Her mother turned to her phone, some tension loosening from her shoulders. Even though she didn’t want her mother meddling in her love life in addition to everything else, she was thankful for the lift in conversation and couldn’t imagine anyone else here to help her manage all the mess she seemed to make.
Kenya gazed at her mother’s strong profile, so like her own in appearance. She just wished she could be strong in all the ways that counted. Like mentally strong. And book smart. And—
“Yesss, my little busted-up child?”
Her mother turned her head smoothly toward her, sensing her attention and maybe even her thoughts.
“Thirty-one-year-old grown woman, oldest child.”
“Hmm.”
“Thank you for being here with me.”
“Forever and a day, baby girl.”
5
SOLOMON’S YOUNGER SISTER,Nneka, stepped through the entryway of his parents’ Huntsville home as he opened the door wide.
“Can’t you show up late to Sunday dinner one time in your life?” She rolled her eyes.
He grinned in return. “Not if I can help it. And why would I, since you usually show up late enough for all of us. I’m a little shocked that I’m seeing you right now.”
She pushed past him into the foyer with a huff. Annoying his sister was always fun. He left the door ajar as another familiar car pulled into the driveway.
In place of a hug in greeting, Nneka threw her jacket his way.
He caught it and, instead of hanging it up like she preferred, tossed it on the chair next to the foyer table.
“Wait, no prolonged welcome for the older sibling you haven’t seen in a couple months?” He followed her, opening his arms wide.
“Pfft.” Nneka fluttered her fingers behind her shoulder. “I’m too hungry. I could smell the jollof rice from the driveway.”
“Maybe if you’d gotten here early like me, you’d have already sampled some.”
Nneka swiveled her neck, tossing the voluminous waves of herlatest hairstyle, and narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t dare. Nothing starts on time with this family. Only on the business side.”
“Either way, plenty of time to sample.”
“Hmm, and time to suck up.” Before he could turn around, his younger brother wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
Dissed by his sister and almost suffocated by his brother. Par for the course as the oldest sibling of the Anruchi clan.
Solomon smirked at Simon. “If sucking up is doing my best to keep peace in the house and do what our parents have asked us to do, I’m guilty. Y’all try to start battles that are not worth fighting.”
Simon scoffed. “If you are such a rule follower, why am I the one actually workingwithour parents?”
“Only if you count using our parents’ money to pursue your own side hustles.”
His brother shrugged, always unbothered. “It’s called research, something you should be familiar with in your own little side hustle.”
The muscles in Solomon’s neck tightened. Why didn’t anyone take his career seriously? Maybe because in their mind it was only temporary. No one in this family could stay out of the business’s orbit for too long.
Simon sighed, already sounding tired of their conversation. “I’m just trying to keep my life interesting and myself together. I’ve got enough pressure as it is.”
Solomon released his brother and at least took time to hang his jacket on the stand in the corner.
“Let me know when you’re done doing whatever you’re doing so I can stop shouldering this business and actually live again.” Simon snickered, but his words held a bite that pricked Solomon’s heart with guilt.
