Hiding Place || Tori Kelly

High & Mighty

Continued

6:45 PM

The Murillo residence calmed down as the party started to mellow out. The food was almost gone, the usual crowd was weeded out from those who came for special events, who had left. And Tori was anxious. The singer started to inch her way towards the wrapped present, gently pulling André with her, completely interrupting he and Kamari's conversation. "Babe," André said, not sure why he was being pulled into another direction.

"I wanna open the present mom got us," Tori whined. André sighed and whistled to grab the families attention. Laura noticed that the kids were about to open her gift and quickly stepped forward.

"Before you open it," she started, causing to Tori to implode. "I just want to say that, a while back, Tori told me that she was adamant she was having a girl. And trusting her motherly instincts, I went out and got this gift. Now, I am so thankful that I did. And I'm forever more thankful that Tori is coming into her own as a mother. I pray Abiah will see many wonderful years with this," Laura smiled, stepping back and allowing André to hold onto the box as his wife ripped the paper off.

A mess stood before them as Tori stared speechlessly at the brown box with a clear window cut into it that showed an all-white convertible crib that had the words 'Though she be but little' carved into the headboard piece. Tears started to flow as everything slowly started to catch up to Tori. She was pregnant. She was married. She owned a new house and somehow acquired a new puppy. And now, she had a crib. She knew she needed a place for Abiah to sleep, but in hindsight, a nursery always felt like a later task. Tori had just realized that she was halfway through her pregnancy and had nothing. She'd spent so long frustrated and worried about having a baby that she had forgotten to actually prepare for her.

In one swift motion, Tori ran out of the living room and out of the house. Once in the backyard, Tori saw a sight, that was definitely new to her. "Hey! What are you doing?" She yelled, slightly scaring her brother. Tori snatched the device from his hands and inspected it. "What is this? A Juul? Really, you're smoking now?" Tori fumed. Noah went to grab it back, but Tori held it out of reach and forced her free hand between them.

"It's nothing. It's just some water vapor," he defended.

"And nicotine! Which is bad for you! Do mom and dad know?" Tori yelled. Noah scoffed, folding his arms in disbelief.

"Oh don't act all high and mighty. Don't forget who kept your secret when you were coming in drunk at 17. And covered for you the morning after when you were hungover. Or who distracted mom and dad so you could sneak out! I didn't say anything when you begged me not to after I caught you with Hector in the basement! I will carry those to the grave with me because you asked me too. Don't you think I was worried about my big sister? I was but I respected you enough not to tell. Please show me the same courtesy," Noah said. Tori's arm slowly came down and dropped the vape in her brother's hand.

"Fine. But at least tell me why?" Tori asked, placing her hands on her hips, finally feeling the weight of her baby.

"Julie and I are having a rough patch, and I wanted to propose next week, but she..." he trailed off. "I don't know," Noah sighed. Tori took her brothers arm and led him to the sitting area in the corner of the patio.

"You and Julie have only been together for seven months. Give it time bro. Have you prayed about it?" Tori softly asked. Noah silently sat, knowing that he hadn't done the one thing he truly should've. "Then there you go," Tori smirked. Noah lightly shoved his sister's arm and sat back.

"Let's hope, B doesn't do half the things you and André did. Or let's hope she has a little brother like me to keep her secrets," Noah laughed. Tori's eyes went wide and her head started to shake.