Page 12 of Not About That Life
“Try me,” he leads me back to the room and sit down the same expensive furniture I was on, “what’s going on?”
“I just really miss my mom right now,” I swallow, “that’s all.”
“No, that isn’t all,” Gerald removes a silk handkerchief from his pocket and hands it over to me, “I know how it feels. My mum died when I was still in high school. Ian had already left for college. He was barely a semester into his freshman year and was down for winter break when the accident happened.” He shakes his head. “I can still remember the emotions of that night. Playing with my friends, only to receive news I needed to come home right away. There wasn’t a hospital stay because she died on impact. I’m thankful she didn’t suffer but that’s it.”
“How do you deal with it?” I ask through harsh breaths.
Gerald shrugs and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The best way I can. Every so often, I get a sharp, unbearable pain in my chest because I think of what she’d missed. Right now, she’ll be in the kitchen with Ian, probably scolding him about how needs to eat more fish pie to fatten up.” He chuckles and I smile. “She would’ve loved Emma to death. There’s a lot of mum in Emma. I think that was part of the reason why I was drawn to her. It was as if mum handpicked her.” He turns to me. “She would’ve adored you as well. There’s a lot of mum in you, too.”
“Oh?” The news surprises me. I always had the feeling Lula Jean and I were worlds different. “How?”
“You’re both very headstrong and quite stubborn,” he softly chuckles, “but you two have two of the biggest hearts I can imagine. Mum loved music and was always playing it. She would’ve gotten a kick out of you pole dancing.”
“She wouldn’t have been ashamed or disappointed in me or Ian?” I cautiously ask.
“Nah, mum wasn’t the judgmental type. Her attitude was as long as you were good to her, she was good to you. She didn’t care what went on behind closed doors. She didn’t have time for any of that.” Gerald shakes his head and folds his arms. “She was far too busy with her friends, her charities, and acquiring more art. That was her focus.”
“Sounds like Ian,” I blow my nose.
“Ian and mum were best friends. I was close with her, too, but she and Ian had a special bond. She didn’t approve of Naomi but she supported Ian because she loved him. I imagine she would’ve been quite pleased the marriage didn’t go through.”
“Even if she was the cause of it?” I ask.
“You had to know mum to understand she had a very twisted sense of humor.” Gerald turns to me and offers a polite grin. “Tell me about Regina Kimbrough.”
I slightly chuckle through the salty tears. “What is it you want to know? She was my mom.”
“I know she was an art collector but what else about her?” Gerald nods. “What did she like? What did she hate? How would you describe her?”
“Regina Kimbrough,” I let out another sigh and stare up at the ceiling, “she was…amazing. She was never into technology and struggled to keep up with everything. She would hate all of the social media nowadays. She barely kept up with her phone.” A slight chuckle escaped me. “My mother had me young, she was barely out of high school when she had Adrienne, but she had an old spirit about her. She loved old-school soul and I think she and Ian would’ve bonded on that. She was always listening to the Ohio Players, Teddy Pendergrass, the Commodores, and the Isley Brothers. That’s all I heard. I can remember one time I woke up from some good sleep to Al Green blasting in the living room. She was cleaning. She always put on Al Green to clean. I will forever associate “Love & Happiness” with Pine-Sol.” I smiled and Gerald joined me.
“She sounded like an amazing person,” he adds.
“She was,” I nod, “she was the most incredible woman on earth. I find myself talking to her but it helps. Sometimes I don’t know who else to talk to.”
“I talk to mum all of the time,” Gerald hesitates before he continues, “so does Ian.”
The news surprises me. Ian hasn’t opened too much about his mother and it’s a subject I don’t push, given everything that has occurred. “He does?”
“He’s not very open about it and I don’t expect him to be. Our mum’s death really hit him hard, and I suspect a lot harder he wants to admit. We’re both very close to our parents but mum always gave him life advice. Believe it or not, Ian was incredibly shy growing up and barely spoke. Mum’s death forced him to become more outgoing because he became the family representative. Once I married Emma, he gladly gave her that role so he could re-focus on his studies. Graduated from King’s College in business and went to cookery school shortly afterwards. It’s why he’s so brilliant at what he does. He knows about food and business; both are something not a lot of restaurateurs know.”
It explains why Ian never has money in just one pot but several.Diversify your assets.Michael and his long, blonde Madonna ponytail comes into focus and I shake my head to relieve the sight. “And you?” I sniffle. “How did your mum’s death affect you?”
Gerald folds his hands and a few lines appear across his forehead. “I grew up much sooner than I should’ve,” he admits, “I went from worrying about how to get Baby Spice to write me back to worrying about my dad and brother.” He releases a soft grin and I smile as well. “I just knew she would’ve written me back, too!”
I softly chuckle. “I’m sure you still can write to her.”
“Nah, I’m a bigger fan of my wife than any pop starlet,” he reveals. He looks over at me. “Feeling better now, kiddo?”
“Much, thank you.” I crumble the handkerchief. “I’m sure you don’t want this back so I’ll wash it and give it back to you.”
“Oh keep it. I have plenty at home,” he adds, “besides I think a lady should have carry her finest silk handkerchief where ever she goes. You never know when the mood might call for one,” he winks at me and stands. “Shall we join the others? I’m sure dinner will be starting soon.”
“Sure thing,” I stand with him and straighten out my clothing, “um, one last thing, G.”
“Hmm?”
“I know this might sound silly but I just have to ask,” I begin, “do you hate me because I’m with your brother?”
