"YOU CAN CALL ME or go online to my website if you need anymore information. Alright?" Takashi said, a very attractive smile on his face.

"Okay," The older woman giggled, blushing as if the real estate agent wasn't young enough to be her son.

Takashi waited until she left the premise to go through room after room to turn the lights off. He was finally off work and wanted to drop by his mother's house. She was suppose to be getting ready for her surgery within the next two weeks, so Laura was in his main list of priorities. He wished she would have gotten the surgery last year, but if it had to be in the new year then he hoped she would come out new and improved.

He locked up the house and made his way to his own house first. Braelyn also wanted to come just to give Laura support. She was always looking after Laura and spent a lot of time with her. So now that she was going into surgery, Braelyn and Brielle were by her side more than ever now.

Takashi pulled up in front of the house instead of going in the driveway since he was just coming to get the girls. He opened the front door and saw Braelyn bent down, zipping up Brielle's jacket. Brielle smiled when she saw him but Braelyn's back was to him.

Smirking, Takashi's inner child came out as he popped up behind Braelyn, easily pulling her to her feet. "This is a stickup, gimme all your bibles and won't nobody get hurt around here." He said with his index finger straight forward and his thumb sticking up to play as his fake gun.

Braelyn looked over her shoulder, "Really Tee?"

"Yeah really! I want all your bibles. All the Old Testaments and the new ones!" He said poking her in the side of the head.

Braelyn gently put his hand down. She was ready to go, bundled up in a long jacket that came down past her knees. A scarf, cotton hat and mittens. It was at least a cool 30° degrees outside. Brielle was also matching her mom in the same attire along with fuzzy boots and ear muffs. She giggled nonstop at her father's antics.

"Takashi is this something to teach your daughter?" Braelyn chastised softly, "you play quiet a bit for an adult you know."

"And what you gonna do about it." Takashi said, now moving his finger gun into her neck. It made her smile even though she didn't want too, because of the weird ticklish feeling. "You talking crazy like I won't finish you right here. Say something else Brae, I dare you!"

Braelyn didn't, just to get him to stop playing.

Brielle started laughing making Takashi divert his attention to her as he snatched her up. "And what you over here laughing about? You better run daddy a bunch of hugs and kisses for it get critical in here for you."

Takashi knew it sounded bad to say, because even though he always loved Brielle, ever since he got the results that she was his child, it was like his love for her grew times a hundred. He always loved her but the confirmation just made it more pure. He always wanted to be the one to pick her up from her grandparents house now, he wanted to be the one to read her bedtime stories every night and he wanted to be the one who made her laugh and smile twenty four seven. She was his seed and for that he would forever be grateful. He was feeling so bad for even getting the test in the first place that he had been contemplating telling Braelyn what he had done. He actually would never, but the guilt had been eating at him lately.

Brielle started kissing him but she was laughing so hard that she was moving really slowly. Braelyn watched them with a smile on her face. It was amazing how much of a sweetheart Takashi was when he was in a good mood. In two minutes they were out of the house and driving down the street to Laura's house.

"Daddy can we make hot cocoa at grandma's house?" Brielle asked from her car seat.

"Maybe, if grandma has cocoa there baby."

Takashi hadn't spoken to Toryn since he found out Brielle was biologically his daughter. She called a few times but he had missed her calls, dodging speaking to her. He was still planning on cutting her off and since she lived there he guessed instead of her getting the hint, he was gonna have to do it face to face.

In fifteen minutes Takashi pulled into his mother's driveway and parked the car. They all exited the car and got up to the front door. Takashi knocked loudly to make sure Laura could hear. He saw that the front door was cracked open though and quickly took the liberty to usher Brielle and Braelyn in first. He realized Laura must have saw them pull up and knew it was cold outside so she opened the door for them.

He was right when he saw his mom in the kitchen, cooking. Takashi smelled the aroma and knew the dish she was cooking anywhere. So he knew it was pepper pot. It was a Guyanese dish made up of a meat of choice with a lot of broth, usually used with bread to dip it into the sauce. Laura had gotten the recipe from Florence's mother since she was Guyanese. They never really got along but she did teach Laura a few things.

"Ma, you shouldn't be cooking, but that smell good though." Takashi cheesed, peeking over his mother and into the pot.

"Mmhm." Laura said, "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Oh no miss Laura, do you need help?" Braelyn said rushing into the kitchen. The only thing she had taken off were her shoes. She squirted soap on her hands and began washing them, already looking for something she could help with. She didn't know how to make the dish, but she was always willing to learn. Especially when she knew it was something her husband liked.

Laura looked at Braelyn and smiled. That was what she loved about her so much. She was always looking to help and care for others. "Go sit down honey, it's okay. The food is almost done."

Takashi and Braelyn found themselves in the living room, sitting on the couch. Brielle sat on the recliner watching one of her kiddy programs. Takashi got more comfortable as he sat his head in Braelyn's lap and stretched his feet out across the couch. "Braelyn..." Takashi sang.

"Yes," She said looking down at him.

"Let's go upstairs in the guest room. I wanna tell you a secret." He mumbled.

Braelyn just gave him a look. "That thing in your pants is going to fall off one day. That's all you do, think about sex."

"Well when my woman looks this good you can't blame me. And who said I was talking about sex? I said I wanna tell you something."

"Sure." Braelyn said, slowly massaging his scalp.

"I do, I wanna tell you you're the prettiest, most amazing human being I know. Your loyal, faithful and very loving. Any man would be lucky to have you and I'm ashamed of the way I treat you sometimes. Your everything to me and I hope you never forget the good in me even when I'm acting like a donkey to you. I'm proud to call you my wife and the mother of my child...you love me?" He beamed.

Braelyn just smirked and bent down, kissing his lips. "Of course, do you love me?"

"Of course beautiful." He whispered against her lips.

"Toryn is upstairs if you guys wanna go say hi!" Laura announced from the kitchen.

Braelyn just nodded her head as if Laura could see her anyway. She had honestly forgot Toryn even lived here. Braelyn felt really bad for the shirt that she gave Toryn. But she was a little jealous and she didn't know how to handle it. Her mother would be super disappointed in her. Women always uplifted and helped women no matter what. Braelyn just loved her husband and felt Toryn often times came between that.

Takashi wasn't planning on telling his mom he wasn't talking to Toryn anymore. He knew Laura would be upset and have a whole speech for him. But it was his decision. It was a new year and the old drama would be perfect to leave behind.

"I'm going to the bathroom, you wanna come?" Takashi cheesed.

Braelyn just shook her head as he got off her with a chuckle. There were no bathrooms downstairs so Takashi walked upstairs, unfastening his belt with one hand. He pushed open the bathroom door running into Toryn, who was fresh out the shower with a towel around her. She gasped and Takashi also took a step back.

"Oh shit, my bad." He said stepping back out the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He didn't even notice the bathroom lights on under the door. He was just focused on releasing his bladder.

Toryn exited the bathroom a second later, playfully rolling her eyes at him. "Next time knock, do you just walk into bathrooms without knocking? No. So why you doing it here?"

Takashi just looked at her with a playful stink face, watching her walk into her room. He went into the bathroom and drained his bladder. He then washed his hands and checked his face in the mirror. When he was done he waited a few minutes before walking down the hall to Toryn's room. He knocked on the door and waited.

"Come in."

Takashi walked in and spotted Toryn sitting Indian style on her bed. She had on a black t-shirt and some basketball shorts that were obviously much bigger than her. Toryn glanced up from her cellphone screen, "You haven't been answering my calls lately. Busy?"

Takashi stared at Toryn like it was the first time he was seeing her. Her hair was damp and stringy. She had her glasses on making her look so innocent. No makeup on her face or fancy clothes. She looked exactly like the old Toryn. The one he remembered. His best friend.

"Yeah, just busy. Sorry about that." He mumbled.

"Well," Toryn smiled, suddenly looking up at him. "I was calling you because recently I had a dream. It was about us, I don't know if this was a memory or a dream but it looked like we were in high school and we were in this class debating about something. I had on this uniform set with these weird garter belt things and you didn't like them. You told me I need to stop wearing them because I think I'm grown. And you were eating a sandwich in the class—"

"And the teacher told me to put it away because the classroom wasn't a cafeteria." He whispered, finishing the rest for her. Toryn's huge smile let Takashi know he was spot on. It was exactly what she had dreamt.

"So it was not just my imagination. See? I remembered something." Toryn said giving herself a pat on the back.

Takashi was in complete and utter shock, he didn't know what to say. Would she remember more the next day?

"Isn't that great?" Toryn beamed.

She was caught off guard when she was engulfed inside his warm body. Takashi closed his eyes and held her tight. She smelled so good. He just held her, never wanting to let go. He had already forgot he wasn't suppose to be talking to her. All he wanted to do was hide her. Hide her from everyone who wasn't him or Laura.

"Taka I can't breathe!" Toryn laughed.

He pulled back but kept his hands on her shoulders. "What do you think made you remember?"

"I don't know." Toryn said truthfully. Her cellphone started ringing and she excused herself by putting a finger up. She peeked at the screen and saw it was Samir. She went to the other side of the room, mumbling into the phone as she took the call.

Takashi's face fell as he rolled her eyes. He already knew it was Samir. For the life of him he didn't know what attracted Toryn back to this guy after seven years. He wished Toryn would cheat on him. Their relationship was dumb just like it had been from the beginning when they first met.

Toryn ended her call and went into her closet in search of clothes.

"Who was that? Your girlfriend?"

"Excuse me? Don't worry about who it is."

Takashi leaned against the doorframe, his eyes on her the whole time. She had a small little butt. He could cover both cheeks entirely if he ever cupped it. "I pay for that phone bill. So I say you can't call no bitch niggas."

Toryn sucked her teeth, not even glancing at him. Instead of taking off what she already had on, she just put clothes on over it. It was extremely cold outside so she'd layer up as much as she could. "Taka bye. Your bored. Go help Laura and clean the garage. Her boyfriend hasn't been here in a while and I'm sure she'd appreciate the manly hands around here."

Toryn grabbed her phone and sent a quick text to Samir. She was meeting him at his apartment since he wanted to talk. Toryn walked up on Takashi standing in her doorway. "Excuse me."

"You're right, I am bored. So entertain me."

Toryn flipped her hair over her shoulder, trying to walk past but Takashi gently pushed her back. Toryn folded her arms across her breasts and looked at him as he bit his bottom lip. He was so restless and played all day. "You done?" She asked.

"Nah, entertain me. That's what best friends do."

"Taka come on stop I have somewhere to be."

"Man I don't give a fuck about your ugly ass boyfriend." He spat, reaching up to twirl a strand of her hair around his finger.

Toryn smacked his hand down and walked past him. She walked down the stairs followed by Takashi, to see Takashi's girlfriend and a small child in the living room. She wasn't too sure who the child was but she knew the woman was his fiancé. Briana...or something like that.

"Hello." Toryn said, smiling wide.

"Hi." Braelyn uttered, waving shyly.

"I didn't know you guys were down here. Takashi didn't tell me." Toryn said, playfully looking behind her to grill Takashi. "How's the New Year been for you?"

"It's been good, my family and friends are all in good health so I can't really complain." Braelyn smiled, "and what about you?"

"Don't nobody care about Toryn, she not special." Takashi said putting his hands over her eyes from behind. "Guess who."

Toryn started laughing, "Takashi move! You mad annoying. Laura!" She shouted, "Can you come get your son?"

"Nigga you annoying, the fuck. Little ugly ass." Takashi said.

Toryn chuckled, putting a hand over her mouth. "You mad?"

Takashi was about to open his mouth and say something but glanced at Braelyn and felt the joke was inappropriate to say in front of her, being she was a die hard Christian and all. So instead he licked his lips and put his arms out. "Okay gimme a hug then before you go."

Braelyn played with her fingers, trying to tune them out. This was the exact behavior she was talking about. They had zero physical boundaries and were around each other too much. It was the same type of thing they did at the Christmas party that had everyone staring at them. She felt like Takashi never gave her any space, but Toryn was just as much at fault because she never stopped it or said anything.

Braelyn pulled out her phone and glanced at the best friends, "Um...Takashi can you come, I want to show you something."

Takashi walked over and Braelyn tugged on his arm, indicating she wanted him to sit. He sat down next to her and she looped her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder. She showed him the text on her phone and Takashi thought it was going to be some funny joke or video; but it was one of those religious chain letter texts, telling you you'd go to hell if you didn't forward it to ten people.

Takashi read the message about a happy blessing for the new year and how much God loved him, before he looked at Braelyn. He smirked, staring at her oddly. She always got these and never felt the need to show them to him before, so he felt like it was random; but he didn't know it was only a ploy to get him away from Toryn.

"I love you." Braelyn said, out of the blue.

Takashi smiled, his eyebrows dipping a little. "I love you too, you alright?"

"Mmhm." She said still holding onto his arm.

"Okay ma, bye!" Toryn said walking toward the front door.

Takashi looked behind him and smiled to go chase Toryn, but when he got up, Braelyn still had a tight grip on his arm. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Brae what?"

She quickly let go, "Sorry."

He looked at the door where Toryn had already exited, then at Braelyn who was clearly upset about something. He sighed and leaned down, kissing her on the cheek. "What's s'up?"

"Nothing." She said. She knew how Takashi was, he told her to speak to him about things, then when she did he would get defensive and instead of listening, he'd just turn disrespectful and tell her she was worried about nothing. There was no point in even saying anything. Braelyn pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Our anniversary is coming up."

Takashi smiled. "Yeah I know, it's gonna mark us being together for four years. What you wanna do? You have anything in mind?" Takashi asked. Usually like most people it was a dinner somewhere at some fancy place but Takashi wanted to do something a little different this year, he just didn't know what.

"I don't know." Braelyn said. She had a special thing planned for him and she just hoped he liked it. She was really nervous about it and just hoped everything went smoothly.

"Okay, we'll think about what we wanna do. Okay?"

"Okay." Braelyn said giving him a shy smile.

"Cool." He mumbled, kissing her lips.

*******

TORYN ARRIVED AT SAMIR'S complex and knocked on his door. It was ice cold outside and she could barely feel her fingers. She knew Samir had a peephole so she took a step back so he would be able to see her. After a couple of seconds the door unlocked and Toryn stepped inside, greeting Samir with a kiss.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey whassup." He replied. Right away she could tell something was wrong with him. He seemed a little uncomfortable, but she brushed it off.

"Soooo," Toryn said inviting herself inside. She took off her coat and hat, appreciating the temperature difference from outside to in Samir's apartment. She went to his small closet to hang her things up. "You called me over, how may I help you sir."

"I made you some hot chocolate." Samir said making a head motion for her to follow him to the kitchen.

Toryn did and gladly picked the mug up when she got there. He put whip cream on top, so Toryn took her spoon out the cup and used it to eat the cream first.

"So first of all I wanted to apologize for the Christmas thing, I just felt that it was better to spend it with my own family, you know? It's Christmas. I didn't exactly think going to your friend's house was the best idea considering I don't really like him and vice versa." Samir said.

Toryn pursed her lips and rolled her eyes around, "I understand but we weren't gonna spend the entire Christmas there. We would've spent a little time at Laura's house and then we would have left and went to your house. Takashi would have been chill had he seen you anyway. His mom was there and he wouldn't have acted crazy in front of his mom." Toryn said, picking up her pendant as she played with it.

"Right." Samir said sarcastically. "So how have you been? I haven't spoken to you since Christmas."

"I know because you didn't invite me to yours." Toryn said. She knew she was being petty, but she was still a little salty.