Honey And Sugar

Chapter 5 "#1 Mom"

I kicked Cameron in the shin and fluidly took Sheba away from him. "Never do that again."

"Hey, baby. You had fun?" I asked as I kissed Merissa on her forehead.

"Yeah, Cammie took us a lot of places. We went to this festival and it was super cool!" Merissa exclaimed.

"This is the thanks I get?" He asked after he recovered.

"No one asked you." Justin said gruffly and ruffled Merissa's hair as she hugged him.

"But thank you, anyways. They seemed like they had fun." I gave him a side hug and bounced Sheba on my hip.

She gurgled and pulled on my earlobe. Cameron smiled. "She was getting cranky so I brought them home. I think she's hungry."

"I'll feed her." Justin offered, plucking Sheba out of my grip.

I watched as he walked out of the hallway and disappeared into the kitchen with our daughter. "Izzy is going to be here tomorrow."

"Really?" He asked, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah." I sighed in defeat and let him lead me to the living room.

He let me go to plop down on the couch and I threw my legs over him. I stuck my feet in his face and he grimaced, pushing them away.

Merissa came back down the stairs and catapulted over the couch. I pulled my legs back just in time before she landed. I clapped slowly and she grinned at me.

"Hey, Cammie?"

"Yeah. What's up, squirt?" He asked, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Could you get me a phon-" Merissa yelped as I pulled on her ear.

"Don't even think about it."

"Okay, okay! Let go!" I let go of her ear and she rubbed it, pouting.

"Yikes." Cameron commented.

"Cameron, you get her one and I will sacrifice you to the gods."

"I'm down with that," Justin said as he came into the room with Sheba on his hip. She reached out for me and I cooed, grabbing her. "She wants her mom."

"Hey, cutie."

"I feel so attacked in this household." He looked scandalized.

I squinted at him, making the situation worse. "Why are you here again?"

He stared at me in shock while Justin and Merissa laughed. I held back a smile as I watched his face contort.

"I'm just kidding. You wanted to visit, right? And see your favorite person." I batted my eyelashes at him.

"Oh, thank God. I thought you turned against me."

"I would never." I felt small hands on my face and I looked down at Sheba. She grinned with her teeth peeking through her gums and I felt warm grow in my chest.

I placed a tender kiss on her forehead and pulled her up so she could stand on my thighs. "You're a great mom."

I turned my head to Cameron and I smiled. "I try."

"It's an amazing difference to see. I mean, look at you. You have practically two kids, basically have a husband, a house. You're doing good."

"Well, I'm pretty damn proud to be me."

"Of course, she's amazing." Justin puffed out his chest in pride and I laughed.

"Oh, shut up."

"And that's enough flattering you today. Your head will only get bigger." He teased.

"And yours isn't?"

"Oh, please. I'm as humble as they come."

I scoffed. "You told me you were a gift from God."

"That was a long time ago."

"That was yesterday."

"Was it?"

I ignored him and gripped tightly onto Sheba as she tilted backwards.  Her goofy grin showed again to match my smile. "Good job. Merissa?"

"Yes?" She perked up.

"Be a sweetheart and keep an eye on Sheba for a little bit. Justin has to cook dinner, I have to make a call, and Cameron...don't break anything."

"Yes, ma'am." Merissa skipped over and gently took Sheba from me.

"Why do I have to cook? You just want me to make rabbit food, anyway. We can just order pizza." Justin whined playfully.

I glared at him and he relented with a sigh. "Health freak."

"What was that?"

"I called you a health freak!" He yelled through his cupped hands.

"I'm not a health freak, you ass!"

"Then let me order pizza tonight!"

"No."

"I'm burning your vegetables. Just because you want to be healthy, nobody else has to." He threatened and I gasped dramatically.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Say goodbye to la lechuga."

"Nooo-" My dramatic yell got cut off with a kiss and I hummed appreciatingly.

"Bravo. Arroz, vegetables, y pescado, yes?" He asked once he pulled away with a smirk.

"Exactly." I smiled.

He turned around and headed to the kitchen. "You should go ahead and make that phone call."

I turned to face Cameron's appalled face and burst out laughing. "You look horrified!"

"I was about to buckle in for a regular couple argument and then it feels like I'm watching the most ridiculous soap opera ever made." He looked like he was trying to wrap his head around what just happened.

I choked back my laughs and patted him on the shoulder as I passed him by. "We don't fight a lot. It's pretty much rare. Don't get your hopes up."

I went upstairs and pulled my phone out of my back pocket as I made it to Merissa's room. My thumb scrolled over my contacts as I stood in the doorway listening to Merissa ramble to Sheba.

I pressed the phone to my ear as it rang. "...because I think you're more my sister than anything. Would you like to be my sister, Sheba?"

I looked up and saw Sheba sitting surrounded by pillows with Merissa sitting in front of her doing her homework as if Sheba understood anything she was talking about. Sheba gurgled half formed words happily and Merissa looked up at her and smiled. "I'm glad."

"Hello?" I jumped slightly at the voice coming through the speaker and quietly crept away to my bedroom.

"Hey, Keana." I said softly.

"Destiny? Oh my God. Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in-"

"Awhile. I know."

She scoffed. "That's bit of an understatement."

"I've got a favor to ask you." I decided getting straight to the point would calm my nerves.

She was silent for awhile. "You've got a lot of nerve to be-"

"I know, I know. But can we meet up to talk?" I pleaded.

She let out a loud sigh. "When?"