I could tell by her tone what she was insinuating, so I rolled my eyes. “Aunt Addy, please.”
“All I’m saying is that you seem fond of that man from the bar. You said you two talked all night.”
“We did. He seems cool. But… I don’t know.” I lifted my shoulders. “I’ll wait and see if he calls me.”
“Of course he will. That’s why those billy goat bullies were being rude.” She gave me a knowing look. “They were trying to impress that man, and he was already impressed by you.”
I lifted my shoulders. “All I know is that they were gone by the time I got back to my seat.”
“Because he sent them on their way.”
“I don’t know what happened.”
“Well, he didn’t ask for their number; he asked for yours.”
“As friends, yeah. He said he was going to text me today, but…”
It was close to noon, and he’d been radio silent since we’d said good night via text.
“But what?” she inquired.
“If he reaches out, I don’t know if I’m going to meet up with him.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to leave you here without me tomorrow.”
“It’s been a long time since you liked someone. So, friend or otherwise, I’m proud of you for getting out there again.”
“Thanks. It wasn’t that big of a deal. We just… clicked.”
She had a serious expression on her face. “You don’t dismiss the instant connections you have with people. Every connection means something.”
“Yeah,” I agreed softly.
“I met Rose, and it was an instant connection. We’ve been best friends ever since.”
“That’s true.”
Her cell phone rang loudly from under the thin comforter that was spread over her body. When she pulled it out and saw who it was, she smiled.
I excused myself to find the cafeteria or at least a vending machine. I was gone for about fifteen minutes, and when I returned, she was still on the phone. As I searched my bag for my book, I realized who was on the other end of the line.
“And I don’t plan on being here that long,” Aunt Addy told my father, glaring at me. “I don’t know what Jazmyn told you, but I do not need you running up here. Don’t get on no plane, Richard! You stay right there. You said you were coming back at the end of August, so I will see you at the end of August.” She shook her head. “No, no, no. I have your daughter here. Rose is coming tomorrow. Monica is coming back on Monday. I’m fine—stop worrying!”
She talked to my father for another twenty minutes. When she was done, I put my book down and looked at her.
“What did you tell your father?” she asked without any intention of letting me answer. “Because he’s talking about flying here from Florida. I don’t want him and your mother coming down here, fussing over me. I hope you didn’t tell anyone else I’m here, because I’m going home soon, and no one needs to see me like this. I’ve had this same bonnet on for days. My locs can’t breathe!”
I laughed as I stood. “I’m on it.”
I pushed the button to lift the back of the bed to sit her up more. Then I got her toiletry bag and grabbed the jojoba oil and a moisturizer. Placing a pillow behind her back, I removed her bonnet and oiled her scalp. She continued fussing about the number of people who had reached out asking how she was doing. From her tone, it was clear that even though she was complaining, she appreciated how much she was loved.
Addison Payne enjoyed being the center of attention. She relished her social community. She was popular and eccentric and uniquely herself. So I knew that she wasn’t fussing because people cared about her. She was fussing because of her situation.
As a fifty-four-year-old woman from a small town who’d gotten out and come back, she was the it girl. She made things happen. She had a bunch of different hobbies, activities, and friends. She was so involved and invested in the community, and she meant so much to so many people. It was unimaginable that she would be able to bein a local rehab center without someone finding out. But I knew she hated for anyone to see her down.
“… and that’s why I told Rose not to tell anyone,” she concluded. “Oh! And her son who got divorced a few years ago is engaged again.”
