— Ｅｎｎｅｓｓｅｙ     Ｂｒｏｗｎ —

Church had just ended and my auntie was taking forever and a day. My stomach was ready to eat and she wanna stay past service.

"I never asked if your a religious person, sorry about that" I said to Saige as we stayed seated in the back waiting for my family.

"No you're fine, I never know when to bring up religion in a conversation"

"Oh I understand. Well thank you for coming, it means a lot to my grandma when we all attend Sunday service"

"Yeah no problem" once I saw my mom walking to leave, we finally stood up to follow.

"Ennessey" I turned around to see a few people I haven't seen in awhile.

"Maple" I said smiling as she brought me into a hug. She was a friend of my biological dad but we got out of touch years ago.

"Wow look at you" she smiled leaning back to take me in.

"Look at you" I exclaimed. For her to be in her 60s, she didn't look a day over 25. She waved me off.

"Don't be boosting my head Chile" I let out a laugh. "Please tell your in town for awhile"

"Unfortunately no, I came down for my grandmothers birthday this weekend" she frowned.

"Where you staying na?"

"Up in Arizona"

"Wow you doing it big I see, I know your father is proud of you"

"I hope he is, I need to visit him soon" she rubbed my shoulder supportively.

"So I heard from the grapevine that you do interior design?" I nodded glad that the subject changed.

"Yes I do" I dug in my bag passing my business cards to her. "You know some people who are interested?"

"Oh honey myself, we definitely need to hook up to discuss some of the big projects I want done to my house"

"Sounds good, it was so good to see you again"

"I'm glad we crossed paths. Here lemme give you my new number. We should stay in touch"

"Yes ma'am" she dug in her bag for a pen and crumbled receipt paper scribbling her number on it.

"Let's catch up soon, okay" I nodded with a smile. She gave me another hug before walking back in the direction of the pastor. Seeing her made me miss my dad, I really need to visit him soon. The ride back to the house was fairly short. Me and Saige caught a ride with Deon which took us no time to get back since he drives almost 15 over the speed limit.

❀ ❀ ❀

I was trying to help them prepare for lunch but I kept getting my hands smacked for doing something wrong. I kept stirring the pot full of rice like my grams instructed as I kept to myself.

"Cece come help me set the table" my grams said. I took the spoon out of the rice and turned the heat down before following her.

"I just wanted to have a conversation with you" I nodded taking the plates.

"Sure, what about?"

"Your boyfriend, Saige. He seems like a nice young man. Does he treat you well?" I nodded with a smile.

"Yes he does."

"He talks very sweetly of you, I can tell he adores you"

"You think so" she started smiling.

"Oh honey you should hear what him and Arnold be talking about" she let out a laugh. "I just wanted to let you know that what your mother wants does not have to be a priority for you"

"What do you mean" I sat the plates on the table furrowing my eyebrows.

"Oh you know chile, your mother is very adamant about you getting married and starting a family"

"That she is, Brandy and Stella both married their first boyfriend"

"And look at them, miserable. Your grandmama was a hoe, I gots around" my mouth fell agape.

"Grams" she started laughing.

"It's the truth baby, it wasn't until I met your papa that I knew he was the one for me. He had me going about life differently. Your mother doesn't understand that nor does you aunties"

"How do you know— if someone is the one" I asked setting the silverware.

"Oh baby my soul just knew, everything with him just felt natural since the day we met. Trust me CeCe, it's deeper than a simple attraction and you'll know exactly how that feels"

I wanted to ask more questions but the back sliding door caught my attention. The rest of my family was starting to pile in. I guess they could smell the food.

"Eww y'all reek" my mom complained sitting the pan of green beans on the table.

"Reek of what" my dad said making me chuckle.

"You know that grassy stuff y'all be smoking" they started laughing making me shake my head. They know she not a fan of it. Everyone got settled at the table as my aunts brought out the rest of the food. I took my seat between Saige and Dixie. He sat his hand on my knee rubbing it slightly. I glanced at him in the corner of my eye but he was busy talking to my dad about sports.

"Let's say grace, bow y'all big heads" my uncle bud said causing a few people to suck their teeth. I did as he said as we all grabbed hands. I couldn't wait to dig in, this food was calling my name.

"Amen" we all said right before the sound of clinking silverware took over. The food started to get passed away as everyone filled their plates up. Saige decided to fix both mine and his plates since I was helping in the kitchen.

"How's it going with Caine?" I whispered to Dixie as I picked up my fork. She looked up to see he was busy talking to Deon.

"After everyone went to bed, we were still up and had the chance to finally talk. He admitted liking me" I started smiling but dropped it when Brandy looked my way. I looked at my other sister seeing she was busy catering Joey's needs. I wish she would venture out and enjoy herself more than being under his every move.

"That's good to hear, you keep me updated" she nodded taking a bite of her chicken breast.

"So Saige where ya from?" My aunt Trina asked.

"Born and raised in atl" that caught some attention.

"No lie?" Khalil asked. "I ain't know we was from the same place"

"So your family still lives down here then?" My mom asked. He nodded.

"Just my parents and my brother"

"Wait you have a brother" Jane asked smiling. Not she trying to get put on.

"Yeah I do"

"Send him my way then" they caused us to laugh.

"Well I hope y'all plan to come down again, since his family lives in this state too"

"Of course we will, I really enjoyed the weekend with y'all" Saige said. As they continued to talk I could sense a pair of eyes on me. I turned to see Brandy glaring at me then rolling her eyes. I really don't understand her problem.

—Ｓａｉｇｅ    Ｈａｒｔｚ—

It was time for the mini golfing that they had set up. I grabbed the box I had bought at the store the other day before making my way down the stairs.

"Um Saige" I turned to see one of her sisters, I think Stella standing there fiddling her fingers.

"Oh hey, how are you?" I asked. She gave a small smile.

"I'm fine, I just want you to know that I really appreciate you treating my sister well, I haven't seen her this happy in a long time" she said. "I know we haven't had the chance to talk during this trip but please ignore my other sister, there has always been an feud between them. So I'm sorry if she says anything that offends you"

"You don't have to apologize for her actions Stella, but I do appreciate you for accepting me" she smiled again before walking off. I went the other direction to go outside with everyone else. The music was blasting with 80s-early 90s tunes. I made my way to Ennessey who was talking to two of her girl cousins.

"Can I steal her away really quick" they both glanced at each other before nodding.

"We'll be over here" they walked off leaving the two of us.

"I got you something the other day" she raised an eyebrow.

"What is it"

"Close your eyes" she cut her eyes at me making me chuckle. "Just trust me"

"Fine" she closed her eyes as I carefully slipped the glasses on her face.

"Open" she slowly opened her eyes freezing. She looked around at the ground for awhile before jumping on me. I caught her before she fell as I started to laugh.

"Saige you didn't"

"I figure you wanted to know how vibrant the grass looks" she pecked my lips multiple times as the smile stayed on her face.

"I thought these were expensive" she touched the edge of her new colorblind glasses. After she told me about it a month ago, I've been on a hunt to get her some.

"I don't care about the price, do you like them" she nodded quickly.

"Good, can you see red and green more better?" I put her back on her feet as she looked over at the red lawn chair.

"Wow this is amazing, I didn't know how rich the color was"

"I'm glad you like them" she looked back at me.

"I love them, thank you" I kissed her forehead when I heard a grunt.

"Alright seriously what is your problem, you've been huffing and puffing all weekend" ennessey asked. The air still had a lot of tension in it just like the last few days.

"The problem is him" she pointed towards me catching their family attention. "He putting up a front to impress you and when that shit wears off he gonna be like the rest of your failed relationships"

"Uh"

"Brandy cut it out" her grandmother said.

"No cause she always acting like she better than all of us. She had to be the first one to move out of Georgia, and now she got some hit caller business dude."

"Aye chill out" I said seeing the look on ennessey fsce. Brandy scoffed.

"Nigga bye" she waved me off. "She never can keep a male figure in her life, shit her daddy didn't want to stay either"

"BRANDY" I looked over to see the tears in her eyes. She ran away as a few of her family members called after her.

"I don't know you but to go as far to hurt your sister over some sort of jealousy—- who said I was jealous" she but in.

"Oh my gosh, Brandy. Do you not sit and think for a minute how your words cut deep" Stella yelled surprising us all. Brandy was taken back.

"Stells"

"No, your the reason why our little sister won't ever come back here or call. All because your jealous that her dad stayed in her life and ours left the moment he found someone better"

"Saige go after her" Dixie said next to me. I nodded before taking off. This weekend was supposed to be a get away for her to enjoy herself. I looked around the house calling her name out. I rushed up the stairs looking around.

"Ennessey" I called out again.

"Up here" I glanced at the stairs going to the third floor. There was one door open and her quiet sniffles led me to it.

"Come here" I took a seat next to her as she buried her head into my shirt. I rubbed her back as she cried.

"How could she say that? My father loved me till his last breath"

"What happened?"

"He had a heart attack when he was driving to my recital in middle school. Brandy blamed me saying that I always run the men out of our lives. He treated her like his other daughter and I guess she doesn't forgive me because I kept begging him to come"

"That's not your fault"

"I know but I feel guilty. Maybe I should've left it alone and he wouldn't have been so stressed trying to attend everything that day"

"Maybe she's right, I'm just broken" she muttered. "I'm going to take a walk alone if you don't mind"

"You sure you don't want company" she shook her head standing up.

"No thank you" she walked out of the room with tears still streaming down her face.

❀ ❀ ❀

I closed the trunk of the car after putting all of bags in there. Ennessey still hasn't said much since she took her walk. She didn't even sleep in the room with me. She walked to the passenger door but I stopped her.

"You should say goodbye first" she shook her head.

"Saige can we please leave"

"I know your mad at your sister but you should leave without saying goodbye to everyone else" she sighed before walking ahead of me. I opened the front door as the conversation started to cease.

"Oh y'all are still here" her grandmother said rushing over to ennessey engulfing her into a hug.

"I was going to just leave but Saige made me realize that I came here to celebrate your birthday. So I'm sorry I almost left without saying bye"

"Oh cece it's okay, how are you" she shrugged with closed lip smile.

"Well I refuse to let you get on that plane with a heavy heart. I'm not sure what's going on between you two girls but it needs to be resolved now" she snapped her fingers telling Brandy to come over.

"I'm sorry grams but I have nothing I want to talk to her about" ennessey spat.

"I don't care, y'all are sisters."

"Why do you hate me so much?" She asked Brandt crossing her arms. Brandy blinked at her before turning to her grandmother.

"Just because we're sisters doesn't mean we have to get along" she snided.

"You hate me that much, you can't even tell me why you act the way you do. You treat Stella with so much love but when it comes to me, you snap"

"You always were different than us. So my reasoning as to why I treat you the way I do doesn't concern everyone"

"If that's how you feel, I'll make sure to never acknowledge you again. Your not a sister of mine" she said brushing past her to hug Stella.

"Bye everyone, thank y'all for letting us come" I gave her mom a hug as well as her grandmother before disappearing after her. Not much was said once we got settled into the car. It was best I left her alone unless she wanted me to comfort her.
____________________________________

Thoughts???

Sorry for any mistakes. Comment, Vote, and Share!!

~BR££