Page 136 of Fumble Into the End Zone

“Lower your voice. You will not blame Marcus for your failed communication with your mother. And you will stop making a scene. Marcus is not your punching bag. Now, if you want to visit the grave site, you are welcome to do so, but the blaming stops now,” Mia roared as she stood next to me.

Mariah scanned Mia and twisted her face. “Who the fuck are you to tell me about my son and mother,” she said, and adult Marcus won.

“Bitch, watch your fucking mouth talking to my wife sideways. You were gone for twelve years,” I said and smacked my chest. “And you got the nerve to come back and complain? Where was this energy when you were soaked in piss, drunk in your bedroom? Where was this energy when you left me at ten without food or any place to go? Don’t come to the gravesite or I will have you escorted off the grounds. Make peace on your own time. And stop texting my damn phone,” I voiced with hard venom, bringing the crowd to a hush.

“Watch how you talk to your mother,” a man said.

With my focus on Mariah, I didn’t register the man standing behind her. He stood tall with a muscular frame and a low haircut. I untangled my hand from Mia.

“You’re defending mommy of the year. I will beat yo ass out here,” I said.

“Marcus, no,” Mia said as she stood in front of me, planting her palms in my chest.

Kindness reached for Mia’s hand, but she wrestled free from her grasp.

“Don’t worry. We got this,” Bryce said as he stepped from behind me and removed his watch.

I turned to see the football team standing behind me with folded arms. “You don’t want this smoke,” Ed said to this guy with Mariah.

“I swear he don’t,” Roundtree said.

“It’s been a few weeks since I hit somebody,” a lineman said from behind.

The guy lowered his head and whispered in Mariah’s ear. “But he is my son. And I want to see my mother,” she cried out before agreeing to leave.

I bent down and kissed Mia, and moved toward the family car.

Mia

A week later.

“We got you,” Kindness said, as she and Stacie sandwiched me on her couch.

Things hadn’t been the same without Mrs. Eddy being around. Yesterday, Ms. Renee moved to North Carolina with her daughters. Marcus and I gave her a bonus package with promises to stay in touch. She packed up Mrs. Eddy’s things because Marcus couldn’t bring himself to walk down the hall. Harley sits in her Granny’s chair for everything, and she requested her cane.

“Thank you, I feel bad crying in front of Marcus and Harley,” I said to my village.

“You can cry with us,” Stacie said.

I snuggled more into my friends and exhaled hard with flowing tears.

“Tell us what you need. I can help with Harley and pay someone to cook,” Stacie said, and I chuckled.

I earned twisted faces from my friends as I continued to laugh with tear-filled eyes.

“Stacie, you still haven’t learned how to cook?” I asked, and she scoffed.

“Cooking is an overrated, unnecessary skill. I’m a trendsetter honey; we pay for convenience,” Stacie said with pride.

“Grilled cheese and tomato soup,” Kindness and I said in unison.

“We agreed not to discuss the cheesy soup incident,” Stacie reminded.

Kindness and my mouth parted before we all burst into a cackle. Stacie will be Stacie. She had always been the glam of our group, certified daddy’s girl with the attitude to match.

“Now, I have a chef friend who can cook for a few days. Max, with his fine ass,” Stacie said and then shimmied.

I patted her knee. “I’ll pass. Marcus is not letting another man come into his house and cook. And by the way you’re dancing, he must be fine,” I said.

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