Wow! It's been awhile since I wrote in this journal.
Let me put you up to speed...
I'm still in Bluffton (of course.) I started to have clients; I'm working in small cases like shoplifting, lawsuits and other things like that. Umm, let's see- oh the baby is healthy and growing. I'm two months pregnant now, and I've never been happier in a day of my life to know I'm going to have a little one in my life now. It's not even in the world and I'm already in love with it. I'm already thinking about baby names; Justice or Jayden for a girl and Aaron or Gregg for a boy. I'm hoping it's a-
Grandma burst in my room, making me close my private journal and set down my pen. Usually she only burst in here if I'm alone and wide awake; other times she knocks but still comes in. "What's up triple OG?" I asked while turning my body towards her as she sat down on the edge of my bed.
With a huff, she glared at me from the corner of her eye. "Whut ah tell yuh 'bout calling me that? Yuh know ah hate that nickname." Her southern accent immediately became extremely thick like her frame, as she grew frustrated.
I shook my head while chuckling. "Sorry Grandma, what's up? You need me to drive you some where?"
"Nah, Ah need yuh tuh take yuh Grandma tuh the market. Ah need more greens." She slowly leaned over to rub her ankle.
"It looks like you need to go to the doctors," I stood on my feet to examine her swollen, red and bruised ankle. "Are you in pain?"
"Nah, just ole. Ah fine, ah just need tuh put heat on it. Ah'm alright." Grandma slowly took her ankle out of my hand.
I rolled my eyes from her stubbornness. "You need to got to the doctors. You is not alright. Come on, let's go." I stood straight up to grab her hand.
"Ah ain't no chile-"
"Then don't act like one," I said softly so she won't back hand me. "Come on naw, yuh need more green member." I said in a southern accent; making her smile and stand as well.
"Yuh think yuh slick trying tuh butter me up with yuh southern accent. Ah know the trick, ah use tuh use it all the time with yuh grandpa. Ole fool fall at muh feet, always kissing and bowing. Slick ole bastard, makes me sick. Lord knows ah love that ole fool." She bickered as we made our way downstairs and to my car.
Just to hear my grandmother talked about my grandfather (well step-grandfather, since we don't share the same blood) like she hated him but end up confessing her love for him was kinda cute. The one thing I learned from this woman was that; if you say how much you hate your love, you see more of why you love them. And in this case, my grandmother loved my grandfather so much, it made her sick.
Now sitting in the very small and homy doctor's office, I sit next to my grandmother while she went through her large bag she calls a 'purse'. "What are you looking for?" I asked.
She kissed her teeth and eventually stopped searching through her purse by zipping it up and setting it on her lap. "Nothing naw,"
I leaned back in shock from her sudden attitude, but who am I kidding; my grandmother always had an attitude. I mainly got it from her. "Okay, attitude."
"Get out muh face TJ." She waved me off.
I shook my head in humor.
"Mrs. Turner, the doctor will see you now," the receptionist said, signaling us that we can go in the back.
I helped grandma up and walked in the back while she follows behind. As I open the door, I see a older man with brown skin, specks of grey hair in his beard and glasses. The older twin of Dylan stood in front of me while grumbling things under his breath as Dylan kept shaking his head.
"Hey Michael," Grandma greeted, making Mr. Marburg change his mood into a happy one.
"Oh, Mrs. Turner. How yuh doin?"
"Ah fine, muh granddaughter wanted me tuh go tuh the doctor. Even though ah'm fine." She said back in irritation.
I rolled my eyes at her response. "Hello Mr. Marburg and Dylan," I greeted them both. "If you excuse us, we have a doctor to see." I grabbed her small hand and lead her into the back.
I allowed Grandma to go in first, so she won't try to escape. Before I can walk inside, I was being pulled back into a hug. The hard chest smushed my cheek while the big arms wrapped around my body like a blanket. Dylan. His hugs always felt like this, he always give out the best hugs.
"Why are you hugging me?" My words came out as a mumble in my ears.
" 'Cause I was told if I hugged a pregnant woman, I'll have good fortune." Dylan teased.
I pushed away and punched him softly in the chest, making him laugh even more. "You're just a idiot." I said in my serious tone, but that didn't last when my face cracked a smile.
He rolled his eyes in the most cutest way once again. "Whatever. Pops wanted me to ask you and Mrs. Turner if y'all wanted to come over for dinner tonight. I'm making stew."
"You cook?" I said in shock.
Dylan laughed at my reaction before nodding his head. "Yeah, well I'm learning. I had to find out Roman noodles is actually not a proper meal."
A huge smile creeped on my face. "Okay, we'll be there. I'll see you later."
"See you," Dylan looked at me up and down before turning around and walked towards his father whom was smiling at me. It wasn't a polite smile, it was more of a I-know-something-that-you-don't smile.
"No man huh?" I heated my grandmother's teasing voice behind me.
With a shake of my head, I turn to her. "Aren't you supposed to be talking to the doctor?"
"Aren't yuh supposed tuh be escorting me, not flirting tuh Dylan." She retorted.
My mouth gaps open from her comeback. "I-I was flirting, ma'am. I was having a simple conversation-"
"That got yuh gushing. Ah wasn't born yesterday, ah'm seventy-five. Ah've lived muh life, like a regular woman, and like every women dey'll fall over hills for uh man like Dylan."
"Dylan and I are just friends," I stated, even though I had a crush on him and still do. Like who doesn't, Dylan's sexy, sweet, funny, has a warm heart, intelligent, all about the a money and we go way back when we was teenagers.
"Humph. Friend naw, husband later."
*****
That evening, Grandma and I made our way to Mr. Marburg house, which was a large home in a large area with lots of grassland and trees. From what Dylan told me, it use to be a plantation house in the early 1800's and his great grandfather brought it for his wife and family. Ever since then it was a family tradition to keep the house steady and well.
"Just in time, Dylan is just about done." Mr. Marburg said as he allowed us in to the old home. It looked modern and more like Dylan is the one who designed it, instead of his father.
"Let me guess, your son made some changes. Grandma said like she read my mind. I swear that woman has magic powers.
Mr. Marburg gave us a heart filled laugh. "Yeah, it's not that bad. We're up to date in technology and we have wi-fi."
"Wi-who?" Grandma gave him a confusing look, making him once again burst out into laughter.
"Grandma, wi-fi is what you use to help you get connected to the world. When you want to research something on the Internet, you use wi-fi." I explained. But my explanation still didn't make her understand, so I gave up with a shrug. Considering that she may ask again.
Leading us into the dining room, Mr. Marburg called out Dylan's name to tell him we just arrived. Grandma and I say at the table as Mr. Marburg went into the kitchen to help Dylan bring he food out, which consists of beef stew, rice, freshly made bread and some greens.
"You really made this all by yourself?" I asked Dylan as he poured some stew into my bowl.
"Yeah, I really thought I was a horrible cook? No faith at all."
I chuckled and waved his statement off. "No, I just thought you can make this kind of meal."
He gave me a look before setting the pot down. "Mmhm."
After dinner, Dylan and I decided to sit on the porch to let our food settle before eating dessert like Mr. Marburg and Grandma is doing right now while watching tv. The sky was dark and full of stars, the sound of crickets filled the large woody area and the warm breeze hits our skin. Everything was calm, that's mainly what I like about coming to Grandma's house.
Soon a gasp from my lips and Dylan's warm hand on my bare legs took me out of my moment. He set both of my legs on his lap, where it felt foreign but also comfortable. "You didn't have to do that." I said.
Dylan shrugged his shoulders in response. "I learned that a pregnant woman can't really stand on their feet for long."
"I'm flattered that you're caring about my well being, but that's when the woman is six two nine months pregnant. I'm two months and I'm not standing up." I slowly removed my legs from his lap, even though I was enjoying it too much. "You know, you're a really good friend Dylan."
Even when it's dark outside, I could still see his face slightly dropping. "Thanks T, y-you're a really good friend too."
Good way to let him know he's still friend to you.I didn't want to let things go too far where it ends in heartbreak..