Page 34 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

“Yeah, it is cold.”

“Cold as a well-digger’s behind, my Daddy would say.”

Tanya cracked a smile.Mine used to say that, too.

“No doubt, honey, there’s a storm coming. Best we stay out of it, safe and sound right here.”

“You really think?”

Wilks Johnny folded his hands in his lap and frowned at the road. “Just yesterday morning my friend Julette Dimple came to see me. She said she was going to Jamaica with her grandson. Said there was gonna be motion up here in Florin and she was done with it. I didn’t even know Julette had a grandson, to tell you the truth. But she always knew what way the wind was blowing, my Julette. I’ll miss her.”

“Saverin told me he wasn’t involved in that mountain mafia stuff anymore.”

“I don’t know if that’s something you can walk away from,” replied Wilks Johnny. “I’ve seen enough gangster movies to know.”

Well, she hoped Saverin was wrong. And Wilks Johnny, too. The last thing she and Saverin needed was more commotion in their lives. And yet, Tanya couldn’t deny a nagging sensation that something big was about to pop off. The morning was so quiet, so still, like the inhale before a scream.Could be all that liquor you drank last night, messing with your head.

And what else had happened last night? Well, apart from watching her ex-boyfriend and baby daddy get blasted in front of her, winning the powerball with Gwen, and confirming she was definitely not pregnant, what should she and Saverin do but make love all night without a condom? Drunkenly she had evenbeggedhim to — Shit. She gritted her teeth.I need to get my head right over Saverin Bailey.

She sat down on the porch, her fingers getting itchy again with the need to clean, clean, clean. “Ah— Mister? Are you sure you don’t need me to—”

“No.”

“Alright.” Tanya flexed her numb fingers. “You need another blanket?”

“You’re a nice girl, but you’re driving me crazy.” Wilks Johnny cleared his throat, then asked with the bluntness of nosy old folks everywhere, “Do you love that white boy, or is it just a casual thing?”

“Love is a strong word,” said Tanya.I’m yours, she had moaned into Saverin’s mouth last night.

“Are y’all getting married?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

“Back in my day that was illegal. Of course you had some leap the book, but nothing like what you see now. I don’t know if I like it. Don’t know if you can ever trust white folks. Not many like me are left around to tell the stories. The truth of what really went down. Now it’s all, ‘forgive and forget’. But maybe we shouldn’t forget everything.” His eyes flickered. “Although your man ain’t a bad one. He’s got a good heart.”

“I know that,” said Tanya quietly.

“So do you love him?”

Did she love Saverin? Love meant forever. Love meant marriage. Babies.

I want twins, he’d growled at her.

Shit. She didn’t want a boyfriend, a husband, nothing. Right? She wanted to find her son, and raise her son,alone.Nobody else could be trusted but herself.

He killed for you.He promised you the world.

I never asked him to, she answered herself harshly.

“He makes me happy,” she said out loud. “He’s kind. He’s gentle. Funny, too. Real funny. He’s saved my life many times— he’s done a lot for me. I get excited to see him. I want to be with him all the time. I always feel good when he’s around.

“Then that’s love, babygirl,” Wilks Johnny chuckled.

“I suppose.”

“You’ll see. Make sure you tell him, though. Tell him that as much as you can, and make sure he says it back to you every morning and every night. I hope you two are happy together.”

“Thank you, Mister. I appreciate that.”

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