Page 33 of The Perfect Verse
Chaney went closer to her bed, sitting in the same spot he’d just sat in. She wished she was closer to her mother and grandmother, but over the years, she resented how she had to hustle and do hair to provide for her family. She knew they loved her, but not the way she needed to be loved. Truth be told, she was secretly envious of Sashay, who was surrounded by love, especially her grandmother.
“Well, I’m nothing special,” she spoke, glancing over her shoulder when Donovan kissed his teeth. “I’m not. I do hair. I heard I’m pretty good at it.”
“She’s more than good at it, Granny P. She has celebrities sitting in her chair, and she owns her own shop.” He was her official hype man anytime someone complimented her about her hair, even her outfits that were usually something she’d put together, creating her own signature looks. That was why he wanted to put her on when it came to styling him. He had no issue rocking his cousin’s clothing line, but his girl’s added touch would be the chef’s kiss he needed.
“I’ve had a few local celebrities, but most of my clientele are steady customers who refer new customers.” She glanced at Granny Paula’s soft, gray hair. The texture was coiled and thick with a small bun that rested at the top. She caught her looking and grinned.
“I can do something to yours once you’re released. I don’t mind. May I touch it?”
“Pfft, do what? I haven’t had my hair professionally done since my cousin Caroline’s funeral. Paid all that money for it to sweat out serving food and cleaning up. Dang children and grandchildren of mine were too busy partying. It was a sad time for us since June kept the family together with his jokes and house parties. Cancer took him out.” She patted Chaney’s hand. “I won’t trouble you about mine, but it was a kind gesture.”
“No trouble at all. Donnie can let me know.” He caught on to her calling him the name Sashay’s family called him, mostly the older family members, since everyone else called him by his rap name, Dread Man.
“Why, thank you. This also helps explain the dream I had. A whole school of fish.”
“Dang, Granny. Why it got to be about me?” He chuckled.
“You just said your future wife and mother of your kids.”
“Tell him, Granny P,” Chaney playfully chimed in.
“Granny knows, but you two have time for that. Just don’t let Shay get in the way before it happens.” She pushed out a fewcoughs, then closed her eyes. He could tell she was tired. “I pray every day for her. I love her. Just don’t understand her.”
“It happens,” Chaney spoke, surprisingly coming to Shay’s defense. “We lose our way sometimes until God shows us a way out. She will find it.” Granny Paula’s lips turned down in each corner, a sign of being impressed.
“You snagged a good one, baby. I like her.”
They all laughed at that. It had done Donovan’s heart some good to see her enjoying their time together. He’d forever be grateful for what she deemed to be small gestures by taking him in when his own mother would lock him out. She called it tough love. It was too tough sometimes. Love like the kind Granny Paula offered, met you where you were.
“I do think she’s trying,” Donovan lied, but he couldn’t break her heart. Sashay was hanging out with the wrong people and places, and that told him one thing: she was getting her hands dirty. That one little secret, he kept tucked in his pocket in case she was dumb enough to out him.
“She better.” She leaned over toward Chaney, slightly covering her mouth with her free hand. “Just don’t whoop her up too bad when she steps out of line. I know her.”
“Oop,” Chaney covered her mouth, then tittered. “I’m not fighting her…today.”
She was glad she came, and she could see why Donovan loved her grandmother. She was real, she was genuine, and she was the bridge he crossed over while in survival mode.
“Good. Just make sure Donnie finally stands up to her and puts her in her place. Most times I don’t look to him for help ‘cause I did everything I’d done out of love for him. A house filled with ungrateful children and grandchildren, and he’d be the one to come in and help out without me asking. The little shelter and food I’ve offered him wasn’t much, but it was what I had and what he needed.”
“I think I can do that,” she whispered as he roughly dragged his hand down his face. He hated anyone to see him cry, but he loved Granny Paula as if they shared the same blood. She stood and pushed her hands through his dreads.
“You think?” she challenged her with narrowed eyes.
“I mean, I can.”
“Okay, nih. That’s what I needed to hear, and call me Granny Paula.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. Now I can get all in your business. What is it you kids call it, tea?”
Chaney and Donovan tittered as she tried to keep up with the current lingo of a generation that didn’t nearly have a third of the wisdom she had.
“What do you want to know?” Chaney pulled up a chair and scooted closer, taking her hand.
“How’d you meet? It takes some kind of girl to have my Donnie in here looking all sheepish with love in his eyes.”
Chaney glanced at him before she dove in, sharing how they came to be.
