Straight Outta 8 Mile

Chapter 41

Today was Christmas Eve and everyone is so excited, we went out and bought a bunch of presents for Proof's family and we're going to drop them off today. I know Ava is really excited to spend Christmas as a family again and I am too. Marshall and I are upstairs getting ready to head over to Proof's family's house,

"You look good babe" Marshall smirked as he glanced over to me,

"Thanks babe, I feel huge!" I admitted looking down at my growing pregnancy belly.

"You're still the most beautiful women I've ever seen." He told me as he stopped and admired me, he has a way of making me feel like the most beautiful women on Earth.

"Awe, thank you baby!" I said as I walked over and gave him a kiss, he turned and grabbed a shirt and I smacked his butt.

"You look pretty good yourself." I smiled before walking over to finish getting ready. Marshall is so funny he does this cheesy hilarious dance as I'm trying to get ready. I tried so hard to not burst out laughing.

Marshall has always been super funny around me and his friends no matter how old he gets he is still a little kid at heart. After we got dressed we went downstairs where Ava was sitting in the living room looking down at her phone.

"You ready to go hun?" Marshall asked Ava

"Yup." She got off the couch and walked over to us, Marshall and Ava carried most of the presents out to the car of course I had to carry the smaller lighter presents. The whole trunk of the Escalade was full of gifts.

"I feel like Santa." Marshall joked in a funny accent as we walked around the car to get in,

"Well you kinda are." I told him as we all got in, after a little bit into the drive I could tell the fact that we were going to see Proof's family was really getting to Marshall. I took his hand and gently squeezed it.

"I know this is hard for you babe, but we are going to get through this." I tried to reassure him.

"Yeah I know, it just sucks ya know? I fuckin miss my best friend." Marshall started to get uneasy and tried distracting himself looking around outside.

"I miss him too dad." Ava added from the backseat.

"He was one hell of a friend Marshall, he was one of my best friends too and I still can't believe this is real. It really makes you stop and think about how short life really is, and how we can't take anything for granted." I said still holding on to Marshall's hand, he didn't say anything but he didn't have too I could see how much it was affecting him, he squeezed my hand tighter.

We pulled up to the house and Nasaan, Elijah, Nyeem, Kativa, DeShaun Jr. all came running out to the car as we parked Sharonda (Proof's wife) wasn't too far behind them.

"Uncle Marshall!" The kids yelled as Marshall got out of the car, he gave each of them a hug before picking up Kativa,

"Hey you, are your brothers bein nice ta you?" Marshall asked joking around with her.

"Sometimes" She answered with a smile she was so happy to see Marshall it was so cute, they all were so excited to see him and the way his face lit up when he saw them warmed my heart.

"Hey there mama" Sharonda smiled walking out to me as I got out of the car, she walked over and hugged me.

"How are you doing?" I asked still hugging her in my arms

"As good as I can be I guess, it still just don't seem real." She admitted, I could only imagine how difficult this is for her not only did she lose her husband and love of her life but her kids also lost their father.