Part One
Chidi Anagonye was living a pretty good life if he did say so himself. It had been two years that he and his wife had been married, and they now had a beautiful baby girl. Phoenix Simone Anagonye had almost been put up for adoption, out of Eleanor Shellstrop-Anagonye's frantic worries if she would be a good parent. But after a conversation with her husband and Tahani Al- Jamil (her best friend), she had finally agreed to keep it.
"You're being ridiculous." The blonde said to him the next morning, taking a gentle sip of her coffee as she fed the baby with the other hand. He phone rested in between her cheek and her shoulder, "There's no reason to panic, babe. I'm sure everything is alright."
The blonde paused for a moment, "Are you sure?" The shorter girl sighed and shook her head, "Fine, I'll be there. What time again? You know what, just text me the details and I'll leave as soon as I can. Is it alright if I bring Phini? I don't think I have time to call a sitter in such a short amount of time. Oh, awesome! Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can." The call ended and she set her phone down next to her mug.
"Tahani?"
"Yep." Eleanor answered, "Apparently there's this big event and Kamilah is going to be there. I guess he doesn't want to go alone."
"I thought she and her sister worked everything out, though?"
"Maybe. But I don't think her parents know that." The blonde rolled her eyes, "And God forbid it sure would be terrible if two sisters got along." She said sarcastically, "So I guess I'm there for support or something. To be there in case her parents or sister get out of line."
"...And you're bringing Phoenix with you?"
"Chill man, she'll be fine. I'm bringing my big tote and I'll be filling it with all her crap. Food, diapers, toys, all that shit. Which reminds me, I need her car seat. It's in your Handa, right?"
Chidi nodded and went to go grab it, clicking it in the backseat of Eleanor's own car. He came back in and smiled as he watched her packing everything up (even a first aid kit).
"And who said you wouldn't be a good Mom?" He quipped.
"Basically everybody." She said.
He laughed at his wife, "Well, I have to head off to work. I'll see you two when I get back, alright?" He kissed her goodbye and drove off in his own car. Eleanor swooped into action, getting dressed business-casual as quickly as she could. She carried Phoenix gently in her arms, strapping her into her carrier in the backseat.
Then she drove off.
She arrived at the Al-Jamil mansion in no less than 15 minutes. The family had rented it on HeirB&B, so it was much more convenient for the blonde. She picked up her baby's carrier and brought her inside, smiling at the sight of her best friend.
"So glad you could come, darling," Tahani said, kissing the blonde on both cheeks in the polite British way, "How is Phoenix?"
"Pretty good. Heads up though, I'll probably have to duck outta here if she gets too cranky. That's how you know she's tired. You don't mind, right?"
"Oh, no darling, not at all!" The taller girl brushed it off with a wave of her hand, "I completely understand."
A waiter walked towards the two offering champagne, and the blonde quickly picked up a champagne flute and swallowed it down quickly. She set it down on a nearby table, and then was soon greeted by the Al-Jamil parents.
"Eleanor!" They greeted, staring at her, "It's so nice to see you dressed so...nice."
"Yeah, sorry about that Manisha. I brought my baby with me tonight so I didn't want to wear anything too expensive."
The taller girl's Mother cringed at the use of her first name, "I haven't seen you since last year's gala. Tell me, is your boyfriend here with you today?"
"He is my husband." The blonde reminded her, as she had had to do on many occasions. It seemed every time that she ever had an encounter with Tahani's parents they always forgot that she was a married woman, "And no, he is working today. Chidi is a Professor at a nearby University and is very sorry that he could not make it."
"Mm."
"Waqus, how have you been?" Eleanor asked, "How is your business going? You were braggi- telling me about it the last time we saw each other, how's it going for you now?"
The older man's eyes sparkled, "Oh, quite well. Thank you, Ms. Eleanor. We actually opened offices down in New York. Everything is going very smoothly if I do say so myself."
"Well, that's awesome! Congrats, Waqus." She gave him a thumbs up and got a withering stare from his wife.
"Darling, why don't we go elsewhere...?" His wife suggested, "Eleanor has better things to do. Taking care of her child, for example."
"Phoenix is fine." The blonde said, "Besides, I have everything I need for her in my bag. What have you been up to, Manisha?"
The older woman sighed, "Oh, just working on some new charity buildings. None that you would have heard of."
"Try me."
The older woman sighed and began to explain. Eleanor was confused for a bit until she heard an all too familiar name, "Oh! No way, I know that place! Their thing is helping kids get out of bad homes, right?"
Manisha leaned back in shock, "Y- Yes… That would be it."
"Well, congratulations on that!" She smiled at the baffled Mother, then looked down at her watch.
"I have to go feed Phini. Nice seeing you guys!" She shook each of their hands before grabbing her baby's carrier and walking towards the bathroom. Tahani was flabbergasted as she followed her best friend into the restroom, "What in the world was that?"
"What do you mean?" The blonde asked as she lifted her shirt and began to breastfeed her child (she would have given Phoenix her baby food, but there was no place for the baby to sit). Cradling the baby, the shorter girl turned around and faced Tahani.
"That whole conversation with my parents! You were being very kind and respectful, which is very uncharacteristic of you, Eleanor."
"Oh, that." The blonde sighed, "I've been the pretend girlfriend for many different guys. So, I've kind of got the fake 'perfect' thing going for me." She explained.
"I see." The brunette nodded, "Well it was very convincing, well done." She bit her lip, "Did you see my Mother's face at the end?"
"I know right? She was like, so surprised." The blonde laughed, pausing when her phone rang. Cradling her baby with one arm, she clicked answer, "Hey, nerd." She nodded in all the right placed, "Is it really that late? Oh, fuck. I'll come home right now."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just Chidi came home and reminded me it was Phini's bedtime. I lost track of time, I guess."
The woman nodded in understanding, "Very well then, thank you for having my back here, darling."
"No prob, hot stuff." Eleanor placed her daughter right back into her carrier, hugging Tahani goodbye on her way out of the bathroom. She was almost at the door when Manisha and Waqus cornered her, "Leaving already?" The older woman asked, seeming all too happy.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Not enjoying yourself? I know people of your...class would have issues appreciating one of these grand events."
"With all due respect, Manisha, that is not the case. It is my daughter's bedtime, and when she misses her window, she gets a bit cranky."
The older woman pursed her lips, "I see."
"It was awesome seeing you, Waqus." The blonde said, offering her hand for a shake. He smiled at her and shook it.
Manisha waited for her goodbye, but instead, Eleanor turned around and walked away.
The blonde reached her house in record time, kissing her husband hello when she walked into the room.
"Sorry." She apologized quickly, "Lost track of time. Tahani's parents can be real assholes, y'know? Oh, and get this- they still think that I'm not married. Like, can't you see the fucking ring on my fucking finger? Fuck you, Manisha."
He chuckled and helped his wife with the carrier, taking his daughter out and taking the 1-year-old to her crib. Eleanor sighed in exhaustion, "Man, I am beat." She confessed, kissing him on the cheek before heading off to change.
The Professor sighed and went to change himself. His wife had made so much progress ever since they met that one day. He loved her so much, though often found himself worried what would happen if bad things began to escalate. Had marrying her been the right decision? They were living an awesome life, for sure, but what would happen if they had issues? How would that affect Phoenix?
He tucked himself under the bed and sighed. He hated the thoughts running through his mind.
"You don't want to be married to me?" A voice squeaked.
Shit.
It was Eleanor.
And apparently, he had been talking out loud.