Page 13 of Van

“I didn’t know if you’d rather be alone,” she remarks as I blow smoke into the night sky.

“I don’t mind.”

“It’s so nice out right now,” she says, making conversation.

“It is.” Then it gets weird. Awkward. It’s silent, and I have no idea what to say to her. So I just start talking about random shit like her job and all that. She tells me about her life a little more and more about her family which is what I wanted to know. I learn more about her and I find that I like listening to her talk. I like hearing about her life.

“So you like being here as opposed to California?” I ask.

“I only visited twice, and it was so hot. I found I missed the cold and the snow.”

“You missed the cold? Are you crazy?” I tease her.

“I know it sounds bad. Most hate the cold, but I love it. I think I’d miss it if I had to move out there,” she tells me.

“Why would you have to move out there?”

“They’ve asked me to when the baby is born.”

“And you thought about that?” she shakes her head.

“Not really. I like being here. I don’t want them breathing down my neck as I raise the baby. I know how my parents are,” she tells me. I nod my head as I listen to her talk.

“I get that. You wanna do things your way.”

“Yeah. I just want to raise the baby the way I want to. I know they mean well. They are my parents, after all, but still.”

“I get it. Makes sense to me.”

“Does it? Because Nicole thinks I should think about it. She’s worried that Derrick will come around after the baby is born and want to spend time with it. I’m not sure I’m okay with that.”

“You shouldn’t be okay with that, Chy. He hurt you. What’s to say he doesn’t do the same to the baby?” I feel aggravated for her. I don’t want the motherfucker around her or the baby if he has the balls to put his hands on her while she’s pregnant.

“I’m not okay with it. I don’t want him anywhere near the baby,” she tells me.

“Good. He wouldn’t dare come around here,” I assure her.

“Why is that?”

“One of us would gut his ass for starters,” I admit to her.

“Good to know.”

Chapter 6

Chyanne

I didn’t know what to say to Van last night, so I didn’t say anything and went to bed. It was a nice gesture, but I don’t really know how far they’d actually go for me. I’m a nobody to them.

Now I’m getting dressed and wondering if this was a bad idea to agree to go to his mom and dad’s house. I would like to meet his sisters, and talk baby stuff. I don’t really have anyone to do what with, and this is my first baby.

A knock on my door pulls my attention as I look at myself in the mirror.

“It’s open,” I call as I continue to look at myself. I can’t believe how big I’ve gotten, and I’m only six months along. What will I look like when I’m nine? I sigh and see Van in the reflection and spin around to face him.

“Why the sad face?” he asks.

“I was just looking at how big I’ve gotten. I can’t imagine how big I’m going to be when I hit nine months,” I confess, and he smiles.

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