Chapter 31 Perfect #2
Nickoi’s posted up in the back, socializing with his gang.
I spot Gutta dressed in nude, him actually look different.
Like… softer. Probably cause mi used to see him in red or black.
I spot Rick holding my little friend, the one always glued to him.
The baby’s in white with nude sneakers, so adorable.
I make a mental note to say ‘hi’ soon. I turn back to Janel and Jordane.
“Girl and boy twin, just like you two.” Once I finish talking to them, I move to Nicki and her friend, then get introduced to Nickoi’s grandmother. First time meeting her. She’s nice… but bossy.
“Come, Zara, try this salad,” she says, handing me a bowl.
“Thanks,” I smile, realizing it’s a Cobb salad. Definitely something babe would’ve put on the menu. I find a seat on one of the plush sofas and dig in. Mi probably hungry, I think to myself as the flavors hit just right. Food always taste better when yuh hungry… yuh never know?
“How you doing?” a familiar voice says. I look up. Daddy? Wow. I quickly swallow my nuggets and sit straighter.
“Welcome, Daddy. It’s good to see you.” I didn’t think he’d show up, honestly.
But here he is… and surprisingly, him look good.
Somebody must be taking care of him now, ‘cause I’ve never seen this man so put together.
He’s wearing a brown tux with a white undershirt, and his cooly hair is faded nice. Well damn. I’m impressed.
.
“Mi happy fi deh here, yuh know,” he says, glancing around at the décor. I notice Nickoi wave him over.
“That’s sweet,” I mutter under my breath, watching them. I smile at Nickoi, admiring him. All his friends look nice, but something about him, he just stands out.
“Nickoi calling you, Daddy,” I nudge him.
“Mi a go check him, man… but yuh alright?” he asks gently, concerned. I nod with a smile.
“I’m good, Daddy,” I say, and he nods back.
“Excuse me, sir. You want one?” Janel asks, balancing a tray of champagne. Her brother’s beside her, those two stay clashing but still can’t leave each other’s side. Mi wonder if a so my babies a go stay.
My father grins, taking a glass. “Thanks, likkle one.”
“You’re welcome,” Janel smiles sweetly. She walks over to me, and Jordane slaps her lightly on the arm. “Ow!” she groans. Jor’ glances at Nickoi, then back at her.
“Yuh sick? She pregnant enuh, and him say she nuh fi get none a that.”
“Oh yeah… true,” she mutters, and they walk off. Nicki steps to the front, picking up the mic. All eyes fall on her.
“Welcome to Nickoi and Zara’s baby shower!
” she says, smiling. “Mi glad unuh pull up, cause today is all about love, life, and these two babies weh soon touch earth.” People clap, and she continues.
“Mi nuh know bout unuh, but mi excited bad! Mi know Zara fi almost a year now and mi son carry her come right a mi foot. From then, mi just know, yeah man, this yah girl yah different. She sweet, she kind, she pretty… she sexy and mi cyaah lie… mi see how she love mi son. And mi know she ago love these babies the same way.” She glances at me and smiles.
“Big up to everybody weh show up and show love. Eat up, drink up, and mek we play some games and enjoy the vibes, cause today is a celebration!” That speech was perfect…
Half an hour later, everybody is full and vibing.
I had way too much food, just a little of everything.
The stuff I didn’t like, I threw away… but best believe I tasted it all.
Craven gyal. I spot Teyanna and Zanne heading my way.
“Yuh look good eeeh gyal?” Zanne grins. I spot Junior beside Nickoi, who’s deep in conversation with my dad.
Gavin’s there too, laughing with them. That sight makes me smile.
“Yuh pretty bad enuh gyal,” Anna snaps me back to the moment.
“You too!” I laugh.
The games kick off and Ms. Cherry steps up to lead.
The first one is the blindfold diaper challenge.
Guests gather around, laughing as they try to change diapers without seeing a thing.
Then they put childhood pictures of me on the screen and everybody guesses my age.
That one? Had everybody dying. The next game is Who Knows Mom Best? The winners get little gift tokens.
“You can present your gifts now,” Ms. Cherry announces, and guests start bringing their presents forward. Soon, there’s a giant pile of baby stuff on the table.
Wow… my babies about to be real spoiled.
NICKOI
While they’re sharing cake, I slip away with my friends and head toward the car.
Gutta and the rest a the man dem are by the side, drinking and kicking back.
I lean against the white Range Rover and build a spliff.
When I light it and take that first pull, I exhale slow.
Cyaa even remember the last time mi bun a spliff the right way.
“Mi wah show yuh a pree mi dawg,” Gutta says, already walking off. I nod and follow him.
“Wah gwaan?” I ask.
“Mi a mek yuh know seh Juaqína uncle fawud to mi… say she missing.” He chuckles a little, like it’s some inside joke.
“Dem still nuh find har body?” I ask, watching his expression.
He shakes his head. “Know how far mi carry har?”
I nod. “Mek mi see back the picture.” He hands me the phone, showing me the same picture from before, her lifeless body, cold and still. I stare at it, blank. No emotion.
“Inna har head mi shot har,” he says low.
“Nick!” Rick calls from a distance.
I dap Gutta.
“Respect enuh, mi bredda,” then we walk back over to the others. Rick strolls up while little Aden sips his Chubby like it’s Hennessy. Man ever have a Chubby.
“Wah yuh deh pan mi G?” I ask, turning to Aden.
“Mi good,” he says with a lil’ nod. I squat and scoop him up, resting him around my neck while holding onto his tiny hands.
“Yuh wah cake?” I ask. He shakes his head.
“A Zara a serve it enuh,” I tease.
“Pretty Zara?” he asks, face lighting up. Man love off yuh woman, Nickoi.
“Yow bwoy, mi nuh wah yuh have yuh eyes pan mi girl enuh,” I joke and he bursts into laughter. “Yah laugh?” I grin, heading toward the food table.
“What you want, Mari?” Ms. Cherry asks.
“Cake fi this likkle man yah,” I reply and he stretches out his hands toward Zara.
“Hey Aden baby,” she says excitedly, taking him from me. He hugs her tight and she lights up. I step back, watching them with a smirk.
“My wife yuh wah?” I ask, laughing under my breath. He looks at me and nods.
“A fi we har.” Aden smirks and Zara laughs. I raise a brow, tilting my head.
“Wah yuh just seh, bwoy?” I tease, and he bursts out laughing.
“A joke, a joke!” he giggles. Zara chuckles, then takes the plate and feeds him a small piece of cake.
“Ahhh,” she says, opening her mouth and he mimics her, laughing as she places the cake in his mouth. I smile, watching them. “Good boy,” she says as he starts chewing like a champ. I smirk. A so she a go act when the babies come. Nurturing and soft? Yah mon, she ready.
I step away from the crowd, lighting another spliff and sipping my drink, my eyes never leaving her.
She’s still with Aden, laughing at whatever he just said.
Then she gives him another piece of cake, her voice sweet and soft.
“Nice boy,” she coos. “Mi a go get you something fi that.” After she finishes feeding him, she passes him back to Rick, then walks over to me.
Her phone’s up and she snaps a picture of me.
I glance up from my phone. “Whew, that look,” she smirks.
“Mmhmm,” She nods slow, eyeing me. “Babe,” she says, shifting her tone, “Mi been wah ask yuh, dem nuh have a law weh pregnant woman cya travel after a while?”
“Maybe dat a fi Jamaica or the airline. Not mine,” I smirk and she laughs.
I go on, a little serious now. “Mi have a private jet enuh. Yeah, commercial flights sometimes restrict travel, but once yuh have a signed clearance from yuh OB-GYN, yuh good. Anyway, dat rule nuh apply to me… nobody cya tell mi wah fi do.”
“Bwoy yuh unruly,” she says through a laugh, nudging me. I laugh too just as Junior approaches, telling me that something comes up and he has to leave. I make the call gesture.
“Just ring mi bird, badman.” He nods, walking off.
“Ring yuh what?” Zara laughs.
I smirk. “Wah dem give yuh fi drink,? Yuh laugh every second.”
“A yuh slang dem,” she chuckles. “Mi cya manage.” We settle down again and I watch her, her eyes dancing around the venue.
“You like it?” I ask. She turns to me, eyebrows scrunched like she vex. She grabs my chin, pecks my lips once, then again, smiling between kisses.
“It’s perfect.”