“Hey, you good?” Nickoi asks her.
“Yes, mi bwoy,” she beams. She’s in a nude and white dress with a shoulder length brown wig. The curls kinky. Honestly, she looks really good.
“You look great, Mommy,” I tell her.
“Thanks, baby… but I wonder if you see how nice you look. The two a unuh,” she says, gesturing to both me and Nickoi.
“Respect enuh, Ms. Michelle,” Nickoi smiles warmly.
“Thanks, Mommy,” I echo before she kisses my cheek and touches Nickoi’s hand, floating away to greet more people. I was about to ask for Mama when I spot her across the room, chatting with Nicki. Okay… Good.
“Deh dolly yah in a different category enuh, nuh true?” Sash’s voice sings out, and I spin into her arms. She rocks us gently and Gavin’s beside her, grinning.
“Sash,” I beam. They’re both dressed in nude graffiti tops, white pants, and brown shoes, drippy but classy. Everybody’s showing up proper. I give them both compliments and chat for a while before moving through the rest of the guests.
“I feel so special because these babies remind me of us,” Janel grins then Jor agrees, saying ‘‘No joke.”
Nickoi’s posted up in the back, socializing with his gang. I spot Gutta dressed in nude, him actually look different. Like… softer. Probably cause mi used to see him in red or black. I spot Rick holding my little friend, the one always glued to him. Thebaby’s in white with nude sneakers, so adorable. I make a mental note to say ‘hi’ soon. I turn back to Janel and Jordane.
“Girl and boy twin, just like you two.” Once I finish talking to them, I move to Nicki and her friend, then get introduced to Nickoi’s grandmother. First time meeting her. She’s nice… but bossy.
“Come, Zara, try this salad,” she says, handing me a bowl.
“Thanks,” I smile, realizing it’s a Cobb salad. Definitely something babe would’ve put on the menu. I find a seat on one of the plush sofas and dig in. Mi probably hungry, I think to myself as the flavors hit just right. Food always taste better when yuh hungry… yuh never know?
“How you doing?” a familiar voice says. I look up. Daddy? Wow. I quickly swallow my nuggets and sit straighter.
“Welcome, Daddy. It’s good to see you.” I didn’t think he’d show up, honestly. But here he is… and surprisingly, him look good. Somebody must be taking care of him now, ‘cause I’ve never seen this man so put together. He’s wearing a brown tux with a white undershirt, and his cooly hair is faded nice. Well damn. I’m impressed.
.
“Mi happy fi deh here, yuh know,” he says, glancing around at the décor. I notice Nickoi wave him over.
“That’s sweet,” I mutter under my breath, watching them. I smile at Nickoi, admiring him. All his friends look nice, but something about him, he just stands out.
“Nickoi calling you, Daddy,” I nudge him.
“Mi a go check him, man… but yuh alright?” he asks gently, concerned. I nod with a smile.
“I’m good, Daddy,” I say, and he nods back.
“Excuse me, sir. You want one?” Janel asks, balancing a tray of champagne. Her brother’s beside her, those two stay clashingbut still can’t leave each other’s side. Mi wonder if a so my babies a go stay.
My father grins, taking a glass. “Thanks, likkle one.”
“You’re welcome,” Janel smiles sweetly. She walks over to me, and Jordane slaps her lightly on the arm.“Ow!”she groans. Jor’ glances at Nickoi, then back at her.
“Yuh sick? She pregnant enuh, and him say she nuh fi get none a that.”
“Oh yeah… true,” she mutters, and they walk off. Nicki steps to the front, picking up the mic. All eyes fall on her.
“Welcome to Nickoi and Zara’s baby shower!” she says, smiling. “Mi glad unuh pull up, cause today is all about love, life, and these two babies weh soon touch earth.” People clap, and she continues. “Mi nuh know bout unuh, but mi excited bad! Mi know Zara fi almost a year now and mi son carry her come right a mi foot. From then, mi just know, yeah man, this yah girl yah different. She sweet, she kind, she pretty… she sexy and mi cyaah lie… mi see how she love mi son. And mi know she ago love these babies the same way.” She glances at me and smiles. “Big up to everybody weh show up and show love. Eat up, drink up, and mek we play some games and enjoy the vibes, cause today is a celebration!”That speech was perfect…
Half an hour later, everybody is full and vibing. I had way too much food, just a little of everything. The stuff I didn’t like, I threw away… but best believe I tasted it all.Cravengyal. I spot Teyanna and Zanne heading my way. “Yuh look good eeeh gyal?” Zanne grins. I spot Junior beside Nickoi, who’s deep in conversation with my dad. Gavin’s there too, laughing with them. That sight makes me smile.
“Yuh pretty bad enuh gyal,” Anna snaps me back to the moment.
“You too!” I laugh.
