Page 150 of One Good Reason

Sweeping the hair out of my face, Mrs. Jessie stared at me through the mirror and smiled. “Talitha, you have the strength of a lion. You can do this and anything that God throws your way. You were handpicked for this. Bertha knew you would rise in the midst of controversy. Don’t look at it as you saying goodbye to her. Think of it more as her finally getting peace cause Lord knows she’s been fighting hell trying to keep the peace between you and those kids of hers.”

“Thank you Mrs. Jessie.”

“You’re welcome darling. There’s a certain someone sitting out there that’s waiting on you. Don’t push him away Tali. Believe me when I say, now is the time you’re going to need him the most. Let him be here for you, let him love you. It’s what Bertha would’ve wanted,” she affirmed.

Turning away from the mirror, I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m going to miss her so much,” I cried.

“We all are,” she breathed and ran her hands up and down my back. “Pull it together. We gotta go see our girl off.”

“Yes we do,” I confirmed.

Hand in hand, Mrs. Jessie and I walked out of the bathroom. When we made it to the front of the suite, Law was sitting on the couch with his legs shoulder width apart. Motioning for me with his hands leaned up. When I was in close range, he grabbed my hand and pulled me down into his lap.

Nestling his head in the crease of my neck, he placed a subtle kiss there before whispering in my ear.“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

“Amen,” I recited. Law passed me a pair of black Gucci frames for me to put on and patted my leg for me to stand. After helping me into my blazer, he checked me out from head to toe. Satisfied with my appearance, he grabbed my hand and escorted me out of the room.

“The precession was nice Tali. You and Mama did a good job,” Betty Jo acknowledged as she took the seat next to me at the table.

“That was all Gema’s doing. All I did was sign off on everything and make sure the money was paid.” I shrugged.

When we planned her funeral, Gema was adamant about the things she wanted. Her casket was pearl white with gold accents. She wanted to be buried in a white two-piece suit. My girl said to make sure whoever was in charge of her makeup ain’t make her look like a clown, said she wanted a nice natural beat and anude lip. I had to make sure her hair was curled tight just like she wanted.

She wanted all of her chirren to wear nothing but black. She wanted to be the only angel in the room. Her words, not mine. And I made sure they followed every single rule. She told me to put me, Betty Jo, and Meat on the first row and to sit the rest of ‘em behind us cause she ain’t wanna have to lay there listening to my mama and Willearl cut a fool. Gema said all that was gon’ do was piss her off and have her getting out the casket to whoop some ass.

My mama was pissed when she found out Law and Mrs. Jessie was sitting on the first row with me, and she was on the second. I didn’t give not one fuck and begged her to show her ass. I was gon’ put her in the casket with Gema. Gon’ bury her ass right along with her mama.

The funeral was nice. Everything was done just the way she wanted. When it was time to say my goodbyes, I put the gold beaded bracelet she had given me on my twenty-first birthday on her wrist. I also made sure they buried her with my favorite blanket that I had given her.

Just like Gema predicted, my mama and Willearl cut up the entire funeral. My mama was crying so hard at one point, Joe Lee got up and escorted her out. The burial is what took the damn cake. When they started lowering Gema into the ground, she jumped up out of her seat and begged them to take her. I was used to her and her shit so when she started that, I simply got up, dropped my rose on top of Gema’s casket, and walked away. Whatever happened after that, I didn’t know and ain’t care to hear about.

Instead of having the repass at the church, we decided to do it at Betty Jo house. She had that big back deck and since the repass was reserved for just the family, it was enough space for all of us.

“Bonnie look good in that dress.”

“I know. I told her and Willearl they bet not show up today looking country. I picked out both of their outfits and had Bonnie go down to Mrs. Cat’s shop to get that mess on her head tamed.”

“I’m surprised Willearl wasn’t drunk.”

“I threatened to have his ass removed if he was. I still think he took a sip of something the way he cut up back there.” I laughed.

“You know he prolly did. Thank you for allowing Louise to sit up front. That guilt been eating her alive.”

“I’on know what for. She ain’t cause it.”

“I know. But she feeling like had she left Mama up there, it wouldn’t have happened. She was trying to prove to you that she can see ‘bout mama without Litha.”

“I promise, I’m not mad at her. It could’ve happened while she was in my care. It really was a freak accident and unfortunately it cost us our matriarch.”

“Yeah it did. I’mma miss her.”

Grabbing her hand, I gave it a light squeeze. “Me too. So much.”

“You done had enough to eat?” Betty Jo looked down at my plate and asked.

“Ummhmm. I’mma go get some more in a lil’ bit.”

“I’ll be over there if you need me.”

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