Page 137 of Lily In The Valley
“She hasn’t stopped telling her friends about you,” my mother said warmly. “It’s always ‘My big brother this’ or ‘My big brother that.’”
“She’s pretty cool, too. I told my sis-in-law about Kahlia. She’s an artist. Said she’d want to bring her to her art studio if she ever visited.”
“That’d be nice. Kahlia would love that.” We both got quiet, save for the honking horns and muscle cars revving their engines as they zoomed by on the highway. Neither one of us knew what to say next. My mother decided to start first.
“Thank you for giving me a chance. You didn’t have to, but you are, and I’ll forever thank you for that.”
A knot formed in my throat. I pulled into a parking spot. “Thank you for learning from the past. I know we’re a work in progress, but I need you to keep showing up.”
“I’ll do that.” I could hear the slight wince of emotion as she responded.
“I didn’t want anything. Just wanted to say hi and check-in.”
“Don’t be a stranger. Text me anytime,” my mother said. “Hold on, Kahlia wants to tell you something.”
“Hey big bro, next time you’re in Seattle, we have to try this new Boba shop.” My heart squeezed at the new nickname Kahlia had given me.
“Bet. You paying?”
“Me? You’re the adult. I’m but a poor child. Older siblings are supposed to take care of the younger ones, am I right?”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “I got you, okay?”
“Okay then.” I could feel her smile through the phone.
I walked into the barbershop, where Maverick had already hyped up the customers as he signed autographs. He sat in a chair near the back, cape around his shoulders like a king who knew his crown was in the cut. The shop smelled like alcohol and oil sheen. Clippers sang from different stations. Zay sat a few chairs down, eyes tired but bright with joy.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Maverick said, holding his hand out for a handshake. “Boy been glued to his phone since he came back from Seattle.”
“Shut your ass up, bruh,” I said. I dapped up Zay, then sat in an empty chair to wait my turn.
“When do you have to pick up Kelly?” Zay asked, checking his line in the mirror.
“Couple hours. Zay, y’all got everybody showing out for Zaria’s ½ birthday.”
“Man what? Viv and Ma been planning this for months. You’d think it was a sweet sixteen. But hey, after the party, they’re tag-teaming Granny daycare for a few days.” Zay squinted at me through the mirror. “You look different.”
I smiled as a text from Kelly came through on my phone.
Wifey
boarding now see you soon
Me
I’ll be there waiting for you
The barber popped the cape and dusted Maverick’s neck like he was blessing him. Maverick slid out of the chair, checked his angles, then bumped into my chest. “Who you texting right now?”
“My future wife.”
“Like I said, glued to the phone,” he joked, moving out of the way so I could take his spot in the chair.
“At least my girl is somebody I can be with. You trying to play me, but ain’t Nyah married, Zay?”
Maverick shrugged off my comments. “Not for long. She just don’t know it yet.”
Zay laughed in his chair. “Mav, what you gonna do when she and Antonio come to this karaoke thing Nessa got us doing tonight?”
