Page 118 of Real's Love

“Good morning, baby. Forgive Granny. I know mornings ain’t ya cup of tea. I don’t know why you still thinking about teaching unless you gon?—"

“Good morning, Granny. How are you?” I interrupted.

“Girl, don’t cut me off. Old as I am and spoiled as y’all are, least y’all can do is let me ramble. Anyway, I’m blessed to see yet another day that the Lord has made. Glad He kept me. I’m on top of the ground instead of under it. Ain’t He good? Hallelujah!”

I rubbed my eyes as she had a whole praise break. Targen’s big body shook, and I looked up to see him laughing. Shaking my head, I waited semi-patiently.

“Anyway, I can’t get my Love up. Know she and Hy are my early risers, but I’m giving Hy one more week to recover from the school year. My baby had a classroom full of hellions this last year. Have I annoyed you enough? Let Granny get to the point.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Think I’ma make a peach cobbler and some blackberry and dewberry hand pies with dinner. Might make y’all some homemade ice cream. Tryna see if you wanna take a walk and bring Granny some peaches and berries.”

I answered without a second thought. I liked where l was, but Granny was entirely too good to me for me to hesitate to do anything for her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“‘Kay. Remember ya sunscreen. And Theory?”

“Ma’am?”

“Take that big ol’, fine giant with you. He bout as tall as the peach trees!”

“Granny!” I exclaimed, mortified.

“I’m definitely not letting her out of my sight,” Targen spoke up suddenly.

Making a strangled sound, I hit his shoulder. I pressed my index finger to my lips as my grandmother let out a shocked gasp.

“Ooh, y’all just as naughty as you wanna be,” she said. “You get it from your granny,” she added in a whisper.

My jaw dropped as she disconnected the call and Targen laughed out loud.

“Man, your grandparents are dope.”

I scoffed. “My grandparents need Jesus.”

* * *

“You coulda told me those things had them little thorns. I need gloves for my tender hands,” Targen grumbled as he set the buckets of berries in the wagon Granny had provided.

I side-eyed him. “Targen, whatever.”

“I’m serious,” he insisted.

He sounded like it, too. I shot him an uncertain look. Just because I had grown up here and had long since learned to shake off the pain of the thorns of berry vines didn’t mean everyone had. Turning, I started to head back toward the farmhouse. Granny would have something for his hands.

“I’m so sorry! Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve?—"

I stopped as a deep chuckle resonated through the air.

“I’m playing, baby. All cap,” he said, grabbing my arms to stop me.

He immediately let go and looked at me warily. I hated that so much.

“You sure?” I asked.

Nodding, he peered down at me. “You think I’m that soft, mamas?”

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