Page 46 of Stronger Than Blood
Rory
“I’m so honored,” I said when it was just Madam… Kalinda and I sitting across from each other like we had so many times in the downstairs kitchen. Madam Baptiste was, of all things, playing a video game against Mick.
Kalinda—God, it was going to be hard for me to get used to calling her that—put her hand over mine and smiled. “I just don’t get it. I mean, I don’t know much about Hoodoo, Voodoo, or the other spiritualities, but I know enough to know those ceremonies are usually reserved for families.”
Kalinda looked sad, but she nodded. “The new Madam has had a very hard time being accepted as a woman. Which is ignorant, considering our faith is very accepting of homosexuality. One of the reasons Madam Baptiste is so powerful is because she embodies the spirit of Erzulie Freda. All homosexual men are under her protection, but a man who has transitioned would be someone the Goddess would very much protect and guide. My sister, who has always been jealous of the title of Madam, never having had the skills herself, made my niece’s life particularly difficult.” Kalinda sat quietly for a long while before she sighed.“The public transition from one Madam to the next must have witnesses. The spiritual transition will happen later when it's just the two of us. You were correct that public transition is almost always done with close family members, but you are the closest thing to family I have now. I no longer speak with my sister, and my mother and grandmothers have all passed through the veil. It is not right to keep a Queen from her seat just because family don’t agree with her calling. My mother’s father was very opposed to her acceptance of the role, and he fought against it, but my grandmother ignored him and passed the power to her anyway, quoting those very words.”
“How… how did you know? I mean, when did you know your niece would be… a niece? I’m not asking that well, but your line passes from mother to daughter or aunt to niece.”
“My grandmother actually prophesied it, although it wasn’t that clear at the time, but I also knew the day she was born. I felt it in my heart. I didn’t say anything because even then, my sister was not accepting. But that beautiful baby was the one to take on this role next in our family. Even if she hadn’t transitioned, she would’ve been the first male to take the role. I was sure of it, but of course, this is even more logical. We’ve been blessed with her growth and acceptance.”
We sat quietly as I absorbed the information. I didn’t know many people who’d transitioned. In fact, I was only beginning to meet and become acquainted with them since working here with… with Kalinda. I thanked the deities for exposing me to those individuals in my community, and now I was excited to get to know Madam Baptiste better. Especially now I felt like part of her family.
It only took a day to pack up Kalinda’s belongings. Once she’d shed all the shop’s stuff, she didn’t have many personal effects. She and Madam Baptiste packed the crystal ball and all the things she decided to take with her in the back of her vehicle.
I shook the woman’s hand and told her how excited I was to follow her journey as the new Madam of her family. She paused mid-shake and looked concerned, then sighed. “Rory, I… well, I’m new to this as you know, but… well, I feel compelled to tell you. There is a very dark wind blowing your way. Be very careful how you tread…” She looked at her aunt, then back at me before she shook her head. “Auntie Kalinda will help. I can sense that too… but don’t let your guard down.”
She smiled, then went over to Mick. The new Madam was both lovely and gracious. She hugged Mick and the look she gave him told me she likely understood more about what was haunting him than we’d told her. She wasn’t wrong, Kalinda was helping. I knew I sure couldn’t take this monster on without her help. She didn’t say anything to Mick, which surprised me. Maybe she sensed he didn’t need to be warned. He already knew what he was fighting.
Once we’d done all we could to help, Kalinda stayed to meet someone who was buying all her shelving, and I took Mick sightseeing. Memphis could be hard living with the muddy Mississippi rolling past. Yet, it held a special place in my heart. We went to Mud Island and wandered around, then ended up back on Beale for lunch.
I loved spending time with Mick. We sat side by side at Muddy’s Bake Shop, a gay-friendly local bakery, and enjoyed talking about the area. And he let me go on and on about my life here. Finally, he just asked, “So, why Memphis?”
I laughed. “Well, you know, I didn’t have a place to go. I’d broken up with my ex, and his friends seemed to be all over Nashville. Every time I went out, it was like they were checking up on me. I didn’t want to go to Atlanta or Chattanooga, so I thought I’d check out Memphis.”
“And you stayed?” he asked.
“Well, I met the medium formerly known as Madam Bellamy. I clicked with her right away, and she was so beautiful and mysterious, and well, this gay boy fell for her.” I laughed at the memory.
“I think she loves you too.”
I bumped up against him ’cause my heart swelled at that statement. “We are family. She even said that a couple of nights ago after passing power on to her niece.”
“Oh, that was amazing, but I felt totally like an outsider.”
“Don’t. If Kalinda didn’t already think of you as part of her very small and exclusive world, she wouldn’t have included you. I think you’ve impressed her, you know.”
He shrugged, and I could tell he wasn’t used to handling compliments. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Although in downtown Memphis, I might not have normally done that with another guy, but something about Mick made my insides all gooey.
“I-I’m pretty impressed with you too, ya know.”
“Are you?” he asked and smiled shyly. “Well, I’m impressed back. Now, this is getting sappier than all these sweets in here. Let’s change the subject before my teeth get too gummy to pull apart.”
I laughed, considering we’d had taffy before coming here, and I knew exactly what he was talking about. But at the same time, I knew I’d like to pursue more with him.
I know I was putting the cart before the horse—thanks, Grandpa, for another old-timey saying—but it would be nice to know if he felt even partially the same or was just playing along, expecting me to disappear.
Jeez, what’s wrong with me?I thought and shook my head. I sounded like one of those overeager people who viewed every man as a potential husband. I chuckled, causing him to glance over at me, and when he gave me the “what?” look, I shrugged.
“Come on, let’s go find Kalinda. She wanted to go to Graceland with us, and I figured we need some Elvis about right now. What do you think?”
Mick smiled and got up before reaching out a hand, pulling me up as well. Time to stop worrying so dang much and enjoy the man while I had him. That’s what I needed to do.
Chapter thirty-two
Mick
Isat across from Kalinda and Rory with my mouth agape. “You want to do what?” I asked.
