Page 118 of One Good Reason

“Litha ain’t got access to it do she?”

“I wouldn’t give your daughter access to my piggy bank,” I rasped, making her and Law laugh.

“Gema, your baby has been on one since we touched down. She tried to fight her mama earlier.”

“She ‘bout need to. I should’ve whooped her ass a long time ago.”

“Somebody should’ve. And where she get this too little outfit from,” I fussed. “She knew to pick you something better out.”

“She claims she ain’t want me to ruin my good clothes. Tuh,” Gema scoffed. “I told her all my good clothes back at yo’ house.”

“I know that pissed her off,” I tittered. “Prolly the reason she sent you out with them high waters on. Then the socks so long they damn hear touching the hem of them pants.”

“You know that girl ain’t got good fashion sense.” That made Law laugh so hard.

“I can’t wait for you to come home, Gema. I ain’t been back to work since you left.”

“You can’t do that, Tali. If it wasn’t for him–” She tossed her head at Law. “Being your boss, you would’ve been fired. Perks of laying under the boss I reckon,” she whispered the last part, but I heard her clearly.

“Bertha Mae, if you don’t cut it out.”

“I’m just saying.” She laughed.

“I wouldn’t have fired her, Gema. I understand life doesn’t began and end with work. All of my employees know I understand if their mind isn’t on the job, I can’t expect them to perform at their best. I would’ve still given her the time off.”

Giving him a pointed stare, she asked, “Who you tryna convince Law?”

“Keep me on my toes then Gema,” he teased.

“Before you drop me back off Tali, I want you to call Jessie so I can check on her.”

Her saying that reminded me that I still had her phone. Pulling it out of my purse, I sat it on the table beside her. “Don’t let her take it again, or me and you gon’ have a problem.”

“I ain’t know she had it to begin with. I went looking for it the other day and couldn’t find it.”

“Well, this time make sure you keep it on you. I’ll get you another charger cause I’on know what she did with the one you had.”

“Threw it away knowing her.”

“You ‘bout right. Hurry up and finish your food so we can go.”

After breakfast, Law and I took Gema to Walmart and got her a few more jogging suits. I made sure to grab her another phone charger. I even went as far as grabbing her a few of her favorite snacks. While she rode around the store in the motorized scooter, Law and I filled up the basket with everything we figured she would need.

We’d stayed out long enough for us to have dinner and when Gema told me she was ready to take it in, I called my mama and told her to meet me at the house.

When I pulled up, everybody car was in the driveway along with a few cars that I’d never seen before, I assumed they belonged to the people renting the house. My mama was damn lucky the outside of the house looked like it did when I moved. The inside better match as well.

Tapping my hand on the screen door, I waited for somebody to come to the door. When my cousin, Patrice, stepped into view, I knew like hell my eyes was playing tricks on me.

“Patrice, what you doing here?”

“Yo’ mama ain’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“I’m renting the house from her.”

“This bitch,” I mumbled. “Come on Law.” I waved for him and Gema to come inside.

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