Page 216 of Lovers' Dance

Madi inhaled deeply and looked at her aunt, who shrugged with a roll of eyes. David got to his feet and said, “Lunch was great, Madi. I’m going to read the papers.” He addressed Jenny with fatherly disappointment. “Sweetie, be nice to your cousin. She’s only here for a week and apologize to your Mom. You know there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t.”

“But Dad—”

“Going to read my papers,” he said and hurried away.

Jamal coughed lightly into the following silence as all three women maintained heavy looks between themselves. Matt kept his mouth shut and stayed motionless in his chair. What was going to happen next? He had no idea. All he knew was his poppet’s eyes had that dangerous shine to them. The one that spelt trouble.

“Matt.” Jamal was rising from his seat. “You want to watch the game?”

Matt wasn’t sure what to do, but David had left and Jamal was in flight mode. Should he flee the impending drama also? He didn’t want to desert Madi, and he wasn’t that comfortable with Jamal, but curiosity had gotten the cat killed.

“Ah, yes,” Matt said, releasing Madi’s hand and getting up from the table himself. “What sort of game is it?”

“Doesn’t matter, man,” Jamal quipped, before saying to his mother with a grimace, “Don’t let Jenny make you sin your soul, Ma. We just came from church.”

It was like oil to the fire. Jenny’s face underwent a transformation as she spun in her seat to glare at Jamal.

“Shit-stirrer.”

“You watch your mouth, Jennifer Meyers,” Cleo said. “I’m tired of your sass. You’re embarrassing yourself and me.”

“Auntie Cleo, calm down,” Madi said. “Remember your blood pressure.”

“Like you care.” Jenny attacked Madi. “Living it up in England with your rich, sugar daddy. All my friends talk about you—”

“You leave Matt and me out of this, Jenny. I swear I’ll—”

Matt didn’t wait around to hear the end of her sentence. He hurried after Jamal and left the ladies to it. Good God. They’d only been here a few hours. In the sitting room, Madi’s uncle cast an eye over the top of his newspaper and nodded at Jamal. “Nice having all our girls under one roof.”

“Sure is, Pops. Is the game on yet?”

Matt took a seat, conscious of the raised voices coming from the kitchen. Did this mean he was being accepted? They were arguing without any thought of his presence, as if he had earned the right to witness a family disagreement. Or was this the way they all acted? Matt needed to do more research. The information he’d read hadn’t explained the ins and outs of a modern day black family.

Ten minutes later, the raised voices fell quiet. Matt was perched on the edge of the sofa, trying to peer through the open door.

“So, you’re hooking up with my little cousin,” Jamal said. “I’ve been seeing stuff on the Internet.”

Matt regarded Jamal with wariness, aware of her uncle’s suspicious gaze at him from over the top of the newspaper.

“The media tends to exaggerate when it concerns my private life,” he said smoothly.

Jamal opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say didn’t get uttered as Jenny stormed into the sitting room and flopped on the sofa next to Matt. His gaze went back to the doorway. Where was Madison?

A minute later, Cleo popped her head around the doorway. “I’m going to lie down for a moment.” She paused for a second, then added, “If you need anything, Matt, I’m sure Madi will take care of it.” Then she disappeared.

David sighed and folded the papers neatly before putting it aside. He stood and shook his head at his pouting daughter.

“I hope you’re happy now.” He walked out of the sitting room.

Matt looked at the doorway. Where was Madison? He moved to get up when he heard her voice, chatting to her uncle. Matt made himself comfortable on the sofa and waited.

Soon enough she entered the room. She looked embarrassed as he held her gaze and he sent her an encouraging wink. Madi went over to her suitcases in the corner and grabbed her knapsack. She took out her iPad and a purse, then made her way over to the sofa.

“Scoot over,” she said to Jenny.

Matt felt more relaxed when she sat next to him, brushing her leg against his in the process. He watched as she went online and wondered why she’d brought over her purse.

“Jenny-penny,” she said. “Is this the undergrad programme you were referring to in the kitchen?”

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