Page 63 of And Everything In Between

Perry grunted from his recliner. “She popped up like a ghost from the past to be a pain in my ass.”

Her mom folded her arms and replied, “I called first. You just don’t check your damn messages or answer the damn phone.”

“Shit all of them damn spam calls make me wanna toss this phone in the street.”

“Please don’t do that. I’ll put you on the do-not-call registry tomorrow while I’m at work.”

Giovanni chuckled under his breath and gave Paige a reassuring touch on the back.

“Perry, how you feeling bruh?”

“I’d be a helluva lot better if I had some cognac and a new body. Hell, maybe a Black & Mild.”

“Dad, get over it. You are never going back to those days. And a Black & Mild nigga be for real right now.” Paige shook her head before turning her attention back to her mother, who had some explaining to do. Her parents were hellbent on driving her crazy today.

“I was going to be on this side of town,” her mother admitted, before Paige could ask feeling eyes on her, “and figured it was time I stopped making a fuss over the past. You’ve got a lot on your plate, and I’m proud of you.” Her voice gained strength.

“I don't want to be just your mother anymore, baby. I want to be part of your team. That's what real love does, it evolves from obligation into choice.”

This was it, Paige realized. The village she'd been building without even knowing it, her mother stepping up, Blake and Brooks when she called, Giovanni making space for everyone she loved. Community wasn't blood or obligation. It was choice.

She swallowed down the emotion before it turned to tears. She was tired of crying, but something had unlocked or perhaps clicked. The pieces on the board were lining up to give her a win.

“She a gah’damn lie. She heard I got Social Security, and she wants that check. I’ll give it to you, Myra, but you gon work for it. And I mean work hard for it.”

Perry might not have been around to see the details, but he recognized the result. The woman standing between him and Myra, strong, carrying weight that should’ve been shared, she’d learned that independence out of necessity. And both her parents had played a part in that lesson.

Her mom stepped closer, “Don’t think this changes things between us,” Myra said to Perry, but her tone was lighter now. “Plus, you owe me nigga, even if that was what I wanted.”

“I’ll handle Sunday and Monday meals,” she told Paige popping Perry upside the head.

Paige felt her throat tighten with gratitude. She hugged her mother without a word.

Her mom nodded into her shoulder. “Just say you’ll live your life. That’s enough.” Her mother looked over at Giovanni, and Paige turned around to look at him also.

“You can thank me by giving me some grandbabies.”

“Ma, too soon.”

Her laughter came first. “You’re out here living, huh?” she said, low and grinning. “You walking funny.”

Myra’s grin was a reminiscent one.

“Ok, Eww. No.”

“We grown, Paige. You got here somehow. I didn’t get you from Amazon or a damn stork.”

Giovanni was cracking up while Paige felt mortified. For a second, she didn't know what to say. Perry mumbled something smart under his breath, and Paige pulled back, wiping her eyes.

“I still don’t like him,” her mom said with a smirk, glancing at Perry. “I love you therefore your problems and struggles are mine too.”

Giovanni stepped forward with that quiet, respectful presence he possessed so naturally. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Giovanni.”

“Oh, I forgot to do that. Shit. It’s too much going on. Momma, this is my boyfriend, Giovanni Dowlen.”

“Boyfriend, hot diggity dog. We did it,” Perry chuckled, slapping the arm of his chair and cheering like a mad man. Paige scoffed softly at her dad and smiled.

“Moving on. Giovanni, this is my mom, Myra Saint.”

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