“No, I’m tired of this. And what has he done? He hates me because of things I had no control over. I didn’t cause his accident. I didn’t tell him to get drunk, climb a tree, and fall out of it. I didn’t take his basketball scholarship away from him, but he’s tried to take mine away from me. He tried to—”
“He was not in his right mind when any of that happened. He was drinkin’, and you know how that affects him. How it affects the men in our family.” I count to ten. Then I stuff the anger down because that will do nothing but mess with my head. My professional life might be going great, but my personal life has been nothing but a giant cluster for the past six years. I’m finally in a good place, and Charlie Chastain is not going to ruin it.
“Of course. Nothin’ is his fault ever. Look, Mama, I’m done talkin’ about it. We are grown men now. You don’t need to play mediator between us like you did when we were kids.” I take a deep breath and change the subject. “I was thinkin’ me and Evan can come back to Alabama with you for a couple of weeks.” And I bought another house there for me and my son. Mama doesn’t know that yet. No need to tell her I won’t be staying with her and Charlie.
“That sounds great.” I can hear the enthusiasm in her voice. “I want to spend some time with my grandson.” The happiness is back in her voice, and I relax now that the conversation has veered to a friendlier topic, at least for now.
“Yeah, the little traitor says he wants to play baseball. Can you believe that?”
She lets out a carefree laugh. “You let my grandbaby play whatever he wants.” The conversation turns to Evan and my plans for him this summer. She talks some more, and I look out the sliding glass door to find Victoria staring directly at me. Our eyes lock and she doesn’t look away this time.
“You okay?” she mouths. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t genuine concern from her. I smile, but I know the smile doesn’t reach my eyes. I nod, and she looks away, dismissing me again. I finally end the call with Mama and join everyone on the deck.
“Are you hungry, Colt?” her mother, Alicia, asks several minutes later.
“Yes. Thank you, ma’am. I’m always famished after a conversation with my mama.” I say it loud enough for Victoria to hear that I was talking to my mother and not a love interest.
She hands me a plate and tells me to go help myself. I give her a smile in gratitude.
“Dad, can I spend the night here with Vincent?” Evan runs to my side of the table and practically jumps on my lap. “Alan says he will play video games with us. He says he’ll teach us calculus because women love men who know math.”
“Oh, really?” Victoria says with a snicker. “Where’s your woman at, Alan?”
“I’m more of a player,” Alan says. “One woman can’t handle all of this.” He stands, lifts his shirt and punches his stomach.
“Yeah, me too,” Vincent says.
Alan reaches over and gives him a high five.
“Um, no. We’re not teaching them this,” Tara says. “Ethan, say something.”
“He’s four, baby. What do you want me to say? He has no idea what a player is.” While Tara debates with her brother and Ethan, I glide my hand along Vickie’s shoulders. She visibly shivers.
“My only white boy crush is Bradley Cooper,” she whispers close to my ear.
The smell of her musky body spray hits my nose. I lean closer and inhale. She gasps but doesn’t push me away. I rest my forehead on her shoulder and say, “In that case, it’s time you upgrade to a man, Queen Vee.” I rub my nose on a soft patch of skin, taking deep breaths of her scent. “It’s our first holiday together. Happy Memorial Day, darlin’.” I lean in and kiss her cheek. She bolts out of her chair and runs inside.
SIX
VICKIE
I barely taketwo sips from my very full glass of white wine when Mother, Tara, and my stepmother walk inside. I pour two more glasses of white and one red for my mother. Mother grabs me and pulls me aside, and I down my drink in anticipation. “French fry,” she says. She looks over my shoulder as if to ensure total privacy. “Have you heard from Gerald?” She drops her gaze after the words leave her mouth.
I haven’t thought about Gerald since that Friday night over a month ago.
“I’m sure you already know the answer to that since you’re the one who told him where to find me,” I whisper to her. I look around the kitchen, and Colt is looking at me from the other side of the glass door. I decide I’m going to ignore him too. I’m sick of men.
“I was only trying to help.” She reaches up and runs a hand through my hair. “You both were so young when you broke up. What’s wrong with a second chance?” I pull her hand from my hair and put it down. She shrugs and smiles, and I hate how her smile is just like mine. “You’re my daughter. The child who is more like me than anyone. I know you’re lonely. I just don’t understand why you’ve built this wall around yourself.”
She says the words tenderly, like a loving mother would, but they slice through me like a knife. Being like Alicia Taylor is not the compliment she thinks it is, and I take a small step back to try and regain my thoughts.
“Mother,” I shake my head while I think of a response, “let’s stay out of my love life, okay? What about you? Are you dating anyone these days?” Changing the subject back to her has always worked in the past. She’s dated a bunch of men and was even married to one for a couple of years.
She gives me a playful look, and I brace myself for a long story, but she surprises me. “We’re talking about Victoria.” She puts her glass down and takes my hand. “French fry, my therapist says—” The sliding door opens and Colt and the boys walk in. Whatever mother was going to say dies on her tongue. Relieved, I pull my hand from hers. Colt walks by, making sure to rub against me while Evan pulls him down the hall.
Mother’s eyes widen at the interaction. Say what you will about Mother, but she’s astute. She’s about the smartest woman I’ve ever met.
“Really, Vickie?” she whispers before letting out a soft giggle. “He’s not exactly your type.” She leans closer, bumping her shoulder with mine as if we’re girlfriends exchanging secrets. “I never would have thought.”
