“Yeah, like what if something happens to you? Or Pops and Memaw? What then?”
“First, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. Second, your Gigi Shumaker loves you. She sends gifts and money. She calls.” Once in a while, okay, not a lot. “Losing your mama and daddy did everyone in. Then your Cook grandparents died. And suddenly Grandpa Shumaker… I think your gigi just broke. You reminded her of everything she’d lost. Her daughter-in-law, her son, her husband, her friends and in-laws.”
“But wouldn’t that make her want me all the more?”
“Pain has a strange effect on people.” Gemma brushed her hand over Imani’s cheek. “Give her time.”
“I’ll be eighteen in two years. She and that stupid new husband of hers may never see me play.”
“I’ll talk to her. I’ll be there. Pops and Memaw will be there. And that rowdy bunch of their friends.”
“Do you think they’re watching? From heaven? Mama and Dad, Granny and Gramps Cook, Grandpa Shumaker?”
“Absolutely, and I know they’re so proud of you. Your dad’s telling all the old basketball players in heaven, ‘That’s my girl, fellas, she’s a star.’”
“You’re sostoopid.” Imani smiled as she brushed away her tears and reached down for the shoes, hugging them to her chest again. “Since I’m a star, I think I need to wear these the first day of school.”
Gemma laughed. “We’ll see. But for now, you have rabbit cages to clean.”
“Yes,Mother.” Imani elongated the word as if trying it on for size. She’d never called Gemma Mom or Mama or even referred to her as her mother. She’d said “guardian” and “person I live with,” even “protector,” but never Mother. Gemma liked the feel of it.
“I’ll be out tonight,Daughter.” Hey, that felt pretty good. “Dinner at the O’Shays’.”
“The O’Shays’?” Imani looked up from where she’d kicked off her sneakers for work boots. “With the prince? Is he meeting his sister?”
“Yes and Trent told him to bring a friend. Guess that’s me.”
“You’re friends?” Imani made a face. “With Prince John of Lauchtenland?”
“Acquaintances. He’ll be gone in a month so don’t go getting ideas.” Gemma finished with the dishes and closed the dishwasher door. “There’s nothing for dinner, so order pizza.”
“A bunch of us have the fundraiser meeting for new uniforms with Coach March at Ella’s. Is there anything we can donate to a rummage sale?”
“This whole house is a rummage sale.” But it was her rummage. And she was grateful. Gemma started for the hallway to the bedrooms. “Come home after the meeting.”
“Can Penny come back with me? Watch a movie?”
“If she comes, Justin won’t be far behind.” The three of them had been friends since grade school.
“So? All we do is hang out, eat, talk basketball, music, and watch shows.”
“What if Penny can’t come?”
“Then it’ll be Justin and me.” Imani shrugged like it was no big deal but averted her gaze, finding the trash bag by the door very interesting.
“Do you like Justin? As more than a friend?” A rose blush hit the teen’s brown cheeks. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Gemma said. “We can talk about this later. I have to get ready.”
“He’s a good guy, Gemma. You can trust us.”
“I said the same thing to my parents. And it was true until I climbed into the back of Dash Stapleton’s truck and started making out.”
“I’ve never been in the back of Justin’s truck. Not alone anyway.”
“Not yet.” Gemma kissed Imani on the forehead. “I love you, you know that, right? I’m going to do my best by you for your sake, your parents’, and grandparents’.”
“I know and I’m glad but why does that mean you can’t trust me?”
The plea in Imani’s eyes and voice echoed with the one Gemma made when she was sixteen. She’d had every good intention. But one kiss, one touch, and every boundary line she’d established started to move. By the time she hit L.A., it was almost anything goes. And that, dear friends, led her to Vegas.
