She wasn't sure what was hardest, the fact that Papa's baby died, or the fact that Mama was moving another man in. Of course he didn't actually live with them, but he might as well, he was there all the time! She wasn't even allowed to mention Papa anymore, Mama said that was the first step in rising above her bad blood. Her list of can'ts seemed to grow everyday.
Can't take long showers or baths, only bad girls do that. Can't play with her brothers, and definitely no wrestling or tickling allowed. Can't talk to boys at school, or to her brother's friends at home. She wasn't sure why these rules only applied to her, didn't they all have Papa's bad blood? Why was her sister allowed to do all those things?
As time passed Khalisee grew use to her set of rules, but she never grew use to her Mama's new friend. She was fourteen when her Mama came home, flushed and excited, "Children, you all need to come here, Byron and I have something we can't wait to share with you!" Khalisee sat down on the couch, and waited as the rest of her siblings joined her.
"What is it Mama?" Cameo asked as she sat next to her sister. "Well since you are all here, I can tell you, Byron asked me to marry him, and I said yes! Isn't it wonderful children?"
Cameo immediately jumped up and hugged Mama, "Will it be a big wedding Mama?" Mama looked over at her new Fiancee' and smiled. "No we decided that it's best if we keep it small, but we want you all to be in it!"
Khalisee's ears perked up, she wondered what Mama would ask her to do, she wanted so badly to make Mama happy, even if she didn't like Byron, she would pretend and maybe Mama would see that the bad blood wasn't going to make her bad.
"Cameo, I want you to be my Maid of Honor, since you are my youngest daughter. Kaleb, Byron was hoping you would be his Best Man, as the youngest of my sons?" Kaleb shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, "Yeah I suppose so, does that mean I get to throw him a bachelor party?"
Mama laughed, "I think we will let Byron's adult friends take that job, you are still a bit young for that. Racheal, I want you, and the rest of the girls to be my bridesmaids, you will all look so stunning with your red hair, and I plan on going with dark blue for your dresses! The boys will all be groomsmen for Byron."
Khalisee smiled, she was going to be a bridesmaid! Mama turned to her, saw her smiling and frowned, "Khalisee, there are six girls, and only five boys, so you see we have a bit of a problem, there has to be the same number of girls as boys to walk up the aisle. Don't worry, Mama didn't forget about you though, you are going to have a very important job at the wedding! You are going to take the coats for everyone and make sure the ushers help them to their seats quickly!"
Khalisee felt the disappointment settle in over her face, she was being kept in the back, like she wasn't good enough to be seen! "I have one more announcement to make, and then you can all scoot off to bed and get some sleep! Byron has offered to pay for boarding school for Kaleb and Cameo. Khalisee, we know you think it would be great to go too, but we both discussed it and with your aptitude at getting into trouble, we think it's best if you stay home with us where we can keep an eye on you."
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