Page 62 of Honey's Special Roux

I nodded.

“I guess you’re right.”

* * *

“Mommy!” Quis shouted as he waited on the porch with my mama and daddy.

The sight of him made my heart ache. I felt nauseous. How was I supposed to move around the city with my child, with Marquise free? I wasn’t ready to open that can of worms.

“Help Auntie Jenifer with the groceries, please, stinkabutt.”

“Okay, Mommy.” Quis skipped down the steps of the porch and met Jenifer at the backseat door. I got out of the car and grabbed a handful of bags before I walked up the steps. Daddy grabbed the bags from my hand at the door and walked them to the kitchen. We all had a nice assembly line going. While we brought the groceries inside, Mama unpacked them and put them up. Quis grabbed the bag of Cheetos I’d gotten him and took a break in front of the television.

“I’m going to go home, walk my baby, and get her some fresh food. I may not be back today, but shoot me a text. You know I’m always gonna have your back through everything.” Jenifer gave me a hug.

I nodded. “Of course. Be safe. Let me walk you out.”

I walked Jenifer to the front door and stayed on the steps until she pulled off. When I returned to the kitchen, I washed my hands and pulled out the ingredients I’d need to cook dinner. Mama sat in a chair behind the island with a glass of wine.

“How are you holding up, Mama?”

She took a sip of her wine and sighed heavily. “I don’t like to share my feelings, but I’m tired. I’m exhausted, really. Your aunties are all broken and barely holding it together, and I feel like I have to be strong for them.”

I poked out my bottom lip as I chopped my onions, bell peppers, and celery. “You should still be able to have moments where you release those emotions. Being strong doesn’t mean you have to be emotionless.”

She nodded. “You’re right.”

“I know. You’ll get through this. We both will.”

“Amen, baby girl.”

She smiled at me before she emptied her wineglass and crossed her arms over her chest. I could tell something else was on her mind.

“What’s wrong, Mama? I can see it in your face. There’s something else bothering you.”

“It’s just that… Me and your father are in a lot of debt. Between the funeral, Mama’s medical expenses, and the mortgage… we’re struggling bad.”

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Why didn’t you tell me about Granny’s medical expenses?”

“We didn’t want to bother you and make it seem like we were begging for money or anything like that.”

“Mama… be so for real right now. It would never be begging for money. I wouldn’t have the wealth I have today if it weren’t for you. All I need you to do is give me the bills. I’ll stay as long as needed to make sure you and Daddy are good. I can’t in good conscious leave while y’all need me.”

Money was never and will never be an issue to me. I had more money than I needed to live comfortably. The house in Los Angeles was expensive, but I never lived above my means.

“We don’t want to derail all the work you’ve done in Los Angeles. We?—”

“Mama, please. It makes no sense to go back to California if my family needs me in Texas. I can sell my house tomorrow and move out here.”

“Are you sure you want to come back? What if Marquise gets out? Are you going to run?”

I chuckled as I dumped the holy trinity of vegetables into the pot and stirred them with the wooden spatula. Then I added half a stick of butter.

“The funniest thing happened today while me and Jen were grocery shopping.”

“What?”

“I literally bumped into Marquise. Apparently, he’s out of prison.”

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