At six thirty on the dot, Ava and Starr let themselves into Summer’s house. After she began experiencing premature contractions, they insisted on having a key. “What if something happens to you and you can’t get to the phone or the door?” was their explanation.
“Summer, get your Free Willy butt down these stairs! Girl, you know you are a hot mess!” Starr yelled out as she walked to the bottom of the stairs.
“What?” Summer played innocent as she padded down the stairs.
Putting her hands on her hips, Starr fussed, “Girl, we were just here three days ago. Wasn’t it you who told us we were coming over too often when we tried to visit your fat butt twice last week? You nearly cussed us out.”
“Mmm hmm, Summer, you did say that.” Ava cosigned.
Summer rolled her eyes with attitude. “I am not fat. In case you haven’t noticed I’m with child. And Ava stop taking her side all the time. Y’all supposed to be my peeps.”
Times like these were when she missed her parents the most. She knew they were only kidding with her; however, she didn’t want to be a burden to them. After all they did have their own lives to live. If her parents still lived in Philly she most likely would be at their house. Summer had seriously thought about going to North Carolina to have her baby so she could be close to her parents. Having them close by meant she wouldn’t have to rely upon Ava and Starr as much. However, she came to her senses when Starr reminded her, “Girl, stop tripping. You know you and your momma would be going at it.” Starr laughed, adding, “She’d be telling you how to be pregnant.”
Summer dropped the attitude and mumbled, “I miss seeing y’all every day.”
Both Ava and Starr stretched their arms out and gathered her in a group hug. “We miss you too, Boo.”
Summer knew she could always count on her girls. The ringing of the doorbell broke up the huddle.
“Must be the pizza,” Summer chimed excitedly. Food had become a close companion after she‘d gotten over the morning sickness hurdle.
“Good. I’m starving,” Ava said as she grabbed money from her purse to pay the deliveryman.
As they ate, the trio talked about Summer’s plans to return to work. Summer expressed she did not want to return to work the standard six weeks after giving birth. She hadn’t begun to look for a babysitter or daycare center for the baby. She was seriously considering staying out of work longer.
Talking about childcare arrangements was making her uncomfortable. She hoped Ava and Starr hadn’t noticed her uneasiness with the subject. She hadn’t the faintest idea where things stood with Nick and his threat of filing for custody. He’d made it clear that they needed to “discuss some things” Friday night. She wondered if this talk had anything to do with the custody of the baby. Of course it does, a small voice confirmed.
Summer wanted to get off the subject of childcare issues; her head started to hurt. She decided to tell them about Nick’s visit the other night.
Wiping the pizza grease from her mouth with a napkin, Summer came clean with her friends…well somewhat clean. “I have something to tell you guys, but I don’t want y’all to get all crazy on me.”
Glancing at each other, reading the other’s thought, Nick. Starr was the first to speak. “Go ahead, we won’t trip.”
“Promise.”
“Promise.” They agreed in unison.
Summer twisted the napkin in her hands she’d just used to wipe her mouth. Why am I so nervous? Shoot, I’m a grown woman. In spite of her little pep talk to herself she bit her bottom lip and prayed things didn’t get ugly. She knew if Ava and Starr had their way Nick would have been tarred and feathered the night he showed up at her door.
“Nick came over the other night.” She braced herself and waited for the explosion from Ava to come.
“He did what! What did he want! To kidnap you again!” Starr shrieked.
Lawd have mercy! The sane one is going crazy! “Calm down Starr, you’re acting like Ava now!”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Ava huffed in her defense.
Ignoring Ava, Summer continued. “He was actually very nice to me. He brought me some ice cream.” Summer smiled remembering how they had fed each other.
Starr was annoyed by the silly smile on Summer’s face. She swore if Summer weren’t pregnant, she’d slap the yella off her.
“Who gives a rat’s behind about ice cream? Why did he come over here?” Starr demanded. This simple child has lost her mind.
“Yeah, why he come over? I knew he was up to something ever since he held you hostage for three days.” Ava interjected not making things any better.