One // Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Chapter Thirty-One

Fifteen minutes later everyone sat with a mug of hot chocolate in their hands. Each person took turns telling the story of how they managed to arrive in time for Christmas.

"As I told you our flight had gotten cancelled. They offered us another flight for tomorrow so we accepted thinking we had no other choice after weighing our options." Sairah said. "So we sat in the waiting area for a bit, mind you all the kids are a bit grouchy. Then there was this boy who had a football so Mr. Kailum decided that he was gonna go play." She said playfully glaring at her son. 

"They were kicking it back and forth when I heard them talking. So the boy said that his family was driving up to London because they weren't going to sit around and wait for a plane that may never come and that his dad had a huge van that could fit a lot of people. The boy, whose name is Harley, asked if we wanted to come. Kailum came and asked me and at first I was hesitant for obvious reasons but then I said okay."

"So when we get to the van we loaded all our stuff and got in. I'm still wary of these people so I keep my pepper spray within reach." Leigh snorted. Sairah smiled and continued.

"I have my pepper spray in reach and Harley's father who was this big, lumpy guy saw it, looked me directly in my eyes but he didn't say anything. He just kind of discreetly nodded like he understood? I'm not sure. Anyways, we're on the road and it's quiet, save for the kids chatting. All of a sudden I hear a note from a harmonica-"

"The guy pulls out a harmonica," Grace cuts in, "and his wife starts singing, no, rapping Jingle Bell Rock. Oh my gosh it was so bad and then Harley and Kailum joins in, which was like an invitation for everybody else to join in. After that we just kept going, song after song. It became like a game, "who could sing which song the worst. It was so funny."

Leigh was in stitches when they started reenacting their hitchhike karaoke session. Tears began streaming down her face. She was laughing so hard she almost didn't hear the baby monitor go off.

"Just a minute, I'll be right back. Seems like Miss Chloe wants to join us." Leigh chuckled. She set her mug down on the coffee table and peeled herself off of the couch.

She padded up to her daughter's room and she stopped just outside the door and listened. She heard soft babbling coming from the inside as if the little girl on the inside was having a full on, one sided conversation. Leigh gently pushed open the door.

"Good morning my little sunshine. How are you doing this morning, huh?" She said as she lifted her out her crib and kissed her chubby cheeks. Chloe-Marie cooed and gave a toothless grin.

"We have visitors. Let's go meet your other aunties."

Suddenly Leigh got a whiff of Chloe's diaper and almost gagged. "After I change you. My goodness you stink." Chloe-Marie just squealed and laughed as if her mum made the funniest joke ever.

"So ya think that's funny, ya little bugger" she said mimicking a pirate's voice. She heard a giggle from the doorway and she turned around. Kailum was peeping in.

"Hey bud, come in."

Kailum sauntered into the room and stood next to his aunt. He gazed at his baby cousin who stared right back at him. "She's so cute and she looks a lot like you." He commented.

"Aww, thanks K." She went to the changing table she had set up in the corner and laid the smiling baby on top of it. She got the container of baby wipes and a clean diaper out from the drawer beneath the table.

"Can I help?" Her nephew asked shyly.

"Sure. Look in that cupboard and get a plastic bag to put the dirty diaper in." She pointed to the cupboard across the room. "When you're done let me show you how to clean a baby."