“I hope I can find the right words.”
“They’ll come to you.”
I nodded, hopeful that he was right.
“Let’ssing Happy Birthday now because y’all know we’ll forget,” Shyne said.
“True,” Talia agreed. “Y’all didn’t sing for me, and everyone was gone before we remembered.”
“You’re not gonna let us live that down, are you?” Indira questioned.
“No, because how you gon’ have a party for me and forget to sing Happy Birthday?”
“It’s happened to all of us at least once, child. Get over it,” Ma said.
“Daddy, you gon’ let your wife talk to me like that?”
“Don’t put me in it,” he responded, standing behind my mother and wrapping his arms around her.
“This is what it’s like having a big family, huh?”
“Yep, and you may as well get used to it.”
Before he responded, Ramina and Ms. Dawn entered the backyard, followed by Rocky, Rue, Russell, and one of Rue’s younger sisters, Rose. We went to greet them, and I thanked them for coming.
Rowdy spoke with his brothers for a moment before the men continued into the backyard. Ms. Dawn, Ramina, Rue, and Rose fussed over my baby bump. I hadn’t seen Ms. Dawn and Ramina since I started to show, and Rue and Rose had only recently found out I was pregnant.
“You look so cute carrying my nephew or niece,” Ramina cooed.
“Thank you. I hope I can hang on to my cuteness until the end.”
“How is the baby treating you?” Rue asked.
“Most of the time pretty good, but y’all wanna hear something crazy? This baby acts a plum fool when Rowdy’s not around.”
“Sounds like you might be having a Daddy’s girl,” Rue said.
“You think so?” She nodded. “I don’t have a preference, but he or she needs to behave. Acting up before you leave the womb is rude.”
The ladies laughed, and Ms. Dawn said, “When Rowdy’s father suggested his name, I only agreed because he was the same way. Most nights, I thought he would burst through my stomach. The boy was rowdy as all get out.”
“You gon’ talk about me right in my face, Ma?” Rowdy said, holding his heart, pretending to be hurt.
“The truth hurts sometimes, Son. Your name has fit you perfectly since the beginning.”
“Girl or boy, I guess I’d better get ready. Oh, they’re about to serenade me with the birthday song. Feel free to sit anywhere that’s open.”
“Y’all ready?” Shyne shouted. “One, two, three! Happy Birthday to you . . .”
Everyone joined my brother in singing the original birthday song, and of course, Indira had Stevie Wonder’s version cued, and I was serenaded with that before a round of applause.
“Thank you, everyone. My birthday isn’t until next week, so this was very unexpected but much appreciated. This time next year, I’ll be somebody’s mama, so this means a lot to me.”
“This was all your brother’s idea, and we hopped on board,” my father said. “Let’s cut the cake, and I’ll bless the food so we can eat. I’m starving.”
My father waved me onto the deck, where my birthday cake was surrounded by other delicious-looking desserts. He gave me the knife and I began cutting the cake into small squares.
“All done, Daddy.”
