“No one said, Nova.”
“Mmhmm, but we both know that’s what you were referring to. Anyway, how are things going between you two?”
“They’re going pretty good,” I replied, the urge to smile easing its way to the surface. “Honestly, they’ve been even better since I made it into town.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. You deserve to be happy, and I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“So, do you see marriage in the near future? More grandbabies?”
Confused about how we’d jumped to something so serious so fast, my eyes widened. “Dang, Mama, can we be in a relationship for more than two months before you start talking about marriage and kids?”
“My bad, I’m just trying to move this thing along. I already know that she’s the one.”
“I mean, I’m not saying that I disagree, but she’s still not divorced, so…”
“Damn! This is so ridiculous.”
“Trust me, I feel you. But no one feels it more than she does. She’s been trying to play it cool, but I know it still has her pretty stressed.”
“I can only imagine. Do we know what the holdup is now?”
“Well, now, he’s saying that he’s not signing anything until his lawyer has fully looked over the documents. He wants to make sure that he’s not getting screwed over.”
“He’s so full of shit. Men!”
“Hold up now, we’re not all like that.”
Removing newspaper from one of the glass plates, she chuckled. “Oh, I’m sorry baby. Not you. I raised you better than that. If a woman doesn’t want you, just let her go. Clearly, it wasn’t meant to be.”
I shrugged. “Unfortunately, not everyone understands that.”
“Yeah, and that’s sad as hell.”
Balling up the stacks of newspapers that had piled up on the table, I glanced up at the clock on the wall. I took a deep breath to help adjust the anxiety that was creeping up in my shoulders.
“What’s wrong?”
I sighed. “Aunie should be here in a few minutes to see Dakota, and I’m really not looking forward to it.”
“What’s the deal with you and that girl? Why is it so hard for you two to get along?”
“Because she’s rude as hell and has no regard for anyone other than herself. Every time we cross paths there’s a problem. She seems to think that I’m supposed to run things by her when it comes to Dakota now that Kierra isn’t around.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, and I don’t have time for that shit. Especially, since she doesn’t make things easy. She claims that she wants to see Dakota, but it’s all about her schedule, and her schedule only. Not to mention, she’s left me hanging one time too many when she was supposed to come and get her. The girl is a headache, and she always has been.”
“Understood,” my mother replied. “Well, try not to let her get to you. At the end of the day, that’s still Dakota’s aunt and you have to deal with her.”
“Nah, I really don’t. I get along with Kierra’s mother just fine. We have a pretty good understanding.”
“Yeah, but she’s not mobile, which is one of the reasons you have to deal with Aunie as much as you do.”
Lifting my eyes to the ceiling, I sighed, quickly reminded of Jewel being confined to a wheelchair. “Yeah, I know. I just wish I didn’t have to deal with her crazy ass. Things would be so much easier.”
“Don’t let it get to you. Just remember who you’re doing this for, and hopefully, things will get better now that you guys are back for good.”
