SPREAD THIN [ABOOGIE] - CURRENTLY EDITING

[CHAPTER EIGHT] "The life we have created together."

The next morning.,

Mariah wanted to enjoy the Christmas cruise. This would be Zein's first Christmas and she knew Deandre didn't want to remember this time as him fighting the entire time. She knew they were going to have a conversation about what happened and Deandre was going to set the record straight. But Mariah didn't want to be around for the drama. So she got Zein dressed and they went down to enjoy the cruise activities.

"Smile baby girl!" Mariah put her hand on her lap and took another picture of Zein sitting in the booster seat. They were eating breakfast together and Zein had gotten blueberries on her face. Zein was the type of kid who didn't like a mess on her face but they didn't have anymore napkins and Mariah was waiting on someone to bring more out. Because of the wait, Zein started to cry.

"Just lick it off baby." Mariah tried not to laugh because Zein was crying but she was being dramatic. Mariah tried to wipe it off with her fingers but Zein didn't want her touching her face. She may have been eight months old but she was a very high maintenance newborn.

"Here you go ma'am.. I'm sorry about that." Mariah thanked him and gave Zein a napkin so she could wipe her face. Mariah was waiting for her sister and mom to come down for breakfast. Most of Deandre's family had come and gone with plates.

Mariah never argued with her family over money because she never gave out any. She didn't care how they felt about her. In her eyes, Nobody helped Maxwell run his business when she was growing up. When her parents struggled, she struggled and she never saw any of her uncles or aunties help them out. So Mariah wasn't interested in helping out anybody who wasn't putting food on her table. And for her, most of her family lived out of state.

"Thank you." Mariah grabbed the wet wipes for Michaela. Vena and her came down with Kip following behind them. Mariah always traveled with her best friends. Kip and Mariah had been friends since they were kids. Kip was like her second sister. She was always coming around and she was Zein's godmother. Mariah had been through a lot with Kip, she knew everything about her. And she was always there when she needed someone to talk to.

Kip went to school for communication and was interning at the news office. But when Vena decided to plan a family trip she extended the invitation to Kip and she couldn't refuse. Kip didn't have any immediate family so the Russells became her surrogate family.

"So, did Andre tell you why his brother was looking at you like that?"

"Yeah what was that?" Vena added as she took Zein out her booster seat.

"Something about some money I guess." Mariah didn't want to tell them too much about his family business because she didn't want it to get back to her dad.

"Is he going to come out the room for the activities?"

"I'm not sure but me and baby girl are ready to have fun."

Meanwhile, Deandre knocked on his brothers cabin door. He wanted to get this over with. He knew Dawson wasn't going to apologize - he never did, so he was going to be a man about it. After he finished dressed, he checked on his girls before walking down the hall.

"Mama sent you here?" Dawson asked smirking. He had a bandage on his nose.

"Nah I'm here on my own. Things got a little heated last night and I'm sorry. Especially the physical part, uncalled for. I know I shouldn't have taken it then, I should've first apologize for not speaking to you myself about the accounts."

"Yeah man, you should've gave us a heads up so we could get our shit together." Darin added in. Dawson moved over as Deandre could see him sitting on the couch.