𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏 4

Page 76

Janet

"Hey mom" she said sing-song. She finally showed me her smiling face looking downwards into the camera of our FaceTime. My daughter's joy was all over her face, knowing that she was happy was a securing feeling to myself.

I could feel my cheeks rise as I smiled back at her. "Hey, what are you doing" I asked raising my brows out of pure nosiness I wanted to be in her business. Stevanna was spending her time in Jamaica with Skip for the month.

She wore her beach curls loose and free, she widened her eyes. "We're at Skips grandmothers house, she's making me some of her famous soup and after this we're going to a waterfall to take some pictures"

I could hear the joy in her voice and I watched the life in her eyes as she spoke to me with such excitement. The corners of my mouth stayed curved into a smile. Knowing my baby was happy and safe was a securing feeling to my longtime self sabotage of telling myself I was a failed mother.

Now I can sleep peacefully at night, laying my head stress free because my daughter and I finally have the bond we should've had from day one. "Hi Mrs. Jackson" Skips Caribbean accent entered the screen before his face did.

Eventually I saw his eye in the corner of the screen above Stevanna. Stevanna giggled and lifted her chin looking at him with a sparkle in her eye.

"Hi Skip, how are you" I asked.

"I'm good, I have to come to your show when you start this tour" he spoke.

"You and Stevanna are always welcome to come to any show you'd like"

It was a blessing to have the privilege of having such a close relationship with Stevanna. Although she was 2,641 miles away, we found time to FaceTime once a day. Everyday, I'd wake up feeling grateful for the little things, everything I was grateful for was right at home, my babies.

Both of my kids including my biggest of them all, being my husband. The Together again tour, was doing so well, my team added more dates. After our summer shows in the states, I have more shows in Europe. Before I even stepped foot on a plane to our first venue, I wanted to spend everyday, home with my babies.

The little things like laying on the couch with Eissa made my day. "Dad" Eissa's tuneful voice called. His loose curls felt like silt between my fingers, I played in his hair as he sat on the couch with me. Of course he had his Nintendo switch in his hand to keep himself occupied.

Christopher and I always saw Story being a choreographer when she grows up. She loved watching me dance in rehearsals and sometimes learned faster than I did. We're currently betting on Eissa, I see him doing something in tech, he's the smartest kid I know.

Christopher believes he'll be a pianist, my baby is good at playing the piano. "Yeah son?" Christopher asked. In each of his hands he held a single pan of kabobs he seasoned for the grill. He stopped on his way outside to glance at Eissa.

"Can you show me how you cook on the grill?"

His very new interest in cooking all begun in his grandmothers kitchen. He over heard me reminiscing with mother, I miss her cooking everyday. Unfortunately she isn't cooking anymore at her age. Eissa had her cooking before, but he was too young to remember.

Now the boy wants to help his father and I in the kitchen. I was genuinely proud to see him putting his switch down to help his father. Christopher's natural stare transformed into a warm one and a toothless smile grew along his face.