The apartment door cracked open with Damien and Naomi walking in. Janice had her legs crossed on the couch, rubbing her belly as Nova kicked. Damien sat over to the dinning room table and Naomi threw her backpack down, kneeled over next to Janice and put her lips up to her belly.
"Hi baby. Daddy says you are coming soon. What is it going to be baby?" She whispered.
Janice laughed and kissed her forehead, "Did daddy tell you that mommy was having a baby or did grandma?"
"And I'm big sister, right?" She jumped around in little circles then fell to her knees again.
"Yes you are Chubbs." Janice stood up and walked over to Damien, "Naomi can you go to your room, turn on the TV and shut the door please?"
"Yes mommy." Naomi ran off and did as she was told.
Janice looked Damien in the face and her fist pounded his chest, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU LEAVE ME? THEN YOU THINK PICKING UP NAOMI MAKES UP FOR YOUR BULLSHIT?"
"BITCH HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DENY MY CHILD BEING ABLE TO HAVE MY LAST NAME?" His voice shook the walls.
"The same way you denied Naomi your love and attention for five years." The palm of her hand went across his cheek, "And I told you that we'd talk to Naomi TOGETHER about the baby. You went to Greensboro to pick her up? Stop acting like you been doing this shit for years Damien."
Damien ran his tongue across his cheek, "Janice, get the fuck outta my face before I-"
She cut him off, "Before you what? Before you hit me? Hit me if you want to fuck boy and I'll make sure that you see neither one of your daughters."
The house fell silent.
"That's what I thought." Janice walked into the kitchen.
Damien swung the chair into the wall, "Forreal Janice, fuck you. Don't ask for shit from me unless it has to do with Naomi or the baby."
Janice continued to pour herself a cup of Minute Maid lemonade, ignoring Damien's hissy fit.
She took a sip, "Are you done?"
"Man, I'm done trying to make you happy. Nothing is ever good enough for you Jay. I'm just going to start doing my own shit." He snapped.
"You never made me happy. You leave me to do shit on my own when you ought to be around the most, but you never think about me and my feelings. Go do whatever you want to because frankly, I don't care, just don't bring it around my daughters." Janice rolled her eyes and made her way to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Damien departed the opposite way out the house with his car keys and cellphone in hand, dialing.
"Ayo. Where you at? I'm trying link up real quick."
As night fell, Naomi and Janice cuddled in the bed, watching Frozen.
Naomi tapped Janice, "Mommy?"
"Yes beautiful?" Janice sat up and faced Naomi.
"Where's daddy at?" She asked
Janice chewed on her bottom lip and played in Naomi's curls, "Sometimes mommy and daddy don't get along, so daddy left."
"Is he coming back?" She whispered.
"Sweetie, I'm not sure. But we'll be fine, you know that right?" She ran the back of her hand across her cheek.
Naomi shook her head up and down, "Is the baby a sister?"
Janice laughed and cuddled Naomi back up, "Yes the baby is a sister."
As the credits rolled across the screen, Naomi's snores was the loudest noise in the house. Janice checked her phone and had an iMessage from Chase and Dallas.
Chase🌮 : I'm in Cambridge, can I come over or is he home?
Janice: He left earlier so come on over.
Chase🌮 : Shit, good. He needs to be gone.
Janice: That's a topic for another time Chase..
Janice tapped Naomi until she saw her glowing red eyes open.
"Mommy is going to have company, can you sleep in your room tonight like a big girl?" She kissed Naomi's forehead as she yawned.
She walked Naomi across the hallway and heard light knocks at the door. She flicked on Naomi's nightlight then continued onto the front door.
Opening the door, she met Chase's shining gray eyes and brown dreaded hair.
"Hey beautiful." Their lips melted together and Janice fell into Chase's arms.
"I've missed you so much!" Janice whispered.
Chase kissed the tip of her nose, "I've missed you to Jay Juice. How you feeling?"
"I've prayed to hear that from Damien's mouth but it sounds so much better coming from you." She snugged her head into Chase's neck.
Chase smacked Janice's butt, "Come on, let's go out to eat. I know you haven't had any real food today."
"Chase, it's late. C'mon now." She whined.
"Jay, it's only five thirty. You have to remember it's winter so it gets dark earlier." Chase smirked, "I'm taking my favorite girls to Texas Roadhouse tonight."
Janice smiled and met Chase's lips for another lip. She made her way to the bedroom closet, grabbing leggings, riding boots, a gray sweater dress and a floral scarf. Then went to get Naomi.
"Chubbs, you wanna go to Texas?" She whispered walking into Naomi's room.
Her head sprung up off the bed, her hair matted over the side. Naomi yawned and nodded her head yes. Janice flipped the switch and picked up Naomi's boots she had on earlier, slipping them on her tiny feet.
"Come on beautiful. Chase is out in the living room." Naomi jumped off the bed and ran to the living room.
"Chaseeeeeeeee!" She yelled.
"Naomiiiiiiiii!" Chase pulled her up in her arms and kissed her cheek, "You ready to go to Texas?"
"Are you coming?" She asked.
Chase nodded her head yes and put Naomi back down, "Let's get going then."
Janice grabbed Naomi's car seat and her house keys, following behind Naomi and Chase.
"Where's your car at Chase?" She asked.
"My mom got me the Kia Soul last month for the college acceptance, remember?" Chase winked and poked her lips like a kiss at Janice.
------------------
Walking through the Texas Road House doors, Naomi pranced up and down.
"Naomi, please calm down." Janice grabbed the back of Naomi's shirt and pulled her to her side.
"A table for three?" The hostess asked.
"Yes please." Chase said.
They followed behind her to a table in the front of the restaurant and were seated with their bread on the table.
"Your waiter will be with you shortly." She smiled and left them with their menus.
Naomi sat inside against the wall, Chase sat on the outside of her and Janice across from them.
"Mommy, can I please have Ranger Andy's Steak?" Naomi asked
"You have to ask Chase. She's treating us to dinner." Janice met eyes with Chase and deeply smiled. Her warm eyes lighten a better part of Janice's world.
Naomi looked over to Chase for confirmation, which was granted. Chase and Janice looked through their menus as Naomi sat and colored.
"You know what you want yet, baby?" Chase peeked over her menu to Janice.
"I'm really in the mood for a New York strip, a loaded bake potato and some cheesy broccoli. Ooh and those cheese fries look good too and the chili!" She poked her lip out at Chase, "Can we just order the whole menu?"
Chase laughed, "We can get the cheese fries as an appetizer just for you, Naomi and I can have our own appetizer too, order the steak and sides then get the chili to go and maybe some dessert too. Is that okay with you?"
"Lord, yes. I'm perfectly fine with that." Janice blew Chase a kiss.
"So, how about we hit up Walmart, across the highway, after dinner, get some groceries, maybe some baby stuff and anything else you might need for your apartment?" Chase played with a few dreads in the back of her head.
Janice's face dropped, "You'd really do that for me?"
"Janice, I'd do anything for you and I know Damien isn't going to do it for you." Chase cupped Janice's hands in hers.
"Ew, stop being gross Chase." Naomi giggled and took Chase's hands off of Janice's, "Mommy, you stop being gross too."
"Chubbs, you stop being gross." Chase kissed Naomi's cheek.
"Ewwwwwwww! Stop." She squirmed on the seat.
"I love you guys so much." Janice whispered.