by Lexi Reign
"I told y'all that y'all were more than friends. Damn, you got her pregnant that quick. How long was that ago? 6 or 7 months" he asked.
"Wassup, Lucky," Lorenzo asked him as he dapped him up. CJ and Vedo both dapped him up, too.
"I can't believe this. At least you came to your senses" Lucky said as he went into the kitchen.
"I'll show y'all around," Ms. Vera said as we all followed her.
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Right now, Lorenzo and I are unpacking.
"How long are we staying," I asked.
"Just for a few days. They are having their annual Union Day tomorrow" he said.
"What's that," I asked.
"It's just like a big ass black reunion. The whole city is usually out there. They have tents, music, food trucks, horse racing, car racing, things like that. It'll be fun. It's time to introduce you to this country living" he said laughing.
"Really," I asked. He nodded.
"Have you ever been," I asked.
"Yeah, when I was younger, I used to always stay out here with my auntie. You see she's more down to earth and normal unlike my moms" he started to say as I climbed in the bed.
My body relaxed and the mattress felt so good. Lorenzo laid next to me and pulled my shirt up. He rubbed my belly.
"Back then, they didn't have all of this, though. They had a normal ass 4 bedroom house. They had to come across some money with all this shit" he said.
"Who all live here," I asked.
"My auntie's husband, Turner, Lucky, and his sister, Olivia," he said. I nodded as I threw my leg on him. He looked at my ankles.
"Don't even say anything. I told you riding for 10 hours was going to do this" I said to him.
"I'm about to go downstairs, ok? You rest and when I come back, I'll give you a massage" he said as he kissed my cheek.
Lorenzo's POV
8:00pm
"Where everybody at," I asked as I reached the kitchen. CJ, Vedo, Lucky, and my auntie were all sitting around sipping. I grabbed a glass and Lucky poured me up.
"Well, Turner and Olivia should be on the way back from the store," my auntie said. I nodded.
"How's everything going with you? I feel like I never get to see you and you don't call me" she asked as she pinched my cheeks.
"I'm sorry, auntie. But everything has been ok"
I said to her.
"I know you, so I know everything hasn't been ok. What's going on with you and Lauryn" she asked. I looked at CJ and he rolled his eyes.
"I don't know what your big head rolling your eyes for, I know y'all was together," my auntie said to CJ which made us all laugh.
"But I already know it was her fault because that crazy girl is just like her mama. She is quick to act on feelings. That's why I don't talk to your mama. Plus, I'm still mad at Lauryn for what she did with that baby" my auntie said which made me choke on my liquor.
"What baby," I asked.
"You know what I'm talking about, Lorenzo. I don't get it. Why would she have an abortion and she just had married that fool? Why marry him if you didn't want to have children by him" my auntie asked. I could feel CJ staring at me.
"W-Wait. Lauryn had an abortion" CJ asked. Aw fuck.
"Yeah, she did and my sister took her and they had the nerve to lie to everybody as if she had a miscarriage. I would've never killed my child" my auntie said as Olivia and my uncle Turner walked in.
"Wassup, Renzo," my uncle said as he dapped me up.
"How are you doing, Unc," I asked.
"Shit, I'm good, just trying to make it," he said.
"Let me hold some," I said to him.
"Shidddd, you got it," he said to me, making me chuckle.
"Hey, Liv," I said hugging her.
"Hey, big head," she said smiling.
"Where's your girlfriend," Liv asked.
"She's upstairs," I said.
"I'm going to speak, I'll be back," she said as she walked up the steps.
"Baby, two more cars just pulled up," Turner said to my auntie.
"Somebody answer me," CJ demanded. I saw that look in his eye and I already know shit ain't about to be pretty.
We heard the front door and my auntie went to answer it. My mama, pops, Maurice, Terry, Naomi, and Lauryn all walked through the door. What the hell are Naomi and Lauryn doing here? Aw, hell. I hugged and spoke to everyone until I got to Lauryn and Naomi. They both mugged me.
"Wassup," I said. They both ignored me. I chuckled. I really don't give a fuck. Nia is going to have a fit when she finds out Lauryn and Naomi are here together.
"Can I speak to you?" CJ asked Lauryn. She turned her head.
"No," she said with venom in her voice. He snatched her arm and she quickly pulled away.
"LET GO OF ME" she yelled as everyone turned around to look at us.
"You owe me this. You ain't tell me you had an abortion" CJ said to her as her face softened. I could see that it was really true. I looked at my moms and I saw remorse on her face.
"W-What? Who told you that" she asked.
"It doesn't matter who told me that. I'm really trying to figure out why would you get an abortion especially if you were married unless the baby wasn't his" CJ said as he stared at her waiting for answers. Tears started to fill her eyes.
"CJ, I-I am so sor-" she started to say but he slapped the hell out of her. She fell to the ground.
"WOAH, CJ, come on, now. That's still my sister, bruh, and she's a female" I said as I helped her up. She pushed me off of her and grabbed her face.
"You don't know what I had to go through," she said crying to CJ.
"WHAT? BITCH, ARE YOU CRAZY" he asked.
"You ain't have to go through shit other than telling your fucking husband you cheated on him and the baby wasn't his. You killed my seed, bruh" he asked as tears filled his eyes.
"You know how I feel about that shit" he started to say as he started pacing. His body started to shake.
"You know how I feel about wanting a kid, bruh. You foul as fuck, but you want to sit here with this damn girl and act like y'all so fucking high and mighty. You had an abortion, bruh and you, Naomi, my boy is grieving and you left him" CJ said.
"It's my body, my choice," she said to CJ as he nodded chuckling. He was mad as hell, and I don't blame him. He has every right to be mad. I wish Nia would do some shit like that.
"My hand, my choice," he said as he slapped the hell out of her again.
"YO, CJ" I yelled as I slammed him into the wall. Tears ran down his face.
"Man, I know you're hurting, but that's my sister. You can't keep hitting her, bruh" I said to him as I heard Lauryn crying.
"I'm so s-sorry, Calvin," she said to him.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP. FUCK YOUR STUPID ASS SORRY. SORRY DOESN'T BRING MY KID BACK FROM THE DEAD. HOW COULD YOU, LAURYN? YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME. I'M DONE" he said pushing me off of him as he stormed out of the house.
Everyone just stood in place looking around. I tried to embrace Lauryn, but she pushed me out of the way and grabbed her bags as she headed upstairs. Damn, our family always got shit going on.
Chapter 32: Pain Is Love
Nia's POV
February 13th
1:30 pm
I opened my eyes and Lorenzo wasn't in the bed. I got up and walked into the bathroom. I took a long, hot shower, then brushed my teeth. I slid on my jeans and an off the shoulder white shirt with my dark brown boots.
I walked downstairs and instantly the smell of breakfast hit my nose. I walked down the steps and Ms. Vera and Ms. Jackie were sitting at the island with Olivia.
"Good morning, girl," Olivia said as she rubbed my stomach.
"Good morning y'all," I said smiling.
Last night, Olivia and I got to know each other. She's actually pretty cool. She reminds me of Lauryn. Turns out we both missed all the action down here last night. Lorenzo came to bed late and he wouldn't be still for shit. I can't believe Lauryn and Naomi actually ca
me. I'm sure they're both doing it in spite of me and CJ. Lauryn barely even talked to my sister before, but now they're besties.
"I know that smell woke you up. Lorenzo and the guys left a few hours ago. They went fishing" Ms. Vera said as Ms. Jackie just watched me.
"Jackie, that girl said good morning," Vera said as Jackie got up and sipped on her coffee. She went up the stairs.
"Don't mind her. My sister is the devil" Ms. Vera said, making me laugh. I nodded in agreement.
"Come feed that baby, girl," she said as she fixed me a plate of blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast. I licked my lips as I sat at the island and started to eat.
"So good. Thank you" I said smiling.
"How long have you and Lorenzo been together," she asked as she sat in front of me. Olivia sat next to me.
Now that I'm thinking about it, Lorenzo and I never really set a date. I don't even remember him asking me to be his girlfriend. It kind of just happened that night he came back to my house and that was in September.
"About 5 months, but he and I have been friends for over a year," I said to her. She nodded.
"He loves you and he respects you," she said to me. I smiled.
"I know, I love him, too. He's a good man, he just has his ways" I said to her.
"Yeah, he is. I raised him, so that is all my doing" she said.
"Really," I asked.
"Yes, Lorenzo and I were like sister and brother. He used to stay here all the time when we were growing up" Olivia said.
"What happened," I asked, looking at Ms. Vera.
"The devil got in the way. She didn't like how I bonded with Lorenzo. He is my nephew, you would expect me to have a relationship with him" Ms. Vera said shaking her head. I cocked my head at her. She looked as if she was hiding something. I can't take any more secrets.
The front door opened and Lorenzo walked in. He looked at me and smiled. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek.
"Good morning, fatty," he said rubbing my belly. I hit him.
"I'm just playing. Give me a bite" he said as I picked up the pancakes with my fork and put it in his mouth. He had syrup running down his chin and I wiped it with my finger. He licked my finger clean.
"Ew, get a room," Vedo said scrunching his face up. I laughed. I looked around for CJ and he walked into the living room. I wiped my mouth.
"You finish," Lorenzo asked. I nodded. He grabbed my plate and washed it. I stood up and walked back up the stairs. I looked around and looked at all of their family pictures on the wall.
I looked at one and saw a teenage Lorenzo, Lucky, Olivia, Turner, and Vera. Lorenzo looked so happy. I smiled. It's obvious that his aunt treats him way better than his own mother.
"He was happy back then, huh," Turner's deep voice said from behind me, making me jump. I smiled.
"Yeah, he was," I said smiling.
"I mean he still is, but I don't know. He has such a tight bond with Vera" I said.
"Yeah, better than with Jackie, huh," he asked chuckling. I nodded.
"What is her problem with him? I get that maybe she didn't like him because he's not Larenz's son, but that doesn't give her a reason to show him that she resents him" I said sighing. I will never be a horrible mother.
"WHAT" he semi-yelled.
"I'm sorry. I th-thought you knew" I said, feeling embarrassed.
"I did, I just didn't think you knew," he said.
"How," he asked.
"Jackie came clean during one of our family dinners. It really hurt, Lorenzo, too. He hasn't even brought it up again. I won't because I know he loves his dad" I said sighing.
"Yeah, I always told Larenz that he could do so much better than Jackie," Turner said, shaking his head.
"I'll be downstairs," he said smiling as he touched my shoulder. I smiled and headed towards a red door. I opened the door and it was a huge room filled with pictures, photo albums, and a movie screen.
"What are you doing in here," Lucky asked, making me jump again.
"Can y'all please stop scaring me?" I asked laughing.
"Your dad said I could come in and look at some pictures," I said lying.
"Well, you can't be in here," he said to me.
"I just wanted to look at pictures," I said. He sighed.
"I'll help you," he said smiling as we walked around the room.
"What y'all do in here," I asked.
"This is usually the family room. It's where we all get together and watch old family videos and shit" he said as I nodded. I stared at him. I could feel his spirit and he was sweet, but I felt vengeance.
"Why do you act like you do," I asked. He chuckled.
"Girl, you don't even know me to ask me that," he said.
"Well, I've heard about you. Lorenzo talks about you" I said.
"I'm sure whatever Lorenzo says is a lie" he spat at me.
"You see, that. It's that venom between y'all.
What is it" I asked.
"It goes a lot deeper than you think. I love Lo because he's my first cousin, but I resent him" he said, which ran chills through my body.
"W-Why," I asked. He chuckled.
"Lorenzo has always told me that he loves you and how he always wanted to be there for you," I said. He laughed.
"Is that what he told you" he chuckled.
"Fuck, Lo and you can tell him I said that, too. You'll see his true colors sooner or later. Right now, you are happy. Y'all live together and you are about to have your dream family. Trust me, it's just a dream and when you wake up, you'll be sorry you ever met him" he said as he walked out.
I watched him as he walked out. I walked to the shelf and started to look through the pictures until I saw one behind it. I reached down and picked it up.
Property of Turner White
I opened the album and saw pictures of a younger Vera and Turner. I saw a baby in an incubator at a hospital and I saw Turner taking a picture with it. I continued to flip through the book and saw a copy of a birth certificate.
Child's Name: Oliver Summerville-White
Mother's Name: Jacqueline Summerville
Father's Name: Turner White
Who is Oliver? I know Summerville is Ms. Jackie's and Vera's maiden name, but who in the hell is Oliver and why is Turner the father? My God.
"Baby" Lorenzo called out, making me jump. I quickly put the album away. I stood up and headed to the door.
"What are you doing in there," he asked.
"Just showing our little one pictures of his big-headed ass daddy," I said as I rubbed my belly. Lorenzo laughed.
"I see you got jokes. Come on, we're about to leave" he said as I followed him down the steps.
"Nia, you can ride with us if you want," Olivia said as Lauryn and Naomi stood next to her. They rolled their eyes.
"Go ahead, baby. Y'all need to talk. I'll be with CJ 'nem" he said. I sighed and walked behind Olivia. She walked to a coupe. Lauryn opened the door and stood there. Ain't no way my fat ass get in the back.
"You can go ahead," I said to her.
"No, you get back there," she said.
"Lauryn, really? She's pregnant" Olivia said as Lauryn got in the back.
Naomi got in behind her as I slid the seat back so I could sit in the front. I sighed and sat down as Olivia pulled off behind Lorenzo and Vera's cars. I laid my head back as I started to feel myself get dizzy.
"You ok," Olivia asked.
"I don't think that breakfast agreed with me. My doctor has been saying my cholesterol is high, so I don't know" I said.
"You take anything for it," she asked.
"Nah, I agreed that I won't take any medication during my pregnancy. I want my baby to be healthy" I said as I heard Lauryn snicker. I ignored her.
We got downtown and it was packed. Cars were parked everywhere and there were so many people out. There were tents and food trucks out, too.
"Damn, it's packed," I said.
"Girl, you're going to have fun," she said.
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br /> "I hope so long as my feet don't start hurting," I said as Lauryn parked on the side of the road.
We all got out and went to find Lorenzo.