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“Yea. Her suite had a daycare vibe, so she wants this place to be just like that but better. She described it as something that’ll appeal to any kid's eye.”

“I’ll get more details from her when I come over tomorrow to finish y’alls dining room,” she replied. Our house was 85% furnished and decorated. The dining room was the last common area that needed to be completed. The main rooms we wanted finished asap were Alouri’s room, the master bedroom and bathroom, and the main living room. All of those rooms had been completed before Christmas, so there was no pressure for what was left which was really just the den and the guest bedrooms. Juri’s deadline to finish with the entire house was a week before Lourdes’ due date and she was on track.

“We talked her up,” I said when I received an incoming Facetime from her. I was grinning while the call was still connecting, causing Benji to crack up.

“Yea, nigga you tender as fuck.”

“You would know tender when you see it, Mr. 10 kids.”

“Nigga, I only got seven kids.”

“Close enough,” Juri uttered while their other twin hit a back flip and nearly knocked her down.

“Damn!” She screeched like she was about to go off. She never got a chance to because his dad snatched him by his True Religion sweatshirt.

“Didn’t I tell you not to come up in here acting a fool, Brent?” I wasn’t sure how he was able to tell the twins apart because they were the same height, had the same face, and were dressed in matching outfits from head to toe. I guess it was a parent thing to just know your child. I was about to find out what that was like, but I only had one on the way. Not only were Benji’s last two kids twins, but so were the first two. He was one of the few people I knew who had the same amount of kids as my mama and I don’t think he was even done.

“I’m not acting a fool! I’m practicing for the Olympics!”

“You can practice for the Olympics when you go to gymnastics. You know mommy is at work right now,” Juri said while holding back laughter.

“Lo?” I called her name because the call was struggling to connect but I heard a lot of movement and music. I was wondering what was taking so long because the wifi at our house was top of the line. It was obvious she wasn’t at home though. It sounded like she was in the car. The call finally connected and sure enough, her ass was behind the wheel and all dolled up. Fendi had done her hair in braids that they called boho something, but I loved them on her. She had on a pink velour jogging suit and her makeup was all done up to match.

“Is that Juri’s voice I hear?” She asked.

“Yea, girl!” Juri stuck her head in the camera. “We’re at your shop. Why you not here?”

“I didn’t know a consultation for my shop was happening today,” she said while staring at me skeptically.

“A consultation for your shop isn’t happening today. I had one scheduled for my barbershop and Juri asked to see your side because you had already asked her if she could do the interior design. We walked over here just so she could have a look. No decisions have been made without you, so calm down, doll baby.”

“I am calm,” she claimed. “I just would’ve come if I knew you were meeting up with Juri today. You made it seem like you were just making rounds at all your barbershop today.”

“I didn’t make it seem like nothing,” I chuckled. She was salty because she felt like she was being left out, but it wasn't even like that. Juri would never start a job like this without talking in depth with her first to know exactly what she wanted for her business.

“I did spend most of my day making my rounds at all my barbershops and I cut a couple of heads. Meeting up with Juri was on the schedule, but it was specifically for my barbershop so I didn’t think to mention it.”

“Okay, whatever,” she rolled her eyes.

“Where you going, bruh? You was acting like you was so tired before I left the house.” This morning was the first time she withheld pussy from me. She said she was tired and that her body was hurting. I didn’t have a problem with that because she was getting closer to giving birth to my daughter. But if she was so tired and hurt then she should’ve stayed her ass in bed.

“I wanted to get my belly cast kit so me, Aspen, and Neese can do it tonight. I’ma also stop by Granny while I’m on this side because she made Gumbo.”

“Lo, I could’ve got whatever you needed from your house and picked up food from Granny’s house. You know I’m uptown, too. And y’all not doing no belly cast without me. What the fuck?” I spat.

“Ali, we bouta head out, bruh,” Benji chuckled.

I looked up to both of them laughing, but I wasn’t sure what was funny. I didn’t care to ask because I was ready to get back to my conversation with Lourdes. I dapped Benji and his lil boys up and then I gave Juri a hug. Once they were heading out I focused my attention back to my phone screen.

“So wassup with you, Lourdes?”

“Why something gotta be up with me?” She giggled. Based on the way she was maneuvering her wheel I could tell she was parking. “I was tired earlier and now I’m not. I wanted to get cute and get out of the house for a minute. Is that a crime, daddy?”

“I don’t like you doing all that moving around when I can do it for you.”

“And you know I have no problem with asking you to do anything I don’t feel up to doing. I didn’t force myself to get up and leave the house. Trust, if I was exhausted I would have stayed at home. My Granny said she wanted to see me anyway and you know she doesn’t drive,” she explained as she opened the car to get out. Once she was standing up and walking I saw that she was at the house uptown that I wanted her to give up. I’d pay whatever for her to break that damn lease. Her reasoning for wanting to hold onto it for the duration of the lease was a crutch. She wanted somewhere to run back to if something happened between us. If something major happened that was unfixable then that was understandable, but she’d probably try to go back to that house over any minor disagreement or inconvenience after she had Alouri. Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and heightened emotions were things most women experienced after giving birth. I was ready to work and comfort her through whatever she was feeling, but running away wasn’t an option. Therefore, that house had to go.

“I could have picked her up and brought her to you.”