Page 81 of Tainted

“How am I going to change lightbulbs on an empty stomach?”

“I suppose you can’t, huh?”

“No, I can’t.”

“I guess I can make something happen for myguest.”

“Your guest?” I groaned as she turned and headed for the kitchen.

As I walked through the familiar halls, each step echoed with the weight of memories long past. Pushing aside the sad thoughts, I focused on changing the burnt-out bulbs.

Mom lifted her head as I walked into the kitchen, “You found the bulbs?”

“I’ve always known where they are.” Pops made sure of it because if he wasn’t home and Loriann called him complaining, it was our ass on the line.

“Where were they?”

“That’s for me to know and you to mind your business.”

“It’s my house,” Mom quipped.

“You have two sons. Use them instead of dragging the ladder out. What were you trying to do? Kill yourself to be with your husband?”

“Alright now,” she warned, and I conceded.

“The bulbs have been replaced.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Mama.”

A chime from my phone snagged my attention.

Zara Nicole: Is mom okay?

Me: You worried about your mother-in-law?

Zara Nicole: I’m being serious, Kenyon.

Me: She’s good, don’t stress yourself that forehead is already big enough.

“Who’s that?” Mom asked.

“What are you talking about, woman?”

“The ‘lil grin on your face when you looked at your phone. Is it Sydney?” She probed because she needed something else to think about other than Dad being gone.

But if I responded, that would’ve opened the door for more questions I likely wouldn’t answer, so I changed the subject.

“Can I ask you something?” Mom made an inaudible groan. “When you found out who Pop really was. What made you stay?”

Her eyes smoldered with fire before asking, “And who was he?”

“Mom,” I begged, out of love and respect for her.

“Beating around the bush isn’t your style.” She paused and looked me square in the eye. “So who was he?”

“A drug dealer.”

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