“Hey, my best birthday bitch!”
She waved from across the street, arm swinging side to side.
My baby got excited instantly.
“Cici, Cici,” she squealed, bouncing on my hip.
Seeing Ciara always lifted my heart, but the sight of her glowing with that baby made it even better. After all the heartbreak, she and Hov were finally blessed with a baby, and she was now eight months along. It filled me with joy just to witness her happiness blooming in front of me.
Ciara and I met in the middle of the street, and I reached out, rubbing her stomach.
“Why are you out here working in this heat. Where is your husband at?”
“Girl, that man is not sitting me down or the boss of me. But, he took his grandma to the store. That’s why I snuck out here.”
“Yeah, I knew he wasn't here.”
I laughed at her trying to play tough.
“How is everything coming along on the inside? It looks really good from out here. You have to take me through there one day.”
“You know I can’t wait to show you what they’ve done so far, but only when everything is put away, and there are no loose boards or screws anywhere. I don’t need you tripping and falling and Hov killing the construction crew because of you.”
“Girl, you already know, but regardless of how it looks on the inside, I’m just happy to have you and my baby across the street. I know our girls are going to be just as close as we are.”
“Yes, or they are going to catch many whippings until they are.”
“So, what are you doing for your birthday tonight?”
“I don’t know. Probably drop her off at my mom’s. Go get dinner. Have a drink.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind being alone these days, and you out of commission, so.”
“Girl, I am not on bedrest anymore. I have officially made it past the scary part. So, I can join you. I could really use getting out of the house myself anyway. How about we go somewhere tonight? We can both throw on pretty dresses, hop in my car, and make tonight a girl’s night.”
“That sounds fun, but are you sure about going out? I’d hate for somebody to bump into you or”
“Listen, I’m okay. Like I told Hov, I’m good. God has been blessing us with the new business ventures and the baby, and I believe wholeheartedly that he is going to keep blessing us. I am claiming that this pregnancy is going to be easy from here on out. I feel her kicking every hour on the hour. She's strong, and I’m strong so if you want to go out, I’m down. I miss you, friend, and just us talking and laughing will bring back feelings of the old days. The good days, though.”
“Yes, you and I have for sure come a long way from those bad days.”
“Right? Sitting on those stoops in Castle Hill broke, walking to Sylvia’s together to share a bag of cheddar Ruffles and an orange Fanta. Now we are renovating houses across from each other, and about to raise daughters together. We made it, my girl.”
Her and I shared a long hug.
“What time do you want to go?”
“Let’s say like 7:00 PM. Go back to your condo and get dressed, and I’ll get dressed as slow as my big self can bend, and then I’ll come pick you up. Sound good?”
“Everything except you picking me up. Why can’t I pick you up instead?”
“Because it’s your birthday, and you need to be able to get as drunk as you want. Hell, I can’t drink so I’m automatically the designated driver.”
“Whatever you say, friend. But let me get back inside. I’ll see you at seven tonight.”
“Seven sis. Bye, Auntie Mir Mir.” Ciara pinched on Amira’s cheeks, and we started back across the road.
