It was a day before Christmas and Dave was helping me with the new barbecue grill before the arrival of the guests. I closed the office and gave everyone two weeks break for the holidays, but Dave had invited himself to the barbecue when I'd asked him to get gift bags for my staff and guests. He had curiously asked why I was having guests over since it was unusual, and I had told him about the party I was hosting to introduce Chike to my family and friends. Dave said he wasn't going to be missing out on the fun, so here he was marinating beef and turkey.

"Dave, I already marinated the meat," I said when I saw him dunking the beef into another sauce.

"I know, but this is my special sauce. Trust me I know what I'm doing. We have barbecue parties every time in my house, let's just say I'm a pro."

"Why aren't you spending the holidays with your parents?" I asked curiously.

"I don't have to, I'm twenty-six not twelve."

"Really? That's your excuse?" I asked in surprise. Dave was the typical mama's boy and I wasn't buying his excuse.

"I'll see them on new year's eve. I'm seeing someone later tonight...you know," he said with a wink.

"Hmm! Do. You," I said and sipped on a glass of cold juice.

I stayed in the lounge chair and watched as Dave lit the barbecue stand. Chike wasn't around because he had insisted on going to get my parents. They could drive to my house without qualms but Chike had volunteered, he said he wanted to bond with them on their way over. It'd been an argument that lasted for few hours before I finally agreed.

Chike had begged me to disinvite his parents few days before the party but I didn't. I wasn't going to tell them not to come after raising their hopes, they already thought they were going to see their son. Chike's mom had been extremely polite when I told her there were boundaries that shouldn't be crossed if she wanted a good relationship with her son. His father had only grunted when he was given the phone, but I was sure he understood and got the message.

Later, he had been worried that my parents would judge him for being too young for me. When I told him how unlikely that was, he became insecure of his tattoos. I had to sit him down to reassure him that my parents didn't care about such. My parents believed that if you were a good person nothing else should matter, not the color of your skin, or your tribe and definitely not some tattoos. They didn't box people into stereotypes and the last thing that'd do is judge someone I was in love with.

I'd even told Chike to push the boundaries and wear the earring he'd recently started wearing in his right earlobe. He had taken it off when he walked out of the bedroom that morning, but I'd pressed the barbell ring back into his palm before he left. My parents would be madder if he pretended to be someone he wasn't rather than be his real self.

I got up from the chair and went into the house. Dave had assisted me the previous day in hanging Christmas lights and decorations all over the front door and the windows. There was a Christmas tree currently in my living room with sparkling lights, some green and gold ornaments hanging loosely from its branches and a large tree topper. I'd never ever decorated my house for Christmas but I had to because of the party, my mum wouldn't approve of a house lacking Christmas ornaments and decorations during the yuletide.

I got to the bedroom and changed into a dark nude, midi, long sleeve body con dress with turtleneck. It was the dry season, and the harmattan came with cold and dust so I had to gear up accordingly. I wore a pair of fur slides with my dress and went outside to join Dave. I could smell the mouthwatering aroma coming from the sizzling meat on the grill.

"Dave, it smells amazing," I said.

"Thanks, and you look great."

"Thank you."

I heard the bell ring, alerting me of visitors and I went to check who it was. I saw Chike's parents waiting outside and I let them in. Chike's mom gave me a hug then pecked my cheek, then I went over to Chike's dad who beamed as we hugged.

"Thanks for inviting us." Chike's mom touched my belly. "This is a miracle."

"It is," I replied.

"My son is going to become a father," she teared up as she spoke and her husband wiped her tears away meticulously.

"Our seventh grandchild," Chike's dad said, and I could tell he was overjoyed.

"Let's go to the backyard," I said and they followed me. I introduced them to Dave. "This is my assistant, Dave. Dave, these are Chike's parents."

"You can call us Mama and Papa Pam, my first daughter is Pamela," Chike's mom explained.

"How wonderful, it's nice to meet you." Dave shook Papa Pam first and when he took Mama Pam's hand he said, "You're beautiful."

"Thank you." Mama Pam patted Dave's cheeks and he went back to the meat that was cooking few feet away from us. "Such a lovely young man."

"He is," I said.

We settled around the table. It was long enough to take the plenty people I was expecting, and it was also decorated with Christmas decoration. There were tabletop trees, lit candles, few ornaments here and there, as well as moon shaped lights intertwined in artificial branches.

"Where's my son?" Mama Pam asked.

"He's on his way here, he's bringing my parents."

"Okay. How far along are you, lovely Jade?" she asked.

"Four and half months," I answered.

"A May baby?"

"Late April to early May according to my EDD."

"You're such an angel, thanks for carrying us along. I know my son and I also know that left to him, we wouldn't have any knowledge of your pregnancy," she said.

"He loves you both as much as you love him, but he's different. He says mean things when he's hurt, that's how he lashes out. You just have to learn to leave him be and not offer your help unless he's asking for it," I explained to them.

"We know that now," Papa Pam said. "I just want a relationship with my only son, and if it means not giving my two cents on everything going on in his life then that's fine."

Mama Pam rested her head on her husband's shoulder. She looked distressed but that didn't take away the glow on her face. She looked like a goddess in her flowy kaftan.

"It's okay, dear. Everything is fine now," Papa Pam consoled his wife as her tears leaked on his palm leaves patterned shirt.

I heard a commotion and when I looked up, I saw my friends with their husbands. Trent was dancing as she walked towards me.

"It's a party," she sang and snapped her fingers.

I hugged everyone and we all sat around the table, Dave took a break and joined us. I introduced my friends to Chike's parents and Trent went over to hug them.

"You have such an amazing child," Zola said to them.

"Thanks," Mama Pam replied.

Bym was beaming and I saw her husband link his hand with hers, they seemed fine.

The chef I hired for the day came out and introduced himself before his servers filled the glasses on the table with champagne and still water.