I worked an eleven-hour shift last night and had my clinical class earlier all at the same hospital.

I texted my parents to see if they'd come over for dinner. They agreed, even though I'm a little tired. Especially since I had my appointment yesterday and been going non stop ever since. I want to show them my plan for the next few months. I know I'm an adult and I don't have anything to prove to anyone but I'm going to need all the support and love I can get. I no longer want this bad energy between us. I figured if they see my efforts they'll come around and get excited about their new grandchild.

After a much needed nap I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I tried to put on a little makeup and curl my hair. Sometimes that helps with my mood.

I had a hen in the oven with some potatoes and peppers. It was slowly baking the entire time I was napping. I went ahead and threw on some brown rice, brussel sprouts and roasted purple carrots. I also put together a salad and made some garlic sticks.

I went ahead and set the table for four. While I was finishing up the doorbell rang.

"Hi family." I greeted my mom, dad and little sister, they entered the house.

"Hey Di." My little sister Kamala responded smiling from ear to ear. "Mmm something smells good."

"Hey Diri." My mom hugged me. She wore a sincere smile, so that's a good sign. My parents are in a good mood today.

"Hey princess." My dad surprisingly greeted me as well, using the name he always called me growing up.

"Hi daddy." I smiled and he reached in to hug me. That felt really good, because these feelings of abandonment were getting to be too much. I whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." He pulled away looking me in my eyes smiling.

"Well come in, I just finished setting the table."

We all walked further in my condo and everybody scurried off to wash their hands. My mom and sister went to the guest bathroom, my dad went over to the kitchen sink. I joined him to turn off the stove. I got the hen out of the top oven, it was sitting in there covered so it wouldn't dry out. I kneeled down to the bottom oven and took out the Brussels sprouts and carrots I had on warm to keep the temperature. I transferred everything to serving bowls, my dad helped. The corners of my mouth turned up.

"Go ahead and get the serving spoons, I'll bring the food over to the table."

"Ok." I went to the drawer near the stove top and pulled out some serving spoons. I went over to the dining room table and found my mother and sister already seated.

"I figured I'd give you and your father a moment." My mom smiled, I shared in on the same sentiment.

"Thank you mom." I gave her a knowing look. I know she spoke to him, and whatever she said put him in a lighter mood. These past few months of him being awkward and short around me was really hurting my feelings. My dad also has a lot of pride so I'm sure that came in to play as well.

"Mala can you go get the lemonade out of the fridge as well as a few bottles of water please?" I asked my little sister, she nodded standing up heading to the kitchen. My dad brought the food in.

As everything was prepared and ready for the taking we took our seats. My dad sat at the head of the table and my mother sat at the other end. Kamala and I sat on opposite sides in the middle. My dad said the grace and we dug in.

"So I brought you here to tell you about my plan for the next few months." I finally put my fork down and spoke. It was a comfortable quiet dinner.

"Before you start I need to say something, —this was delicious by the way." My dad stated and my mother nodded as well. I stared at him smiling waiting for him to continue.

"I want to apologize for the way I've been lately towards you. You didn't deserve that. I panicked, then I let my pride get the best of me." He took a breath. "I believe in you, and I know you'll keep going."

"I waited outside the office yesterday for your appointment. I had time to think. My princess is having a baby and she's scared. As your father I should be there for you. Not making it worse, adding stress.— So starting today, right now I want extend a hand. Whatever you need to help you through this difficult time. I know you've had a lot on your plate these past few months. If you need help studying, reviewing something or just to talk I'm your father. The man you come to, I'm here. —Do you need to cut back at work or maybe go ahead and take off?" He stared into my eyes smiling.

"No." I answered quickly. "I'm staying in as a nurse. I'm not looking for any handouts. I'm still the strong willed daughter you raised me to be. I'll make my own way still, but I'll be more mindful of the amount of hours I work in a week. My doctor cleared me to stay with my schedule. I can handle it. I love what I do. I also love what I want to become, which is a cosmetic surgeon. I'm not changing anything with school."

"That seems like a lot though Di." My little sister joined in concerned.

"Yeah it is, but the time will go by so fast and then next thing you know I'll be walking across that stage. This schedule is preparing me for the real hard work which is my residency. Juggling that schedule and a baby, now that will be a challenge. That's when I'll really pull to you guys and need all the help I can get. "

"We'll be there every step of the way." My mother nodded smiling.

"This conversation is going a lot better than I imagined." I giggled.

"Well I'm happy you can say that." My dad gleamed. "I don't want you breaking down again, like how you were during your MCATs. Which I didn't understand because you scored almost perfect on all four sections. A lot higher then me and I took it twice. That's how I know you can handle this. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"You scored in the ninety-eighth percentile, to be exact." He added boasting.

"Ok dad, stop." I stated giggling but gestured for him to keep going, we all laughed.

"No but seriously I needed to hear this. I know I can handle this and it won't break me. I'm prepared for whatever's coming my way." I added.

"I hate to change the mood but what about Nelson? When do you plan to tell him about the baby?" My mother asked, this time really wanting a time frame.

"This is my cue, Di can I go up to the spare to watch tv?" Kamala asked sliding her chair back.

"I don't know can you?" I twist my lips to the side, smiling at her.

"I don't know why you give me these problems. I need to catch the last of the game. They're down by five with two minutes left." She whined, looking down at her phone.

"Go ahead and tell us who won."I nodded, she hopped up leaving her plate at the table. We didn't mind, we wanted the play by play from the last two minutes too. —And we all know the best commentator out of all of us is baby sis' Kamala.

"Well?" My mom went on wanting me to give her an answer.

"About that, I called him yesterday morning before my appointment. That's why I wanted you over here to tell you both together about this as well."

"You did? What did he say?" My dad quickly queried.

"I told him about the baby. He wanted to know why I waited so long to tell him and he questioned if the baby was his. He need time to process this and he'll call me back next week."

My parents shared a look sighing.

"When he calls back I'll see where things stand as far as us coparenting."

"He's questioning rather he's the father or not?" My mom asked furrowing her brows at me.

"Yes, but he might've just been reacting in the moment. I'm not going to assume or think anything of that conversation until he's had time to think it over."

"That's understandable but don't make excuses for him, he said what he said." My dad coldly added.

"I'm not, I just want to give him the benefit of the doubt because this is a lot. I had my emotional moments already with this so maybe this is his turn."

"I need to have a few words with him."

"I don't think you're ready for that yet, it might turn into a blood bath."

"Who knows what the outcome will be. I still need to have a moment with him. This child will tie you two together for a life time. I need to see him, especially if he is going to be in his child's life. —I need to know the Nelson that hit you. I need to see boundaries set. He need to address me, before he physically sees you again and that's final. That's me being lenient."

"Ok, when he calls I'll tell him that."

We finished dinner and cleared the table. We laughed with light conversation. Something I missed, it's good to have my families support. After cleaning and putting everything away my sister came sprinting to the living room. We went to see what she was all hyped about.

"Overtime babyyyyy." She did her famous victory dance. She rushed to turn on the tv. We sat down and geared up to watch. I grabbed my throw blanket and bundled up in it.

"Kenzo came through with the game winning play. He was racing back down the court, half way he passed it to Marcel. Kenzo then ran to the hole, Marcel from the three point line did a quick fake shot passing it back to Kenzo. He quickly toss the ball in and came down with a foul. Boom!" Kamala went on to fill us in, extremely hyped.

"He got to the line made both shots, which tied us. Utah's guard did everything he could to make a play with nine seconds left on the clock. They had no fouls, no timeouts and were playing man to man. Defense was on lock, Kenzo came out of nowhere and stole the ball when their point guard TJ tried to drive it in. Of course with two seconds left he tried to get back to get something off, but couldn't so here we are in OT!" She struggled catching her breath.

The game started again, Kenzo had the ball gesturing for his teammates to move around. He dribbled to the three point line. He stopped to bend down bouncing the ball from one hand to the other. Utahs point guard TJ was showing no mercy guarding him. He tried to steal but Kenzo stepped back dribbling the ball putting his free arm out in front of TJ. Kenzo got in attack position, crossed him over breaking Tjs ankles. Then threw up a three pointer. It went in. We all shouted from our seats.

The game went on and we came out with the victory. Utah was out of gas, Kenzo and them were making them run for it. Everything Utah was putting up was missed.

"Kenzo look pissed off." My mom stared at the tv intently like we all did.

"I would be, this game should've never went into overtime. Should've been easy for them. Our defense alone makes theirs look like amateurs. That kid TJ need some more help over there on offense. He doesn't have one solid player over there. So yeah if I were Kenzo I'd be off pissed too." My dad agreed.

"Oh wow." All of us said at the same time. Kenzo walked up to be interviewed, they caught him swearing repeatedly at some of his teammates close up on camera.

"Did you see the way they just zoomed in on him? They're always out to get him, so shady." My baby sister added, as she leaned back.

The interview went on she asked him about the last quarter, and how the win almost got away from them. He answered surprisingly somewhat poised saying 'the team came out with the win and we'll definitely be reviewing film. There was some difficulties in the first half but a win is a win.'

We listened to rest of the interview, which was pretty standard. He answered accordingly. I watched as he wiped the sweat from his face with the towel from around his neck. Sweat was dripping from everywhere. I noticed the lady in the interview had been blushing the whole time. Kenzo on the other hand wasn't phased. He was focused on the close game. He literally wasn't paying her much attention.

My parents and little sis decided to leave. It was getting late. I myself was tired too of course.

This was a good night, my parents are in my corner.

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