Page 16 of One Good Reason

“I mean” She hesitated a bit before agreeing, “It could work but I would need your full commitment because doing it alone isn’t possible.”

“I’m committed. We can work out of here or go to one of my office spaces. The choice is up to you. But if we’re going to do it, the time is now.”

“Why do I feel like I just signed myself up for a mountain of stress?”

“Because you did.” I laughed, then offered, “Good stress though. What we’re getting ready to embark on is for the greater of the community. We got this and together,” I pointed between the two of us, “We’re going to make it happen.”

“We are,” she finally agreed. “I guess I need to find someone here that’s capable of stepping in for me.”

“Nonsense. Marsha’s head of human resources. She can find someone.”

“Well, can I at least call a meeting and let everyone know what’s going to be happening for the next however long it takes.”

“It’s your staff. Do as you may.”

“Thank you so much Mr. Harvey.” She smiled before standing.

“Law.”

“Huh?”

“Call me Lawton or Law. Mr. Harvey is so formal.”

Tucking her chin low, Talitha shook her head and smirked. “Just like Ms. Howard is. Everyone around here calls me Tali. But duly noted.”

“Be expecting a call from meTali.”

“Will do.” Paying me one last glance, Talitha gathered her things and strutted out of the conference room.

A few minutes after she left, I was gathering the rest of my things and abandoning the room. I had an hour before I had to hop on my calls and since I skipped breakfast this morning,I needed to get to my office and place an order for delivery. As long as time permitted, I was going to reach out to Poppa’s connected. If I wasn’t able to make it happen today, that would be the first thing on my agenda in the morning.

CHAPTER 4

Talitha

“Gema!” I yelled through the house. “Are you ready to go?”

“Stop all that hollering,” she fussed. Rolling her bag into the living room, Gema pushed it over to me and grabbed ahold to the back of the couch. “I’on see why Litha wanna run up here now. Ain’t like she been trying to come.”

“Neither do I. But you gotta go. Uncle Willie Earl ‘nem waiting on you.”

“Willearl could’ve brought his ass up here. I’on got time to be hearing ya’ mama mouth. Bad enough she done let Joe Lee rent my house out to somebody I ain’t never even met.”

By the tone of her voice, one would think Gema was playing. I knew better. When I told her what my egg donor had done with her house, she was cursing up a storm. It wasn’t until I got Betty Jo on the phone did, she calm down.

Jalitha was the only person who didn’t see an issue with her having random people in my granny’s house. I told her ass if they tore anything up, her and that husband of hers that she worshipped so much better had fixed it or I would see their ass in court.

“You gon’ fuss the whole way back home or try to enjoy yourself?” I finally asked.

“I’m gon’ fuss!” she assured me.

Shaking my head, I zipped up the jacket of her jogging suit and smoothed out her edges. The weather was fair back at home, so I had packed her a suitcase full of two-piece jogging suits. That way if she got hot, she could take the jacket off and still be presentable. The entire time I was getting her dressed, she was fussing. I wholeheartedly believed had it been anybody else that was coming to pick her up, she wouldn’t have mind. The fact that my mama went against mine and Gema wishes and rented out her house had her on Gema radar, and baby she wasn’t happy at all. I knew for a fact she was gon’ give my mama an ear full the minute they pulled away from the house.

“One week Tali. I’m only gon’ stay for one week. By Sunday morning, you or Jessie better be on the way to pick me up.”

“Today is just Monday, Gema. What if they want you to stay longer?”

“One week Talitha,” she groused, letting me know just how serious she was.

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