“Come back closer so I can see,” Axton says and Akeem laughs.
“Bruh, you’re a fool,” Akeem says and Debrah rolls her eyes.
“That was uncalled for,” Debrah scolds.
“I had to say something to get in on the ring talk. But seriously, congratulations. I’m happy for y’all.”
“Thanks, bruh, for real,” Akeem says.
“Yes, thank you,” Sunjiya adds.
“So when’s the big day? Have you thought about venues? It should be here. Houston has so many beautiful options,” Debrah offers.
“You and Sunjiya can talk about all that later, Ma. We gotta go. The food just got here,” Akeem says and Sunjiya’s eyebrows peak.
The food is definitely not here.
“Okay. Well, go ahead. Sunjiya, you call me later.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sunjiya says. They all say their goodbyes and Akeem ends the call. “Why did you lie to your momma?” Sunjiya asks while grinning.
“Because she would have kept going. You and her can handle all of that. I got, what? Twenty minutes before the food really gets here. I’m trying to get a little appetizer from my fiancé,” he says before hovering over her.
“I like the sound of that,” she says, beaming.
“Are you in the car?” Akeem asks.
“Yes. I’m going by the office. They are supposed to deliver the new chairs today,” she says, lying. She’s been lying to Akeem since he left Sunday afternoon for Crescent Falls and it’s killing her, both mentally and physically. She can’t stomach anything other than ice and her head is pounding.It’ll all be over when he gets back,she assures herself.
Although she considered canceling her trip to Conyers, she changed her mind. She’s here and ready to end the lies once and for all. She landed in Atlanta an hour ago and just picked up her rental. According to the navigation, in forty-two minutes she’ll be pulling up to her twin sister’s home. In less than an hour, she’ll lay everything out on the table for her, and when Akeem comes home Sunday, she’ll tell him everything. She’ll come clean and stop all the lying. She only prays he loves her as much as he says.
“How’s today? You’re going to be at the hospital a long time?”
“Not today. Yesterday was long as hell but we’re going in late today. We should be done by three. We’re getting ready to leave now.”
“Oh, well, let me let you go. I’ll call you later, baby. I love you,” she says.
“I love you too,” he says, then ends the call.
“God, please let him understand,” she utters as she cruises down I-20.
Sunjiya’s forty-two minute drive turns into a little over an hour due to a stop at a convenient store for a Sprite. Her queasy stomach becomes too much to handle. The bottle is half empty by the time she enters the established Weatherstone community in Rockdale County. The four-bedroom, three bath home sitting on half an acre is surrounded by beautiful well-maintained homes and spacious lots.
Because she contacted her sister the moment she procured the rental, she’s not only expecting Sunjiya but she opens the garage door the moment the car pulls into the extra-long driveway. She walks out and waits until Sunjiya gets out.
“You still mad at me or can I hug you?” her sister asks when Sunjiya closes her door.
“I wasn’t mad in Antigua. I just needed you to understand our new dynamic. Now, threatening to come to Austin to blow up my spot, that makes me mad,” Sunjiya says sternly.
“I needed to get you here. I knew that would work. I’m sorry, okay? My bad. I have your favorite snacks, plenty of tequila, and I’m ordering Bojangles and that dirty rice for lunch later. Forgive me, Twin. Please.”
“I’m not hungry. I’m tired. I need a shower and a nap, then we can talk,” Sunjiya tells her before grabbing her bag from the back seat. “Lead the way.”
Her sister turns and walks through the garage into the house. Sunjiya follows. There’s a bathroom as soon as they enter. To the left is a large dining room and to the right is the living room. They head to the left, through the dining room to the stairs up to the guest bedroom with an ensuite bath.
“Everything you need should be in the bathroom. The towels are in the linen closet along with bath gels and soaps. I didn’t know if you checked your bag or just did a carry-on. Take your time. I’ll be downstairs eating chocolate covered cashews,” her sister says with a smirk before leaving.
Sunjiya walks to the door, closes it, then walks into the bathroom. After emptying her bladder and washing her hands, she grabs a large bath towel from the linen closet and a bottle of lavender bath gel. After smelling the gel and loving the scent, she glances back at the whirlpool soaking tub and decides to take a bath instead of a shower. She starts the tub before walking into the bedroom.
