Page 12 of Zimyra

“It’s in the oven now, but it’s almost time for them to come out.”

“What kind?”

“Barbecue.”

“Good,” I say as I grate cheese. “It feels like we’re cooking for a whole family dinner when Zander and Alyssa ain’t even coming.”

“Yeah, he said they had prior arrangements, and that’s okay. This wasn’t official—just a last-minute thing.”

“Still would’ve been nice if they could make it, though.”

“With us, there are plenty of other occasions.”

“Of course.”

“Maybe by the next dinner, you’ll have a special someone in your life.”

“How do you know that I don’t already have one?”

“Because I know you, and you would be glowing if you were in love.”

“Excuse me?” I say and place a hand on my chest. “Are you trying to say I’mnotglowing now?”

“Well, you are, sugar, but it’s a different kind of glow.”

“School me, Mother. What kind ofglowam I lacking since I’mmanless?”

She chuckles. “Manless…I ain’t got time for your shenanigans today, Myra.”

“No. Tell me. You started this discussion.”

“Okay, well, when a woman is in love, her glow is warm and it emanates to those around her. She has a presence that makes people around her feel better about themselves. When you’re not in love, the glow is radiant—the kind that only speaks to your beauty—not your relationship status. And you are beautiful, Zimyra—just like your mother.”

“You got that right.”

I place a pot of water on the stove for the noodles and while waiting for it to come to a boil, I take out a frying pan for the lamb chops. I know my way around my mother’s kitchen like it was my own.

She says, “So, do you have any prospects?”

“Um, that will be a hardno, Mother.”

“Why not, dear?”

I shrug. I don’t want to tell her the real reason why, since I don’t want her to think that her life experiences have shaped mine, but they have. Our father had two families. It’s a contentious topic every time somebody brings it up. Zander is especially sensitive to it, even more so than Mom is. Dad was good to us kids and neglected his other family. Then, at the times he saw them, he neglected us. He was in love with two women – something I can’t fathom, because how can you be in love with two people at the same time? Isn’t that impossible? Like, what corner of the universe did that spring from because it sure wasn’t the Garden of Eden?IfI ever started dating, he has to know it’s me and nobody else. But it’s not something I want. My own father wasn’t faithful to my mother and, dare I say he was adecentman. These men today ain’t worth five cents. Well, most of them.

“You don’t have a reason?”

“I’m just doing me right now, Ma.”

“Yeah, right. What does that even mean?Doing me?”

“It means I’m focused on myself, my goals, my life. My path.”

“What path is that, exactly?”

“I have a plan. You want to hear it?”

“Sure. I’m all ears.”

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