“I think the milk goes in first” Niko says from where he’s sitting on a kitchen stool in our city apartment.            I furrowed my brows in confusion looking at my phone screen which I had popped against the counter. I dropped my eyes into the bowl I was staring, I take another look at the screen. He was right. And here I was thinking the egg goes in first.  “I knew that” I said out loud.

“Hey tommy! What’s up?” I smiled waving both hands at him.   “Hey sis, how’s it going?” he pulls me into a bear hug then ruffles my hair with one hand.    “Would you quit doing that you’ll ruin my hair” I try to pull away.    “Come on I haven’t seen you for a few days now.” he releases me but holds onto me by my upperparts “big bro keeping you busy?” wiggles his eyebrows.    “As a matter of fact, yes” I smiled shily and tugged my arms away.  Resuming his walk, he runs his fingers through his hair    “where are you going” I asked, following at a slower pace behind him. “I was thinking of hitting the gym”    “The one downstairs?” I furrowed my brows. If so then why is he dressed? Tommy go

       I wake up the next morning before my alarm sound, I’m happy when I take a quick shower, smiling as and humming a song under my breath as i go, I don’t wash my hair yet knowing I’ll be having another shower when after my swim. In the pool, I go end to end three times of the Olympic sized pool. By the time I pull myself out of the pool my muscles are burning and my legs are quaking but i feel good. In the kitchen I see the girls running up and down as they usually do. “Good morning!” I say tying the sash of my terrycloth robe over my swimsuit. “Mrs. Lola, you’re up early” Maria says. As usually she is dress in a blouse tucked into a knee length pencil skirt. “Yeah, I have some work to do” I say with a smile, excited by the prospect of work. I don’t know why but it feels good to have something doing. Maybe after the wedding I’ll get a job as an even planner or something? God knows there are a usually bunch of pa

     “Niko says you should teach me how to drive” I tell Michael one faithful morning.   His eyes widen then narrows. “No, he didn’t”     “Yes, he did” I say with full confidence, trying hard not to smile.

  ***       It took three days for Anna-Lucia to take the test and Gianna called me to confirm what we already knew. Anna-Lucia is pregnant. And another three days for Gianna to call me and tell me a what had me rushing down the stairs in only jean, a black cashmere sweater and flipflops.   “I’m on my way” I tell Gianna phone to my ear as I snap at Miguel “let’s go!”   “Where are we going?” he swings his legs down from where he had it crossed on another stool in the kitchen coming alert in a heartbeat.   “Anna-Lucia house! Do you know the way?” I hurry out of the house.   “Yes, and why are we running?” he followed me   “Because there’s an emergency, obviously”   “You shouldn’t- “be started but I cut him off.   “Now isn’t the time to be telling me what I can and cannot do you, you hear me?” I snapped at