Episode 11 - Family Ties
Episode 11 - Family Ties
As I sit on the patio, I am disconnected from the environment around me. I sip on some ginger ale to curve my hunger until it’s time to eat. And then… The gang walks into the back yard. I see Caleo first, then Trigga, Jordan, Leslie and then my boo Shot. He was decked out in more red than Santa.
Everyone runs to Mumma with excitement and greets her with hugs, kisses, and tons of gifts. Corey down there flirting with some girl he invited named Leesha. Meanwhile, Shelly and Mark done disappeared somewhere. Typical. I say to myself, ‘Here we go’. I honestly rather be laid up in the bed with my man.
Speaking of… Shot walks up onto the patio staring at me with a smirk. He has a bottle of Tequila in one hand and a bottle of Dousse in the other. I can’t help but to smile. I say, “Hi.”
He approaches me and steps very close before landing a big wet kiss on my cheek. He says, “Hi. I got a surprise for you.” I look at Shot, and gestured my head at Caleo as to say, ‘He’s watching.’ Shot was laughing, “Nah lil mama, fuck him tonight!” He waves the bottles of booze at me. I start laughing, “You must’ve already drank you a lil something and smoked something cause you real giddy right now.” I say as I take a sip of ginger ale.
“What? I can’t be happy to see my family?” He says as he places the bottles on the table.
I stand up and squint my eyes at him and ask, “So, what’s the surprise?” He grabs me by the waist and pulls me close to him. I nervously and quickly push him away giving him the stank face and respond with, “Negga you tripping!” I sternly say in a low tone as he chuckles at me and attempts to grab my hand, I snatch it back. “Caleo is standing RIGHT THERE! Would you stop?” He continues laughing at me. As soon as that, Shelly and Mark walk into the backyard. “You know what Shawn, I’m going to fix me a plate and get away from you before Caleo has a fit.” He continuous to laugh as I walk off the patio towards the buffet.
I am so hungry. We showed out today. We have the crab legs, spicy italian sausage, hamburgers, fried chicken, rice, corn cobs, potato salad and my Mummas maple baked beans. The smell of charcoal is floating amongst the atmosphere. The playlist starts with my mothers favorite era; 80’s Hip Hop- Old Skool. She loves her some Run DMC, Rakim, Special Ed, Roxanne Shante, and Sheila E. Here goes Shelly, already tipsy and laughing at everything. As I fix my plate, she began to make hers. I asked her, “Where was you and Mark?” She laughs and said, “Betch, he is crazy! We was in his whip rolling up and smoking hella blunts. Did you know that man has 2 kids on the way by two different mamas?” Shelly laughs and continues to spill the tea as she makes her plate, “So, I asked him, ‘What you going to do? He gonna say oh, ‘I aint ready for no kids I’m bout to leave and set-up in the west coast.’” I start laughing with her, “I’m surprised his sperm could even REACH that far!” We laugh some more. Shelly says, “I told him I got connections in Seattle if he wanna make moves up there…” I respond, “That’s not a bad idea.” We take our plates to the table, Leslie joins us with her drink.
As I start digging into my plate, Leslie says, “I been drinking all day! And I’m not stopping until I pass the fuck out! So, you gonna drink with me Milla?” I look at her with my mouth full of food, “So, you don’t see me eating?” I scold her. Leslie claps back with, “Why don’t you like me? I mean, me and your brother been together for two years now. I put up with all his shit, I know everything about his business..”
I put my fork down and cut her off, “Firstly, it’s not that I don’t like you… I just don’t KNOW you. Secondly, I can’t respect a betch who let’s a man take advantage of her in the WORSE way!...”
Shelly chimes in, “Preach!”
I continue with my points, “and thirdly, you ARE Caleo’s business, you work for him. You are not his girl, you are his employee! So, no I won’t have a drink with you, you can leave us alone or sit there, look stupid and shut your mouth talking drunken nonsense to me.” I pick up my fork and reach for a bite when I feel splashed with a cold drink. Shelly jumps over the table and grabs Leslie by the shirt collar, I grab a handful of her hair and smash her with my fist repeatedly. Slurring her words as she stumbles out with her drink in hand, Mumma yells out, "Not my potato salad! Y’all better not spill my damn potato salad!"
Shot finally grabbing Camilla around the waist as she kicks wildly. "Chill, Milla! Damn, you tryna kill her?"
Caleo shoves his way through the crowd. "Leslie, what the hell are you doing? You can’t keep your mouth shut for five minutes?"
Camren yells out, “Oh lord. Somebody call Jerry Springer!"
That’s when Leslie exposes me. "Oh, I got your ‘employee,’ skank! At least I ain’t hiding a baby from the whole damn family!"
Shelly’s jaw drops in shock and awe. She’s is going to be so upset that I didn’t tell her about the pregnancy. But, one thing at a time…
I push Shot to the side and flip the table to get another chance at this stupid trick ass ho.
Cory jumps on the porch and stands in front of Leslie and Caleo, blocking any access to her. Shawn grabs me again.
Caleo’s expression freezes. The crowd holds their breath. You could hear a fly tap-dance on a paper plate.
“What you just say?” he asks, quieter now, staring dead at Leslie.
Leslie tosses her drink back, smug. “I said she’s hiding a baby. Ain’t my fault nobody else caught on.”
Shelly gasps and turns to me. “Bitch… you pregnant?!”
I swallow hard and look away. I ain’t ready for this, but it’s too late now.
Caleo steps forward, eyes wide—not angry, but searching. “Milla… for real?”
I nod slowly, hands clutching my sides like they could hide the whole truth.
Shelly throws her arms up. “Ohhh, so the hoodies wasn't just for comfort! You raggedy little secret-keeping—”
Mumma stumbles into the scene, wine glass still in hand, waving it like a baton. “I KNEW IT!” she yells. “I knew something was up soon as she put pickles in my damn potato salad!”
Everyone looks at her. Ms. Joy shrugs. “Ain’t no way she eatin' like that unless she pregnant.”
Shelly yells: “YOU knew too?! Why am I the last one to find out?!”
Caleo turns to Shot. “You knew all this time, huh?” His tone sharpens just a touch.
Shot tries to stay cool. “Yeah. I did. I wanted to tell you... but we was waiting for the right time.”
Caleo laughs once—dry, almost sarcastic. “The right time? My sister carrying your baby, and you thought I needed an invite to the gender reveal?”
Shot stays quiet, eyes lowered.
Caleo steps in closer, eye to eye now. “Nah. You love her, right?”
Shot nods, instantly. “With everything in me.”
Caleo stares hard… then cracks a crooked grin. “Then marry her. Before that baby gets here.”
Camilla’s eyes widen. “Caleo—” I expected him to yell, swing on Shot, or pull out his glock. But instead, Caleo just stood there… smiling like I’d handed him a gold chain. That shook me more than anything.
He lifts a hand. “Nah, sis. If you gon’ lay with her, love her, raise a kid with her—you gon’ marry her. Ain’t no halfway family ‘round here.”
Mumma sways a little, then raises her glass. “Ain’t no halfway potato salad either, so y’all better get to steppin’ down that aisle.”
Cory yells from the porch: “Somebody cue Jagged Edge! ‘We ain’t gettin’ no youngerrrr!’”
Leslie rolls her eyes and tries to speak again, but Shelly steps forward, chest out. “Girl shut up, you already got the boot. Your invite expired five minutes ago.”
Leslie snaps: “Y’all actin’ like this betch the virgin Mary—”
Shelly takes punk fakes at Leslie. “Say one more word and I'ma Christen you!”
Mumma slurs, raising her glass one more time: “Can y’all not fight in front of the macaroni and cheese, please?!”
Caleo throws his arm around Camilla, eyes glossy but proud. “Y’all hear me? I’m gon’ be an uncle, man. Don’t nobody ruin this day again. Party still on! Play some Mary or somethin’!”
Someone shouts: “A baby and a wedding?! This reunion LIT!”
“Caleo go take care of Leslie, I’m gonna take Milla inside so she can clean up. Everybody just go back to having a good time. This a celebration, not a wrestling match.” Cory tries to tame the situation.
Shelly points her finger at Caleo, “Get your girl, before I do.”
Mark yells out from the grill, “Is this a Bad Girls reunion or a FAMILY reunion? HAHA!”
“Why you always starting some shit, Leslie?” Caleo scolds his girlfriend as they gather her things to leave. “This is why I don’t take ya ass nowhere cause you always getting drunk and acting like a stupid bitch!” He grabs her by her arm.
“I’m just saying Cash… your sister is a sneaky ass disrespectful little girl!” Leslie claps at me.
I threw a shot of spit at her, “You lucky ho! I got something for that ass though! Shawn let me go!” I kick my legs and try to squirm my way out the lock. “Baby, calm down. Relax. It’s over.”
“NAH! GO GET YOUR ASS IN THE CAR!...BEFORE I FUCK YOU UP MYSELF!” He screams in her ear while dragging her out the yard. “I’m sorry Cash, stop it you’re hurting me.” She wimpers at him. “SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET IN THE CAR!!” He demands her.
Mumma comes on the patio holding her drink, “Yall done messed up my table. Well, I guess now we being family again!” She wobbles around trying to lift of the table, still holding her drink in her hand. Cory grabs the table and stands it back up, “I got it ma. I’ll take care of it.”
Shot walks me into the house and pulls a chair out for me to sit down. I am fuming! I kick the chair and pace in a small circle in the kitchen.The music faded back in, but I couldn’t unhear the gasps or shake the weight of what just happened. I was exposed. My truth, spilled in front of the whole damn family. And all I wanted now was air... and maybe his hands on my back.
“Damn, lil mama relax. You over here going Hiroshima kwasi moto and shit.” He says with lighthearted humor. “Shut up Shawn.” I continue pacing.
“I’m sorry…” He says. I slit my eyes at him and fold my arms against my chest. I kick my shoes off next to the door. Being barefoot tends to soothe me when I get hot-tempered.
“Damn, you taking the shoes off. I ain’t seen you do that since High School in Principal Lexans office after you beat up Kimberly… I wonder what ever happened to Kimberly.” He puts a pondering look on his face.
I repeat myself, “Shut up Shawn. You know what? I am not even hungry no more. I’m tired, I’m gonna go lay down. Sick of this bullshit.” I take my hoodie off as I walk up the stairs. Shawn follows behind me.
As I walk through my room door, Shawn grabs me from behind and kisses the back of my neck. He holds me tighter with both arms around my waist.I couldn’t tell if I was mad, embarrassed, or just plain exhausted. All I knew was when I felt his arms wrap around me… I finally stopped shaking. He locks the door with his other hand while continue to kiss me all over my neck and grope my body. I start to feel warm in my private spot.
“Come on.” He says as he guides me to the bed. He steps in front of me and sits down at the edge. He grabs my body and places me between his legs; lifts up my shirt and kisses my baby bump while undressing my pants. I succumb to my hormones that are now raging. It has been weeks since we’ve gotten to make love and I miss his hands. He massages my breast and continues to kiss all over my tummy as I climb out of my jeans. I climb on his lap and begin sucking his neck and licking his ear. Shawn pulls his pants off while lifting me up. I let out a soft moan.
He knows my body so well. I massage his back as he slides it in. I brace myself for the ride.
After a good fifteen minutes, we collapse and hold our embrace. We listen to the heartbeats of our love and the pace of our breath calms us. “SURPRISE,” he whispered with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. “Boy, you play too much.” He kissed my forehead. “I told your brother everything… except this part.” I look back up at him and say, “You really told bro that we together?” He responds, “Yes baby. He said he always knew.” We started cracking up laughing and we said in unison, “So all these years…” We laughed so hard and I finished the sentence, “We thought we were being sneaky.” He nods his head and says, “Exactly!” We laughed even harder. “I can’t stand his ass!” We say jokingly.
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