"Dammit Jazleen, sit still or you're going out there looking like a damn lion," I groaned.
"Well I'm sorry, but this is taking forever," she whined,
"If you would just sit still, then maybe we wouldn't be having this problem right now," I grumbled trying to curl the last bit of her hair.
"Shit Keyshia! You just burned me," she yelled.
"It's your fault for moving so much! Stay still, I only have a little bit left," I snapped.
"Ugh fine," she crossed her arms like a little kid.
With her finally sitting still like an adult, I finished her hair in under ten minutes. After we finished that, I did her makeup and helped her into her wedding dress. I looked her over and felt a ping of jealousy because I had to admit, she looked way too gorgeous today. I was extremely happy for her though. My mom, Niya, and Shaun walked into the room also looking more gorgeous than ever. We were all dressed in baby blue, flowing dresses with golden heels and gold jewelry. My mom gasped at Jazleen and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Oh my goodness! Sweetie, you look like a Mexican princess," she gushed.
"Thank you Mom," Jazz said getting choked up with tears.
"I swear if you cry, I'm going to cry and I'l have to punch you in the face," I threatened.
"Well it's Mom's fault," she laughed.
"Well, Mom you shut up too," I laughed.
"Sorry sweetheart," she said, wiping away her tears.
"Okay ladies, I hate to cut this short, but we have to go. We're due to walk down the aisle in a few minutes," Niya came over to us.
"Oh yes, let's get out of this dressing room," I commanded.
We all walked down the walk way that was set up, my mom was walked down the aisle first by Jamie and Niya, then Shaun and I went down together. The music for "Here comes the Bride" started playing and my sister started walking down alongside my father. I locked eye with Da'Merious and mouthed, "you lucky bastard" which made his big smile grow a mile. When Jazz reached the alter, she had the biggest smile on her face I've ever seen before. The pastor went through the giving of the bride, then he went through his whole thing about young love and how it was rare to see younger couples getting married. After a few minutes he moved onto the reading of the vows.
"Jazleen, would like to start dear?"
"Yeah sure.. Da'Merious, five years ago we met in our freshman year of college. When I rise laid eyes on you, I honestly thought you were just another cocky guy looking for his next lay. As time went on, I realized that you were the sweetest guy I had ever had the chance to meet. You were there for me through all the nights I couldn't sleep because I was missing home and worried about what kind of trouble the twins were getting themselves into. You held me up when I thought the world was against me. And for that I will always love you Da'Merious Jason Camden."
"That was beautiful. Da'Merious, you turn," the pastor spoke up.
"Jazleen, I've loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you. I was captivated by your beauty and that gorgeous smile of yours. The way you like to joke around about almost everything is always amazing. You are an amazing mother to our beautiful daughter. I love you so much beyond any words can really explain Jazleen Vanessa Elliot."
"Touching, ver y, very touching. May I have the rings please," the pastor asked.
My little cousin Nate walked up from where he stood and dropped the rings into his hand. The pastor went through the motions with the meaning of the rings, then Jazz and Dee put them on each other's fingers.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride," he announced.
Everyone stood up and cheered as the newlyweds sucked face. When they finished, we proceeded outside and headed for the reception. It was a very beautiful and more so splendid wedding. At the reception, the happy couple was announced as Mr. and Mrs. Camden which brought everyone to an uproar. The feast of the wedding party filed in accordingly and the clapping continued. Once the music started up after the first dance, I pulled Shaun to the dance floor.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" She asked as we swayed to the beat of the song.
"No, I don't think you did," I chuckled.
"Well you look absolutely beautiful," she smiled at me.
"Not as beautiful as Jazz. She looks like a Greek goddess tonight," I pointed out.
"You still look gorgeous. Just wait until our wedding night, you'll look like a Greek goddess yourself," she tucked a loose hair behind my ear.
"Thank you baby. You're going to look beautiful yourself," I told her.
We swayed to the music a little more, until it was time for the father-daughter dance. I found myself crying alongside Jamie while watching my dad twirl Jazz around like they do in the movies. Once the dance was over, I was walking around talking to the family and friends that showed up and I bumped into my aunt Sarah (Nate's mom). She looked me over before smiling a great big smile.
"Hey aunty!" I pulled her into a hug.
"Hi sweetie, it's been too long," she squeezed me softly.
"I know. I'm upset with you," I slapped her shoulder.
"What I do? I should be the one mad at you," she crossed her arms.
"Well for starters, your ass moved all the way to Florida, you barely call me anymore, and you never responded to either of the posts I wrote you," I crossed my arms too.
"Im sorry my love. I've been so busy lately with Nate starting school and my job having me on the run all the time," she gave me the 'I'm sorry please forgive me' face.
"Ugh, you are lucky that I love you woman. Anyway, how was your twenty-sixth?" I asked.
"it was such a bullshit day," she pouted.
"Awe why, what happened?"
"A lot. I was sick, Nate was being bad as hell, and on top of that I had to work. Plus Nathan wouldn't come get Nate at all," she sighed.
"I'm sorry man. I don't see why you still put up with that man, forget that he's Nate's father."
"I don't either. But, what do you think, do you see yourself doing this whole wedding thing in the future?" She posed.
"Actually yeah. Within the next year or so," I scratched my head and gave her a sheepish smile.
"No shit! With who?" She practically scram.
"To my fiancé. Now shut it will you."
"Boy or girl?" She rose an eyebrow.
"Girl."
"Is it the one you were out there dancing with?"
"Yes," I smiled dreamily.
"Oh my, she's fucking gorgeous!" She exclaimed.
"Sarah seriously shut the hell up dude! She's mine, so go find your own," I gave her a look.
You see, Sarah was also apart of the lesbian club, she's my moms little sister, so you know. She also likes to go after girls who are in relationships and slightly younger than herself. Oh and Nate is the product of a drunken night.
"Don't worry baby, I'm not going after your girl. I have my own back home," she smirked and me, then winked.
"Oh snap, you been on the prowl lately?"
"Yeah, we met a few months ago at that night club I told you about a while back."
"Good for you Sarah. Well I have to go give my speech now," I hugged her.
"Alright love bug. I'll see you later on."
"You should come over tomorrow," I told her.
"That sounds like a good plan."
I left and made my way to the head table. My brother gave a speech about how much he loved Jazz and how happy he was for her, then he started crying. Da'Merious' brother gave the best man speech and then twenty emotional minutes later, it was my turn.
"Jazz, let me start off by saying, I never thought you would ever get married and us not be party girls anymore. I never really thought we would both have beautiful daughters around the same time either. Hopefully they're a little more well behaved than we were around each other. I can't explain how happy I am for you and the fact that you finally found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. I want you guys to leave this place tonight and start your new lives together. I love you both so much. But Dee, you ever mess around on my sister and I will kill you," I spoke through tear filled eyes and hugged my sister tightly.
I sat back down and took a deep breath with a smile on my face. Today has been such a beautiful day filled with tons and tons of emotion. I definitely can't wait until my wedding because man, we will need boats to get around the room from all the tears that will be shed.
The next day my mom, Niya, Shaun, and I were sitting in the family room watching Tiana try and grab her feet. It was the cutest thing ever because she couldn't sit up yet, so she was getting frustrated because she couldn't reach. After a while there was a knock on the front door.
"Go get the door Keyshia, we'll keep an eye on her," my mom told me.
"Alright, just don't let her roll, please," I whined.
"We won't babe, now go get the door," Niya spoke up.
I walked to the door slowly, not really caring that much as to who was on the other side of it. When I finally did get to the door and open it, I was nearly tackled to the floor by my little cousin. Grunting, I tried to stand straight, but he clung to my legs for dear life.
"KeKe!!!" He scram with enthusiasm.
"Hey NJ!" I said cheerfully.
"I missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too buddy."
I looked up at Sarah for a little assistance. Shaking her head, she kneeled down and unwrapped Nate from my body. Standing completely straight, I picked Nate up and walked back to the family room with Sarah in tow. When I sat back down on the floor Nate looked at Tiana, who looked back at him with a little of confused expression. Nate looked back at me in confusion , then smiled.
"KeKe, who's baby?" He asked.
"That's my baby NJ," I told him.
"You had a baby!"
"Yes buddy, I had a baby," I chuckled at his astonishment.
"Can I hold her?" He asked, looking between all of us in the room with puppy dog eyes.
"Yes, you can hold her NJ, but you hav to e careful and stay still buddy," i gave him a serious look.
"Okay KeKe," he smiled and sat still in my lap while I positioned Tiana in his.
I watched as they sat there together, looking at each other in complete awe. Grabbing my phone, I handed it to Sarah so she could snap a picture of this priceless moment. Nate held her with such protection in his little arms, it warmed my heart. After long however, Tiana became restless and started to whine.
"KeKe, I didn't do anything I promise!" He panicked.
"NJ, it's okay, she's just getting tired. Calm down bud," I slid him off my lap and took Tiana from his arms.
"Sorry T," he kissed her head, then ran over to his mom, then ran over to Sarah and cried.
"NJ, sweetie you didn't hurt her. Look at me honey," she said lifting his chin, "you didn't do anything to hurt her. Now give me a hug and take your cookies," Sarah held him tightly.
I gave Tiana her bottle and noticed that she had a tiny tooth growing in on the side. This brought tears to my eyes. After a while, she fell asleep and NJ was sitting next to Sarah quietly playing on his tablet. I looked over my shoulder at my mom and Niya giggling like school girls and Shaun, who finally had woken up for the day, laughing right along with them. Looking back over to my aunt, I nodded my head towards the kitchen so we could go make some food. Getting up, successfully without waking the baby, I walked out of the family room.
"So what's up girly?" Sarah asked, walking in behind me with Nate on her back.' "Nothing much today, slightly tired from being up almost all night, then turning back around and waking up early with fatty right here," I said through a yawn.
"Little mama likes to wake up early huh?" She gazed down at the sleeping baby.
"Yeah, Princess T here likes to wake up at five in the morning," I chuckled a little.
"You made one good looking kid, baby girl," she told me.
"Thank you Sarah, now can you hold this good looking kid, while her good looking mama gets some food?" I asked.
"Yes, let me see the little chunky girl."
I walked around the kitchen getting out all the ingredients to make French Toast and some cinnamon rolls. There was just something about putting the two together that made me drool. While making the mixture for the toast, my phone started to ring. Sliding the talk icon and pressing the speaker icon, I spoke into it.
"Hello my darling," I called out to my brother.
"Hey my love," he sung.
"What's up Jamie?" I said, still mixing.
"Guess What Twin!!" He was screaming into the phone.
"Damn Jamie, what is it?" I whined.
"We adopted!" He continued to scream.
"You adopted what?" I stopped in the middle of the kitchen.
"Marco and I adopted a baby!" He yelled.
"You adopted a baby?" I yelled, looking over at my aunt.
"Yes, it's a baby boy," he sounded like he was crying.
"Oh my goodness! You adopted a baby! Oh my goodness, Jamie, that's huge!" I started getting emotional.
"I know it is and Keyshia, he's so damn cute, it's unreal," he cried more.
"I'm very proud of you Jamie. You've grown up so much since the ending of high school," I sat down on a bar stool and thought.
"I know, I couldn't keep doing the same old things I used to. I even cut down on the cussing," I could tell he was smiling.
"Have you told Mom yet?" I asked.
"Not yet, I was going to call her later," his voice shook a little.
"Don't call her. I'll call you after we eat and everything because I definitely want to be there when she finds out."
"Alright, sounds good to me," he sounded relieved.
"Oh and do me a favor will you?"
"Yeah of course baby doll, what is it?"
"Send me pictures of this cute boy, I need to see this baby," I demanded.
"Sure thing baby girl. Love you totes. Talk to you later," he said.
"Bye lover boy. Call you in a bit," i hung up and looked over at Sarah and grinned. I was so happy for my brother and Marco. They've been together since we were fourteen and they were still going strong. One day, I bet those two tie the knot.
I had Sarah go give the baby to one of the women in the family room so she could help me finish breakfast. Spending time with her has been great. I've honestly missed her, she was the person I would go to about everything outside of my sister, up until four years ago when she moved for her job. It was the hardest on me when she left because she was my best friend, the person I did everything with.
We finished cooking and made everyone a plate. When we walked into the next room, everyone's head snapped in our direction, in a neck breaking fashion. Laughing, we gave everyone their food and went back for the syrup, coffee, and Tiana's baby food.
"This is the amazing smell we were in here smelling?" Shaun asked.
"Yes ma'am. It was definitely us with our amazing cooking skills," Sarah chimed in.
"Great! I love French Toast and cinnamon rolls," Shaun clapped her hands.
"I think we all do," Niya laughed.
"Great. Now everyone eat or I'll eat everything," I told them all being extremely serious.
"Hungry, hungry hippo," Sarah laughed.
"Shut up woman," I punched her in the arm.
"You two are literally children trapped in adult bodies," my mom shook her head.
"I know. Oh and by the way babe, this is my awesome aunt Sarah also known as Nene and Sarah, this as you already know is my lovely fiancé Shauni," I introduced them.
"Nice to meet you," Shaun smiled.
"Likewise. It's good to know someone is keeping this big headed girl in her right mind," Sarah chuckled.
"I definitely try. Why do they call you Nene, if you don't mind you asking?"
"Well, big head over here started calling me that when she started talking because she couldn't say Sarah. So I've been Nene ever since," she explained.
"Okay, shut up and eat," my mom commanded with a smirk.
I looked around the room, at Nate who was shoving food in his face, then over to my sleeping child on her blanket. I then looked over at my aunt who was already looking at me with a grin on her face like the strange woman she was. Once everyone was finished with their food and we cleaned up and got all relaxed again, I phoned my brother. I couldn't wait to see the reactions around the room
"Hello," he answered with a cheerfully voice.
"Hey brother," I sung.
"What's up gorgeous?" He said softly.
"Sitting her with everyone," I said, scooping TeTe off her blanket.
"Oh, put me on speaker," he said giddily.
"Okay, you're on," I said after pushing the speaker icon.
"Well hello everyone," he yelled through the phone.
"Hey Jamie," Niya and Shaun spoke up.
"Hi sweet boy," my mom and Sarah said after.
"I have some exciting news to share with you all," he said shyly.
"What is it?" Everyone queried.
"well, i would like you all to know that I am now the proud father of a beautiful baby boy!"
"Pause, how is that possible?" Shaun asked looking confused.
"There's this thing called adoption, smart one," Jamie scoffed playfully.
"Oh sweet baby Jesus! You adopted a baby? That's huge!" Niya yelled, startling Tiana causing her to cry which earned her a nice glare from me.
"Sorry honey bun," she smiled apologetically.
"Mom, are you there?" Jamie spoke up.
"Yeah, she's here. I think she's in shock at he moment," I looked over at my mom's current expression.
"mom, are you okay with this?" Jamie asked softly.
"Jamie Andrew Elliot," my mom finally spoke.
"Yes ma'am?" He answered, sounding a little scared.
"I am so proud of you son. You have finally grown up. I'm very happy for you and Marco," she said joyously.
"Oh thank goodness. I thought you were going to yell at me or something. I'm very glad you're happy," he took a breath.
"Now mama has three grand babies to spoil rotten," Mom clapped.
"Oh lord. Mom, can you please refrain from turning my son into a spoiled brat?" Jamie whined.
"I make no promises Jamie," she chuckled.
"Wonderful," he sighed in defeat.
"Hey Jamie boy, what's the baby's name?" Sarah jumped in.
"His name is Bailey Mason Elliot," he sang.
"Awe cute!" We all smiled.
"I know right! But I have to go so that I can get Bailey some lunch and down for a nap," he said.
"Wait before you go, hold old is he?" I asked.
"He just turned eleven months," he sighed.
"Oh nice. Now go get your kid fed and send us pictures," I told him.
Alright, bye everyone. Love you all," he said and ended the call.
Within seconds of the call being over, we all received pictures of baby Bailey and my, my, my was he a gorgeous little thing. I could already tell that this boy was going to be trouble with those good looks. It made me happy because now Bianca and Tiana had someone to look after them when they got older.
Later on that day after my mom and Niya went upstairs to take a nap, it was just Sarah, Shaun, Nate, the baby, and myself hanging out doing nothing with ourselves. Looking over at Shaun, she smiled looking back at me. We both looked over at Sarah, who grinned like an idiot.
"Alright question, is everyone in this family gay?" Shaun randomly asked.
"well no. Jazz isn't, obviously. My mother is straighter than I think possible. My brother, Keyshia's uncle Brandon isn't either. As for the rest of us, we're as as gay as they come," Sarah rambled off.
"Hmm, that's nice," Shaun sighed.
"Okay, so now I have a question for you guys," Sarah spoke.
"And would that be Nene?" I asked her.
"Do you guys want to have another baby?"
"Yeah maybe when Tiana is a little older, because two babies and school right now is not happening," I answered.
Sitting in silence for a bit, Sarah got a call and went to another room to take it since it was the girlfriend she was telling me about last night. I put Tiana on one leg and Nate laid his head down on the other. The kid was absolutely adorable with a head full of brown curls, hazel eyes and a caramel skin complexion. We sat there like that until Sarah got off the phone two hours later and it was almost midnight at that time. I stood up with a sleepy Shaun to stretch out both of our legs. We walked towards the stairs to go down to my room, but I stopped and turned around to my aunt.
"Hey, it's late Nene, so you're staying the night here. Come down, I have an air mattress you and NJ can crash on, unless you want to sleep in one of the rooms upstairs," I told her.
"We'll just come down there with you guys," she stood as well, picking up Nate and his backpack.
We made it down to my room, where Shaun and Tiana were already out cold. Moving some stuff around with my feet, I made space for the air mattress i had to blow up. After blowing it up and putting some sheets and a blanket down, Sarah and NJ got laid down.
"Here give me Nate's cup so I can put it in the mini fridge," I told her as I walked towards the refrigerator to put away Tiana's bottle.
"Thank you Keyshia," she yawned.
"You're welcome Nene. Goodnight," I got in bed.
"Goodnight sweetie pie," she yawned and got comfortable.
My life with these crazy people is great. There is absolutely nothing in this world I'd trade for them and I honestly couldn't wait to see where the rest of this life took us all.
