Page 54 of Honey's Special Roux

“What’s up, nephew? Glad to see you’ve bulked up since you been away.” Uncle Cee chuckled as he pulled me into a quick hug. The man had grown a beard full of gray and had gone bald since the last time I’d laid eyes on him. Even though they didn’t come to the prison, they answered my calls.

“Between the nasty ass food and dirty ass niggas, all I could do was work out and survive off ramen noodles.”

“I’m glad you get to eat real food again. Maybe now you’ll stay out of trouble.”

I chuckled. I had to prepare to be told the same shit by everyone I crossed paths with. It was annoying as hell, but they meant it from a place of love. “That life is behind me. All I can do is move forward and find a new outlet to make money.”

“There’s always a position at the warehouse,” he replied.

I nodded. “I’ll check it out, fa sho. I’m about to go take a real shower in a clean, sanitary bathroom, though. I’ll be back down for dinner.”

He nodded and focused back on the grill. When I made my way to my room, I exhaled at the familiar sight. I didn’t appreciate the room when I was a young knucklehead in the streets, but the room had brought me peace today as an almost thirty-year-old man. I’d had nothing but time to mull over my life, and now, as a free man, there were things I needed to do to get solid ground again.

What am I supposed to do first?

“Honey! Quis!”

My face lit up at the sight of Jenifer. She’d emerged from her car and had closed the distance between us in the blink of an eye. She bent down to hug Quis first, as most people did. Then she straightened up and pulled me into the tightest hug.

Jenifer’s embrace was like a warm cup of coffee in the wintertime. She felt like home. She felt safe. She felt… familiar.

“Best friend,” I sang in her ear as we swayed from side to side. It felt refreshing to be in her embrace. If we weren’t in the pickup zone of the busiest airport in Houston, I would have crumbled in her arms. However, I held it together long enough to get our bags in her trunk and Quis buckled into the back seat.

We were in a comfortable silence until she maneuvered out of the windy roads of the airport. As she merged onto the toll road, we glanced at each other and squealed like schoolgirls.

“I’m happy to see you, best friend,” I stated in a soft tone. I reached over and rubbed her arm.

It had taken longer than I wanted to get back home. I thought I could up and leave the next day, but unfortunately, I had to get a lot of things in order before I up and left the state. After getting a temporary manager in place at the restaurant, canceling the remaining appearances for the month, and making flight arrangements for Moe to join us later in the week, I was finally back home. Houston, Texas.

The streets were busy, like always. Life moved around me as I braced myself to see family. I prayed none of these so-called holy and sanctified Christians were on bullshit. The death of the matriarch in a family could cause the whole tree to fall. With as many daughters as Granny Janie had, one of them would have to step up and continue on in her legacy.

Granny Janie left big shoes to fill, though.

“Looks like the flight caught up with my puddin’ cup,” Jenifer whispered as she bobbed her head toward the back seat.

I craned my neck to see my boy out like a light. “Yeah, it was a long one. Even in first class, I couldn’t get comfortable. He opted to watching cartoons the whole time, so I’m glad he can get a little rest on the ride to my parents’ house.”

“Are you staying with them or getting a hotel?”

“Girl, I’m staying with them. Free babysitting, free meals, and free beds. Okay?”

“I know that’s right.”

We were silent for a while longer. I wanted to gather my words carefully to avoid a river of tears.

“Thank you again for being here for me when I needed you. I wasn’t sure I would have been able to hold it together if my mom and dad were the ones who picked me up.”

“Of course. You know I’m always gon’ pull up when you need me.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Jen…” The frog leaped into the base of my throat like he belonged there. The itchiness in my eyes irritated me more. Crying was a given. It was the unexpected sobs that got on my nerves. I should have been able to hold it together. I should have been able to have a simple conversation without the tears, without the pain in my heart, and without the ache in my spirit.

“It’s going to be rough, girl. Allow yourself the grace to have these moments, especially with it being so fresh. Never be upset about releasing your emotions. It’s when you bottle that shit up and explode that will warrant an apology.”

“You’re right.”

“Plus, it’ll be good to be back home for a while. I know Quis is about to get spoiled rotten, chile.”

“And is. He’s the youngest great grandbaby, so they’re about to be all over him. He needs the distraction while I handle the finances of a funeral. My girl needs to be celebrated properly.”

---