Page 44 of One Good Reason

When Gema said my mama was fussing about me leaving her at home, I didn’t think too much of it. I figured if she had something to get off her chest, she would reach out to me. She waits just as good ‘til I get out of town to wanna start her shit. Now, she got all of them on my phone telling me how I shouldn’thave left Gema. And if I had to go out of town, I should’ve left her with them.

“You could’ve left her there while you went for work too, Tali,” Uncle Meat butted in. “Bad enough none of us know this lady you got staying at the house with her.”

“None of you have tried to get to know her either, have you?” I argued. “Mama was just there and ain’t sit down with Mrs. Jessie or nothing. Hell, as much as she calls Gema… you would think she would’ve got on the phone to talk to Mrs. Jessie.

And since we’re on the subject, I don’t see neither of you coming out of pocket to pay for this so honestly nothing y’all got to say fucking matters to me right now.”

“See!” my mama yelped and tossed her hands up. “I told y’all Tali think cause she pay for everything we ain’t got no say.”

“No, you don’t!” I barked. “I pay for her housing, meds, co-pays, and whatever else she needs to live comfortably. I haven’t once asked for anything from y’all. The least y’all could fucking do is be appreciative. I stepped in to take care of y’all mama.”

Honestly, I felt like a broken record. I found myself saying the same shit over and over again. To the point where my head was starting to pound and I was two seconds from telling all of ‘em to go to fucking hell.

“Glad to know my Mama a burden on you. And if you feel so strongly ‘bout that then send her the hell home!” Louise snapped.

“Ineversaid Gema was a fucking burden. And excuse my language but y’all ‘bout to piss me the fuck off. I been taking care of y’all mama all these years. I have zero social life. Ain’t got a nigga or even a fucking prospect. I do what I do for Gema cause when I needed somebody to do it for me, y’all sister was too busy with her head up Joe Lee ass.”

“Now hold on there, Tali. You getting personal. We didn’t call you for all of that.”

“But y’all called to chastise me about a decision I made for Gema. A decision that I’mlegallyable to make. Y’all made it personal when y’all decided to attack me for leaving her with a hired nurse that Gema loves.”

“I don’t even know why we bother,” my mama spat. “Ain’t like she trying to be rational anyway.”

“Rational went out of the window the second y’all tried to insult my intelligence.”

“I keep trying with you Tali. Lord knows I do. But you done pushed me past my limit. I’mma get me a lawyer and we gon’ see how much talking you gon’ do then.”

“Jalitha, can you even afford a lawyer?”

“If I can’t, my man can!” she rasped.

“Well, tell your man bring his best. Cause when I’m done dragging y’all through the legal system, the muthafucka won’t be able to afford a piece of fucking gum.”

Hanging up the phone, I slammed it down on the bed and cradled my head in my hands. I was tired of having this same conversation with them. Tired. So very fucking tired. I wanted to just throw the towel in and take Gema back to Warner Robins. I wanted to wash my hands clean from all of them and just disappear.

Maybe if I gave them what they wanted, they would leave me the fuck alone. I’d had a good day beginning with breakfast with Gema to traveling up here with Law. Today was going well, I was laughing and smiling for once. And just when I felt like I could get through this weekend with some peace, Gema offspring’s had to go and fuck it up. Had me in this fancy ass hotel yelling at the top of my lungs.

I know Law had probably heard the entire conversation and now I was embarrassed and didn’t even wanna go out front to have dinner with him. If I had been back home, I would’ve made sure Gema was good, locked myself in the room, and criedmyself to sleep. Now I was frustrated cause I couldn’t do that and probably wouldn’t be at ease until I got back to Atlanta.

The light taps on my door had me wanting to bury my head under the cover. I figured if I lay here quiet, he would assume I had fallen asleep. Nope. Law’s voice rasped from the other side of the door.

“Talitha, I know you’re in there. Hell, half of the Plaza just heard your conversation.”

“Go away Law,” I fretted.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“No,” I whimpered. I didn’t want to be tended to. I wanted to continue lying here, licking my wounds.

“I’m coming in. I hope you’re decent.” Bombarding his way through the door, Law leaned against the door frame with his arms folded.

Glancing up at him briefly, I dropped my head in shame and whispered, “I told you to go away.” I didn’t need sympathy. I didn’t even need rescuing. I needed– no wanted to be left alone.

“You’re upset.”

“You think,” I scoffed.

“Wanna talk about it?”

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