Page 236 of The Ninth

Trent kept pacing which led to him repeatedly slipping on the sidewalk. Kenzie told him if he falls one more time, he could stay here. That tickled the fuck out of Kenzo as he put his Pelle Pelle on my shoulders. We held each other as we watched my beautiful girl and her man that was crazy about her center each other for the birth of their first child.

While the sirens got closer, I took a look around. Our street looked like a scene right out of a Hallmark movie. Snow lightly covered every stoop, sidewalk, tree, and car. Each house was carefully decorated to look cozy and traditional. It was a dream I always dreamt that my husband made sure I had.

“He’s gon pass out, folks. Ain’t he?” Kenzo asked while kissing my head.

I chuckled, “He’s for sure going to pass out and Kenzie is going to be pissed!”

“Well, let’s hurry up and put the kids to bed. I ain’t tryna miss that.”

“You so messy Kenzo Maddox!”

“Mmcht! I’m easily entertained!”

I giggled as he bent down, kissing me. Snowflakes fell on my lashes and our lips as we pressed them together. His thumb swiped across the bridge of my nose, wiping the water off. We looked deeply into each other’s eyes before kissing once more.

Kenzo noticed the red flag was down on our mailbox and opened it. Inside was a gold envelope addressed to no one on the outside. When he flipped it, there was a gold seal. The only indication on it was the number nine. A huge smiled filled his face. I realized whatever it was, he knew about it and had been waiting for it.

“Merry Christmas, my heart!” he said stupidly.

I pushed on his chest, making my way down to Kenzie who was now being placed on a stretcher.

“I love you, Kenzie. We’re going to put all these kids to bed with their grandparents and be right behind you!”

“I could labor all of Christmas!” she said with a worried look on her face.

Devyn smiled, smoothing her hair back, “Then we’ll be having Christmas at the hospital. We love you and will see you soon.”

“I LOVE Y’ALL!”

Trent swatted the hands of the EMTs away, pushing the stretcher to the ambulance himself. Tati, Devyn and I cracked up laughing, wrapping around each other as we made our way back inside of my forever home. We were all so giddy to put these kids down and rush to our sister. Each of us could be surrounded by a group of people and would still feel alone if three of them wasn’t us. Nothing could get in-between that.

THE END.