Page 34 of Tyriq & Teaira
“I was wondering how long y’all were going to stay out there in that heat,” she says. She examines my hands. “Come in here before you let all of my cool air out.”
She moves back, widening the door to let us in. Tee takes the one step up then enters and I’m right behind her. Her mom closes the door then pulls Tee into a big hug. “So glad y’all made it and he’s tall and handsome.” Her last words are in a lower tone but I hear her loud and clear and just smile.
“Momma, don’t start. This is Tyriq and Tyriq, this is my mom—”
“Diane. I’m Diane,” she rushes out. Teaira takes her bouquet and the bear and I hand the roses to her mom.
“Nice to meet you Miss Diane. I got you something.”
“For me! You didn’t have to do that. I’m definitely going to take these beautiful roses but you shouldn’t have,” she says, smiling hard. Just like her daughter, she examines the roses then inhales them. She places them on the small table propped on the wall then pulls me in for a hug. When she ends the embrace, she slowly looks up to my face. “Damn! You are tall. I thought my Troy was tall but you got him by a foot.”
“Momma, not a foot,” Teaira says. “Daddy’s six-one. Where is he anyway?”
“In the kitchen, probably in my damn pots. I hope y’all are hungry. I made a Sunday meal on a Friday.”
“And I’m hungry too,” Teaira says and I smile. She’s finally eating better. The doctor said those vitamins might help too.Maybe they’re working already.“I’m going to put my stuff in the living room till we leave. It’s over here,” she says to me and motions for me to follow.
“I hope you don’t forget them. Those tulips would look beautiful in there on the side table,” her mom says before grabbing her bouquet and walking in the other direction.
“Your moms is your twin,” I tell her as soon as we walk into the living room.
“I know. I used to deny it when I was younger but I always knew. Most people think we’re sisters and she loves that shit.”
“Well, at least I know you’ll still be fine and pretty when you get to that age,” I joke and she punches my arm.
“Don’t be looking at my momma, boy!” she says, then laughs. “I’m gonna tell her what you said.”
“Ay. Don’t do that. I need her to like me.”
“You brought her roses. She likes you,” she assures. My eyes scan the big ass living room. There’s a piano in the corner and on the wall behind it is a glass display case filled with what looks like awards from here. I start to trek over and she follows. “I used to play,” she says.
“Shit. You must have been good. Look at all these plaques and ribbons.”
“That’s over like eight years. That’s why there’s so many,” she says, trying to downplay it.
“Can you still play?”
“Yeah. I can. I play sometimes when I’m over here.” She slides onto the bench then lifts the cover off the keys. Looking all professional, she locks her fingers together and stretches them, then places her hands on the keys. “My mom always wanted me to play Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ but I preferred to play this,” she says before closing her eyes.
The room fills with a song I think I recognize and I just stare at her in awe. Her eyes remain closed as she plays but hersmile doesn’t fade at all. She sways and smiles while practically making the piano sing. She can play and I can tell she loves it. When she finishes, her eyes open and I’m sure I’m smiling like a damn simp but I don’t care. She did that shit.
“Damn! You can really play. What was that song?”
“One of my favorites by Alicia Keys.”
When she closes the lid, I extend my hand and she takes it, helping her up. As soon as she’s standing, I wrap both of my arms around her.
“Award winning piano player. What else don’t I know ’bout you?” I ask because I’m real shit still stuck on how she just played that piano.
“Oh, there’s so much more. Like the old people say, I’m like an onion. There’s so many layers to me,” she says with a cute ass smirk on her face.
“Shit. I love layers and I’m glad I like onions then.”
“Stop lying! You don’t like onions,” she says while grinning.
“But I like you and this juicy onion.” My hands grip her phat ass as I lean in to kiss her lips but a deep voice stops me.
“Ay. I don’t play that kissing in here,” he barks.
