The next day,my mother was off work. I needed to talk to her, so I went by her house before I went to my storefront. She offered to cook breakfast for me. Since LoLo had been planning to stop by my shop, I just told her to meet me at my mom’s.
When my mom answered the door, I fell into her arms. She caught me and held me, placing a kiss on the side of my face. “My dramatic little baby.”
“Mama, I’m in crisis,” I whined, refusing to release her from the embrace, even though I knew she wanted to greet LoLo.
“Okay, let’s go inside and eat, and you can tell me all about it.”
I gave her one last hard squeeze before releasing her. “Okay.”
She pulled LoLo into a quick hug. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Auntie Toya.”
LoLo and I followed my mother into her dining room. My mother was fancy, so her table was already set with a crisp white tablecloth. Emerald-green plates sat on gold-plated chargers. Gold silverware sat beside all three place settings. Folded linen napkins spattered with flowers sat on top of each plate. And stemless glasses made of beveled glass sat waiting to be filled with some non-alcoholic but sparkling beverage. My mother was the type to make a production out of almost everything. It was one of the things I appreciated most about her. She made every moment and every occasion count.
“Ooh, Auntie. You’ve got it looking so pretty in here.”
She grinned at LoLo. “This is one of my contenders for the Thanksgiving Day tablescape. I thought I would try it out on y’all.”
“Well, I love it.”
“Thank you, boo. Let me get breakfast.”
LoLo and I watched as my mother rolled in her serving cart. She was so damn extra. Who had a serving cart that didn’t own or work in a restaurant?
“Mama, really?”
“Leave me alone, Wyndi Castle. I told you, I’m trying stuff out for Thanksgiving. Cecelia and Rodney are coming, . . . and so is Channing.”
“How is Channing doing?” LoLo asked. The three of us had grown up together, as LoLo and I had been friends since middle school.
“He’s doing good . . . when he stays on his meds.”
Yep, that was the problem. Channing didn’t like to stay on his meds. He would be doing well, taking his meds. Then somewhere along the line, his mind would convince him that he didn’t need his meds anymore. He would stop taking them, and all the progress he’d made would go out the window, until hegot back on his meds. It was a vicious cycle. My heart went out to him, but honestly, I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just stay on his meds.
My mom glanced over at me, her eyes soft. “I heard he’s bringing his new friend girl.”
LoLo laughed. “I love when your generation says that,friend girl. My mama be talking about, lady friend and gentleman friend. Like, Maloah, when are you gonna introduce us to your gentleman friend. I’m like,Mama, that ninja ain’t no gentleman.”
The three of us laughed, and I appreciated LoLo for trying to lighten the mood, but there wasn’t any need.
“I’m fine with that, Mama. He can bring whoever he wants. It’s been six years. I’m not still hurting over Channing. If he found somebody who can love him through his challenges, I’m happy for him.” I paused as I watched my mother lift a platter of toast from the cart to the table. “Besides, I have bigger fish to fry.”
“What kind of fish?” She moved the ice bucket to the table. When I saw it held a bottle of sparkling apple cider, I wanted to laugh. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I was just like her.
“You’re gonna be a grandmother.”
LoLo started to violently choke. I jumped up and pounded her back. My mother was decidedly calmer than me when she spoke. “Try to cough it out, baby.”
Since my mother was a nurse, I felt it only right that LoLo defer to her.
“I’m sorry.” LoLo apologized once she was able to catch her breath. “I’m sorry.” She cut her gaze at me. “I wasn’t expecting you to blurt that out like that, Wyn. You could’ve given your mom some warning.”
My mother shrugged. “That’s how Wyndi is. She likes to drop bombs and catch you off guard.”
“I just don’t like beating around the bush,” I corrected.
“I’m gonna be a grandmother, huh?” Her tone was much dryer than it was way back when. Back when I told her that Channing and I were expecting, she practically jumped up and down. Maybe she was wary that this pregnancy would end the way that one did, just like I was. I was wary, scared, and anxious. “How come some young man is impregnating you and I’ve never met him?”
