a typical suburban mom; the look is somewhat hard to get use to after seeing her all Gothed out for years. However, I know it all came with time and the fact that she wanted to set a good example for her children.

"The song reminds me of you, Sirrah." Visellia starts singing to the song.

"Me?" I go to another box. "How is that?"

"Because," She stops to try to think of a reason. "I don't know. It just does, though."

I shrug my shoulders and unpack. "What about Cayne?"

"Oh yeah," she stops singing enough to answer me. "I don't think he graduated. I think he just needed something to do for the time being. But, recently he inherited an ass of money from his grandfather."

"Lucky!"

"I know right." she smirks. "But, last I heard he is in Las Vegas living the life with his new girlfriend. Recently he went to school for mechanical engineering and is engaged to the girl. I think he said her name was Eliana Roggi. Something like that."

"Gees."

Cayne always gave me dirty looks and I did not understand why. On graduation day, when I saw him at a restaurant while I was celebrating with friends and family, I confronted him about it. I did not make a scene or anything to draw attention to the situation or myself.

I simply asked him why he would always make snide remarks and give me dirty looks when I did nothing to him. He explained to me with Shiriki being heartbroken already and Shiriki taking a shining to me. He was leery and he was hiding his own attention towards me since Shiriki already told Cayne he was feeling me the year before. Talk about astonished. However, to be honest, I do feel like there is a pattern to all of this. Anyway, Cayne wanted to know if I would end up being like Kimber and when he figured I was nothing like Kimber, Cayne eased up.

Visellia and I got majority of the downstairs boxes cleared out and on the curb ready for morning pick up. We huff and realize that it is 4:30 pm and none of us has eaten, except the twins who have been snacking.

"Let's go get some food. I am starving." Visellia sighs checking on her twins who are now knocked out, sleeping on the sofa.

"Alright. Just let me call Tyasia and Kinsey right quick."

Visellia nods as I get my phone from the kitchen charger. Tyasia and Kinsey are still my girls. Tyasia graduated from her college and eventually got with her handsome math teacher; Mason Peller.

It is a serious relationship, Tyasia says. And he treats her like a queen, even after she played hard to get for a few weeks or so. After seven months of dating, he proposed to her and of course, she accepted.

Kinsey...she is a different matter. She travels all over the States and claims that she doesn't need a man. All she needs is money. Tyasia and I always shake our heads at the statement. But, Tyasia and knows there is someone special in Kinsey's life that she's not talking about for whatever reason.

After trying to call both of them and not getting an answer, Visellia, the twins, and I go out to lunch.

While sitting at Applebee's, Visellia makes sure, her babies are strapped in the high chairs. The server comes and asks us for our drink orders. Visellia orders a dirty martini and I order a cola with light ice. The server goes to fill our drink orders.

I have noticed Visellia has started drinking a little more than usual. She tells me it's to cope with being a mommy and once she gets back into her job, she promised me that she would stop.

"I start my job back tomorrow." Visellia smiles. "I can't wait."

"I guess not. I mean you did ask for some extended time off." I remind her.

"I know." She groans and places her head on the edge of the table.

Gabriel hits Visellia and she sits up. Gabriel squeals and claps his hands, "Mommy." He picks up his crayon and beings coloring. Genève pats her brother then goes back coloring.

I smile. The waiter comes back and takes our food orders. We go for the two for 25 mean. Visellia orders the fried shrimp and I get the half rack with double fries to share with the twins. As for the appetizer, we get their famous spinach dip.

"Alright, ladies. I will go fill these and be back with your appetizers." He dashes off.

"Have you spoken to Andy?" Visellia asks taking a sip of her drink.

"Uh, I have."

Visellia and Andy have resolved their difference. I am glad to have been there when that happened. Of course, it was a few weeks after Andy checked herself into the rehab center and Andy asked Visellia to join her and me in the visiting center. That is when Andy apologized to Visellia and explained many things to Visellia, some of which I didn't even know.

"How is she doing?"

"She is doing well. I think she'll be getting out soon."

"Awesome. Are you ready to go back to work?"

"I go tomorrow morning. However, Shiriki isn't so happy about it."

Visellia laughs as the waiter brings our appetizer and tells us our food will be ready shortly.

"Well, I wouldn't be happy either if the woman who makes dinner every once in a while before I got home is going back to work. Or that kept the house clean." Visellia tease. We chuckle.

"Yeah. I know and I know that we can survive off his income alone. I want to be able to contribute to that. That way if things go bad, he can't say, 'you wouldn't be here or there or this or that without me'. You know what I mean?"

"I do. You do what you feel is right for you." Visellia touches my hand.

"Oh, you know I will. I want you to do that same." I put my free hand on her hand. I truly want Visellia to stop drinking and I really hope that her getting back into the swing of working will stop her.

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