“Calm down, girlfriend. What’s going on? How can I help?” I’ve never heard Meg sound as flustered as she is now. The girl who can weather any storm is acting like she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
“It’s M-M-Marcus. I don't know what to do!” Is she crying? Now I’m starting to worry.
“Is he sick? Does he need to go to the emergency room?”
Now I think I hear laughter in the background. Is she getting hysterical on me? “Not unless they do hair.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“It’s his hair. It’s getting long and Drew doesn’t want to cut it yet. I’ve tried pulling it back out of his face in a little boy bun because he’s being mistaken for a girl. But that’s causing it to get tangled and he cries when I try to brush it. I want to braid it, but I don’t know what I’m doing. Help!”
Now I’m laughing too. I can’t believe Marcus’s hair is causing Meg to have a mommy meltdown. “Auntie Sally to the rescue. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
After stopping at the store to pick up everything Meg needs for her little boy’s hair, I pull into the parking lot of Brewer’s Motel, where Meg and Drew have an apartment. Meg hears me coming, and swings the door open to let me in. Both she and Marcus look a little worse for wear.
“Never fear, Auntie’s here!”
“Thank goodness!” Meg manages a smile.
I carry my bag to the kitchen table and empty out the contents. Meg takes a seat and eyes everything warily. “This looks like a major operation.”
“Well, I tried to bring everything you’ll need. The best time to plait his hair will be after you wash it. Since his hair is softer and finer than most little black boys’, it’s not going to stay in corn rows as long, and you’re going to have to take care so it doesn’t get fuzzy.”
Marcus comes toddling over and holds out his arms for his mommy to pick him up. He settles in Meg’s lap and wraps his arms loosely around her neck, resting his upper body against her chest and yawning.
Meg whispers, “I think he’s ready for a nap.”
I respond softly. “That’s actually a good thing. The best time for you to braid his hair will be when he’s asleep. Otherwise, he’ll be fidgety, and it will take you twice as long.”
I peek around to look at Marcus’s sweet face to confirm he’s asleep. “Why don’t you put him on the sofa and pull up a chair so you can reach him easily. I’ll bring everything over. Actually, bring two chairs. I’ll do it this time so you can watch and learn.”
A little over an hour later, Marcus is still napping, but he’s got a full head of braids, and looks adorable. Meg watched and took pictures as I sectioned off his hair in little squares, applied hair gel to make it easier to plait, and wrapped the ends with small rubber bands. I also brought her a wide tooth comb, a stiff brush, some spray moisturizer to use in between shampooing, and a little skull cap for him to wear at night to keep the braids neat.
While Marcus is still asleep, we take some time for girl talk. Meg seems to be settling into married life well, and despite today’s episode, is taking to motherhood just fine. She tells me how successful her and Drew’s home renovation business, Brave Beginnings, is. They recently found an old farmhouse to renovate with plenty of room for their growing family. She also reminds me they are standing by ready to find the perfect place for me, or better yet, for me and Nolan.
“Slow down, missy. Nolan is perfectly happy at his place and I’m enjoying living with Sandy in the Patrick family house.”
She cuts me no slack. “Whatever. Just knowwe’llbe ready whenyou’reready to admit you and Nolan are an established couple.”
Chapter 35
Sandy had been suffering all morning from heartburn. He had no idea what he might have eaten that didn’t agree with him. He was too uncomfortable to get any work done, so he decided to take the rest of the day off. After instructing his personal assistant to reschedule his appointments and meetings, he grabbed his cell phone and jacket and headed out the door.
As soon as he got behind the wheel of his car, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his dress shirt so he could breathe. He’d just turned onto the road to Green Springs when he realized he was sweating profusely. He hit the button to simultaneously lower all the windows, hoping the breeze from the country air would cool him down. He tried to distract himself from how uncomfortable he felt by thinking of what made him happy. Family. Sally. Life. A vision of Linda flashed before his eyes, beckoning to him. He increasingly became lightheaded as he tried to focus on her image. She faded from view, and his world went black.
* * *
All morning I’ve been thinking of Mama and what my life would be like now if Sandy wasn’t part of it. For some reason, I’m unsettled and I can’t figure out why. The ringing of my cell interrupts my thoughts. I look at the screen and see my uncle’s name.
“Elijah! How’s it going?”
“Sally, honey. Are you at your shop?”
“Yes. What’s going on?”
“I’m on my way to pick you up. Sandy’s been in an accident.”
Suddenly my unsettled thoughts turn into unspeakable fear. I start babbling prayers.Please, God, don’t take my father from me. I just got him. I can’t lose him too.
