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“Yea. I’m going to pass by my sister’s house later this evening.”

“Bet. I’ma remind you to take Granny’s gift with you.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Granny was invited today but she decided to spend Christmas with Auntie Luna and Nalyssa. Her exact words were, “I know y’all are odds right now, but I can’t let my grandbaby spend Christmas alone. You and Lucia will have Armias’ family there, so y’all won’t be lonely.” Her logic made sense, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Aspen’s melodramatic monologue about the family never being the same was hitting close to home now. I missed my granny’s presence and her cooking. Don’t get me wrong my mom did throw down, but nobody’s food compared to Granny’s. I also missed my Auntie Luna’s jokes and how terrible she sounded singing along to Christmas songs. Nalyssa was an opp, but I missed the days when she wasn’t one. We’d get drunk together and turn up together for holidays. I obviously couldn’t do that this year regardless, but it sucked that she’d had a whole baby and I couldn’t be there for that. When we were kids we made a pact that we’d be the Godmothers of each other's kids, yet I hadn’t even held her baby. It was truly sad and for once I saw why our mothers wanted us to squash everything.

“Look what Santa got me, Lourdy, it’s Hello Kitty!” Icelynn jumped up and ran to me while waving the Hello Kitty stanley around.

“Ooouu, Santa snapped! Let me see!” I grabbed the cup and examined it like I hadn’t picked it out. Milan, Icelynn, and Zee still believed in Santa so Armias put “From: Santa” on all the Christmas gifts under the tree to maintain their innocence. I loved that because it didn’t hurt anybody for kids to have imaginations and believe in magic. They’d know who was behind it all in a few short years. Milan was only a year younger than Phoenix so she’d probably be over the Santa thing by next year and Icelynn was right behind her. Zee was a few years behind them, but I could see Armias labeling those gifts with Santa’s name for as long as believed in it. Then of course he was going to keep the same energy with our daughter, so the Santa facade was going to last for a while. Everybody would be grown one day and they’d be grateful that Armias stepped for them. It was such a green flag to me that Armias didn’t need credit though. That meant he was doing it out of love.

“Lourdy, you have some gifts under here,” Phoenix stood up from under the tree with two pink Christmas gift bags.

“I doooo?” I gasped. I’d already opened gifts from Aspen, Aneesah, and my mom. I wasn’t expecting anything from any of Armias’ siblings because none of them worked, so I appreciate that my girls had got me something. Aneesah got me a light pink Juicy Couture Daydreamer bag and the matching mini shoulder bag for Alouri. As a vintage girly, I got my life and I couldn’t wait until my baby was old enough to waddle around with her little purse on. I’d already started her purse collection, so Aneesah’s gift was really thoughtful. Aspen bought me a bedazzled Hello Kitty clutch. I’d seen it online before and thought about getting it, but I never got around to it. They ran for about $150 to $200, so my girl had done her big one.

“Yea, open your gifts from Santa, baby,” Armias grinned, immediately giving himself away. For a second I thought maybe my mom had got me something else, but I wasn’t too sure because she was the type to buy one super expensive gift. She bought me a pink Dior diaper bag to add to the other two diaper bags I already had. I had bought a pink one from Nordstrom and Armias had bought a pink one from Gucci, but my mom’s was my favorite.

“Let’s see what Santa got meee,” I sang as I dug into the first bag and threw the paper out. When I pulled out that classic black box with white writing on it Aspen and Aneesah started squealing. When I opened the box they only got louder. I know I said I wasn’t too crazy about Chanel bags, but this bag was the prettiest light pink. It was also a classic and it was big, so it was perfect for everyday wear. This was a gift I didn’t know I needed but I was so appreciative.

“Ooouuu, Sha-Nay-Nay!” Aneesah chanted.

“It’s pretty! Can I hold it?!” Milan asked excitedly.

“You sure can, diva,” I slid the bag right under her arm. She immediately started strutting, posing, and showing me why I called her diva. I was looking and laughing while digging into the next gift bag that was a lot smaller.

“That’s gotta be jewelry," my mom predicted in excitement when I pulled out a heavy black box.

“AHHHHH!” I screamed when I popped it open. A diamond Hello Kitty necklace was staring back at me. It was nearly identical to one of the necklaces that came from Kimora Lee Simmons' iconic diamond jewelry collaboration with Sanrio in 2005. I didn’t have the energy to jump up, so I held my arms out to Armias. In seconds he was hugging me and pecking my lips repeatedly.

“Thank you, daddy,” I whispered in his ear.

“Anything for you, doll baby.” I believed that with every fiber of my being. “Especially after last night."

I instantly knew that he was referring to the very last gift he opened from me, which was a big, oversized portrait of him and his father. He was a kid when his dad was murdered, but he was an adult in the painting. He teared up and said “This really makes me wish he was still here. I know shit would be hella different, but I know he’s proud of me right now. Nigga probably looking down and smiling ear to ear because I found you.” I’d paid $500 for that portrait from an artist I found on IG, so it was one of the cheapest gifts I got him. But from the beginning I knew that gift would be better than the designer sneakers and outfits I’d bought for him.

“Why Santa didn’t bring me that Hello Kitty necklace?!” Icelynn stomped her feet.

“That type of stuff is for big girls, Icey. You stay in school, get good grades, and graduate from college. You might get one, too,” Armias chuckled before whisking her up and kissing her cheek.

“Alright, I’m finna head out,” Rahesha stood up with her lips pursed together.

No lie, I forgot she was even here. She’d been sipping on mimosas and eating the glazed beignets Armias had bought for breakfast, but she was silent through the gift opening. I preferred that over her yapping and offending everybody. Evidently she wasn’t enjoying the fact that we were enjoying ourselves because she was heading straight for the door. Aspen and Aneesah looked at each other before getting up to follow her. The younger kids were wrapped up in all their gifts, so they didn’t notice or care about what was going on.

“Bubby, can you help me open this?!” Zee held up his lego set.

“Yea, man. I’ll help you put it together, too,” he agreed while sitting down in front of Zee. He was someone else who didn’t care about his mama leaving abruptly. He didn’t even look her way when she announced her departure.

“Ion need help.”

“Well excuse me,” he laughed along with my mom.

With them being occupied, I saw that as my opportunity to go be nosey.

“I have to use it,” I said while standing up. I walked to the nearest bathroom in the hallway next to the kitchen, but it wasn’t to pee. It was for privacy. I pulled up the cameras that were right outside the front door. Armias had top of the line cameras installed all around the exterior of the houses. He wanted both of us to be able to view the live feed at any time, so he connected my phone to the cameras, too.

I did a little happy dance when I saw them on the front porch. If they got in the car to talk I would’ve been shit out of luck. I turned my volume all the way up and I was immediately hearing crazy shit.

“Fuck y’all brother! He’s spending thousands on that bitch and her family, but he didn’t get me nothing but that cheap ass LV vanity case. That’s why I left that shit right there! He can give that play bag to his daughter.”

Little did she know he didn’t even get her that Vanity case. That was supposed to be for my mom as well, but it was me who told him that he should get her something because she was coming. I thought it was cruel for everybody to open gifts in front of her while she received nothing.