“It’s Natalie, and you know that. Don’t play with me.”
“Nat!” Lawrence hissed. “Be nice!”
I rolled my eyes. “Her first.” Betsy was trying to be funny, but she didn’t know how hilarious I can be.
Her lips pressed down into a firm line as she tilted her chin. “My apologies, Miss. Come on, Mr. Lawrence, your parents are in the sitting area.”
Betsy wrapped her arm around Lawrence’s and guided him into the house. This wasn’t the first time Betsy treated me like this. To be honest, whenever I came to visit, she’d look downon me like I was beneath her. If it were another person, they would’ve gotten these hands, but Betsy was a little old lady. Besides, I knew she was only treating me that way because of whatever Lawrence’s mom was vomiting into her ear. When I first met Betsy, she was as sweet as anyone can be to a new guest. She reminded me so much of my late grandmother, and that warmed my heart. Unfortunately, that was the only time I got her tenderness.
Lawrence suddenly stopped and reached out his hand to me, causing a slight jolt to run down my spine. Seeing Lawrence reach out to include me sent me down a memory lane that made me feel nostalgic. When we were together and had to visit his parents, he would touch my hand, place a hand on my lower back, or stand close enough for his shoulder to brush against me to remind me he was there. I thought it was the sweetest thing, but when you’re in love, sometimes you go blind to foolishness.
After spending time alone and reflecting on our relationship, I realized that not once had he stood up for me. He never corrected his maid about my name or her treatment of me. He for damn sure never stood up to his mom about our relationship and allowed her to say whatever slick shit she wanted. I held my tongue before because I loved Lawrence and wanted to at least build rapport with his family, but now that we were over, I wasn’t going to hold back. If Mrs. Freeman or Betsy wanted to start with me, then I had time and no longer gave a rat’s ass what came out of my mouth.
“Son!” Mr. Freeman said as we walked into the room. He placed his cigar down into an ashtray before clapping him on the back.
“It’s good to see you, old man!” Lawrence beamed. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Yeah, my conference ended early, and I flew in last night.”
Turning to me, a wide smile spread across Mr. Freeman’s face, causing all of the anticipated anger I had ready to unleash to dissolve. “And Natalie, you are looking beautiful as always.”
I wrapped my arms around Mr. Freeman’s slim frame and enjoyed his warm embrace. He was always nice to me, and I would have been proud to be his daughter-in-law. Mr. Freeman wasn’t like his wife, uptight and judgmental, but more relaxed and carefree. He was about six feet tall with salt and pepper hair, which still held his natural curl pattern. His matching colored beard was always neatly shaved, showing off how handsome Mr. Freeman was. Lawrence looked like him, and the reason he had glowing mocha skin. The difference between the two was that Mr. Freeman was leaner while his son had a stocky build.
“Mr. Freeman, when did you get back in town? We missed you at our dinner last month.”
“Now, Natalie, I’ve told you before to call me Frank or Dad. You are going to be my daughter-in-law, so drop the whole Mr. Freeman nonsense.” He chuckled.
I smiled with a nod of my head. “Yes, sir. Now answer my question.”
“Well, I had a business trip in Chicago, and from there I had to travel to New York.”
“Pops, you travel too much,” Lawrence said, giving him a concerned look.
I nodded. “Yeah, Dad. When are you going to retire?”
“Why are you worried about it, little girl? You don’t pay bills around here.”
I briefly closed my eyes and exhaled as Lawrence’s mom, Latrice, walked into the room. Her mahogany skin was glistening with her fresh moisturizer, causing me to be envious. I can admit that Mrs. Freeman was stunning, standing at five feet eight inches with new hair. Instead of the long, stiff wig she had on the last time I saw her, it was now shoulder-lengthand slightly curled at the ends. She wore a flowy black maxi dress with a set of pearl earrings. Everything about her screamed luxury and class. While she was on the slimmer side, she kept her body toned by teaching a Pilates class three times a week. She used to insist that I join a gym to lose some of my curves. I happily declined because I had no problem with my body. Of course, she didn’t like that, and I remember her lecturing me on how I needed to stay in shape to prepare my body for having her son’s children. Thinking back on it now, I should have popped her in the mouth.
“Latrice, how are you doing this evening?” I asked, walking up to her.
She eyed me up and down before crossing her arms across her chest. “Not only do you come under dressed, but now you're being disrespectful? My name is Mrs. Freeman.”
“Latrice,” Frank barked. “Don’t start that shit. Natalie is being polite, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with her clothes. Don’t start showing your ass.”
I tucked my lips in and looked down at my hands. It was all I could do to stop myself from bursting out into laughter. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t tolerate a disrespectful man, but Mr. Freeman was anything but. He didn’t put up with his wife’s bullshit, and he for damn sure didn’t like it when she got vicious. When he was in town, I thoroughly enjoyed having dinner with them. Unfortunately, those times were few and far between. Lawrence and I usually ended up having dinner with his mother and one of her friends.
Latrice rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Lawrence, baby, how are you doing today?”
“I’m good, Mother. What’s on the menu tonight?”
“I’m having Patty prepare some pot roast with a side of steamed carrots and onions.”
“Damn, Latrice,” Frank huffed. “All that shit sounds bland. Do we at least have some mashed potatoes? Mac and cheese?”
“No! Potatoes are usually fine, but when you try to drown them in butter and salt, then it’s a problem. And that mac and cheese crap should be called mac and carbs. Besides, we all could use to eat more vegetables. Right, Natalie?”
I opened my mouth when Betsy walked in to announce that the food was ready. Latrice smirked before she walked past me towards the dining room, wrapping her arms around her son and husband to pull them along. At that moment, I wished I had driven my own car because I would have happily cursed her out and then driven my ass back home. Taking a deep breath, I shook off her negative energy and followed them to the dining room.
