Page 17 of A Lifetime in 30 Days
“You’re not supposed to be smoking,” Vanna said, and inhaled the scent of Granny’s signature White Diamonds perfume.
“You had my nerves bad, babygirl. Are you all right?” Granny asked as she continued to rock Vanna in her tight one-armed hold.
“Yeah. I guess,” Vanna said. “I just want to go home, burn these clothes, and then sear my skin with the hottest water I can survive.”
Frito gave a grumbly rumble in what Vanna considered his approval as she eased away from Granny. With upturned lips, she glanced down at the dog she swore was the funniest-looking pooch she’d ever seen up close and scrubbed behind one of his tall ears.
Jamaica was the next one to pull Vanna into a hug. “Girl, I know that’s right. It’s dirty as hell in there, and you know I know.”
Vanna was nodding when Ronni came in to make their hug a threesome. “I was praying so hard for you, V. So hard.”
“Thank you,” Vanna said, and took a step back away from them. “Thank y’all for coming down here. I hope you weren’t standing out here too long. But I didn’t have any idea how long this process would take, and they wouldn’t let me make another call.”
“Oh, no, we had somebody on the inside giving us the scoop,” Ronni said.
Vanna gave herself a gentle smack on the forehead and said, “Duh. That’s right, J, I’m sure you’ve got COs that are down here tonight. Thank whoever kept me alive in there for me.”
“No, ma’am,” Jamaica said, and grabbed Vanna’s shoulders to turn her around. “You can thank him yourself.”
“Hey, Savannah,” Aden said as he stepped out from around a sleek silver Audi.
“Aden? What are you doing here?”
He came closer, in that walk that seemed more like a saunter. He’d changed out of his suit as well and now wore dark jeans and a black T-shirt that fit his muscular torso way too well. “I’ve got a buddy who’s a defense attorney. I called when those detectives drove off with you. One of his associates was already down here seeing to another client, so he got the scoop, relayed it to my friend, and he got here just before you were scheduled to see the commissioner.”
“I didn’t see anyone in the courtroom when I was there,” she said. “I mean, there were lots of people in there, but nobody came over to me to say they were my attorney. I just figured they let me go because I had no prior record.”
“He was already taking care of the paperwork for you. His wife is in the last month of what has been a difficult pregnancy, and he barely likes leaving her to go to work during the day, let alone in the middle of the night. So he wanted to get back home. But while you were being processed out, he told me to tell you to call him first thing tomorrow morning.” He handed her a card.
She took it and, thanks to the floodlights on the building behind them, could read the name Jovani Kincaid on the front.
“He was fine too, V,” Jamaica said from behind her. “Even in that slim-fit suit he was wearing. I think I’ve seen him down at the jail too, probably visiting with his clients or whatever.”
Aden, who was still staring at Vanna, nodded. “He’s had his own practice for ten years and is one of the most reputable defense attorneys in the District.”
“And you called him for me?” she asked. “Why?”
“Because it looked like you were in trouble,” he replied.
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “And? Who are you, my knight in shining armor?”
“You’re rude,” Granny said, and came up to loop an arm through Vanna’s. “Thank the man, and let’s get you home.”
Vanna resisted the urge to stare quizzically at her grandmother, because if she wasn’t the pot calling the kettle. She sighed. “Right. Sorry. It’s been a rough day,” she said, then tucked the card into the side pocket of her jumpsuit and extended her hand to Aden. “Thanks for all your help. I’ll give him a call in the morning.”
Aden accepted her hand in a stern but gentle grasp. He held on to it as he continued to watch her. “No problem. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
She was just about to say he didn’t need to do that when Granny yanked on her arm. “That sounds good. Let’s go. I don’t want none of these fools coming back out here and tryin’ to take you away again.”
“I know that’s right,” Ronni said. “Let’s go home.”
Vanna eased her hand out of Aden’s grasp and gave him a small smile. “Thanks again, and good night.”
His response was a nod before he turned his attention to Granny. “Good night, Granny. Ronni, Jamaica. You ladies drive safely.”
After the rest of thegood nightsand once Vanna was belted into the back seat of Granny’s car—because her grandmother insisted she was going to drive her home—Vanna said, “You just met him today ... or rather, yesterday, at the cemetery. Why’s he calling youGranny?”
Mabeline was insistent about respect and people addressing her properly. Vanna had witnessed her correct a young nurse at the vein clinic who came into the room one morning and referred to her as Mabeline. “That’s Ms. Jackson to you, little girl.”
