“Yeah, I’ve got to get going. I have to meet my family for brunch.”
Nodding, Don said, “Oh yeah, I forgot, it’s the fourth Saturday of the month. Time to play catch up with the family, huh?”
“Sadly, yes, and I’m not excited about it at all.”
“Is it that bad?”
“Of course, it is. I’ve been a nonstop topic since my family found out that I filed for divorce.”
“Seriously? They should be cutting you some slack…not giving you a hard time.”
“Yeah, I wish everyone thought that way. But I’ve told you how some of my family feels when it comes to divorce. Especially, since it’s him. Everyone loves Jayson.”
“They need to get over it,” Don replied with a shrug. “You did what you had to do for yourself, and that’s what should matter most.”
I sighed, wishing my family would make my life as easy as Don just made it sound. But that shit was impossible. As far as my aunt was concerned, Jayson was the perfect husband simply because he was a provider. It didn’t matter that he liked to get drunk, go out all hours of the night, and get himself into shit that he had no business getting into. According to her, that’s just what men did, and sadly, she raised me and my cousins to believe that mess. Out of the three of us, at least two of us managed to call bullshit when it came to that way of thinking. We always got talked bad to because of it too.
Leaning in to hug Don, I eased my mouth against his ear and whispered, “Our conversation isn’t over. I want to know what’s going on, and I want to know before you leave town. So, tomorrow, lunch on me…deal?”
Sliding his hand down my back, he nodded in agreement. “It’s a deal.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I stepped out of his arms and gave Dakota’s leg a little squeeze. “I hope you have fun at the aquarium. Be sure you have G-Ma take a lot of pictures. I want to see them all so we can talk about them.”
“I will. Bye Titi Nova.”
“Bye, baby,” I said before waving and making my way out of the door.
Hurrying to my car, I texted my aunt and made sure to let her know that I would be at her place at noon on the dot. As soon as I tossed my phone into the cup holder, it started ringing.
It was my cousin, Kendra.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?” I answered.
“I’m really thinking about ditching this brunch. I don’t have time for the bullshit today.”
“No, you can’t ditch. If you’re not there then all eyes are going to be on me, and no one is going to have my back. I need you there.”
“Girl, I’m not in the mood, and you know my mama is going to give me the fucking blues. I wish she would stop planning these damn things and forcing us to come.”
“Now, you know that’s never going to happen. She’s been doing these monthly brunches since we were kids.”
“Yeah, but it’s time for a change. No one wants to sit around a table full of family who pretends to care about knowing what’s going on in your life, only to tell you what they think you’re doing wrong. If I’m forced to sit through another month of being told that it’s time for me to stop being a hoe and get married, I think I’m going to knock myself over the damn head.”
I laughed. “No one has called you a hoe.”
“Maybe not to my face, but it’s been implied on more than one occasion. Granny’s old toxic ass has mumbled the shit under her breath a time or two.”
“Well, we all know that our granny has no filter.”
“Yeah, like most old bitter ass women.” She groaned. “That woman says whatever the hell she wants and then I’m the bad guy when I put her in her place. You know I’m not about that ‘respect your elders’ shit and not getting the same thing in return.”
“Oh, trust me, I think we’re all aware of that.”
Kendra was considered to be the black sheep of the bunch. Mostly because she played by her own rules and didn’t care about what anyone had to say about it. It also didn’t help that she was always half-dressed and looked like she was about to hop on somebody’s pole. Oh, and don’t let me forget about her infamous twerk videos that kept her social media jumping all day every day. Nobody twerked for the camera like Kendra twerked for the camera. But if I could do things with my ass like she could, I would do it too. It was crazy what people would pay for on social media. The only thing they wanted to see was the smooth glow of her brown cheeks in some booty shorts on their little screens. Anyway, I was a little different when it came to playing by the rules. I was more focused on trying to keep the peace, which is why I always ended up in family situations that I didn’t want to be in.
Reminded that Kendra and I were still on the phone, I locked back in on our conversation just in time to hear her say, “Look, I just don’t think it’s fair that I still have to deal with this shit in my late twenties. Who cares that I’m getting older? That doesn’t mean I have to get a husband, and it damn sure doesn’t mean I have to have kids. I’m perfectly happy doing what I want when I want. Being a wife and mother is not on my fucking to-do list.”
“You don’t have to explain any of that to me. I already know where you’re coming from. Maybe this brunch will be different. Aunt Patricia has been a lot happier these days.”
