India
When I woke up my mom was putting Ai'marie down into her crib.
"Hey, you about to head out?" I asked, noticing she was fully dressed
"Yeah, Anaya is blowing our phone up." She said
I rolled my eyes at the sound of her name, "Okay, well I hope to see y'all soon—y'all meaning you and dad." I said
She smiled, "I promise you will. Get back to me with what the detectives say, too." She said
"I will, whenever they get back with us."
We haven't heard from them since Chris went back and reported the phone call. I just hope the next time they get back with us they're reporting that Joyce has been taken in and charged.
We walked out of the room and downstairs.
"Your birthday is in coming up, don't have too much fun." She said
"I won't." I replied with a smile, I'm not too much in a hurry for it since I never know what to do. I'm not an extravagant person as y'all can see.
I said my goodbyes to my parents and went into the kitchen to see what breakfast I could prepare while Chris and the kids slept. I don't remember the last time I made breakfast so this is a perfect time.
As I skimmed through the refrigerator and cabinets I realized how bad I needed to go grocery shopping, but I was able to find something for us to eat this morning.
I prepared for us some eggs, cinnamon rolls, sausages and grits for Chris.
Royalty came into the kitchen and sat at the island, "Hey, baby. Good morning." I smiled
"Good morning." She smiled in return
"Are you hungry? I just finished making us breakfast."
"Yes! Ooou, Cinnamon rolls!" She excitedly said, eyeing the pan of cinnamon rolls that I just took out of the oven.
"Yeah, I know they're your favorite. We can all eat in a second, but I just have one favor.."
"Okay, I can do it." She said as she got out of her chair
"Can you please go wake your daddy up so he can eat with us as well? You know he'd be mad if he missed a meal." I said and she giggled as she ran away
I got out the plates and put the assorted food on each.
"Something smelling magnificently delicious." Chris said as he sat at the island
I started putting the plates in their specific spots.
"You mean magically delicious?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, pouring everyone a cup of orange juice. Well except me, I like Apple juice.
"Naw, it's what I said it was." Chris replied and didn't allow for us to say grace before he dived in.
"Well damn, you must've been hungry."
"I was dreaming about food so you know I am." He said and continued to eat.
After we finished I started cleaning out the dishes in the sink while Chris straightened up the living room with Royalty's help. This is a once in a lifetime thing for him and I don't think there will ever be another time where I catch him cleaning again so I need to mark and save the date.
I was wiping the countertop down when I heard a knock at the door. I was going to ask Chris to get it but I didn't want to ruin this moment. I put the towel away and went to open the door.
"Oh, hi detectives!" I said, I was surprised to be seeing them but grew worried when I seen a policeman walk up beside him.
"Is your boyfriend, Christopher Brown here?" The detective asked
"Um, yeah." I said
He walked up shortly after with Royalty standing at my hip.
"Is there a problem?" Chris asked
"We've done further investigation and it led us to you still remaining as our prime suspect. I'm afraid we're going to have to place you under arrest for the kidnapping of Sabrina Eason." The detective said and the police stepped up to approach Chris.
My heart begin rapidly beating. I held Royalty close to me as I rubbed her hair, I'm really hoping she doesn't understand what's going on. I'm confused myself like this has to be a dream. We did everything right!
The police read him his Miranda rights as he reached to turn him around but Chris snatched away, "No—hell no! What the fuck am I going to jail for when I know I didn't do shit? I came up there and played that lame ass detective a recording and everything, that wasn't enough proof?" He yelled
"Chris, stop resisting baby! Just go with them and I promise I'll be down there." I said, I was trying so hard to not cry.
Luckily the officer wasn't an asshole because he could've gotten angry at Chris for resisting arrest.
Chris took a deep sigh, "I'm not fond of getting blamed for some shit I didn't do." He said as the officer placed the hand cuffs around his wrist
"Sorry we had to do this." The detective said
"Fuck you" Chris replied
"I'll be right down there baby." I said to him as they walked to put him inside the back of car.
I watched as they got back into their cars and drove away. I quickly closed the door and turned to go upstairs and get Ai'marie with Royalty following behind me.
"Mommy, why did they take daddy away?" Royalty asked
I figured she'd ask this question and I definitely don't know how to answer.
"He'll be back, don't worry at all." I said
"Promise?" She asked
"I promise." I replied, though I wasn't too sure myself. I called Lauren up and prayed she wasn't in the midst of anything because I need her to watch the girls.
••••
A day before her birthday
"I don't even want to do anything anymore, Lauren. Chris isn't out to celebrate with me and I was looking forward to celebrating my first birthday while we've been together with him." I explained
"India, that doesn't mean your birthday shouldn't go on. I planned all of this stuff just for you to bail out, come on." Lauren said
"I'll think on it. Why couldn't that lawyer get him out before my birthday? That would've been the best gift."
Lauren sighed, "I know. But on the bright side we're glad he's a good lawyer 'cause he did try." Lauren said
"Not hard enough." I poured
There was a knock at my door, I put Ai'marie in her swing and went to answer it.
I was hoping it'd be Chris coming to surprise me but I knew I was wishful thinking.
I was still surprised with who it was when I opened up though, my parents.
"Told you you'd see us soon!" My mom smiled
I excitedly smiled in return, I do love when they come to town.
"George wanted to surprise you on the day of but I said it'd be better to come before." She said as they walked inside
"Oh—and we have another surprise!" My mom added
"What is it?" I asked as I closed the door
"We're moving down here!" She excitedly said
I expressed my excitement with a huge grin, "Really? That's great. On my free time I searched around for some homes so all you two have to do is choose—wait, Anaya is coming too?" I asked
She rolled her eyes, "Only until she graduates and then she'll be heading off to college—"
"Now you know good and damn well that girl ain't going to no damn college." My father said, with pursed lips and a side eye
"Either way she'll be gettin' out when she's done like she said!" My mom argued back
My dad rolled his eyes and looked the other way.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of her coming down here but I will relay to my mom that Anaya can't come over here when they visit.
"I'll go grab my laptop and allow you two to choose the one you want and if we have time, we can go view it. When are y'all officially moving down here? So I can have enough time to allow the renovators to fix up anything."
"Probably in another week or so, the house we'll be leaving behind is already paid off so we won't be taking anything from there besides a few personal items, but other than that we'll be using our savings to purchase new furniture." My mom replied
"Well it won't have to be much bought because the homes I found have new appliances and a few new furniture pieces inside already."
"That's perfect then!" She replied
"I don't understand why Anaya can't stay in the house since it's already paid off." My dad mumbled. I looked over at him and his arms were crossed and his face was tuned up—he's hilarious.
"George, you know she said she doesn't want to stay alone just yet." My mom said
"She'll be staying alone when she leaves after graduating." He argued
"That's different, she'll already be prepared to by then."
"I just get tired of the arguing and tension she causes when she comes over here." He said
"You're lying because you're the main one smiling and giggling with Chris when it happens." My mom said
He kept his head turned and acted as if he didn't hear her.
"Speaking of Chris, why hasn't my lawyer gotten him released yet? I'm goin' to take ten thousand from his check since he's not on his job like he used to be." My dad said
"You're not even paying him ten thousand, more like six." My mom said
"Don't low ball me like that honey, I want my daughter to still think we got it." My dad said
They both always seem to brighten my mood with their constant back and forth with one another. It never gets old.
There's also a great incentive to them coming down here to stay—well for me it is, I'll officially have someone to watch the kids if needed.
••••
India's birthday
"I don't like my dress, Lauren." I said, looking over myself in her mirror. I got ready over here for whatever reason.
"Why not? You look fine." Lauren said, following with an eye roll
"I seen that eye roll and I hope they get stuck next time." I said
"Girl—shut up. Stop stressing and let's go, I wish you'd stop acting like it's the end of the world and you can't live without this man." She said
"That's not the point and you know it."
"You're right, I'm sorry. Now can we go?" She asked
"Okay, I'll stop being stubborn." I said
The kids were already gone and Lauren was already dressed and so was I, I was just being difficult because I'm really upset about Chris not attending.
It's been only two weeks since he's been gone and I'm missing him, though I visited every chance I could, but I want him to be home! I'm not used to seeing him like that, nor is Royalty, she's the hardest to explain to. This isn't his fault, but I'm mad about it.
Lauren dragged me outside by my hand and we got in her car.
"I'm beating your ass after tonight is over with, you've been giving me hell all day." She said as she pulled off
I laughed at her statement. I don't mean to be such a brat.
•
We arrived to this well lit and fancy looking place.
"I've never been here." I said as she pulled up
I smiled, though I have one thing dampening my mood I am happy that she came through for me, she always does.
"I rented this place out for two hours so you better enjoy dammit!" She said as I opened the door
"Don't I always enjoy everything you do?" I asked
She nonchalantly rolled her eyes. She's so over me tonight.
"Go ahead" she said as we walked to the entrance
I didn't know what to expect or why she wanted me to go ahead of her.
I opened the door to the place and it was pitch black.
"Lauren, why is it—" I started
"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled and the lights popped on
It was obvious that this was a surprise party but I jumped and I jumped hard! Because in my defense, I never had a surprise party so I never had previous experience to already be prepared for something like this.
I smiled at all these unknown people, probably people Lauren knew. I spotted Dre so more than likely people that he knew. I scanned the room and I seen my parents and Royalty, Ai'Marie was sound asleep in her car seat. They had to have put ear plugs in her ears because how could she not have waken up.
"Keep going...." Lauren instructed
I looked at her and then walked forward, the crowd seemed to had parted down the middle as I continued to walk forward.
I walked through the small walk space they made for me and was greeted with the best gift at the end—Chris. He was standing there in all black. He looked so groomed and fresh.
I ran to him and gave him the biggest hug, spinning in circles and giving him many kisses.
"Happy birthday, baby. You look beautiful." He said. He pulled away with a smile just as big as mine while keeping his hands on my waist.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! How did this happen?" I asked
"That lawyer is the damn bomb. He literally got me out today. I only had time to get dressed and get here." Chris said
"And I bet everyone knew about this but me."
"Well if your parents and Lauren is considered everyone, then yeah." He chuckled
I hugged him again. I'm so excited.
Two weeks may not be long to others but it's long to me when the kids, Lauren, my parents and Chris are all I know.
"We've got so much to talk about but I'm just glad you could be here tonight, we can catch up on that later tomorrow." I said
He agreed. Everyone is here that matters most to me, now this is all I wanted.
Ria ✍🏽