Chapter Thirteen

October 27, 2024

The morning after the Halloween party, Tookie's house was alive with the sound of bustling activity. The kitchen was a flurry of movement as friends and family gathered to make breakfast. The smell of bacon and pancakes filled the air, mixing with the lingering scent of Halloween decorations that still clung to the walls. Reeva sat at the large wooden table, nestled between Jacob and Kayla, feeling a blend of comfort and chaos envelop her.

As she absentmindedly sipped her coffee, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking through the morning chatter. It was a text from her dad, Phil, sent to the group chat that included April, Roland, Tookie, Kayla, and herself. The message came with a photo of Jonathan gently removing Tookie's makeup, a sight that looked both tender and amusing.

"This isn't what I think it is, right?" Phil had texted, and Reeva couldn't help but let out a small laugh. The image was innocent enough, but with their family, nothing ever stayed simple for long.

Kayla leaned over to read the screen, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You think it's possible?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Dad just jumping to conclusions," she replied, rolling her eyes at the notion of Phil jumping to conclusions.

"Hold on, I'm coming right now," Roland chimed in, his text bubbling in almost immediately.

The group was quick to respond, their reactions a mix of playful teasing and genuine concern. But just as they were texting, Jonathan strolled into the kitchen, looking slightly flustered. He whispered something to Trinity about Tookie feeling sick, and Reeva exchanged a knowing glance with Kayla.

"Let's check on her," Kayla suggested, and without hesitation, they got up and made their way to Tookie's room.

The moment they stepped inside, Reeva could see that Tookie was indeed unwell, her usually bright demeanor dimmed. "So, you're not going to tell him?" Reeva asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Not yet, let me think about it," Tookie replied, her eyes cast down.

"Girl, you're going to leave him hanging?" Kayla chimed in. "Papa Phil might tell him while you're thinking about it."

"He already told April and Roland," Reeva added, trying to nudge Tookie toward the truth.

"Jora knows, too," Tookie admitted, her tone heavy with reluctance.

"Then tell that man before he's the last person to find out," Kayla urged, crossing her arms.

At that moment, Phil entered the room, holding a steaming bowl of soup. "April made you some soup," he said, presenting it to Tookie with a fatherly smile.

Kayla cleared her throat dramatically. "Papa Phil, you remember that compound you wanted?"

Kayla produced a folded paper from her pocket and handed it to him. As Phil unfolded it, his eyes widened in disbelief. "Kayla! 120 acres for twenty million!" he exclaimed.

"I know it's cheap, right?" Kayla replied, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Kayla, sweetie, go stand in the corner," Phil said, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

Kayla pouted, but Reeva couldn't help but giggle at the playful banter.

"Get it together, people! Tookie has given me three new strands of grey hair with all these damn kids! Then Reeva, you with a man that has seven kids, and Kayla with a boy four years younger than her—what's next, Roland? What are you doing with your life?" Phil said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"Hey!" Roland said, clearly offended.

"Someone get Papa Phil a chill pill," Tookie quipped, a slight grin breaking through her discomfort.

"I'll air out your business right, Tookie," Phil retorted, his eyes narrowing playfully.

Tookie zipped her lips in mock obedience, but Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "No back talk," Kayla chimed in, her tone teasing.

"Kayla, shut up before he airs out your business," Roland shot back.

"I'll do it myself," Kayla laughed, and just then, Jonathan and April walked in, a force of nature with a determined look on her face.

"Okay, everyone out," April declared, clapping her hands.

"Oh, the mother hen has arrived to rescue the chicks from the unstable rooster," Tookie teased, but April shot her a look that silenced the room.

"You better zip it before Phil has a meltdown and tells your secret," April warned, glancing at Tookie with a knowing expression.

"Am I missing something?" Jonathan asked, clearly out of the loop.

"Yes," everyone replied in unison, which only deepened Jonathan's confusion.

Reeva shook her head, feeling overwhelmed. Between the compound discussions, the sperm fairies, keeping Tookie's pregnancy under wraps, her fast-developing relationship with Jacob, and the pressure of releasing her new album, she felt like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

Jacob, who had been standing just outside the door, sensed her stress. He stepped forward and picked her up from behind, his warmth wrapping around her like a safety net. "You look stressed," he said, his voice low and soothing.

Reeva nodded, the truth of his statement hitting her hard. "As fuck," she added, a hint of sarcasm escaping her lips, but the weight of her feelings was palpable.

"Come on, let's go back to the room and I'll relax you," Jacob suggested, his intentions clear.

Just then, Roland's voice cut through the moment. "Please use a condom; there are enough kids running around," he said, his tone serious and playful at the same time, scaring both Jacob and Reeva.

"Go away, Roland!" Reeva shouted, embarrassment flooding her cheeks.

Jacob chuckled, but Reeva could see the slight tension in his shoulders as he tried to shake off Roland's comment. "Let's get out of here," he said, pulling her gently toward the door.

As they walked away, Reeva felt a mix of relief and annoyance. The house was a circus, and while she loved her family dearly, the constant noise and chaos were overwhelming. She needed a moment to breathe, to think, and most importantly, to figure out how to navigate everything that lay ahead.

They slipped into her room, the door clicking softly behind them. The moment they were alone, Reeva let out a deep breath, feeling the tension slowly dissipate. "I'm sorry about that," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Don't be. It's just Roland being Roland," Jacob replied, a smile breaking through the tension. He joined her on the bed, his presence grounding her.

"Still, it's just so much," Reeva confessed, running a hand through her hair. "I feel like I'm juggling everything."

"Hey, we'll figure it out together," Jacob said, his voice reassuring. "You're not alone in this."

She looked at him, grateful for his calm demeanor. "Thanks. I just want everything to go well, you know? I don't want to screw anything up."

"You're doing great, Reeva. Just take it one step at a time." He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers.

Reeva took a moment to let his words sink in. "It's hard to see the bigger picture when everything feels chaotic," she admitted.

"Then let's focus on the moment," Jacob suggested, leaning closer. "How about we make some plans for when things settle down? We can take a little getaway, just the two of us."

The idea sparked a flicker of hope in her chest. "That sounds amazing. Just us, away from all of this."

"Exactly," he said, his smile infectious. "We can escape the chaos and enjoy each other's company without any interruptions."

Reeva nodded, feeling the weight of her worries start to lift. "That sounds perfect."

As they talked about potential destinations and activities, Reeva found herself lost in the excitement of planning their little getaway. It was a refreshing distraction, a reminder that amidst the chaos, there was still room for joy and connection.