I stepped just outside the master suite, lowering my voice as soon as Kemi answered.
“She wants it,” I said, unable to hide the smile in my tone.
“Awww,” Kemi cooed immediately. “That makes me so happy for her. I know how hard it is finding another home after leaving the one you shared with someone.”
I nodded “Yeah. She looks really happy.”
“Okay,” she said, already typing. “I’ll make the calls and put the bid in. Same numbers we talked about?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “Let’s start there. If somebody else comes in hot, we’ll see what adjustments we need to make. I want some wiggle room.”
“I got you,” she said confidently. “I’ll keep you posted.”
We hung up, and I took a breath before turning back toward the closet. I pushed the door open and froze.
Mrs. Nikki stood in front of the mirror with her back half-turned toward me, dressed in nothing but lace lingerie. Her dress sat neatly folded on a shelf beside her.
She turned slowly, smiling.
“I just wanted to see what it felt like,” she said, spinning around. “Since this will be my new home.”
My brain stalled. And not because she didn’t look good. She actually looked great for a woman in her fifties, she carried herself with confidence that most people never found at any age. But that didn’t matter because I’d known her my whole life.
The woman watched me grow up, sat at my mama’s kitchen table, and called me her baby.
She stepped closer. “I wanted your opinion,” she continued, tilting her head. “On this lingerie set I just ordered.”
I immediately lifted my hands, backing up a step. “Mrs. Nikki,” I said carefully, “the only opinions I give are on property value and closing costs.”
I thought that would do and snap her back to reality, but it didn’t.
She closed the distance anyway, reaching for me. I stiffened instantly, every muscle in my body screaming no. I tried to move without jerking away, mindful of her high heels because I did have respect for her so I didn’t want to make her fall.
She leaned in too close.
“You remind me so much of your daddy,” she said.
“This can’t—” I started, grabbing her arms. “This is not—”
The closet door opened.
“I was looking for y’all,” Khloe said casually. “Hey Mrs. Ni—”
Her voice cut off mid-word. I turned just in time to see Khloe standing there, frozen, eyes locked on the scene in front of her.
“Baby, it's not what you think,” I said quickly, my voice shaking with urgency. “I walked in here and she was already—”
Behind me, Mrs. Nikki gasped like she had just come back to herself. She rushed, snatching her dress off the shelf and fumbling into it. Khloe didn’t even look at her. She was staring straight through me.
Tears lined her eyes. She looked heartbroken and furious at the same time.
“I promise you,” I said again, stepping closer, “I don’t know what the fuck she got going on. I walked in and—”
“This what the fuck you’re doing when you’re at work?” she screamed.
The sound of it cut through me. “No, baby—”
She was already turning away. She stormed out of the room.
