1 Month Ago

January 1st (5 Months Pregnant)

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five," the crowd intensifies, "four, three, two, one! Happy New Years!"

Phoenix cradles my face as we kiss, celebrating the moment.

https://youtu.be/nIR2GR254S8

Pentatonix's version of "Auld Lang Syne" permeates the air, tugging at my heartstrings. The bittersweet realization of one year gone and the excitement of a new one to look forward to, leaves me at a crossroad. I know I'm stepping into the future, but with all that I've gone through this past year, it's hard to let go. Even though it was a monumental struggle, it's grown me up, fast. I'm on the cusp of motherhood, I've got my man by side and everyone I love the most is right here in this room.

You're blessed, girl.

Phoenix and I hug, swaying from side to side to the music, as he sings softly in my ear.

Mia takes a fork to her champagne flute. "A toast! Let's toast! We made it! Happy New Year!"

The crowd responds with jubilant, drunk cheers.

Riz pours and passes out flutes to all the guests.

Mia taps Riz on the shoulder. "Sparkling apple cider for Ari."

He looks back. "You sure? It's just a toast."

I nod. "She's right, Riz. Sparkling apple cider for me."

Riz passes the champagne flute intended for me to Phoenix. "Where is it?"

"As soon as we got here, I put it in the wine fridge in the kitchen." Standing behind me and Phoenix, Mama whispers, "Pickle! Your house is gorgeous. Phoenix sure knows how to treat a lady."

I look back to find a huge grin on her beautiful face.

"Son-in-law." Mama elbows Phoenix and they both laugh.

"Your mom! She's good people."

"Yeah, she is."

Tell your dumbass father that!

Nick brings Mama down for a dip as they dance, causing Penelope to exclaim. "Ow ow!" She looks to JC. "Do me!" She pleads like a little kid.

JC proceeds to dip Penelope as if they've stepped back to the fifties for a moment. Penelope comes back up, svelte as a diva. She high-fives Mama and they laugh.

"Mama's feeling herself, tonight." I whisper to Phoenix.

"She's just having a good time," he replies.

"Now that Nick has come into the picture, she's a whole new person." I can't help but smile at her happiness. "It's crazy, you never know how sad someone really was until you see how happy they can be. She's been sad for years and now it's like the biggest weight has been lifted off her shoulders. I never would've noticed that if it wasn't for Nick. I had gotten so used to her being that way, it just felt normal. But it's not. This is her normal. This is how I remember seeing her before my father left."

"I'm happy for your mom. It's better late than never."

"Say that again." I tell him as I wrap both arms over his shoulders. We kiss again.

"Go find a room." Troy nudges my shoulder.

I turn. "Troy! Aya? When did you get here?"

"Right before the countdown." Troy sips the last of his champagne.

"So glad we didn't get caught in traffic! You know what they say, whoever you're with and wherever you are when the clock strikes twelve, that's what you'll be doing and who you'll be with in the new year." Aya wipes her brow. "Phew!"

I nod and smile. "Right."

Troy lifts his champagne flute. "Gotta get a refill! Can't start the new year sober." Troy laughs.

Phoenix and Aya laugh too.

Smiling from ear to ear, Troy kisses Aya's hand and stares into her eyes before they head towards the kitchen.

Dare I say Troy is in love?

"What's that look on your face?" Phoenix asks with questions in his eyes.

"What look? I'm just surprised they hit it off so well. You know I introduced them?"

Phoenix rests his hands on my waist. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! You see that over there?"

Troy is saying something to Aya and she's doubling over with laughter.

I swirl my hand around them. "I did that! That was me!"

"OK. I see how you working, Ms. Matchmaker. Wanna come put in some more work?" Phoenix grins.

"Once this party clears out, I'll put in extra hours. Looking for some overtime?"

"For sure. Think we can accommodate that." Phoenix flashes a mischievous grin, but his attention is taken away by a great commotion. He looks up and pats me on the butt. "Let me see what these knuckleheads are up to."

He walks to Riz and JC who seem to be caught in a deep discussion about football, stats and the greatest to ever do it.

"What's up?" He asks as he steps into their circle.

Riz start explaining.

Nick joins their discussion. The girls are left to entertain themselves. We decide the guys are our entertainment. We watch them get entangled in the details and take sides on who's the best. It's like watching animals in the wild. Riz hits his chest like he's defending his record. Nick throws his hands up as if to say he doesn't agree. Phoenix laughs his head off and comes back stating stats. JC starts listing points on his fingers; the organized mind of a lawyer. Troy points to the center of the circle like he's raising valid counterpoints.

"They are serious, aren't they?" Mama sips her cocktail and stares.

"I think so." Penelope rolls her eyes, lifts her glass to them and takes a long swig.

"It's just cause all the attention ain't on her," Mia whispers in my ear.

I shake my head. "Tell me about it."

Aya stands to my other side. "Between girlfriends?"

I turn to look her in her eyes. "Sure. What is it girl?"

Aya looks back and forth as if to make sure no one is listening. "Girl! You never told me Troy was so, uh, you know."

"Huh?" I ask.

"Girl! He's so big! And oh my God, does he know how to handle himself."

My heart skips. Anger settles in the aftermath. I clear my throat. "Aya. Uh. Troy is just my friend. I wouldn't know that." My brow furrows.

Aya stares at me, mouth open. "Oh. I just assumed—"

"—Yeah, well you assumed wrong. We've been besties since college. It's never been like that." I tuck a curl behind my ear. "Glad to know you to are hitting it off." I turn around.

"Oh! Girl! What was that eye roll for? Who pissed you off?" Mia frowns looking around.

"It's, uh." I take a breath. "It's nothing." I laugh. "Just so silly," I whisper.

"'Cause you know I'll check a bitch? I mean, a chick?"

Mia and I laugh.

"Mia! You have gotten so aggressive since I've been preggars."

"'Cause there is no room for upsetting the baby." She smiles. "Come here." She hugs me. "Let me get you some snacks. Bring that blood pressure down." She jokes as she walks towards the kitchen counter.

"They really are serious." Mama stares at the guys going back and forth.

"Mama, you literally haven't taken your eyes off the guys since they started their little football ranking war."

"I just never seen a man get so caught up on sports. You know your father was never into that sort of thing."

"Speaking of, I actually met up with him."

She looks at me.

"Got your full attention now?"

She turns her head rebelliously and waves her hand. "Couldn't care less."

"It was crazy to say the least," I tell her while staring at the guys.

"Oh, yeah?" She replies.

"He's not with she who shall not be named, anymore. Did you know that?"

"Hmm."

"He said the breakup with she who shall not be named, had nothing to do with the 'truth she was trying to get him to see.'"

"Truth she was trying to get him to see?" She turns to look me in the face.

"That's what I said."

"Huh! So, you mean to tell me that not only did she sleep with my man, she was the one who convinced him to leave?"

"As in trying to make him believe you were a cheater, Ma."

"What?" She takes a drink behind that.

I nod. "Yes. That's what he said. He mentioned some professor you were a teaching assistant for?"

"Yes, Professor James Callahan. A sweet guy, really. Very nice and very professional. Is that why he left? He never gave me a reason. Just grew more and more distant. Next thing I know, he was telling me he's leaving. He thought I was cheating on him? Because of her?" Mama's expression looks lost as if she's searching for something.

"He's a dumbass, Ma. He mentioned you at a bar with Callahan and a love letter?"

"Oh my God! When you're father walked out, I ran it over in my mind a thousand times." She covers her mouth. "That slick son-of-a bitch—"

"—Who shall not be named." I prompt.

"Yeah, that. She told me to meet her after work at a bar we used to go to. We always hung out there, but this particular time, she ghosted me. Instead of having a drink with her, Professor Callahan showed up. I remember thinking it was the weirdest coincidence that the people we were showing up for, didn't, well show up."

"What?"

"Yeah, he had met someone through a dating site and they were supposed to meet there, but his date stood him up. I ended having two or three drinks with him because I felt sorry and shortly after I left and went home."

"Do you think she who shall not be named set you both up?" I ask.

Mama scoffs. "Oh, she most definitely did! There was that letter too. It was so random. I found it shoved in my purse marked "From Professor Callahan," but when I asked him about it, he totally denied it. And I had no reason not to believe him. I thought the whole thing was odd. But even more odd was the handwriting. I know Professor Callahan's handwriting, and it didn't look like his. I didn't understand it and I couldn't figure it out, so I dropped it. I had two kids and a husband to worry about." Mama's eyes are wide with disbelief. "I just . . . after all this time? It was her, all along?"

It hurts to see Mama so undone. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

"It's seventeen years late, Ari. If you didn't tell me, who would've?"

"You're better off without him. If that's all it took."

"I can just imagine the lies she told him! And he believed her! Never even gave me a chance. He told me none of this!"

"He's not worth the headache. We've already lived through the worst part. We're stronger without him."

"It's . . . "

"Come here, Ma." I give her the warmest tightest hug I can muster.

Mama pats my back. "You know what, you're right." She nods her head. "I've got a great guy. There's no use in looking back now." She tosses her head back and guzzles the last of her cocktail. "Time for another." She heads towards the wine fridge to wash away the hurt.

I get it, so I salute her with my sparkling champagne as she leaves. Phoenix comes back with a silly grin on his face.

"Had to let 'em know." He sniffs the air and smiles.

The guys left in the huddle wave him off. "Get out of here!"

"Hey, it's lonely at the top!" He yells back.

"Yeah, alright." The guys yell back.

Phoenix turns to me. "How's mama and baby?" he asks rubbing my belly.

"Meh."

"Meh?" He tickles my side.

I giggle. "Yes!"

"Meh?" He goes for the other side. "You sure it's meh?" he asks tickling me all over as I squeal with delight.

"That's better." His hands calm down and so do I.

I smack his arm. "Play too much! Attacking me like that."

He wiggles his fingers near both sides of my belly like weapons ready to tickle me at a second's notice. "Sure you want to hit me again like that?"

I grab his arms and step into his embrace, wrapping arms around his neck. "Happy new year, welcome to our forever."

He looks up at the ceiling. "Forever? Forever, ever? Forever, ever?"

"You're stupid!"

We laugh. 

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Aria has just solved the lingering 17 year old mystery that's been hanging over her head since she was a child. How do you think this affects her moving forward?