Aaliyah
________

Devonté Chat

Me: I made up my mind, I will come and live with you.

Babe💙🏆: Good, I already made preparations just incase you did decided to come.

Me: What kind of preparations?

Babe💙🏆: Jobs, vehicle, new wardrobe stuff like that.

Me: Awe babeeee, thank you🥺.

Babe💙🏆: Anything for you princess.

Me: Lol you a go make me blush yah now

Babe💙🏆: A me supposed to put a smile pon you pretty face.

Me: Sms I know.

Babe💙🏆: How's the family doing?

Me: Everyone is fine except Anéyah she's really going through a rough patch.

Babe💙🏆: Jah jah, I'm really sorry how things ended between your sister and my stubborn cousin. He really love her but pride is getting the best of him right now.

Me: Sigh, if only he knew.

Babe💙🏆: Knew what?

Me: Nothing, I mean about why she did what she did.

Incoming call from Babe💙🏆

"Fuck me!!" I mutter to myself.

Phone call

Me: Yes babe?

Fiftie: What are you hiding?

Me: I'm not hiding anything.

Fiftie: your voice is a dead giveaway.

Me: [sighing] Anéyah is pregnant. Please don't tell him or anyone else my sister would stop speaking to me if you do.

Fiftie: So Néyah plan fi keep the man child from him?

Me: She said he wouldn't care that's why she's keeping the news to herself. I only found out because of her morning sickness.

Fiftie: That's wrong on so many levels.

Me: I know but I want to respect her decision.

Fiftie: I don't support this.

Me and my big fucking mouth, Devonte is upset about the news and I'm afraid he might tell Dionnis then it would cause more rifts if he mentions anéyah is keeping it a secret from him.

Me: [shouts] Babe! Let them work it out please don't say anything.

Fiftie: Fine but he deserves to know.

Me: And I agree but their mess not ours.

Fiftie: Okay, when are you planning to come so I can go ahead and book your flight ticket?

Me: I haven't told Jennifer yet.

Fiftie: [laughing]

Me: What's so funny.

Fiftie: me knore but me just needed you to confirm it.

Me: I will tell her tomorrow.

Fiftie: Mhmm, I hope so because you tend to let things prolong until it unfolds on its own.

Me: I will tell her tomorrow

I roll my eyes, I planned on telling my mom tomorrow I just don't know how to actually put it to her.

Fiftie: if you say so, I have to go meet up with Dionnis we can chat later.

Me: Okay bye

Fiftie isn't like one of those lovie dovie men he doesn't say 'I love you' at the end of a phone call but why do I get this feeling that he's mad at me.

My mother's off and her partner Eric expressed his interest in proposing to her. I told him it's fine with me but he should call my other siblings to make sure we're all on the same boat.

We love Eric he treats our mother like a queen, he gives her TLC when she comes home everyday from her shift since she would normally complain about her feet aching.

I am happy for my mother, our father moved on shortly after I was born and got married after she gave him three kids. For many years I was irate by the fact that he found it easier to marry a younger lady than the woman he knocked up 3 times .

Some men can be so selfish and cruel.

I think that's why I feared dating, I didn't want to experience what my mother been through with my father even though at some point in life we all experience heartbreak.

Dionnis
________

"How the streets looking?" I ask Fiftie.

"Since we sent a message to dem man dung de lane, nobody nah gwaan wid no bagga stupidness. I heard they fled de area and move down a trelawny" he says.

"Hmm same trelawny wey just had a teenage rape and murder victim" I state and he raised his head in disbelief.

"Dawg supm wrong wid dem man dey enuh, none a dem better mek fool and play round Aaliyah when she come yahso go live" he tells me.

"Den a true, Aaliyah really a come JA come live?" I reply.

"Yes I want to see her often and the only way that can happen is if she comes to stay with me" Fiftie proving the rumors right.

"I am happy for both of you at least you guys are making big moves" I express.

"Thanks and you should talk to anéyah couz, I know you can be a little stubborn but trust me you need to call her" he pries.

I don't get why my whole family is on her side. She guzu them and forget to do me just incase?

Me no understand.

"I think we both need this space right now" I reply.

"Just don't wait 9 months to do so" he sarcastically says.

"What you trying to tell me?" I query.

"No worry, call and find out" he states and I kiss my teeth.

"Anyway the reason I wanted to meet with you is to sort out any issues or concerns around the community and the men that serve me and you. School soon open which means it's soon time to do the back to school drive" I tell Fiftie.

"Yeah we done got a few families in mind to help out since it's hard for the mothers to uphold house rent and still feed the likke pitney dem" Fiftie shares.

"So what you suggest we do, provide groceries and school supplies?" I query.

"Yes that way the parents can focus on bills and rent or dem mortgage".

"Okay I like that, give me a count and I will get my assistant to shop for the school supplies in Miami since it would be cheaper and have more variety. You know the cost no bother me but people does be happy when they hear say dem get things from outta foreign" I chuckle and he joins me.

"You nah tell no lie dey" he laughs.

"Jerome say he wan geh you a chat" he then says.

"Dawg last time we chat he tell me sey him got a yute on the way" I recall.

"Yeah him getting a daughter, probably why him wan check you cause you know he ain't got nothing else going on other than working for us" Fiftie admits and I groan.

"De man is one of my best souljahs and by right him suppose to be living just as good as us" I state and Fiftie nods in agreement.

"Tell him feel free to message me when him ready to link bou the chat" I tell him.

"Dré a touch down weekend, we affi to pull up at the airport for him" I say.

"Aiite boss man" Fiftie says with a smirk on his face. He knows I hate to be called the don or boss man.

Anéyah
_________

I want to start packing but between work, preparation for Lemar's after school activities and 24/7 morning sickness, I don't know why they call it morning when I get it anytime of the day.

Luckily for me I can still eat fruits and they will stay down, nothing else would.

I booked a doctor appointment for tomorrow to see the progress of the baby. I want to tell Lemar that he's going to be a big brother but I want to wait until I am out of the woods first better known as the first trimester.

Since Dionnis is off island I decide to keep doing routine diagnostics at his company until he gets back I expressed to Fred already about my concerns and the need to pass on this project to someone else.

If he doesn't want to speak to me I will make it easier on both of us by staying out of his sight in that way I can stay out of his mind just how the saying goes.

Out of sight out of mind.

Lemar would be disheartened when I tell him we are moving out before the end of the month and the real reason Dionnis left state is to get far away from me as he possibly can.

School is still on break and since Aaliyah is holding off on finding a job here until she reaches to Jamaica, she will be at home keeping Lemar's company until school begins next week while I'm at work.

"Good morning Amber" I greet while heading to the elevator.

"Good morning Anéyah are you feeling okay? You look sick" she says in soft concerned tone and I stop in my tracks.

"I'm okay, just on a diet" I say and she nods.

I sigh and step into the elevator as soon as it opens. I could remember when I was pregnant with Lemar, I barely experienced any morning sickness or nausea and I used to eat like crazy but with this pregnancy is completely different I can't seem to keep anything down unless it's fruits and ice cold beverages.

I sit behind my desk and power up my computers and quickly type in my credentials. Luckily for me I just have a few fiber optic replacements and websites to create; to how drained I'm feeling I'll take these simple assignments right now.

My phone lights up and I reach for it and see a message from my mother's boyfriend Eric.

Hi Anéyah, you know that I am madly in love with your mother and I am hoping to spend the rest of my life with her. I'm saying that to say this, I would like your blessing to ask for her hand in marriage.

My eyes start to swell with tears.

My mother has been through a lot in life and has endured too many selfish partners. I am beyond ecstatic that someone is willing to settle down with her even at her age and her having 3 kids, 1 grandkid.

Typing....

Of course Eric, you have my blessing.

I can't wait until she announces her engagement to us or he probably might try doing it with all of us present since Aaliyah is leaving at the end of the month. Either way I am overly happy for the both of them, she is deserving.

Well this lightens up my mood for the day.

Knock-knock

"Come" I say loudly.

The door opens and Jeremiah steps inside "wow girl you look like shit" he compliments and I roll my eyes dramatically.

"Wait so a sick you sick? He gave you some kind of STD or HIV? I heard he has plenty women and when I heard you're dating him, I said lord my girl gone in yah now" he whispers dramatically and I kiss my teeth.

"Mi no got no STD neither no HIV, stop mind fimi business please" I jeer.

"Damn ma since when you get so feisty a breed you breed man" Jeremiah chuckles and sit in the chair in front of my desk.

I sigh, I give up it's pointless trying to get him to stop. "How may I help you boss?" I inquire.

"No help, just come to check up on my work wife"He says and I visibly relax.

"All jokes aside you good anéyah? You don't look like the happy girl I am accustomed to, it's like your mind is lost but your body is still here trying to move forward" he states and water trails down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry if I triggered you I was honestly concerned as a friend" he apologizes and I raise my head to the ceiling to try control my tears.

"It's okay and thank you for your concern, I'm not a 100% but with the grace of god I will bounce back" I finally speak.

"That's good to hear" he states.

"The man me see you post the other day, him gay?" He then asks and I shake my head, I know he had a reason for coming in my office bout him a check pon me.

The man too liad and whore.

"What man, I don't know who you are speaking of" I say acting oblivious, I need to remember to block him from seeing my statuses.

"The slim, buff dark chocolate with the slight bow legs" he describes kenrick to me and I try my hardest not to laugh.

"A family friend, he isn't gay and he's expecting right now" I firmly say.

"Why you got so much sexy straight men in your circle" he groans.

"Why you wan me got gay man round me fah?" I inquire and he laughs.

"So me could get one duhh" he says sarcastically.

"Hmm well too bad, go back down to the admin department" I tell Jeremiah.

"Girl he do act too girly for me, I need someone manly and aggressive" he admits.

I fold my right hand into a fist and place it against my lips to hide the smile creeping up on my face before looking at him. "Mi see sey sumn really wrong wid yuh enuh, come guh outta me office man" I laugh out loud and he joins me.

"My work here is done" he stands to his feet with a pleasing smile on his face.

"What job?" I query.

"To get you to laugh" he winks and leave, closing my door behind him.

My heart smiles to see people notice I'm not myself anymore and would go out of their way to try cheer me up.

I take up my phone to call Lya. The phone rings a few times then she picks up.

Phone Call

Lya: Hey mama

Me: Hey babe, I just wanted to hear your voice.

Lya: Awwe, what's wrong?

Me: (sobbing) I miss him Lya and I'm always horny.

Lya: (sighing) I'm sorry néyah, I really wish he would just come to his senses before you decide your done for good. You tried reaching out again?

Me: Yes I called his JA line a few times and by yesterday the operator kept saying the number I'm trying to reach is no longer in service so I knew he blocked me.

Lya: (exclaiming) Ugh! He's acting like such a damn child !!

Me: (sighing) I know

Lya: I'll always be here for you, I will be your baby's father (laughing).

Me: (laughing) I wouldn't mind at all.

Lya: Good because you don't have a choice.

I smile but don't say anything in return.

Lya: Dré is going to Jamaica on the weekend, he said he has some sort of family matter to take care of.

Me: Okay that's nice, from what I've heard he hasn't been down there in years probably 10 to 15 years to be exact.

Lya: At least his family will get to see him all grown up.

Me: Yeah, you should go .

Lya: Nooo he didn't invite me, I won't force myself somewhere that I'm not wanted.

Me: you sound ridiculous, you guys live together and talks about having a family of your own, you're not no matey.

Lya: If he invites me on the trip with him I  will attend, if he doesn't then I will stay at home it's not a big deal.

Me: okay sounds fair.

Lya: How's the baby treating you today?

Me: Okay I guess, I only throw up this morning before leaving for work. I haven't eaten as yet but I drank orange juice from my insulated bottle.

Lya: you need to eat or you'll end up in the hospital.

Me: It won't stay down Lya and I hate to vomit, it's gross.

Lya: (laughs) I feel you but just try please for me?

Me: fine, I will go to the cafeteria in a few minutes.

Lya: good I have to go mama Mwah (kiss sound)

Me: Okay mwah (kiss sound).

I hibernate my laptop then make my way down to the cafeteria since I only packed fruits. I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce.

While I stand and wait for my sandwich I start to get this funny feeling and suddenly start to feel hot, like summer in the Caribbean hot. My vision is slowly dimming to black and all I can hear is muffled voices surrounding me then nothing.

The last thing I saw was Joshua running towards me then everything turned pitch black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to vote and comment ❤️

Thanks for reading📖