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I do ue, because we butt heads nonstop But I kno iether My brother, Aren, drove down from Austin with his wife and two kids for the weekend, so short of being out of town for work, I needed to be here I step out of the car, and bypass the front door, following the gleeful cries of children ate

“Efia!” s me close I adore my mother She’s a petite powerhouse with a kind heart, sharp tongue when necessary, and an intelligent brain

“Hey, Mama”

“I’ enough sleep?”

“Usually, yes, but not today I was up late helping Liv plan out her gender reveal party She still refuses to tell , can you believe that?”

“Yes, I can,”look

“Hey, I can keep a secret! I think they don’t even know”

“Is that Efia? Let me look at you”

The Southern twangwhistle to canines; I long to cover my ears and drown it out Instead, I fix a smile onto my lips

“Hi, Aunt Rhonda,” I say as I step away froulfed in a White Diamond scented embrace

“You’re evenaway, she looks me up and down I force myself to relax Her eyes are sharp, but she doesn’t have laser vision She can’t see through my head scarf to the bald head beneath

“Thank you You look wonderful Have you lost weight?”

She beaood at your job You’re a natural char man here with you?”

And here we go again with this bullshit

“No, I’ anyone at the moment, Auntie”