A.Powell’s Married Sistas
Audrey nearly choked on her drink.
“The man?” she repeated.
Tina shrugged innocently.
“I mean… look at you.”
The women glanced at Audrey.
She was dressed in a tailored black suit, white button-up shirt, and tie. Her cornrows were freshly done, and her polished men’s dress shoes completed the look.
“What?” Audrey asked defensively.
Sapphire laughed.
“Tina got a point.”
“Oh, here we go,” Audrey groaned.
Lola sat back in her chair with a grin.
“You do kinda carry yourself like somebody’s husband.”
Audrey pointed at Lola.
“Watch your mouth.”
The table erupted into laughter.
Sapphire rubbed her growing stomach and shook her head.
“I ain’t gonna lie. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Shane was the wife.”
Audrey rolled her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into the back of her head.
“Y’all are ridiculous.”
Tina smirked.
“So when Shane gets upset, do you sleep on the couch?”
“I don’t even have a couch,” Audrey deadpanned.
That only made everyone laugh harder.
Sapphire wiped tears from her eyes.
“Poor Shane.”
“Poor Shane?” Audrey repeated. “Poor me. That woman starts arguments and then gets mad when I answer.”
“That’s every relationship,” Lola said.
“No,” Audrey corrected. “That’s terrorism.”
The women burst out laughing again.
A sudden sharp pain hit Sapphire’s stomach.
She froze.
The smile disappeared from her face.
Lola immediately noticed.
“Sapphire?”
Sapphire sat still.
Another pain came.
Stronger this time.
Her hand gripped the edge of the table.
Tina’s eyes widened.
“Girl…”
Audrey sat upright.
“What?”
Sapphire slowly looked around the table.
Nobody spoke.
Then her eyes narrowed.
“Oh hell.”
“What?” Lola asked.
Sapphire exhaled sharply.
“I think I’m having contractions.”
The entire table went silent.
Audrey blinked.
Lola blinked.
Tina blinked.
Then Audrey jumped to her feet.
“WHAT?!”
Sapphire winced as another contraction hit.
“Sit down!” she snapped.
“Don’t tell me to sit down! You’re having a baby!”
“I know I’m having a baby!”
The restaurant erupted into chaos as Audrey started pacing, Tina searched for her phone, and Lola tried timing contractions.
Meanwhile Sapphire sat in her chair, surprisingly calm.
Looking at her friends scrambling around like headless chickens, she shook her head.
“Lord,” she muttered.
“Why are they acting like they’re the ones giving birth?”
The contractions had slowed enough for Sapphire to remain seated while everyone waited to see if it was really time or just a false alarm.
Audrey was still scanning the restaurant.
“I’m telling y’all, Shane was just with us,” she said. “She said she was going to the restroom.”
“That was twenty minutes ago,” Tina pointed out.
Audrey frowned.
“See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.”
Lola laughed.
“That woman probably saw your face and decided she needed fresh air.”
“Very funny.”
Sapphire shifted in her chair and rubbed her stomach.
“Leave Shane alone.”
“I’m not bothering her.”
“You bother her by existing,” Lola replied.
The table burst into laughter.
Audrey shook her head.
“Y’all are haters.”
Sapphire smiled before looking directly at Audrey.
“You know what? Instead of worrying about Shane, you should worry about having a baby.”
Audrey nearly dropped her glass.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” Tina asked.
“Because I like sleep.”
“You can still sleep.”
“That’s a lie.”
Lola pointed at Sapphire’s stomach.
“See that? That’s years of missed sleep right there.”
Sapphire rolled her eyes.
“Ignore her.”
“No, seriously,” Lola continued. “Audrey, how old are you now?”
Audrey narrowed her eyes.
“Why are we counting my years?”
“Answer the question.”
“Thirty.”
Lola nodded.
“Exactly.”
“Exactly what?”
“You don’t want to be thirty-five having your first kid.”
Audrey looked offended.
“I am still young.”
The women laughed.
“I didn’t say you were old,” Lola replied.
“I’m very young.”
“Nobody says ‘I’m very young’ unless they’re getting older.”
Audrey pointed at her.
“You’re getting on my nerves.”
Sapphire chuckled.
“You and Shane would make cute parents.”
Audrey immediately shook her head.
“Nope.”
“Why nope?”
“Because Shane is the fun parent.”
“And?”
“That means I’d be stuck being the responsible one.”
Tina nodded.
“That’s true.”
“I already know how this would go,” Audrey continued. “The kid would ask Shane for candy at ten o’clock at night.”
“And Shane would say yes,” Sapphire added.
“Exactly!”
“And you’d be the one saying no.”
“Exactly!”
Lola folded her arms.
“So you’ve thought about this before.”
The table grew quiet.
Audrey froze.
Sapphire’s eyes widened.
Tina smirked.
“Oh, she definitely thought about it.”
“I have not.”
“You just described an entire parenting scenario,” Lola said.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means everything.”
Audrey opened her mouth to argue when her phone suddenly buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
Shane.
Finally.
Audrey answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
The women watched her expression change.
The color drained from her face.
“Wait… what?”
The laughter around the table stopped.
Audrey slowly stood from her chair.
“What hospital?” she asked quietly.
Now everyone was staring.
Sapphire’s heart sank.
“Audrey?” she asked.
Audrey lowered the phone and looked at the women.
Her face had gone completely pale.
“Shane was in a car accident.”
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Reading this story reminded me of the beautiful complexity and humor found in close-knit friendships. The dynamic interactions among Audrey, Sapphire, Tina, and Lola capture the everyday realities of balancing personal identities, relationship roles, and the unpredictability of life. The lighthearted banter about who plays the 'fun' versus 'responsible' parent really resonated with me. It’s common in friendships and relationships to joke about roles we naturally fall into, especially when thinking about future parenting. Audrey’s hesitation about becoming a parent because she likes sleep is something I’ve heard many friends confess, showing a genuine and relatable fear. Moreover, Sapphire’s calm while experiencing contractions contrasts with her friends’ frantic reactions, bringing an authentic touch to how different people process stressful moments. This scene reminded me of how sometimes those closest to us can get overwhelmed, while the person actually going through the event can remain composed. It highlights the unpredictable nature of emergencies and the importance of support and understanding in those times. The sudden news about Shane’s car accident adds an unexpected emotional depth, showing how life can quickly change and impact a group’s dynamics. It serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and how friendship provides crucial support during difficult moments. Overall, this story blends humor and drama in a way that feels genuine and heartfelt. It’s a vivid portrayal of friendship, love, and the challenges that come with both, which makes it a compelling read for anyone who appreciates nuanced character interactions and real-life scenarios.
