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"I want to talk to your boyfriend." Marista said, trying to keep her cool. "I want to know his intentions for you and the future. Does he plan on being in this child's life?"
Marika heard the inflections in her voice. She knew her mother was furious and that she was holding it in. "Yes, we're gonna get married and all. We've been talking about it."
Marista snatched up Marika's left hand. "So there's no ring? The boy hasn't proposed yet?" She let out a heavy sigh. "Two days from now I want him here. It doesn't matter the time. I'll have a simple meal prepared and we can all talk." She looked at Mermista and her other daughters. "You, me and Jordan only."
"Dang it!" Amara said quietly, but they all heard her.
And then the attention was focused on someone else. Marista went over to Mermista. "Promise me that you're taking that birth control."
Mermista swallowed hard. She hated being confronted. She nervously replied, "Ye-Yes, Marista. I swear I am."
Marista could feel Meranda's ache. She locked her eyes with hers and Meranda instantly began crying. "You're still so young." Marista said wrapping her arms around her. "True love will happen for you. You just gotta give it time."
"Not to mention what happened with Kyth." Amara said, not realizing Meranda had not told her mother about him.
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"Amara, shut up!" Meranda yelled out. "Mother it's nothing I promise."
"Nothing?" Mermista said, coming over. "It was a bad situation."
Marista crossed her arms now. "Meranda, tell me please. What happened with this guy?"
Meranda had to sit down. "I thought he was great. At first he was then he tried to rape me."
Marista put a hand over her mouth for a moment. "Oh honey."
"Lucky for me that I was followed by friends of SeaHawk's. They rescued me from the jerk. Plus I watered him down too." Meranda said. "I don't even wanna think about that guy. Mom, you've known for a while that I want to get married and have a kid. It's like my dream."
Amara slowly walked behind the couch. "Mikey loves you."
Meranda tried to swat her away, but Amara jumped out of the way. "No, he does not! He just thinks he does! Stop talking about him!"
Amara came around to face her mother. "He knows a lot of her favorite things. What guy has ever cared enough to remember those things? Russ . . . nope, Kyth? Oh please, who was before that Russ guy?" She turned in thought. "Oh, Greasy Gregor and Davis."
Meranda had dated a bunch of duds for sure. She'd loved Russ for two years even though he'd mostly just used her.
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Marista took Meranda's hands in hers. "Tell me about Mikey."
"No. He's a pirate - the end." Meranda said and took her hands back.
Mermista spoke up for Mikey. "He's a sweet guy. He cares deeply for Meranda and knows her very well. They were really good friends until recently."
"Plus he has beautiful blue eyes." Amara chimed in. "And a great smile. If I wasn't into girls I'd date him myself."
Marika kept quiet, but knew her mother wanted to get her alone to grill her.
Marista stood up. "I'll let the kitchen staff know what I'd like them to make for tonight."
