My mouth dropped when I saw the wad of cash in Jazzy’s hand. “Where did you get all that money?” I demanded. “I hope it’s not our rent money. You out here profiling like you one of them Real Housewives.”
Mr. Henderson guffawed. “I swear you two haven’t changed since Big used to bring you here for ice pops.” He shook his head. “Even then you were like fire and ice. Always going at it.”
“Yeah. That’s because Jazzy was always up to no good. Kind of like how I’m feeling now.”
“Would you close your mouth?” Jazzy said, giving me the side-eye. “Not that it’s your business but I’ve been saving money doing hair. I’ve been fixing heads round the clock and you would’ve known that if your nose wasn’t in them books or your behind at church all the time.
“Don’t come for me, Jazzy,” I warned.
Mr. Henderson went into another fit of laughter, slapping his hand on the counter. “You girls crack me up.”
I stepped back, mindful of the spittle running down the side of his mouth. I wasn’t about to get sprayed.
Jazzy met Mr. Henderson’s gaze. “I need…” She lowered her voice.
Mr. Henderson stopped laughing. “What did you say?” His eyes narrowed to slits.
My stomach clenched. What had Jazzy said? I leaned forward to catch her words.
“I need abigbagof Funyuns,” she said.
Is she buying drugs? A ticket to a dog fight? A male prostitute?
“What do you need it for?” Mr. Henderson shot back.
Jazzy lifted her chin, her nose upturned. “Never you mind that. I want to know if you got one or not.” Her chest moved in and out while she waited for Mr. Henderson to answer.
Then her true request hit me. I gasped and moved from the counter, shaking my head. “Jazzy, you can’t seriously be asking—”
The door creaked and Ms. Miller and her four kids piled in the store. Jazzy stuffed the cash in her bra. We stood on the side the ten minutes it took Ms. Miller to gather the items and her kids to pay for her stuff. My eyebrows shot up when Jazzy offered to pay for their sodas and treats.
Ms. Miller touched her chest. “Oh, God bless you, child.” She sniffed. “I was praying that I could get my chi’ren some snacks and God done come through.” She lifted her hands. “Won’t he do it?” She eyed Jazzy’s cash and said, “I sure wish I had enough to buy some chicken and potatoes.”
I rolled my eyes and I could see Jazzy pressing down on her lips to keep from laughing. Ms. Miller was known to be dramatic...and a liar. She most likely wanted, not needed, the money to make a stop at the liquor store.
Jazzy shook her head. “I have to buy Big’s medicine.”
I chuckled. Ms. Miller had been checked. Jazzy was a better liar than she was.
“All right, child,” she said, patting Jazzy’s arm. “God bless you and give Big my love. I’ve been meaning to stop by.”
Ms. Miller scooped up her kids and left the store.
“So, you got it?” Jazzy continued.
Mr. Henderson puffed his chest. “You know I got everything. Anything anybody need, I got it.” He shuffled past them and headed to the back room. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Jazzy nodded and shifted her bra, took out the cash, and placed it on the counter.
“Please don’t do this,” I said to her. “Big wouldn’t approve.”
“Which is why she won’t ever know,” Jazzy said. “And you won’t be telling her. I’ve got plans and I’m going to need to protect myself. You have your God and I’ll have mine.”
I got into her face. “You realize you’re no better than Flip and the rest of the hoodrats who use Mr. Henderson for their gun supply.” I pointed a finger in her chest. “One of those guns killed our brother, and now you’re buying another one?” I shook my head. “I can’t believe you.” I made a move to leave. “I’m getting out of here.”
Jazzy snatched my hand. “No, please don’t leave me,” she begged. Her lips quivered and her eyes held fear. “I can’t do this without you.”
My chest heaved. “Then let’s go.” I grabbed the cash. “Tell Mr. Henderson you changed your mind.”
