Maniac parked in the empty space that was close by the door. I’m sure they left that there for us so that I wouldn’t have to walk too far. He got out the car and rounded to my side. Opening the door for me, he extended me his hand and helped me out.
We walked up to the front door and before he was able to turn the knob, the door pulled open. Standing there is Liliana with a huge smile on her face. She gripped me by the hands and pulled me into her frame. Her lips pecked me softly on the cheek as she released me and then embraced Maniac.
“I’m so glad that y’all are here. The anticipation is killing me,” she said as we entered the house.
“Tell me about it,” I joked. Ever since Aria got the envelope with the gender inside it, I’ve been trying to pry out of her what I was having. I thought I was gon’ die before the reveal even got here.
“Everyone is out back,” Liliana said as she gestured toward the kitchen.
Maniac led me down the hallway and through the kitchen out into the backyard where I saw everyone standing underneath a tent out on the golf course. Everything was decorated beautifully with the teddy bear theme. There’s a huge baby sign with lights on it toward the back of the yard. Underneath the tent are long rectangular tables with white tablecloths and some chairs withwhite cloths on them and bows tied around the back. The center pieces are teddy bears inside a snow globe with blue and pink glitter.
A gigantic teddy bear sat by an ‘Oh Baby’ sign that has a three-sixty photo booth. We made it underneath the tent and the first person we bumped into was Aria and Zion. Zion ran over and hugged me around the legs like he always did whenever he saw me. “Hey, tee-tee.”
“Hey, baby.”
Aria pulled me in for a hug and then hugged Maniac. “You look so pretty, girl.”
“Thanks.” My eyes scanned everyone else in the tent. Daddy was nowhere in sight, but Uncle Trayvon was sitting over there with some woman that I’ve never seen before. She looked like she was younger than him. Maybe by a few years but it didn’t have no huge age difference. She was kind of cute with her lace front. I can tell what it was because whoever put it on her head didn’t do the best job at bleaching the knots.
I went over to speak to Uncle Trayvon. That man didn’t skip a beat when it came to me. He’s more of a father than Daddy would ever be. I guess it was a good thing that we were placed in his care.
“Hey, Uncle,” I said and leaned down and pecked him on the cheek.
“Hey, baby girl.” He looked over at the woman sitting next to him and said, “I want you to meet my friend, Nyomi. Nyomi, this my baby girl, Wren.”
Nyomi extended me her hand, and I shook it. “Nice to meet you.” It’s been a while since Uncle Trayvon brought a woman around. Maybe he really likes this one.
“Nice to meet you too. Trayvon has told me so much about you.”
“I hope it’s all been good.” I offered her a smile, and she returned it.
“Of course.”
“C’mon so we can get this out the way. I’m so ready for you to find out what you’re having,” Aria said as she took me by the hand and led me out into the yard with everyone else behind us. She stopped in front of the baby sign and turned me where my back was facing it. Maniac stepped beside me and shoved his hands into his pockets. He was trying to act all calm and collected when I knew he was anxious himself to see what the baby was.
“First, I want to thank all of y’all for coming out here. Are y’all ready to see what they are having?”
“Yes!” everyone yelled in unison. Liliana clung to Bishop and smiled at us. All she ever talked about was the baby. Other than us, she was the most anxious for it to get here. I know once it does, I’ll have a hard time trying to pry my baby from all of their fingers.
Zayden ran up and stopped alongside Solei. She looked over at him and frowned before turning her attention back on us. They hadn’t even been married long and its like their marriage was going down the drain. I hope Maniac and my marriage never get to that point. I honestly can’t even say when I’ve ever seen them happy together or hugging on each other.
“Three, two, one!” Aria yelled and an explosion came from behind us. Pink shot up in the air, and everyone screamed. Maniac blankly stared at me.
“I’m going to jail,” left his lips.
Laughing, I stepped to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head against his stomach. “You’ll be fine, bae.”
“Congratulations,” Liliana said when she and Bishop stepped to us.
“So, I’m having a granddaughter,” Daddy said, gaining everyone’s attention.
Maniac reached for his gun as well as everyone else and they trained them on him. I stood there, watching as he stared at me without a care in the world that these people could kill him at any second. It looked like a scene from one of those mafia movies. I was actually terrified for his well-being.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Maniac questioned him.
“My daughter invited me.” I could feel Maniac’s eyes burning a hole in me. “I don’t want no trouble. I just wanted to come by here and see my daughter.”
When I invited him, I didn’t take into consideration that it would trigger everyone. From the looks of things, Daddy has taken it too far and they don’t even want him around anymore without trying to kill him.
