Page 102 of The Deadly Candies

Bumpy plucked the toothpick from his mouth and pointed it at Henry’s chest.“Better hope so. ’Cause if that Italian catches wind, she’s back in Harlem? I ain’t your shield. You got it?”

Henry grunted, the sound rattling deep in his throat. Bumpy’s expression softened—just for a heartbeat—into something almost sympathetic.“Just be careful, Henry. For her sake. Luciano is in his country now. Cosimo is acting like a wild dog lately. Sniffing again at Harlem’s doorstep. We don’t need any cracks in the foundation.”

“Ain’t nobody gettin’ close to my baby girl. She’s here for the wedding, then back on that train. Like we agreed.”

Bumpy tipped his hat and strode toward his car, the toothpick back between his teeth.

Pete, Henry’s brother, groaned.“You really gon’ send that child back to Mississippi? Look at ’em, Henry. You can’t split ’em apart again.”Henry’s gaze slipped from his girls towardEly, who was laughing with his friends near the stoop. A knowing glint flashed in Pete’s eyes.“Maybe there’s another way.”

Henry exhaled through his nose.“Let’s hope so.”

* * *

“Your room’s upstairs, Momma,”Henry said, “You’ll take ours, I’ll take the sofa, and Brenda will sleep with Kathy. Got your rocker by the fireplace. Here. Here. Sit. Test it out.”

Big Momma gripped the armrests, lowering herself into the chair with a sigh. “Feels like home now. I can take the sofa. I’m not gonna be climbing up and down those stairs, my knees can’t take it.”

Henry gave Brenda a concerned look.

“Momma,” Brenda said. “You only need to go up them to sleep and bathe. The chair and sofa are yours for the rest of it. I want you to rest in a bed. You scare us all when you aren’t doing well. We need you, Momma. We need you to get strong so you can come to the bakery and set us straight and you can be right in front when Debbie marry. Right?”

Big Momma rocked and laughed. “You, Elliot girls, sure know how to sweet-talk me.” Brenda kissed Big Mama and hugged her.

“Let me cook for you.”

Debbie and Aunt Claudia arrived. Kathy was running fast to her cousin, hugging and squeezing her. The girls jumped up and down with laughter. Then Debbie saw her grandmother and melted. She went to Big Momma and got up on her lap, curling up to her bosom and being rocked like a little girl. Big Mama laughed and cooed her Debbie. Kathy wasn’t jealous. It wasn’t until Debbie was ten that she moved to Harlem. Big Mama pretty much raised her from the moment she left Aunt Claudia’s breast.

“Hey, Suga. How are you doing, baby?” Aunt Claudia said and hugged Kathy. “I missed you so much.”

Kathy again found herself reduced to tears. She could not let her go, so she held her as tightly as she could. And that’s how it was—all family, all love.

The Unspoken

Debbie helped Big Mama climb the stairs, steadying her as they ascended step by creaking step. She waited outside the bathroom door like she had as a child, chatting through the wood while Big Mama bathed and prepared for bed. In that moment, Debbie became ten years old again, boasting about her school achievements, gushing about José's virtues, and explaining Puerto Rican culture to her grandmother's patient ears.

Kathy lingered nearby, chuckling at times but resisting the urge to join properly. Her fingers itched to send word to Matteo - especially Carmelo - about her return, but this was Debbie's time. When Big Mama finally settled under the quilts, Debbie refused to leave her side, insisting on sleeping with her like old times.

Downstairs, Henry informed Brenda he'd be staying at Pete's place after his late meeting with Bumpy. Kathy's eyebrows rose when her father insisted on taking Ely and Chester along. Even more puzzling was how Henry kept praising Ely's character and his plans to build a school, lavishing compliments that made Ely blush with unexpected pride. Kathy watched with quiet amusement. She'd questioned Ely's sincerity during those tense conversations about her and Debbie's interracial relationships, but their journey north had revealed his true nature. No man had ever shown Big Mama such tender care - carrying her when the train rides grew too rough, patiently listening to her stories, ensuring her comfort at every turn.

As the house finally quieted and neighbors dispersed, Kathy found herself in the kitchen with her mother and Aunt Claudia, the three women falling into easy laughter as they exchanged gossip from Butts.

Then Brenda's voice turned serious. "Tell me the truth about Janey."

"She left, Ma. Just like I wrote you, don't know why," Kathy answered, stirring her tea.

Brenda's eyes narrowed. "Janey always leaves clues. “

“Do you know a man named Bonanno?" Kathy asked.

The teacup froze halfway to Brenda's lips. "Bonanno? You saw Bonanno?"

Kathy nodded slowly. "Please don't tell Big Mama. I promised not to speak of it."

"Bonanno was in Butts?" Claudia's voice cracked with disbelief.

Kathy's pulse quickened at their recognition.

“Explain girl,” said Brenda.

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