Page 33 of Going for Three

Out of nowhere she began screaming, “I fucking knew it! I knew it!”

Charm looked at me, and I shrugged.

“Oh my God. I’m going to be a grandmother.”

It was hard to tell if she was happy, sad, or pissed about it until she rushed Charm and genuinely hugged her for the first time. She gasped, feeling her belly poking her. Taking a step back, she looked down.

“You need a damn award for the way you’ve hidden this from me, but I knew something was off about you.”

I stood from my seat to join them on the other side. Her eyes floated to me when I stood behind Charm. She tipped her left hand down to show Courtney her engagement ring.

“Oh, you two have been busy.” Her mouth fell into an “O” shape as her hands went to her cheeks. “I guess I should be saying welcome to the family. If this was going to happen with anyone, I’m okay with it being you. You haven’t played about my girl since the day you met her.”

I felt full of pride knowing my devotion to Charm could be seen by others. I smiled down at my baby. “I know I have a good thing. You raised an exceptional woman.”

My eyes shot to her mother in alarm when she shrieked. She shook her head and waved her hand dramatically.

Charm sucked her teeth. “Ma, please.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I can’t believe my baby is having a baby. I just need a minute.”

She turned to leave us alone in the kitchen, causing Charm to yell after her.

“Don’t go hopping on that phone telling everybody either. We want to announce it when we’re ready.”

Her head fell backward with a sigh. “I know better than to do that.”

Charm frowned, wanting to say more, but decided to let her leave. Turning toward me, I saw her surprise through her lifted brow and pursed glossy lips. She clapped her hands and exhaled.

“I expected that to go so much worse than it did.”

I tapped her nose. “You tend to do that often.”

She popped out her hip and planted a hand on it. “Do what?”

“Expect the worst.”

She gulped dramatically. “Oh, you just clocked the fuck out of me, babe. I can’t even be mad.”

She did that little motion where women tapped the tips of their fingers together. I rolled my eyes and folded my arms over my chest.

“Anyways, one parent down, two more to go.”

I nodded. Since things went so well with her mother, I allowed myself to believe the same would happen with my parents. Neither of us had perfect parents, but they would be supportive. Why wouldn’t they be? Charm was the total package; I was lucky to have her. She was my good thing—my gift from God.

I tookCharm’s hand in mine as I led her up the driveway to my parents’ home in Richard Hills. It was a suburban neighborhoodon the outskirts of the city I’d put them up in when I got my first deal. They had been living comfortably ever since.

I used my key to let myself inside. A trail of smoke traveled through the foyer that I fanned away. A part of me almost turned around and left. I knew anytime my mama pulled out those cigarettes that she was in a foul mood, but there was a part of me that hoped our news could brighten her day. I told Charm not to expect the worst, and it would be hypocritical to not take my own advice.

Charm squeezed my hand for support as we neared the living room. My mother was lying on the recliner with her feet kicked up and a cigarette between her fingers. I hated the smell of cigarettes and couldn’t stop my nose from scrunching up.

“Ma, put that shit out,” I fussed.

She sucked her teeth. “Boy, this is my house. I’ma do whatever I want to do.”

I turned to look at Charm over my shoulder. It was my second chance to leave and come back when she was in a better mood, but I tried to tough it out.

“Can we step out on the patio? We have something to tell you.”

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