2 Months Ago

December 26th Day After Christmas (4 Months Pregnant)

Summer Walker, SZA, & Cardi B harmonize in the clean version of "No Love," over the cafe's sound system.

Glancing back and forth, I take them both in.

They're cute.

One with long straightened black hair with a single pink streak, peeking out from under her pink knitted marled winter hat. The other with a multicolored orange knitted marled hat and a messy bob underneath. Hands jammed into their trendy short puffer jackets, neither one says a word. They look as nervous as I feel.

Maybe a smile will ease the tension?

That's pretentious. Just try to be natural.

Natural? Normal? What does that mean, really when it comes to teenagers?

Girl! Chill!

Phoenix walks up to us, his eyes narrowing. "Ari, you good?" He subtly lifts his eyebrows as if to say 'It's OK.' Phoenix plucks a latte marked "Nala" from the cardboard cupholder he's carrying. "Here you go, sweetheart."

Nala reaches for the latte, her newly freed hands reveal adorable matching knitted mittens. "Decaf right, Dad? You know caffeine gives me a headache."

Phoenix smiles. "I got you. Both yours are decaf."

"Perfect." Nala flips one side of her long hair to her back before taking a sip.

Phoenix lifts a cup marked "Nadia" from the cupholder and passes it. "Mocha latte, almond milk for you. Decaf."

Nadia takes the cup and stops. "Dad! I said half-calf. I like a little pick me up in my coffee."

Nala steps in. "Nad, I'll fix it." She takes the latte and walks up to the counter.

"Alright, then." He smiles at me, apologetically. "These girls and their lattes."

I wave his apology away. "It's cool, I get it."

Phoenix snickers and removes my cup from the cupholder. "Anyway. Here you go."

Nadia stares at me bluntly.

The warmth of the cup soothes my cold fingers. I lift the opening to my mouth. "Nothing beats good old fashion hot chocolate with a dash of cinnamon, in the middle of winter."

"What? No caffeine for you?" Nadia asks, behind sharp eyes, a hint of feigned innocence in her tone.

"None for me." I halt myself in the middle of reaching for my belly. "Uh, so how's your winter break so far?"

Her eyes soften. "Break is cool. It's nice being home. Even with everything's that's going on. I'm guessing, since you're here, you know?" She leans in waiting for me to reveal my position.

I look to Phoenix.

"Uhm. Yeah." Phoenix wraps his arm around Nadia. "She knows, Nadia. It's why I brought you all together today."

"Hmm," she replies.

I sip my hot chocolate.

Nadia pulls away from Phoenix. "So, she's mom's replacement?"

Phoenix closes his eyes.

"It's OK, Phoenix." I turn to Nadia. "No one can replace your mom, Nadia. She's irreplaceable. Your dad and I are . . ." I glance at Phoenix.

"We're together." Phoenix waits for her reaction.

Nadia stands stoic, no expression. She searches for Nala, who shows up with a fresh new half-calf latte.

"Here you go, big sis." Nala smiles and looks around. "What I miss?"

"Dad was just telling me how he's upgraded to a new model."

That little fucking liar!

"Listen, I brought you two here for a reason. To meet Aria. I love this woman. And I love you, girls. You know that. But whether you like it or not, Aria is a part of my life." Phoenix stares at me for a long time.

The twins exchange glances as they take in what they're father has just told them. Nadia's eyes grow sharp, Nala starts breathing erratically. They glare at me without turning away.

Instinctively, I take a step back.

"And she will be a part of your life too." Phoenix tells them.

I brace for impact.

Nadia turns to her father. "A part of ours? How do you figure? We just met the woman."

Phoenix ushers us all to a booth inside the coffee shop. "Hey, let's have a seat over here. Start over."

We pile into the booth. Phoenix and I on one side, the twins on the other. The girls take off their gloves and coats. Phoenix and I do the same.

"Alright. I know this isn't ideal. It wasn't planned. Ari and I, we just. . ." Phoenix looks at me lovingly. "We just . . . happened."

"So, you cheated on Mom?" Nala frowns.

"Of course, he did. She wouldn't be here if he hadn't. Stop asking stupid questions, Nala." Nadia scorns her sister but refuses to take her eyes off me.

"That couldn't be farther from the truth." Phoenix speaks up.

"No! When you and Mom told us you were getting a divorce, you tiptoed around the why. Don't lie to us, Dad!" Nadia yells.

Phoenix's bears down on the table. "Calm yourself down, Nadia. Now!" His voice registers at just above an angry whisper. "Girls, stop making assumptions. I never cheated on your Mom. I would never do that. There are many reasons why we're getting a divorce. Me cheating is not one of them."

"Then what is?" Nadia seems to be the spokesperson for them both.

Phoenix looks taken aback. He sits up, searching for what to say. "It's complicated, sweetheart. And honestly, it's a conversation that can't be had without your mother. She's adamant about that. What I can say is that, in no way is my relationship with Aria the reason for our divorce. We decided to separate long before Aria was ever in the picture. Long before I ever even met Aria."

Nadia sits back and exhales, resting her head on the booth seat. "So, she had nothing to do with you and Mom getting a divorce?" she asks for good measure.

"Nothing at all. Your mom can confirm that." Phoenix reaches across the table and gently pinches her chin. "So there, Nad."

She looks down and laughs as a single stray tear falls from her face.

"And you, too, Niggles!" Phoenix softly pinches Nala's chin.

She giggles as if this is one of those familiar things her dad does. Maybe a game they've been playing since childhood.

Nadia looks up with fresh, bright eyes. "OK, I'll bite." She nudges Nala who elbows her back. Nadia elbows her again, Nala pushes back. Back and forth they tap each other, again and again and again.

What are they doing?

"Hey, hey, girls! What's up?" Phoenix frowns at the twins.

"You lose." Nadia elbows Nala one last time.

Nala rolls her eyes at Nadia. "OK. So, how'd you two meet?"

That's what that was? Girls must be telepathic cause I never heard them say anything between them.

"Well, I met your dad at work," I reply. "My boss seated him in my section. We had a pretty rough start, right? Your dad can be an a—, a jerk. He was a total jerk to me."

"I admit, I was rude the first night I met her."

"Night? I thought you said he came into your job?" Nadia asks.

"He did."

"Well, where do you work?" Nala asks.

"I'm not there anymore. I work at Prescott Realty with your dad."

Nadia's eyebrow raises. Nala seems to put up her guard.

"You work for Dad now?" Nala asks.

"Yes. Fresh out of college." I hook my arm into Phoenix's. "It's actually my first major gig out of school. I love it there."

"Bet you do," Nadia says under her breath.

"What was that?" I ask.

"Huh?" she asks.

"So where were you working before you snagged a gig with my dad?" Nala asks.

"Club Lotus. It's a night club downtown."

"Night club?" Nala frowns.

"Or some other type of club?

Nala lets these words, "Strip club," slip out with a cough.

"No need to be PC with us." Nadia purses her lips.

"Ha. Funny. Listen, girls. I worked at Club Lotus, which is just a night club. You know the place people go to have a drink, dance and have fun? Oh wait, you two wouldn't know anything about that life. Anyhow, it's a legit gig for a college girl."

Both girls look at me with wild surprise.

"College?" Nadia asks.

"Girl?" Nala echoes as she glances at her sister.

"Exactly how old are you? Whatever your name is." Nadia waves me off as I'm a low-level peon.

They're holding no punches.

"Watch yourself, Nadia." Phoenix warns.

Nadia straightens her posture. "Um, how old did you say you were, Aria?" She looks for approval from Phoenix.

"I'm grown, Nadia. Just know that I've graduated." I smile politely.

"Oh, OK."

Nala eyes dart between me and Phoenix as if she's contemplating her next move. "Well, when did you say you graduated?"

"Cute. Last year," I tell her peeping game.

"Oh! Last year, last year?" Nadia asks calculating.

"That would be it."

The two girls glance at each other as if they're communicating in a secret language.

Anger fuels my escalating heartbeat as I try with everything I've got to keep me from jumping over this table. I smile, because I have to. It's the only thing keeping me from giving those two little imp-ets a piece of my mind. "Do you girls ever get lonely? Just you two?"

They glance at each other.

"Oh, you know." A smirk finds its way to my lips. "Never thought about what it would be like to have another little brother or sister?" I ask.

"Mmm. I need to use the restroom. Ari, can you?" Phoenix gestures towards the restroom.

"Sure, babe." I slide out of the booth.

Phoenix gets out of the booth. "Ari, can I talk to you for a minute?"

We step aside.

Phoenix takes my arm and leans in. "I pictured this going better. Ran through this moment a thousand times," he whispers.

"Either way, we have to tell them. I'm almost five months. If you look closely, you can tell."

"I know that. It's just," he sighs, "I wanted to ease them into it. It's only been them two, their whole lives. They're not used to sharing. Hell, even between them it can be a challenge sometimes. Imagine how they'll take it when they find out they have a little brother."

"I get that, babe. I really do. But it's now or never. We have to get in front of this. If they find out when the baby gets here, that's too late. It'll feel like a betrayal. You don't want that on top of everything else, do you?"

Phoenix sighs. "You're right. But let me lead. You were treading heavy back there. I don't like where that was going."

"Your girls are no punks. These little chicks are hardcore. Did you see how they were coming for me? I almost forgot they're only twelve!"

Phoenix laughs. "Almost thirteen, let them tell it. They drive a hard bargain. I didn't teach them to roll over easy. Kind of makes me proud, even though it makes what I'm trying to do here that much harder."

"Yeah, well, they're learning from the best. Soon our little guy will be too." I caress his cheek.

Phoenix heads to the restroom. Closing my eyes, I take in a deep breath and prepare myself to return to the table. 

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Did the first meeting between Aria and twins go as you expected? What did you envision?