"You have to be there all day? On your birthday?"
"It's still a workday, Sasha." The sound of rustling papers and staples being put in the wall could be heard in the background. Sasha sighed, hating that this was how her baby sister was spending her birthday.
"But all you're doing is decorating your classroom. That really takes all day?"
"If I do a good job it does." Michonne blew out a breath, shaking her head even though no one could see her. This was the exact conversation that she'd had with Sasha last year and every year before that. She couldn't control when her birthday fell, or that it happened at the start of the new school year no matter how hard she tried.
"Do they even know it's your birthday?"
"I still have to get this classroom done," Michonne answered, ignoring the question.
"That's some bull…"
"Sasha! Language."
"It's not my fault you got me on speaker. You know how I am."
"Unfortunately I do," Michonne held in her laugh. She couldn't remember a time when her big sister wasn't unfiltered. Always saying what popped into her head no matter who was around.
"Your door's closed isn't it?"
"I'm not crazy enough to keep it open with you on the phone."
"So I can say whatever the hell I want then." Michonne could tell by the tone of Sasha's voice that she was either standing with a hand on her hip or rolling her neck.
"You always do." The summer was over and Michonne had returned to work that Monday, sitting through staff development meetings and testing stats, trying to stay awake while her body failed to adjust to her new early wake up time.
"Did Rick drive you to work today?"
"Yeah, he and the kids helped me carry some boxes in. He'll be here in about two hours to pick me up."
"After you put twelve different colors on the walls?"
"It's just a few colors, it's an art room after all. There's also some posters about the elements and principles of art, artwork posters and a few posters of my favorite artists." Sasha yawned into the phone. "You asked."
"Do you have David up there? You know I love that one." Michelango had always been Sasha's favorite artist.
"You love all naked men."
"Not all of them," Sasha laughed, thinking about the poor guys that didn't make it to her Love of The Naked Man list because they came up short. "You remember that guy Frank? He tried so hard."
"Let's change the subject please."
"Fine, you're no fun. Did the kids get the socks I sent them?"
"Yes they did. Judith loves the ones with the unicorns playing soccer. She loved all of them, but those were her favorite."
"I knew she'd like them. When I saw them at the store they practically jumped in my hand and yelled take me to Judith. What about the boys?"
"Of course they liked them. They were expecting them and you didn't disappoint." Every year Sasha bought back to school socks for Carl and Andre, the crazier the better. This year she was all too excited to buy some for a little girl.
"I almost started crying when I looked at the size of them. I remember their cute little baby toes when they were crawling and toddling around. Now they're almost grown man size."
"Don't start Sasha. You're gonna make me cry," Michonne sniffled, trying not to let her tears fall. Her boys were growing up before her eyes. No longer calling her to help them with every little thing they needed to do. Instead, Carl and Andre took the initiative to do things on their own, like taking out the trash and washing the dishes. She knew she owed some of it to Rick and his influence, but the reality was that her twins, who she used to be able to cradle in both arms at the same time, were growing into young men and there was nothing she could do to slow the process down. "The other day I was digging in the kitchen drawer trying to find the tape measure and I came across the flyer for the Polar Plunge. I still can't believe you talked me into doing that."
"It's not like I twisted your arm all the way from here."
"You may as well have," She went quiet for a bit before starting again quietly. "Things have changed so much in the 8 months that we've been here. Great house, great job…"
"You're in love," Sasha said smiling, happy for her sister.
"I am in love," Michonne gushed, blushing from thoughts of her man. "With Rick and Judith. That little girl is the best."
"Her daddy ain't too bad himself," Sasha added. Michonne went quiet, letting her smile take over her face. Sasha knew they reason why. "Oh my god, you're thinking about him aren't you? Did y'all get it in this morning?"
"Damnit Sasha."
"What? The door's closed Michonne. You can give me all the details."
"So Carl loved the socks with the roller skates on them." Michonne wasn't about to give her sister anything she could use as ammunition against her or use to embarrass her with later.
"You're no fun. Why can't you give me something? I know he keeps a smile on that face of yours. That voice of his alone, puts one on mine."
"When did you talk to him?" Michonne asked surprise in her voice.
"Don't worry about that."
"Have y'all been talking behind my back? I only know of the few times y'all talked when…"
"When y'all's slick asses were all up in the bed together like I wouldn't find out."
"Yeah, those couple of times. You talked to him other times?"
"So what posters did you put up?" Sasha tried to avoid the question, but knew Michonne wouldn't let it go.
"Sasha?"
"Whaaat?"
"When did you talk to Rick?"
"We talk all the time. If you must know." Michonne had no idea why her sister was getting an attitude. If anyone should be upset it should her after hearing that Rick and Sasha have been having secret conversations behind her back.
"Why? What about?"
"Because I need to know about the man that my sister is with. He spends too much time with my sweet nephews for me not to know. He's pretty funny in that corny dad way."
"How did you even get his number?"
"He works for the sheriff's department. I just looked up the number and had them connect me to Deputy Grimes one day."
"He's supposed to be working Sasha? Why are you calling him? What do y'all talk about?"
"I just call to get the scoop on everybody. You don't like to share, so I got to get it from somewhere." Sasha said smugly.
"How often do you call him?" Michonne sat on top of one of the work tables in her room. It was the closest thing to her and sitting would keep her from pacing the floor.
"How often does he go to work?"
"Sasha!" Michonne yelled towards the phone on a nearby bookcase. She couldn't believe that Sasha was calling Rick five days a week and she knew nothing about it.
"I'm kidding. I've only called him at work a few times. Then he got tired of me calling the station and gave me his cell number." The truth was they'd only talked a handful of times. Mostly Sasha grilling him about his past, the kids and his intentions with her sister. Rick called Sasha even less and it was always because he had a very important question. But since Sasha liked to see Michonne sweat, she wasn't going to share that information with her.
"I can't believe you Sasha. I'm about to cross you off my Christmas list."
"You would never."
"Watch me," Michonne mentally thought about drawing a fat red line through Sasha's name. "What do y'all talk about?"
"Don't worry, he's just like you when it comes to sex. He tells me nothing. Most of our talks are about the kids."
"He'd never say anything about that."
"I did make him blush once when I asked him if he makes you scream."
"You did not ask him that."
"I sure did. I have a right to know."
"What right? You have no right! And how do you know he was blushing?"
"He started stuttering. I uh...well. I guess...I guess you'll have to ask her. It was the cutest thing Michonne. You've got a good one in that Rick."
"I know," Michonne whispered, now blushing herself.
"How come he's not there helping you hang up all that stuff?" Being reminded that she was in her classroom to get it ready for the new school year she got off the table and went back to decorating the walls.
"He's hanging out with the kids today." Michonne looked at the clock, realizing the always punctual Rick would be there in about thirty minutes.
"I'll never get over you saying the kids. What were they doing today?"
"Having a lot more fun than me, that's for sure. It's their last hoorah before school starts next week, so he's trying to make it memorable. I think he took them to one of those bowling and arcade places since they couldn't make up their minds about what they wanted to do."
"What are y'all doing for your birthday? I know Rick has something special planned. Is he taking you out?"
"You know I don't ever go all out. I nice dinner out would be fine though, especially after being here all day." Michonne yawned taking a step back to see if the print by Kehinde Wiley was hanging straight above her drying racks. "I got a cute card from the kids this morning. They even put a dollar in it."
"How cute. I taught them well."
"Why you always trying to take credit for stuff?" Instead of answering, Sasha laughed. "You know what, don't answer that. Where's my birthday gift from you?"
"It's in the mail."
"What is it?"
"You'll find out when you see it." Michonne had no idea what it could be. She'd been too busy lately to drop any hints about anything that she might want. "Open it with Rick, it's for him too." Michonne was about to ask what she meant, when Rick walked through the door.
"Open what with me?"
"Hey," Michonne greeted as Rick and the kids walked into her room. Carl, Andre and Judith looked around the mostly decorated room while Rick placed a kiss on Michonne's lips.
"Hey Rick," Sasha said through the phone, recognizing his deep voice.
"Aunt Sasha!" All three kids said together leaning over the phone that was still sitting on the bookcase.
"Hey sugars. Did you have fun today?"
"Yes!" Carl said, smiling that he was the first to answer.
"I made a strike!" Judith told her, holding up her arms in triumph.
"That's fantastic!"
"What are we opening?" Rick asked in Michonne's ear, wrapping his arms around her waist while the kids continued talking to Sasha.
"My birthday present."
"Sounds promising." He kissed her neck, keeping an eye on the kids, making sure they were still occupied with their phone call.
"Sounds dangerous," Michonne giggled, thinking about what Sasha could have bought her that Rick might enjoy too.
"Like I said...promising."
"What did you get your mom for her birthday," Sasha asked whoever wanted to answer.
"It's a surprise." Andre spoke up, looking at Carl and Judith.
"You can tell me."
"Y'all say bye to Aunt Sasha, before you ruin the surprise," Rick said picking up the phone.
"What surprise?" Sasha asked, not ready to hang up now that there was a surprise coming up.
"Bye Aunt Sasha," Rick ended the call handing the phone to Michonne. She stuck it in her back pocket and then noticed the gift bags that each of them was carrying. They were unusually quiet, especially since they had been so animated a few minutes ago.
"What are the four of you up to?" She looked at each of them trying to meet eyes, but was met with eyelids as they all looked down to the floor.
"Not much," Rick said for all of them.
"We got you stuff for your desk." Andre said with a big grin.
"You're not supposed to tell her." Carl fussed.
"She didn't see anything yet." Andre told Carl.
"Come on," Judith took her hand and led her to her desk so she could sit down. "Open mine first." She shoved the gift into Michonne's hands.
"Okay," Michonne pulled the white tissue paper from the hot pink gift bag smiling at the shiny metallic stapler that was at the bottom of the bag. "It's so pretty. Thank you Judith." She set the stapler on her desk then took the next bag that Carl was handing her. She shook the bag trying to guess what was in it.
"It's not a puppy," he told her.
"That's good to know." She opened the bag and found a matching pen and pencil holder, the same metallic purple as the stapler. "You guys, I love them. My desk is going to look so nice this year."
"You haven't even opened everything yet," Andre said. He was holding his gift behind his back.
"You mean there's more?" Michonne asked feigning surprise.
"Yes, open mine." He brought the gift to his front and handed it to her. She took the bag from Andre making sure he saw how excited she was to see the tape dispenser that went with the other things she was given.
"It's a whole set. You guys did so good." She was genuinely impressed at the gift and the way they presented it to her.
"There's one more," Judith said excitedly bouncing up and down. Michonne looked up as Rick handed her the last bag. It was bigger than the other ones and had a big silver bow on the side. Just as she did before, she shook it trying to guess what was missing from the set.
"What can this be?" Michonne started pulling out tissue paper one by one, handing the pieces to each outstretched hand in front of her. She just knew Rick must have used two whole packs of tissue paper because it seemed like it would never end. When she finally did pull out the last piece, she saw the back of a nameplate at the bottom of the bag. She reached in expecting to see her name inscribed in a pretty font when she flipped it over. Her gasp when she read it told them all that she was not expecting to see what was etched in the beautiful letters on the purple nameplate. Mrs. Grimes. Looking up to find Rick, her eyes had to span down to where he was on one knee holding open a black velvet ring box with a peridot and diamond engagement ring nestled inside.
"I just thought…" Carl cleared his throat to correct him. "Sorry, we just thought that you should have a different name on your desk this year."
"Rick."
"Sasha told me that you'd love this ring since it's your birthstone."
"Ask her Daddy," Judith urged. Amused by her lack of patience, Rick cut to the chase.
"Will you marry me?"
"Say yes mom," Andre and Carl said together. She looked at all the waiting, smiling faces that were looking at her and knew there was only one right answer.
"Yes!"
"Yes!" All the kids said at the same time. Rick slipped the ring on her finger then leaned in kissing her over and over again, picking her up as he stood on his feet.
"I love you," Michonne whispered when he stopped kissing her. He set her feet on the floor and all the kids stepped up to give her a hug.
"Can we go eat now?" Andre asked. Over the excitement and PDA that he saw far too much of when it came to Rick and his mom.
"You done here?" Rick asked Michonne. Ready to stop sharing her with the school for the day.
"I'm all set." She wasn't, but there was no way she was going to go back to decorating walls when she could be with her family for the rest of the day. She went to grab her bag that hung from the back of her chair.
"How bout we let your mom pick where we eat since it's her birthday." The kids seemed to agree since no grumbling or whining was heard. "What do you have a taste for?" Taking in her lust filled gaze, he rephrased his question. "What kind of food do you have a taste for?"
"I am starving all of a sudden."
"Anywhere you want to go," he took her bag and they started walking towards the door.
"You know what I really want?" She said after thinking for a few minutes.
"Pizza!" Andre shouted.
"Chicken Nuggets," Judith yelled.
"Can we let her tell us?" All three kids stood outside her door and waited for her answer. "What do you really want?"
"Onion rings," she said with a knowing smile watching Rick slowly catch on.
"Really?" he asked. She nodded her head, wiping a few falling tears away. "Onion rings it is then."
THE END