She looked him up and down—the tailored slacks, the expensive watch, the way he moved like he owned every space he walked into.
And then she smiled.
That smile.
The one that meant she was about to embarrass me in front of God and everybody.
I scrambled out of the car, still sticky with my dress clinging to my skin.
“Mama—”
“Well, well,well,” Mama said, her voice carrying across the yard. “Look what the cat dragged up to my house.”
Amai stopped a few feet from her. “Good evening, ma’am. I’m?—”
“I don’t care who you are,” Mama said, cutting him off. She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes sharp and assessing.“Question is, what you doin’ bringin’ my daughter home covered in soda like she got into a fight at the gas station?”
“Mama, it’s not?—”
“Hush, Truth. I’m talkin’ to him.”
Amai’s expression shifted.
And I watched—watched—as he became someone else entirely.
The coldness melted. The sharpness softened. His shoulders relaxed, his smile turned warm and easy, and when he spoke again, his voice was different.
Lighter. Friendlier.Normal.
“I apologize for the state she’s in,” Amai said, his tone polite and respectful in a way that made my jaw drop. “I happened to be driving by when I saw her at the bus stop. She’d had an unfortunate encounter, and I offered her a ride home. I hope that’s all right.”
I stared at him.
The code-switch wasinsane.
I cut my eyes at him, but he didn’t look at me. Just kept his attention on Mama, his expression open and earnest like he was applying for a job at the church.
Mama tilted her head, studying him.
“Mm-hmm,” she said slowly. “And what’s your name, baby?”
“Amai,” he said. “Amai Landry.”
“Landry,” Mama repeated, like she was tasting the name. “You from around here?”
“Lower Ninth, originally,” Amai said. “But I’ve been in the Garden District for a many years now.”
“Garden District,” Mama said, nodding. “That’s nice. Real nice. You must be doin’ well for yourself.”
“I do all right,” Amai said modestly.
I almost choked.
I do all right?
This man probably owned half the city, and he was standing in my mama’s yard, acting like he worked at the post office.
Mama’s smile widened.
