No Coincidence

by Tiffany Patterson

  “Girl, if you wasn’t running late, you would’ve made it to see her here.”

  I pursed my lips but didn’t respond because she was right. I was running late, per usual, but only by about five minutes or so. Anyway, I was glad that my aunt finally relented and made the decision to move in with Destiny and Tyler, after all three of us had been begging her for months. She hadn’t wanted to get in Destiny and Tyler’s way, but we all had grown uneasy with her living by herself even though she did live in a very reputable retirement community, with nurse's aides who helped her much of the day. However, they weren’t family.

  “Let me help you put your coat on. Which one do you want to wear? The pastel pink one or the black peacoat?”

  Aunt Donna frowned. “You don’t think it’s too hot for those? Isn’t it supposed to get up to the low sixties today?”

  Pulling out my phone, I rechecked the weather. “You’re right, but it may dip down to the mid-forties tonight and we don’t know how long we’ll be out.”

  My aunt waved a shaking hand at me. “I’ll be fine in that fancy Lexus of yours. I’ll just wear my long sweater.”

  I grabbed the fall cashmere sweater out of the closet, admiring the sandy color and softness. “This goes well with your dress.”

  Aunt Donna nodded proudly as if she had it all figured out already.

  I helped my aunt with her walker, not bothering to ask if she wanted to bring her wheelchair since she already kept one at Destiny and Tyler’s home. To be honest, she could leave her apartment now and comfortably move into their home since they already had an in-law suite added to their home as it was built. Aunt Donna didn’t need to add anything aside from her clothes and herself.

  “So, I see there’s no man in here,” Aunt Donna stated, looking around the inside of my car, once we’d gotten in.

  “Here you go,” I muttered as I started the vehicle.

  “I’m just sayin’. Destiny told me you’re still on this celibacy thing or whatever.”

  “Why are y’all talking about my private business?”

  “Because your business is our business, miss thang.”

  “Oh my God,” I groaned as we turned out of the parking lot of her building. I truly wanted to turn on the radio, a podcast, something to prevent the conversation from heading down the road in which I knew it was going but that would’ve been rude. Aunt Donna might curse me out if I did that, so I just listened.

  “You want to tell me what that’s all about?”

  I shook my head. “Not really.”

  “Girl, if you don’t open your mouth and tell—”

  “There’s nothing to explain. I’m just abstaining from men for a little while. My career has been busy, taking off lately, and I’m traveling a lot, and—”

  “And hush up with all that mess. Destiny was busy owning her own business and she still made time to date and find Tyler.”

  I bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from reminding my aunt that while Destiny was single, my aunt had very much been up her butt about finding a man and settling down. She’d been on my case as well, but while D was single, Aunt Donna had to split her chiding between the two of us. Now that Destiny was wifed up, I was getting a double dose of this mess from my aunt.

  I pushed out a breath as I listened to her tell me for the millionth time that she wanted to see me happy. Happy the same way she was with my uncle for so many years.

  “I wanna leave this Earth knowing that both of my girls are happy and well taken care of.”

  My gaze moved over to her in the passenger seat. “Leave this Earth? What are you talking about, Aunt Donna?”

  “Don’t go getting all scared, girl. I didn’t mean anything by that. I mean I’m getting up there in age and whatnot, is all. It would do my aging heart some good to have some grandkids.”

  “You have three grandkids already.”

  “Yes, and more are in order. Destiny has done her part. Now it’s your turn, chile.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek at the same time my heart pushed against the walls of my chest. If my aunt only knew how much I wanted the same thing. I wouldn’t lie this time by going off on a tangent about how women could be happy and fulfilled with a great career, loving friends, and extended family. Not all of us needed a husband and children to complete us.

  I said those words repeatedly to my aunt at one time or another, on my podcast, to Destiny and other friends. It was the truth.

  It just wasn’t necessarily my truth.

  “Oh, look, we’re here.” I pushed out a relieved breath when we pulled up in front of Destiny’s house some twenty minutes later.

  I honked the horn to let them know we’d arrived, and within minutes, Tyler was pulling my passenger door open to help my aunt out of the car. I looked at him and sighed, knowing my cousin had done a hell of a job when she married him.

  “Hey, Resha,” he said, with his gaze still on Aunt Donna as we helped her with her walker.

  “Hey, Ty. Where’s—” I didn’t fully get my question out before Destiny pushed through the front door with two babies on her hip, one of which was crying.

  I giggled. “Looks like we made it just in time.”

  Tyler chuckled. “It’s party central up in here.”

  I followed Tyler and my aunt to the front door and then leaned in, pressing a kiss to D’s cheek before plucking Annalise out of her arms.

  “What’s all that crying about?” I cooed. “Huh? You’re too pretty to be making such ugly noises,” I teased and rubbed my nine-month-old niece’s belly, before tickling it, making her laugh. “That’s better.”

  “It’s their nap time and no one wants to go to sleep. Well, Travis went right out. But these two weren’t having it,” Destiny explained as we entered the house. “Hey, Mama.”

  I watched as Aunt Donna and Destiny greeted one another, and I stepped in to also take Tristan from Destiny’s arms. As I knew he would, he came right to me, calmly laying his head against my shoulder.

  “You’re a natural,” Tyler remarked, smiling down on me. “I don’t know how you do it every time.”

  I glanced down to where his gaze was planted to realize that Annalise had also laid her head against my shoulder. And although her eyes were still open, they were drooping and she was fighting to keep them open.

  “I know where these two go,” I whispered, and without another word I moved around the three of them and headed upstairs to the children’s nursery.

  Pressing the door open, I heard the white noise machine Destiny and Tyler used to play while the babies were sleep. I tiptoed across the room and checked in on Travis who was sound asleep. He was the best sleeper out of the three of them. For a brief second I wondered how I was going to maneuver with two babies in my arms, to lay them down in their cribs.

  That was when I felt someone standing over me.

  “Let me help with that,” Tyler stated in a low but deep voice as he pulled a now-sleeping Annalise from my arms.

  I placed Tristan in his own crib, covering him with his blanket and lightly running my hand over his soft, curly mane before stepping back. Tyler moved next to me as I stared down at Tristan.

  “I got a job for you if you ever want to change careers.”

  I covered my mouth to prevent the giggle from escaping. He turned and held the door open for me as I stepped through.

  “Seriously though, they love you. You’re great with kids. Maybe you should reconsider that whole celibacy thing and have a few of your own.”

  “Oh my God!” I shrieked while also punching Tyler in the arm. “I’m going to kill Destiny for telling you my business.”

  “You also mentioned it on your podcast.”

  I groaned. “So I did. Whatever. I just spent the last twenty-five minutes in my own car getting told by my damn near seventy-year-old aunt that I needed to get some as she put it.”

  Tyler cocked his head back and let out a hearty laugh. I couldn’t hold back my smirk. Somewhere along the way Tyler and
I had developed an almost brother and sister relationship. It didn’t feel awkward having these types of lighthearted discussions with him, not in the least.

  “Maybe you should listen to her.”

  “And maybe you should stay out of grown folks’ business,” I retorted as we entered the kitchen.

  “Hey, my husband’s a grown ass man.”

  “Thanks, precious,” Tyler responded to Destiny before lowering a kiss to her lips.

  “You’re welcome, baby.”

  “Whatever, you both need to stay out of grown folks’ business … in particular, my business.”

  “See,” Destiny pointed at me with the wooden spoon she held in her hand, “all that animosity is pent-up sexual frustration. You need to work that out.”

  I glowered at my cousin. “No, this animosity is from hunger. What are you feeding me? And it better not be your cooking either.”

  Tyler let out a laugh. “You know that’s one thing neither of us do in this house.”

  Destiny nodded.

  “Who cooked?”

  “We ordered from that Mexican place you like.”

  “Good. What’d you get me?”

  “Your fave chicken nachos but I did cut up some veggies and made a salad.”

  I narrowed my eyes at the wooden bowl that Destiny brought from the kitchen counter.

  “Don’t give me that look. Come on, food’s getting cold.”

  I followed Destiny and Tyler into the dining area where Aunt Donna was already sitting. The smell of the food hit my nose, reminding me that all I had that day so far was a cup of coffee. Sometimes I wondered how I still thoroughly filled out my size fourteen clothing, while forgetting to eat half of the time. As I looked over the food, I remembered it was because the other half of the time I did eat, I went all out. Mexican was one of my favorite cuisines to order out with all the cheese, sour cream, and guacamole I could get. I also loved cooking and baking for others and for myself, and I indulged whenever I got the chance.

  “It’s just us for lunch?” I questioned, looking around the table once the plates had been filled.

  “Yep. I’ll be heading over to Josh’s after lunch to help him finish setting up the barn for the party.”

  I wrinkled my brows after swallowing my first bite of my nachos. “Barn? You’re setting up a barn for a birthday party?”

  Tyler scoffed. “Hell yeah. Get this, it was my father who insisted on the damn thing …” He paused. “Sorry, Ma,” he stated contritely, glancing at my aunt.

  “I know Deborah taught you better than that,” Aunt Donna retorted.

  I laughed behind my napkin. If it wasn’t his own mother, it was my Aunt Donna getting on Tyler about his mouth.

  “Yeah. Anyway, Father wanted his little princesses to be able to ride ponies and whatnot for their birthday. That man doesn’t play about his duties as a grandfather.”

  “He’s already started talking about the triplets’ party,” Destiny added.

  “Oh yes, Robert, Deborah, and I had a conversation last week about it.”

  I blinked as I glanced in my aunt’s direction.

  “Oh Lord,” Destiny grumbled.

  I cracked up laughing at how my aunt started going on about the different themes for the party they discussed and how many presents per child they should get and whatnot. Destiny and Tyler remained respectful while my aunt was looking, but every time she lowered her gaze they gave one another the this is insane look. I, for one, was just happy the attention had been taken off of my love life, or lack thereof. I cheerfully ate my nachos in peace.

  “The babies should be up by the time we have to head over to the party,” Destiny stated about forty-five minutes later once the food, dining area, and kitchen were cleaned up. “Mama, do you want to lay down for a little bit?”

  “Yeah, baby. I’ma head to my room to rest.” Aunt Donna then turned down the hallway toward the in-law suite that was designated just for her.

  I watched until she entered the room, shutting the door behind her. I knew she’d be okay in the room by herself as Destiny and Tyler had purchased furniture especially to accommodate her disability.

  “Let me show you the outfits I picked out for them,” Destiny insisted, grabbing my hand to follow her.

  Over the next thirty minutes we killed time by looking at the children’s outfits, and Destiny allowed me to help pick out an outfit for her to wear to the party. The children woke up one by one, and Destiny and I changed, fed, and then redressed the kiddos before I went down to get my Aunt Donna to head over to the party.

  We arrived in perfect timing, which of course we did since Tyler and Destiny lived on the same block as Joshua and Kayla, just a few houses down. My heart squeezed at how close all the family members were. I wondered what it would’ve been like to have grown up in a large family surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and loving parents on all sides.

  “Resha, you made it,” Kayla chimed, sounding surprised when I entered the door behind Destiny and my aunt.

  I blinked. “I told you I was coming.”

  “I know, but Destiny said sometimes you have to cancel for work stuff. Anyway, I’m glad you made it.” She pulled me into a hug, causing her not to see the glare I threw Destiny’s way over her shoulder.

  “I’m glad to be here, and here’s a little something for the princess.” I handed Kayla the gift-wrapped toy I’d purchased for Victoria.

  “Thank you but you didn’t have to bring a gift,” Joshua stated as he came up behind his wife.

  I opened my mouth to respond but Kayla cut me off.

  “I already explained that to her, babe, but Resha wouldn’t hear of it.”

  Smiling, I shrugged. “My auntie taught me better than that. You’ll have to take it up with her if there’s a problem.” I jutted my head in my aunt’s direction as she stood by Destiny cooing at Annalise.

  Josh chuckled with his arm wrapped around his wife’s shoulders.

  “Where’s the birthday girl?”

  Josh rolled his eyes. “With her grandfathers. Neither one of them will let her out of their sight. They’re out back on the patio.”

  I nodded, knowing that Kayla and Josh had recently installed a covered patio to the back of their home, allowing for semi-outdoor parties year round. It was something Kayla enjoyed having, according to Destiny.

  “Oh shit, I bet Buddy twenty bucks you weren’t going to show up,” Josh suddenly barked out, laughing, looking over my head toward the entranceway.

  Stepping aside to let Josh greet whoever he was speaking to, I went to pivot to turn in that direction when Kayla moved beside me.

  “Excuse my husband. As much as he gripes about mine and his father spoiling Victoria, he’s even worse. This man invited everyone he knows to the party.”

  I giggled, but the deep baritone I heard behind me suddenly stole all the air from my lungs.

  “Twenty bucks? What’s the problem, Townsend? Family going bankrupt? My showing up is worth at least a Benjamin.”

  “Or two,” Kayla added over my shoulder to the man.

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Your wife knows what’s up.”

  I swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed in my throat but it was useless. Frozen in place, I wondered if anyone would notice if the ground opened up and swallowed me whole. I knew things like that don’t happen but I wished for it to occur, harder than I ever had in my life …. well, almost any other moment.

  “Resha, this is Joshua’s good friend, Connor.”

  I blinked, wishing I could knee Kayla as she grasped my arm to spin me around to face him.

  I didn’t need an introduction. As soon as I turned and my eyes met his hazel orbs, that same jolt I felt rush through my body the first time I met him occurred. The man was magnetic, literally. I felt myself being pulled to him before I was consciously aware of taking a step forward.

  “N-Nice to meet you, Connor,” I managed to get out in a relatively normal voice, if I do
say so myself.

  His eyes narrowed at the same time his larger hand slipped around mine. And I’d be damned if my entire body didn’t shudder. He didn’t speak at first as we shook hands, but his eyes did the talking for him.

  They told me how much of a liar and coward I was.

  Lowering my gaze, I dropped my hand from his without responding to his unuttered condemnation.

  “You too. Tasha was it?”

  My lips pursed and I lifted my head, shooting him a lethal glare because he knew damn well what my name was.

  “Resha,” I corrected.

  He grunted and nodded.

  “Well, where’s the little angel at? I didn’t come to look at your ugly mug,” he said to Josh.

  Both Josh and Kayla chuckled, and Josh went to show Connor to the patio where the party was starting to ramp up.

  “Are you okay?” Kayla paused, giving me a worried expression.

  “Who me? Yeah, sure. Um, do you have anything to drink? I am a little thirsty.”

  “Yes, of course. We’ve got everything … soda, juice, tea, water.”

  “Diet Coke?”

  “Yup, Destiny said that was your drink of choice.” Kayla plucked a can out of the fridge and handed it to me. “Let me get you a glass.”

  “No, that’s fine. I’ll just grab a straw. Thank you.” I took one of the colorful straws that’d been placed on a plate by the food, next to the cups, and opened my soda to take a drink. The first sip didn’t do anything to alleviate the lump in my throat, not that I thought it would at that point.

  Stepping out onto the patio, I was taken by surprise at how big it was. And although it was covered, the sliding doors were open to let in a breeze from the outside. I was thankful that it wasn’t too cold out but I still glanced over at my aunt to make sure she had her sweater on. I wasn’t surprised to see her sitting next to Joshua’s mother, Deborah, the pair involved in a lively conversation.

  I smiled, happy that Destiny’s in-laws had taken my aunt in as much as they had when she became a part of the family.

  “Hey, what’re you thinking about?”