Ayoluwa said to Shareef as the two stood surveying the birthday party, "'Cause you didn't have to do this. It really means a lot."

Lauryn and her classmates from her preschool were were split up into smaller groups to do the various kid friendly activities in the spacious backyard of the mansion that Shareef lived in with Shaqir and his father.

All of Ayoluwa's friends had pitched in with this party in a way, refusing to take no for an answer after learning that Imani was, once again, bailing on being there for her daughter.

Levi and Quincy were doing face painting, Nicholas was handing out bottles of bubble solution, Giovanni was on the red and blue inflatable slide as a lookout while Shaqir and Dior were moving plastic tables to prepare for cutting the cake.

"Its not a problem. Is she really not coming?" Shareef continued.

Ayoluwa shook her head, "Her and Jamal drove to Vegas this morning."

Shareef rolled his eyes, "I can't believe her sometimes."

"I'm used to the disappointment." Ayoluwa replied, "I stopped having faith in my sister a long time ago."

Shareef put his arm around Ayoluwa to give her a comforting squeeze.

A light tug on Ayoluwa's exposed waist beads caused her to look down.

Lauryn's face was painted black and red for a ladybug and she continued to tug with both hands, "Auntie Ayo, where's mommy and daddy?"

Ayoluwa tucked her lips in as she mentally cursed her sister out in her head.

Shareef passed her an apologetic expression.

God, she wished her sister would start acting like Lauryn's mother and less like a bar fly.

"Uh, your mom and dad are sick. They need a few days to get better," Ayoluwa picked Lauryn up and held her on the side of her body.

"Sick with what? A cold?" Lauryn persisted as she wrapped an arm around Ayoluwa's neck.

"Uh, yes. A cold." Ayoluwa lied, "Did you try the-."

The sound of something breaking caused the two teens to turn around, "Ayo. Ayo," Jamal's slurred voice called out from inside the home.

"Lauryn, go to Gio, okay?" Ayoluwa put the girl down and Lauryn sprinted towards the inflatable slide.

"Can you keep all the kids distracted?" Ayoluwa asked Shareef.

"Uh, yeah. Are you good?" Shareef replied.

"Uh, sure." Ayoluwa said in an unsure tone before she headed inside the house.

Jamal was stumbling around in the foyer of the massive home while Imani was trying to steady him.

"What are you doing here?" Ayoluwa asked, "You're supposed to be in Vegas."

"I mean you begged for us to be here. And now we're here." Jamal stretched his arms out wide, "And we have great news!"

"You can't be here. You're drunk," Ayoluwa looked to Imani, "Get him out of here before any of the kids see him."

Imani was quiet so Ayoluwa continued to speak, "I don't want to call the police on a black man so don't make me. Leave."

"He convinced me to turn around. Let him see Lauryn." Imani retorted, "We have something to tell her."

"No. You're not ruining this party." Ayoluwa stood her ground.

"Is there a problem?" Shaqir's voice resonated behind her and when Ayoluwa turned her head, Shareef was behind her as well.

"No. Jamal and Imani were just leaving." Ayoluwa said in a stiff tone.

"You heard her. Go." Shareef moved in front to look Jamal in his eyes.

"You think you big and bad or something, Reef?" Imani challenged.

Ayoluwa's nerves were starting to rock, "Just leave. Don't ruin this party. It's the least that you could do. She's happy, she doesn't need to see you like this."

Imani snickered and Ayoluwa steeled her nerves for the next insult sent her way.

Jamal stumbled again then sat down on the marble floor, causing everyone to look at him.

"Oh my God, okay..." Ayoluwa whispered, "Qir,"

"Yeah?"

"Can y'all go start cutting the cake? Tell Lauryn I'll be back in five minutes."

The brothers nodded and then they headed back to the party.

"You have two minutes to get him and go. I'm not playing Imani. You're not ruining this-."

Imani slapped her hand over her mouth and ran to the side bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

Ayoluwa pulled Jamal's incoherent body by his shirt into an office and closed the door.

One negligible parent at a time.

Outside, Ayoluwa could see Lauryn blowing bubbles and laughing.

Ayoluwa breathed out a sigh of relief then went to confront her sister.

Ayoluwa pressed her ear to the closed door then rolled her eyes at the sound of coughing from inside.

"Enough, Imani-." Ayoluwa opened the door and stopped at the sight of a positive pregnancy test on the sink.

"Imani... What the hell is that?" Ayoluwa asked in a steely tone.

"Surprise!" Imani slumped against the wall.

"Your pregnant again? That's why you came back and all the way here? I guess that means you're keeping it, huh?"

Imani simply nodded.

"God, Imani... You are so selfish. You are so fucking idiotic." Ayoluwa said in a cold tone.

"Wow, thanks, sis." Imani replied in a sarcastic tone.

Ayoluwa's hands shook as she looked over at the test again, "All you ever think about is yourself. I wish you weren't my sister."

Then she closed the door on her sister, swallowed her anger as best as she could, faked a smile and made her way back into the backyard.

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