Wendy walks in with a plate and the sight alone makes me smile. Even though Lizzie made pancakes earlier, mi belly still never feel full. Pregnancy strike again.
“Thank youuuu,” I giggle.
“Never know seh yuh was a foodie,” she says, and I laugh mid-bite.
A long time foodie dat, Wendy.
Mi always did love mi food. We sit and eat, the mood light.
Then she glances at me. “How yuh been though, sis?”
I smile as I chew, the sweetness of the plantain settling mi soul a little.
“Mi good enuh. Mi just want graduation fi done now.”
She nods, understanding. “Okay, baby.”
***
After we finish eating, she clears up then returns with her tools. She pauses mid-motion. “Girl… yuh engaged?!” she gasps, eyes widening like she just catch news.
I blush, biting my lip. Nickoi flash in my mind again. “Yes,” I murmur.
“It cute bad, girl. And yuh deserve it! Congratulations!”
“Thanks, Wendy,” I say with a soft grin as she gently holds my hand.
“Weh yuh seh short?”
“Yeah man. Mi tired a the long nails now.”
“Mi get tired a dem too sometimes,” she chuckles, then gets to work.
The silence after that is peaceful. Her focus sharp, hands steady. My body slowly relax again, the earlier fright fading out. I drift off in the chair, belly full, heart full, nails coming together. Peaceful.
Pregnant, engaged, loved.
“Done enuh, Zara,” Wendy says, nudging my shoulder gently.
I blink awake, stretching with a yawn. “Mi did knock right out,” I laugh, eyes still halfway closed.
She laughs along with me. Truth is, I’d dozed off more than once, drifting in and out while she shaped and buffed my nails. Somewhere between her polishing my left hand and painting my right, she’d passed me a plate with fruits and a small tube of Pringles. I remembered nibbling on a grape, chewing lazily with my eyes half shut, and muttering something about being ‘awake’ while I sleep and chew.
Next thing mi know, she’s waking me up fi real. She chuckled, wiping her hands. “No man, it’s like you neva’ get fi sleep last night.”
I smile, still groggy. She doesn’t know it’s the pregnancy. That little person inside me kicking my ass daily. I laugh it off, then glance down at my nails and instantly light up.Mi love them.
“One thing with you enuh, you a go understand the assignment,” I grin, holding up my hands in the light. The short white set? Simple, sweet, elegant. Matches my heart-shaped ring perfectly.
“Thanks, Zara,” she says, tucking her tools away.
I pay her fast since she has to leave soon, then grab my things. On my way home, I stop to buy a veggie pizza for Nickoi and some more plantains for me. Can’t lie, the obsession is real. I eat whatever Lizzie prepares at home, but the only thing I really crave lately is plantains. Fried, baked, boiled any style.
When I get home and push open the door, I see him. Nickoi. He’s standing in the living room, phone to his ear, half-turned away from me. His skin glows golden-brown under the natural light, tattoos sprawled across his chest like inked armor. Hismuscles move slow and relaxed, one hand in his shorts pocket, the other holding his phone. The soft curl of spliff smoke floats up past his jawline. His chain rests against his chest, catching light.
He glances over his shoulder and locks eyes with me. I swear mi belly flutter.
“Good day, babe,” I say, slipping into the kitchen with the pizza box.
