“You started that.” Remi aimed a finger at her. “Grace was a lot of things, and she was far from perfect, but that was hermother. How would you feel if Daphne died, and someone spoke ill of her?”
“Depends on if it was true or not.” Gem shrugged. “She doesn’t strike me as someone who’s going to go cry in a corner, Remi. She’s cold. Gotta be if she can look me in my face and speak like that. Like I’m some kind of inconvenience in her world or something. How is it my fault that her father cheated and made a baby?”
“It’s not.” Remi sighed. “Lord, it’s not. She just needs some time.”
“I doubt that will help.” Gem picked up her orange juice and guzzled the rest.
She’d cleaned her plate and tossed her napkin over it after wiping her hands and mouth. “She is already set on hating everything about me. We willneverbe sisters.”
“Never say never,” Remi reminded her. “I’m going to grab my purse and this list Petal put together, so we can head out and do some shopping. Now, you make sure to let me know whatever you need. I don’t want you to have to worry about anything. You’re not eighteen yet, so until then, you are my responsibility with Daphne out of the picture.”
“Thank you, Remi. I know you didn’t ask for any of this.”
“We’re family. In the end, that’s all that matters.” She huffed, bringing herself to her feet.
Saturday Afternoon…
“Is it me or is it hot out here today?” Lou queried, peeking at the crowd over her dark shades.
It was officially Saturday, and the block party was in full swing. The smell of charcoal and grilled meat took over as music blared from the speakers, and Frankie Beverly and Maze sang “Before I Let Go.” A cookout classic for sure. Giselle walked alongside her on one side and Maisie sipped from a cold bottle of Corona on the other as they checked around for a place to sit. Tables were arranged under tents, and there was a section where all the food was covered along with multiple coolers filled with refreshments.
Three separate moon bounces were set up for the kids to play, and the little laughs and screams from them also filled the air. The men tended to the grills while the women sat or stood around, gossiping and making plates. Remi and her group of friends gathered in a reserved section, laughing, sipping their Seagram’s drinks, and talking shit. Completely in her element, she helped serve people and chatted with familiar faces the whole time. Gem sat at a separate table, scrolling her phone and ignoring everything around her. Giselle had been avoiding the girl over the last couple of days, making every excuse not to be around her. She’d been preoccupied with trying to find a job and hadn’t heard from her lawyer, so it was stressing her out.
“Yeah, it’s definitely heating up.” Maisie skimmed the many faces as some people waved or smiled in their direction.
Most of them were curious about Giselle and Gem. It was a small town, so people were going to talk when something new hit. It didn’t help that Remi had spent some time venting to her circle about all the changes happening within her family. Suddenly, Giselle felt like she was under a microscope here too. For different reasons. It had her second guessing sticking around.
Crew and some of his boys were posted at picnic tables in an area where they could smoke their weed in peace and sip their liquor. Red solo cups covered the table while they talked theirshit during domino and spades sessions. Of course, the groupies had also flocked in their direction, which always annoyed Maisie. She knew it came with the territory. It had been a long time since a bitch had tried her about her husband, but she stayed ready for it.
Bitches were bold and glorified side hoes these days, constantly chasing clout. Crew had money, and he was generous with it. If he saw someone was trying, he had no problem floating them some cash to help them out and never expected anything in return. He was also five years younger than her, so Maisie often wondered if he wanted someone his age. Whenever she talked like that, he would just lay the pipe to shut her up, making sure she knew there wasn’t another woman walking the earth that he wanted.
She was thirteen when Remi started looking out for Crew, and when he lost his mother, she couldn’t help but feel bad for him. She left for college, but when she came home, he was always around. Crew matured fast for his age and moved like a grown ass man.
When he turned eighteen, he vowed to have Maisie to himself, and it took some time to wear her down. Once he did, the two became inseparable, regardless of the judgment they got from other people. Even Remi objected to the relationship in the beginning. Crew stood on business about Maisie, though, proposing to her when he was just twenty years old. The two had a quick courthouse wedding without telling anyone and had been together ever since.
“I could use a drink. A real one,” Giselle declared, strolling along in her peach Chanel jumper and gold heels.
She caught the envious eyes of most of the women while the men admired her with lust. With diamond earrings reflecting off the sun and a bunch of gold bangle bracelets on her wrist, shenervously smoothed the back of her hair up to make sure her high ponytail was still intact.
“Pssh, I’m with you when you’re right.” Lou aimed a long stiletto nail at her cousin.
“Lou, take it easy. You know how you get. Don’t embarrass yourself or Mama today,” Maisie warned, sending her sister’s eyes rolling in her head.
“Whatever. Go check on Crew. You know you want to. Come on, G.” Lou looped her arm through Giselle’s and lead her to the table where all the liquor had been arranged.
It wasn’t far from where Crew and his boys were yelling and cracking jokes.
“So, how are things going with your mini me?” Lou teased once they reached the table, and she picked up two Solo cups for them.
“They’re not. I know I’m supposed to be the bigger person in all this but fuck that girl.” Giselle picked up a bottle of Don Julio and thought about Heavy.
She hadn’t seen or heard from him since their night together, not that she expected to, but she felt a way about it. Most men would be blowing her up, showering her with bouquets of roses, or sending her little trinkets. Not Heavy. He’d gone radio silent, not even attempting to reach out. The two didn’t exchange numbers or anything, but if he wanted to reach her, he had plenty of ways to do so.
“She is your little sister,” Lou said, falling over laughing. “I think it’s in the handbook for you to clash every now and then,” she pointed out. “Look at me and Mais.”
“That’s different. Y’all grew up together. She’s literally a side baby.”
“Still your sister, no denying that.” Lou grabbed a bottle of Bombay Gin and mixed it with lemonade for herself.
