Visiting Home

Three

"So what are you doing here?" Nevaeh asked Ashanti.

"Damn, I can't come check on my sister? I was actually starting to get worried, because like I said you weren't answering your phone", Ashanti answered as we walked into the living room.

"My bad I left it in the car", Nevaeh told her. I put Maddie down to play with her toys, she left all over the living room earlier. Nevaeh joined her on the floor.

Ashanti nodded and greeted Chris as he came into the living room. "I can't believe you guys are still together", Ashanti said looking at me and Chris, "and you guys have a kid."

"They're also engaged", Nevaeh added, not looking up from what she's doing with Maddie.

"WOW", Ashanti says in an over dramatically excited voice, "congrats guys!"

I snort at her need to be over dramatic and thank her. I lean on Chris, and he absentmindedly starts playing with the ring on my finger. We sit and listen to Ashanti and Nevaeh talk about things they've been doing recently. Ashanti lives not that far from Nevaeh. Ashanti works at our old high school as a guidance counselor. Nevaeh plans to become a teacher there when she finishes college.

We start talking about things we all did together growing up. "Remember when the six of used to sit around getting high all day, everyday?", Ashanti asked looking like she was thinking of a memory.

"Oh my god, I'm still surprised we never got caught." I laugh, "but speaking of the six of us, whatever happened to Steven?" Steven was part of our group, it was Ashanti, Nevaeh, Jasmine, Chris, Steven and I. He was a year older than Chris, everybody thought the age gaps in the group was weird. We were all so close though despite the age differences.

"He's actually with your sister, they've been together for almost two years now." Ashanti states.

"What?" I say at the same time Nevaeh says "Really, those two are together?"

"I'm surprised you don't know, considering Chris and Steven still talk, I thought you would've known." Ashanti says.

I look at Chris who looks just as shocked, raises his hands in innocence and says, "Anytime I've spoken to Steven he never mentioned being with you sister."

"Your sister misses you a lot you know", Ashanti says looking over to me, "she talks about you all the time". I knew Ashanti and Jasmine were still close.

"I miss her too", I reply looking down at my hands in my lap.

Around 8 we decided to get take out for dinner, since none of us feel like cooking. After half an hour of arguing about what to eat, we all agree on a restaurant. Chris orders the food on his phone and we all sit at the table to eat once it arrives. We eat in almost silence, listening to whatever Maddie says and having light conversation with each other.

Once everybody has eaten, Ashanti goes home. I go upstairs with Maddie, to get ready for bed. She sits on floor playing with toys while I fill the tub with water and bubbles. I get her off the potty and strip her of her clothing. Deciding to kill two bird with one stone I get in with her. I wash her hair and both of our bodies. We get out the tub and we wrap in towels before going to the room.

Chris is laying in the bed when we get there. He gets up and grabs Maddie to puts on her pjs while I go to the closet and put on my pajamas, as well. After I'm dressed, I go to the room and brush out Maddie's hair before giving her two cornrows for tonight. I put her bonnet on her head and kiss her forehead.

We climb in bed and chill while Chris goes to take his shower. "How was your day with auntie?" I ask Maddie.

She looks away from the tv and turns to look at me, "We had fun, she brought me toys", Maddie says to me before looking back at the tv.

"Don't you think you have too many toys?" I ask her with a smile.

"Not here at auntie's house", she replies, looking away from the tv again, to look at me. We watch tv and wait for Chris to come out the shower.

"Alright, baby girl let's go to bed, say goodnight to daddy" I tell her a few minutes after Chris comes out the bathroom. She says goodnight to Chris and he kisses her forehead. I pick her up and take her into the room next door, that's currently her's. I lay her in her bed and tuck her in, before giving her a kiss and telling her goodnight. Nevaeh comes in to tell her goodnight. She tells us goodnight and rolls over. I go back to my room and wrap my hair before crawling in bed.

I cuddle into Chris and lay my head on his bare chest. He wraps his arms around me and kissed my head. "Is Maddie asleep already?" he asks while plugging in his phone.

"She missed her nap today, so she was really tired", I tell him. Not long after, I fall asleep and he follows soon after.