The Perfect Stranger

Nine

*Valerie in picture above
Two months later
We sat in the church as the pastor talked. The kids cried. I rocked Sage in my arms as we cried. Edward sat there rocking the kids. We walked to the graveyard. We watched as they poured dirt over her casket. Sage broke down in Edward's arms. He pulled her up and hugged her. The kids put flowers against the tombstone.

We walked to the car. Sage sobbed. The kids sat down in the back sniffling. I sat in the back crying. I gave a tissue to Sage and the kids. We walked inside the house. I sat on the couch. My mom walked into the guest house and walked away when she seen us. Sage kissed the kids and hugged them. Edward hugged them also.

I went to wash up. I put on my lazy day clothes and sat on the couch. I cried in a pillow. Edward patted my back. "Can I have some ice cream," I asked.

"Sure," he said. He went into the small kitchenette and pulled out the ice cream. He grabbed a spoon and gave it to me. I ate from the ice cream tub and laid there. He walked back out and grabbed a sub from the fridge. He warmed it up and walked back to his room. He sighed and walked back out. I watched as he grabbed a sprite.

"You woman are so demanding," he said.

"Can you get the chips too please," Sage asked from the room.

"Yes honey," he sighed and grabbed the chips. He didn't come back out after that. I laid down and sat the now half eaten ice cream tub down. I rubbed my belly and smiled as the baby kicked. I looked at my phone and looked at Jewel's number. I called Edward in.

"Yes Diamond," he asked.

"Answer the phone I have nothing to say to her," I said.

"Alright," he shrugged. He talked to her for a while.

"It's for you," he shrugged.

"I don't wanna," I whined. He handed me the phone.

"Guess what happens when you listen to your little sister and lighten up on your eldest daughter," she snapped.

"They learn that their mother is a back stabbing b****," I snapped.

"No they go to a party, get drunk and high, and get pregnant," she retorted.

"That's specific did Sonya do that?"

"Yes she did but she's not pregnant. Oh and she got high, real high and she got really intoxicated to the point where she is sick really sick!"

"I didn't give you advice I told you that I didn't like the way you talk to her," I said.

"That's why I'm pregnant with Terrel's child and we're going to elope and move far from this family," she said.

"Do whatever you want," I hung up. I laid back down and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and looked at Edward hovering over me like the Green Giant. He smiled and kissed my forehead. I smiled and fell asleep.

"EDWARD," I screamed. He ran out in his robe and turned on the light holding a baseball bat.

"What is it," he asked lowering the bat.

"My water just broke," I smiled.

"SAGE WAKE UP DIAMOND IS GOING TO BE A MOM," Edward yelled waking everyone else up.

"Get her to the damn hospital stop gloating and get her to the damn van," Sage smacked him in the back of the head. He grabbed my arm and took me to the van. The kids followed us. Sage ran behind us with a baby carrier. She held junior in her other arm. We ran to the car. My mom took some of the other kids and followed behind us.