Page 112 of One Good Reason

Louise stayed ten minutes from Willearl, so it took no time for me to pull up to her house. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when I spotted my mama car in the driveway. Throwing my car in park, I unfastened my seat belt. “You coming in or staying out here?”

“Gema here?”

“Yeah. That’s my Mama car right there.” I nodded toward the black Mercedes in the driveway.

“Then I’m getting out.”

Reaching for the latch, I opened the door and stepped out. Law trailed behind me as I made my way up to the front door. Instead of knocking, I pushed that bitch open, cause let’s face it, we didn’t lock doors around here. We were surrounded by family so the last thing we was worried about was somebody causing any harm.

“Tali!” Gema squealed when I walked in the door.

“Hey, my baby,” I gushed and ran over to her to. After pulling back from the hug, I checked her out from head to toe. At least they had sense enough to have her looking decent. Somebody had combed her salt and pepper hair up into a bun.

Gema had on one of those jogging suits that she loved and a fresh pair of gray and white New Balancesneakers on her feet. “They been taking good care of you?” I asked as sat down beside her on the worn sofa.

“They been doing aight,” she huffed and rolled her eyes.

“Do I need to call the law on you?” my mama rasped after stepping into the living room where we were with her hound dog following close behind her. “And who the fuck you done brought to my sister house?” she spat while looking Law up and down.

“Shut up Litha!” Gema scoffed. “Law baby, you can have a seat. I know it might not be much, but it’ll hold you.” She nodded toward the chair sitting beside us.

“You not gone stand up and give me my hug?” Law teased. Ignoring the daggers my mama was shooting at him, he walked over to Gema and helped her up from the couch. “We sure have missed you around the house,” he let her know.

“I miss y’all too.”

“Everything been good?” he asked, after helping her back down.

“Ummhmm. That one over there ain’t gave me no candy since I been here. Tali, you gon’ go to the Walmarts and get me some.”

“Yeah, Gema… I’ll get you some.” I laughed.

“That’s why her sugar been running so high now. She don’t need all that candy,” my mama hissed.

“Girl, you don’t know what fu?—”

“Howard!” Law bleated. Had he not stepped in, I was getting ready to give her a piece of my mind.

“Anyway… Gema, yeah I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”

“You staying?” Gema asked, the way her eyes lit up, I could tell she was hoping I said yes.

“Yes baby. I’mma stay for a few days so I can spend some time with you. We came straight here after my meeting with mylawyer,” I said loud enough for my mama to hear me. “I gotta go get us a room, we ain’t too long came back in town so after I’ve gotten some sleep, I’mma come pick you up and take you to get something to eat.”

“You ain’t taking her nowhere.”

Furrowing my brows, I stared at her through the slits of my eyes. “Girl.” I chuckled. “The best thing for you to do is leave me alone. I’ll be to your house assoonas I get up tomorrow. Have my Grandma dressed, Jalitha, or I’mma give you a reason to call the law.”

Gema patted me on the hand. “Don’t do it, Tali. I’ll be ready to get picked up tomorrow. Call Betty Jo so she can be there in case she tries anything.”

“Believe me, I don’t need anybody. The judge gave me all the permission I need. She can play with me if she wants. Anyway, I gotta run by the bank and grab those papers out the safe deposit box but we will be here right after that.”

“That’s fine with me. I’ll be ready.”

“Alright baby. Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I kissed her cheek before standing. Spinning toward my mama, I held my hand out. “Give me that phone.”

Clicking her tongue against her teeth she lied, “I’on got it. We left it at the house.”

“I want it tomorrow. You didn’t buy it nor do you pay the bill on it. You can’t control shit when it comes to something I pay.”

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