But Tamryn held up a hand to stop me. “You don’t need to tell me, sweetheart. Your father has a dad complex if I’ve ever seen one. He’d be fine letting you never marry so that he stays the only important person in your life. I thought that was supposed to be the mom’s job?”
“Well, you want grandkids.”
Her head whipped in my direction and a sly smile curled up the one side of her face. “Are you saying I’m getting grandkids?”
Immediately, I started to stammer. I hadn’t meant to suggest anything with that statement, but it was also the only time something like that even crossed my mind when discussing a woman in my life. “I mean… She’s…” I settled for just an awkward laugh and a muted, “I don’t know.”
She started to laugh. “Look at you all flustered. It’s cute. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Stop please.” She continued to study Avion and eventually looked impressed. “She’s very beautiful.”
“Yeah,” I said. “She’s… strange.”
“Strange how?” Tamryn asked, her smile growing.
I shook my head, not entirely knowing how to answer that question. “Just strange.”
“Where’s Zariq?” she asked.
“He was here with her before dad, but then he got a tip and had to go,” I said. “I’m surprised you’d ask about him.”
She shrugged. “Just curious.”
My mom and Milli did not get along. He was part of her father’s old empire and though her dad liked him, the fact that Tamryn didn’t care for him kept him away from any real position of power. I’d heard a roaming story that Cole wanted Tamryn to marry Milli, but there were multiple reasons why that didn’t work out. It only soured the relationship between Tamryn and Milli, but when she married Merrick, Merrick and Milli developed a good relationship and Milli worked his way up until he was at my father’s right side.
Much to my mother’s chagrin.
“Milli’s a good guy, mom.”
She just waved her hand through the air. “So everyone in the whole world tells me.” She turned and walked over to the couch across from Avion’s bed and sat down. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s hanging in there. It seems dad may have said something to her though. She’s been really beside herself ever since I asked him to come and sit with her.”
“I bet he said something foolish. That man is such a brat, I swear. You know what I tell him? I say, ‘Merrick. How do you think all these people look at me, when you start acting like a thirteen-year-old. They think something’s wrong with me for marrying a thirteen-year-old.’ But he don’t care. He says that he’s only doing what’s best and that if anyone has anything to say to him about him, he’ll deal with it. Always, ‘I’ll deal wit’ it. I’ll deal wit’ it, Tam. I’ll deal wit it.’” She put on her thickest Italian New Yorker accent to imitate him and then punctuated it with adeepeye roll. “I’m usually the one dealing with it.”
“Well I’m sorry to make you deal with it, but do you think you can take shifts from time to time with Avion? I’m hoping she’ll be discharged tomorrow and I can just take her home, but I’m gonna have to leave again at least one more time before then to make sure the house is all ready to go.”
“Of course, baby. And I promise not to cause any additional emotional damage.”
I sat back down in the chair next to Avion’s bed with a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much.”
My sitting back down in the chair must have been enough to stir Avion from her sleep, because she twisted and turned a little bit, then she turned her head towards me and her eyes fluttered open. As soon as she saw me, she smiled. “Gio…”
“Hey there,” I said. “How you feeling?”
“Not sure yet,” she said. “I think I'm still tired.”
“Well, you’ll have more time to sleep if you want. That’s fine.” Then I looked over at Tamryn. “First, though. I’d like you to meet someone.” Tamryn stood up and walked over and stood just in front of me, at Avion’s side. “This is my mom, Tamryn. Ma, this is Avion.”
Avion fought the pain to try and sit up a little straight. “Hi. I’m sorry to be meeting you under such terrible conditions.”
Immediately, Tamryn stuck a hand out and set it on top of Avion’s. “Now don’t you worry about that. It’s just good to meet you.” Then she leaned in a little. “I heard that husband of mine gave you some trouble, but I don’t want you to worry. I sent him home, and if Gio isn’t here, I will be. Us ladies gotta stick together.”
Avion cast me a quick glance before looking back at Tamryn and nodding with a smile. “Yeah. Thank you.” Then she looked at me. “Um… I have a question I wanted to ask you.”
Remembering that she’d wanted to ask me something before, I looked at my mom, who immediately picked up on the subtle hint. “I need some coffee actually. Gio? Want some? Avion? Can I get you anything?”
“Coffee actually sounds incredible if I can have some,” Avion said.
