Page 30 of The Sweetest Devotion

I looked her in her eye. “Thanks for asking.”

She nodded. “Rod says you’ve been putting in a lot of work down at the shop. I hope you’re finding time for yourself again.”

She wasn’t wrong. Ididneed to step outside more. I needed to let the past go. “The year’s just starting, but I definitely intend to make the most of it.”

I wasn’t sure how, but I was going to fully pull myself out of the pit I’d crawled into.

Betty Jean yawned and covered her mouth. “I better turn in. Biiig day tomorrow.”

I took a drink of my water and took in my grandmother. “What’s tomorrow?”

My mother chuckled. “Something’s going on in one of her stories she watches.”

Betty Jean took a step back, aghast at my mother’s blasé approach to her soap opera. “David is coming out of his coma, and Pauline is going to find out she’s been seein’ his twin brother the whole time!”

“Yawn,” my mother responded with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Give it up already, woman.”

“Do not downplay impeccable storytelling, girl.”

All I could do was laugh at their bit. They’d been going back and forth about Betty Jean’s stories since as far as I could remember. At a time, I’d definitely dabbled in watching with her. Theycouldbe addictive with the plotlines and dramatics. I wouldn’t front.

Betty Jean went to turn in and my mother remained seated across from me. The soft look in her dark eyes let me know she truly cared for me and wanted what was best for me.

“We worry, Keith, we really do,” she said to me.

“I know, and it’s my fault for being so caught up over that situation,” I admitted.

“Getting your heart broken is no easy feat. Can’t control how you handle it. It’s important to know she was wrong about you, and obviously wasn’t a good fit,” my mother insisted.

She and Leila had gotten along, because my mother was always so nice to everyone. A habit she’d gotten from Betty. When I thought about it, I came to the realization that I’d probably taken after my father instead, because I wasn’t a happy-go-lucky type of guy.

I was still surprised I turned Kennedy on, because a lot of out-of-towners—especially women—thought I was too serious and intimidating.

“Hey,” my mother said gently, capturing my full attention. “What’s a word of wisdom I taught you?”

A corner of my mouth curled up at the thought of her instilling in me quotes from the intellectuals and greats. “Marianne Williamson, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ An innate fear to be great can stunt you, so don’t be afraid to dream and achieve big.”

My recollection of a lesson she’d taught me brought a smile to my mother’s face. “You are a great man, Keith. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

I finished my dinner, trying and trying to believe her words to be true.

* * *

I owed Savon an appearance, so Wednesday night, after work, we linked up. Of all places, he’d chosen Crazy Legs, the only strip club in Bedford Heights, to grab beers and catch up.

We sat at the bar, taking in the music and scene.

“Cole and Wale need to stop playin’ and drop a tape, man,” Savon observed as he listened to the music playing in the background.

“Heard you,” I agreed as I bobbed my head to the beat.

“You know, I’m not gon’ lie to you, bro, I didn’t think you’d show,” Savon said as he looked at me.

I had that coming. “I’ma be around more. Trust.”

He cut the humor as he peered into my eyes behind his lenses. “You better be. We need you down at the center.”

Yeah, I definitely was going to get my act together. Growing up in the Heights wasn’t easy, and no one knew it more than Von and me.Our Face Cards couldn’t be touched after earning our stripes, and most times, the new youth listened when we spoke.

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