We Didn’t See it Coming Read Free

back off her face into a French roll, enhancing her glowing caramel complexion.
    Walking by her side was her youngest sister, Kenley, dressed in a mint-green, sleeveless linen dress. She would have preferred wearing a pair of casual shorts and a tee shirt. Her hair, pulled away from her face, showed off her golden complexion.
    Noelle, the middle daughter, took a bite out of a walnut cookie. She fastidiously brushed crumbs from her turquoise linen pantsuit. Her light-brown hair, which bounced against her shoulders, framed her warm milk chocolate complexion perfectly.
    â€œYou don’t want to mess up that figure you worked so hard to obtain,” their mother called as she caught up to them after taking care of the check. Pearl-colored polish gleamed on her perfectly manicured nails as she clenched her black-and-white clutch purse.She studied Noelle—her lookalike. She admired her daughter for shedding thirty pounds within the past year.
    â€œNoelle, that’s about five pounds you’ve added back onto your waistline or hips,” Alana said as she watched Noelle devour the cookie in two bites.
    â€œUnbelievable,” Milandra said, noticing her sister, too.
    â€œI’ll work it off playing tennis or swimming a few laps around the pool,” Noelle said as she and Milandra had taken time out from their tennis games to join their mother for lunch.
    They made their way through the door to see that the limo had arrived to pick them up. The driver tilted his black hat as if to say hello. He opened the door.
    â€œWhat did Father say about your birthday party?” Milandra asked Kenley as she was the first to get into the limo.
    â€œHe screamed at me,” Kenley whined.
    â€œThat’s not like Father,” Milandra said.
    â€œHe’s a busy man. He’s probably on a construction site,” Noelle said in her father’s defense.
    â€œYou can talk with your father this evening when he comes home,” their mother said.
    Kenley mumbled, “Discuss it with Mother. That’s the last thing he said.”
    Her sisters giggled.
    â€œIt’s not funny at all. You two are way older than me. Yacht club parties are not for today’s teenagers. A pool party at home is the best. At the yacht club, my friends and I will have to listen to boring piano music. At home, we can listen to current hip-hop and pop music.”
    â€œMother, see what happens when you have an ‘oops’ baby?” Milandra teased.
    â€œYou’re plain old mean.” Kenley pouted.
    Alana Houston was startled when the doctor told her that she was pregnant with Kenley. She knew exactly what day she had conceived. Her husband had not touched her in months. She felt he was going elsewhere to satisfy his sexual hunger. But one night, his so-called meeting must have ended earlier than he expected and he came to bed craving her, as if he was a wild animal starving for food. He awakened her from her sleep. Alana felt as if he was raping her instead of making love to her. He ripped her silk-lace gown from her body. Plunging on top of her, he entered with force. After three humps, he ran out of gas. Kenley was born nine months later. She saw to it that Kenley was home-schooled by a private tutor.
    Kenley made new friends with her busy schedule—taking tennis and piano lessons and belonging to social teen clubs. Her sisters coached her in piano and tennis. After all, they were skilled in the same activities. Unlike her family members, who were Harvard University graduates, Kenley’s goal was to break the family tradition and attend Spelman College.
    Mrs. Houston glimpsed down at her diamond watch. “We have a little time to go pick out Kenley’s party dress.”
    â€œI’ll need a new bathing suit,” Kenley hinted.
    â€œNonsense. You must follow the family tradition. Every daughter of mine celebrates her birthday at the yacht club.”
    â€œThat’s awful! It’ll be