Honey And Sugar

Chapter 6 "Make Up or Continue to Break up"

It wasn't exactly my fault that I haven't kept in contact with my family. I understand that I had a chance to be near my family but I needed to get out of that bubble so, hand in hand with Justin, we picked up our family and left.

Of course, my parents were furious. They wanted us to be close so they could invade on our private lives as much as possible. Okay, maybe that was my own assumption but I wasn't wrong in the fact that they have separation problems.

Never mind that I just had my first child and I was still young. I just wanted space and Justin ready to back me up in every corner. My decision obviously led to some tension between my parents and I.

...we haven't spoken in awhile.

I frowned as I bounced Sheba lightly on my left knee in a green restaurant chair. We were sitting in the outside seating area waiting for Keana to show up.

Keana and I were on thin ice with each other because she wanted me to apologize. But I was as stubborn as my mother when it came to things like this. I knew it was stupid and childish but pride was one hell of a thing.

I brushed my hand through Sheba's soft hair and she leaned backwards into my chest, looking up at me. Her eyes were so full of wonder and curiosity that it nearly made me cry. She was so new to this world that it was impossible to comprehend sometimes.

"She's gotten so big."

I turned to the source of the awestruck voice and found Keana standing there. She had her hair braided back in tight cornrows and her eyes were outlined by gold eyeliner.

"Yeah, that tends to happen to people as they get older."

Her eyes met mine and I swallowed slowly. She stepped forward and I tensed but she carefully maneuvered around Sheba to wrap me in a hug.

"You're such an idiot."

I let out a sigh of relief at the same time Sheba let out a sound of discontent. We both laughed and she pulled away, looking down at my daughter with clear mirth.

"Well, if it isn't the little lady," She glanced at me. "Can I hold her?"

I nodded and loosened my grip so Keana could pick her up. Sheba was wearing a black t-shirt and light blue leggings contrasting against Keana's bright outfit. Keana cooed and extended Sheba in the air as she spun her around. "She's absolutely gorgeous!"

"She'll throw up on you if you move her too much. I laughed when it happened to Justin, I'll laugh when it happens to you." I teased, smiling and she stopped hesitantly. Sticking her tongue out, she placed Sheba on her chest and sat down.

"And how is the hubby, anyway?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Not hubby, boyfriend, and he's fine," I sighed and rested an elbow on the table. "But he's also the reason that I'm here."

Keana didn't show any physical surprise if she was. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Geez, is that everyone's go to response?"

"Well, stop being cryptic and tell me what happened." Keana rolled her eyes and brushed her hand over Sheba's soft hair.

Leaning back in my seat, I looked over to the busy street. "Justin got laid off yesterday and I need to go back to work."

"And you want me to help you weasel into a place at my job?"

I turned back to her and took her hand in mine. "I know its super shitty but please..."

Keana grinned and Sheba started mouthing on her sundress. I sighed and took the cloth out of her mouth, taking her out of Keana's grip. "Sorry, she's teething."

As I went in my purse to grab Sheba's teething toy, Keana spoke. "It's fine and I'll do it."

I lost my grip on the toy and let it fall back into the depths of my purse. "Really?! Thank you s-"

"On the condition that you have to reconcile with your parents first." She added quickly.

I turned away with a frown and went searching for the toy again. Keana groaned and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Are you really still mad?"

My jaw dropped and I turned to her. "Mad?! I was never mad! Ask my parents why they were mad!"

"They were mad," Keana started, frustration clear in her voice. "Because you couldn't stay put for at least another year or two before running off."

"I do not have to stay put because they want me to. I wanted to leave and I did." Sheba started getting visibly upset at the tension and I placed a hand on her back, rubbing soothingly.

"But you just barely had your first child and their first grandchild. They had the opportunity to see their first grandchild grow closely but you took that away. That's fucked up." Keana explained.

I scoffed. "It is not that serious and it never was. And stop saying that Sheba is their first grandchild, she isn't. Merissa is. It's not like they can't still see them. I can go see my parents with them. We can exchange photos. When she gets older, she can spend the summer at their house with Merissa. It's not like I'm isolating them from their grandparents."

"That's true but Sheba is the first grandchild they've had that has been raised by both of you from birth."

"Merissa was pretty young when she came into our life." I muttered and Keana groaned.

"What-ever! Make up with your parents and I'll get you the job, got it?" I grunted and she checked her watch, rising from her chair. "It was good to see you and the baby but I've got to go."

I raised my eyebrows. "Where are you rushing off to?"

Keana leaned close with a wink and covered Sheba's ears. "Dick appointment."

I gasped out a breath of laughter as she chuckled and walked away. I looked at Sheba and we stared at each other for a long while. She suddenly let out a high pitched burst of laughter, showing her pink gums with bits of teeth poking through and I smiled. "Decisions, decisions. What should we do?"

Sheba offered nothing but a series of babbled talk.

"I agree."

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Short chap but the next few are longer 😘