“I’d like to hear the answer to that question too,” Dorotheachimed in.It was quiet, but it was firm.
Danni looked to her and there was a slight whine in her,“Mom.”
“You disrespect the mother of my grandchild, the love of myson’s life to her face inmyhouse?”she asked.“Who raised a child todo that?”She shook her head.“Not me.”
“Darius was lying in a hospital bed,” she slashed a fingerat me, “and she gutted him like he was the bad guy in this scenario.”
“Drop your hand, girl,” Darius warned on a terrifying purrthat gave even me a shiver, and it wasn’t directed at me.“Do noteverpoint at Malia like that.”
She was smart enough to drop her hand, but she threw bothup.“I’m just saying, Gabs and I don’t think we should all pretend likeeverything is happy and awesome, when for sixteen years, it wasnot.”
“And who do you think felt that the most?You?”Dorotheaasked.
“I’m just saying—” Danni repeated.
“I heard what you were saying,” Dorothea cut her off.“And Icannot believe in all the heartache we’ve all endured you’d want to keep thatgoing for anothersecond.”Her hair shook on her last word.“Notanothersecond.”More hair shaking.“I did not cook for the last threehours to have my family all around me for the first time and have my girls actlike harridans.”
Gabby threw Danni right under the bus with her, “It wasn’tme!”
Then again, Danni had already tossed herself there.
Still, Danni shot angry eyes to her sister.
“Maybe we should all just take a breath,” I suggested.
“Naw,” Liam said, putting down his drink.“I think we shouldgo home.This is bullshit.”
Dorothea’s face froze.
As did Gabby’s and Danni’s.
“Honey—” I started.
“When they apologize, we’ll come back.But not before, Mom.”He’d come to me, and he swung an arm to the door.“Get in the truck.”
I looked up at his father.
“You heard your son,” he said.“In the truck.”
Totally ganging up on me.
“Darius, your mom has cooked for hours.”
He looked down on her, his face blank, eyes cold.“Sorry,Ma.But you know the statement has to be made.”
God!
I whirled.
“I’m not leaving.I’m eating your food.”I said to Dorothea.Then to Gabby and Danni.“Be mad at me.I don’t care.Darius is right.Youdon’t know what you’re talking about, and our business isn’t yours.Iappreciate your loyalty to your brother, but really, you should have thoughtthis through.If you had something to say to me, you should have found someother time to say it.I would have listened.I might not agree with you, but Ilove your brother enough to listen.But you didn’t do it like that.You did itlike this.That’s not on me.It’s on you.”
I switched the wineglass from hand to hand as I took myjacket off.I swung it on the arm of the couch, then I sat back down, took asip, thanking the good Lord it wasn’t sweet, because sweet wine was from Satan,and I went on.
“I’ve got a great job.But yes, this dress is not Walmartand it’s highly likely some of Darius’s money bought it for me, and I’m proudof that.My man takes care of the ones he loves that are under his protection.As you both knowverywell.”
Gabby had the good grace to look ashamed.
Danni couldn’t meet my eyes, so I figured she felt the same.
