Danger is My Middle Name-4
970 Words
Illenium- Pray
Jeremy is holding Lawrin in his arms for the first time ever. The look on his face is absolute fear. Brant is talking to my dad and Lawrence. Jerry is holding a box in her hands holding it out to me. I put my drink down and took it.
"I know it's early but I couldn't wait to give it you," she beamed.
"What is it?" I laughed taking the lid off.
"I know you said that Lexi couldn't have one but what kind of godparents would we be if we didn't spoil her?" there's a f*****g guinea pig inside of the box. Lexi squeaked from the other side of the room when she unwrapped the box Brant had given her.
"Mom," she cried out running over to me. The happy look on her face makes me want to hit her. "Thank you," she began to cry. I motioned the box. She looked inside and more tears came. "You got me one,"
"Stop crying," Jeremy laughed reaching into the box to pick it up. He held it out to her and she carefully took it.
"It's a boy," Jerry informed her.
"Thank you," she sniffled.
"I hate you so much right now," I whispered to her.
"No, look at how happy she is. You love me for that," she giggled.
"Shut up, Jerry," I laughed.
Lexi was born on my birthday. The greatest gift I could have ever gotten. My mom had- she hung herself one night. My dad was at work and I was with Brant. My dad found her like that. He's never been the same. He quit his job and we spent a lot of time together until he became a professor at the junior college here for police operations. I think he blames himself the same way I blame myself.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was a little scared but when I found out it was a girl. I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't want to be like her. But I look at my twelve-year-old daughter and can't imagine putting her through half the s**t my mom put us through. Much less abandoning her the way my mom did.
I look at my life now and I can actually say I love it. Brant broke away from his parents. He still loves money so he got into some fancy real estate stuff. Without him and Jerry, I think I might have ended up like my mom. The only people who remember her are her devoted fans and my dad.
"Mom, I'm going name him Marshsolo," she proclaimed holding him. "A combination of my two favorite things. Marshmallow and Han Solo,"
"Dude, that's sick," Jeremy laughed. "I second your proclamation and give you this,"
"What?" she asked handing him the rat. "Oh, ma gosh. It's a ball. He loves it,"
We all laughed as she ripped the plastic ball out of the box and then put the rat inside of it.
"We should roll him down the driveway," Jeremy suggested.
"No, that animal cruelty. You should get arrested," she shoved him as the two of them ran outside.
"They're going to roll that thing down the driveway," Lawrence laughed. "I wanna watch,"
"Same," Brant laughed following him out.
"Boys," Minnie scoffed. She looked between Jerry and me before she sighed heavily. "Go, I'll watch the baby,"
"Thanks, mom," she laughed kissing her cheek. She tipped my chin as we rushed out after the guys. The kids are in fact rolling the poor thing down the driveway.
"Dad, can I get one too so we can race?" Jeremy asked.
"Hell, yes," Lawrence nodded. "We'll go tomorrow. Pet shop is closed already,"
"I want a black one. I'm gonna name him Ground Zero after Bakugo's superhero name from My Hero Academia,"
"That's cute. I love it," Lexi laughed.
"Are you guys going to try again," Jerry asked. I smiled at her.
"I want to. I think we're ready. She was asking me about Lawrin on the drive up here,"
"I got you something as well," she held up a small envelope. It's two plane tickets.
"Jerry," I shook my head.
"You never got your honeymoon. Brant and I were talking the other day and he mentioned Paris. I know you've been wanting to go. I'll watch her. She and Jer can roll their rats down the driveway together,"
"Dude, I f*****g love you," I laughed hugging her. She embraced me, she doesn't pull away anymore.
"Happy Birthday, Brandy," she whispered in my ear the way she always has.
"We're going to Paris," I informed Brant.
"What?" he laughed.
"We got you tickets to Paris. You can repay us by giving Lawrin someone to play with," Jerry smirked.
"Are you serious?" he laughed.
"She is. That was her one condition right now," I handed him the tickets.
"Yeah?" he asked. I nodded. "Yes, I am so down. Thank you," he hugged Jerry and Lawrence. "You guys are the best,"
"Obviously," Lawrence shrugged. "Try not to b***h at the French people, B. They paddle American's who disrespect them with thick ass phone books,"
"What?" I laughed.
"He saw that in a movie," Jerry shook her head.
This is my family. They make me feel safe. They make me feel alive. I don't have to question if they love me or not. I don't go to bed with tears in my eyes anymore. They make sure of it. Everything I do is for them. I give just as much as I get. Because that's what family is. Being there for one another when we need it the most. Pushing them away or hiding from them is no longer an option for any of us. That's a lesson we all learned the hard way.
- Writer
