Iswallowed, washing it down with a sip of strawberry lemonade,pretending like I cared.
“So, like I was saying,” she continued, “I try to mind my business, but I don’t like what I’m seeing.”
There was a long pause.
I rolled my eyes.
My mama loved being dramatic. She talked like she was building up to a season finale reveal.
“Okay.” I sighed. “So what happened?”
“Well, for starters, Kory doesn’t help her with much of anything. He’s gone all day, home for a few hours, then back out until the wee hours of the morning.”
“Have you mentioned it to Leera?”
“I tried. But you know how she is. She’s only going to let you say so much before she starts defending him.”
“Of course.”
“According to her, that’s just the busy life of a party promoter. He’s just doing what he has to do to take care of the family.”
I rolled my eyes again.
If my sister had a talent, it was making excuses for Kory’s bullshit.
But I couldn’t judge too hard, I’d done the same thing for a man I loved.
“Well, there isn’t much you can do if she’s not bothered by it.”
“Yeah, but she’s exhausted. Taking care of a baby isn’t easy. And it’s even harder when you’re doing it alone. Me being here is the most help she’s had.”
My mother sighed. “You should’ve seen her when I first got here. Her eyes were puffy and red, little KJ was hanging off her titty, and her hair was everywhere. Now you know your sister don’t play about her hair.”
“Right.”
“Baby, it looked like she hadn’t seen her beautician in months.”
“Really?”
“Mmhmm. Damn near smelled like she hadn’t seen a shower either.”
“Mama, now you just making stuff up.”
“I am not. She was walking around in a bathrobe that smelled like puke and piss. Baby piss but still piss.”
“Oh wow.”
I shook my head, stunned.
Out of the two of us, Leera was always the extra polished one. Always ready for a photo.
Hearing this sounded unreal.
“As soon as I got settled,” my mother continued, “I took KJ, scheduled your sister a hair appointment, and made her shower.Kory not about to have my baby walking around looking crazy while he out living his best life.”
“That’s not cool at all,” I said. “Maybe it’s just temporary.”
“Oh it’s temporary,” she replied. “Because me and him about to have a little talk.”
