Page 91 of Finessed By A Hood White Boy

I opened the automatic sliding doors before hopping out.

“Oh, Kat, baby! Welcome back home!” Big Momma smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes.

My mom just stared at her with no expression. I carefully lowered the lift while Ava helped guide mommas’s wheelchair onto the driveway. Big Momma kneeled down beside the chair, taking both of my momma’s hands into hers.

“We missed you, raggedy Ann.”

That was another nickname she had growing up because of her natural ginger red hair. For the first time, I noticed my momma’s fingers move just slightly as they somewhat curled around Big Momma’s hand.

“You see that?” Big Momma looked up at me with tears streaming down her face.

“Yeah, I saw it.”

Neither of us could stop smiling. Everyone patiently waited in the house for us to walk through the door. Although it was a small and intimate gathering, everyone showed nothing but love and happiness. The smell of smoked turkey wings, candied yams, baked macaroni, collard greens and cornbread floated in the air. Ava had the house smelling lovely. My baby had spent hours getting the food together and setting up before going with me. I knew she was tired but she didn’t show it. I watched as she mingled with my family and she fit in perfectly.

A few hours in, everybody had eaten and were now chilling. I walked over to my momma as she watched everyone moving around the house. Next thing I knew, the doorbell rings and Zoie hops up.

“I’ll get it!”

A few seconds later, Zenobia came walking into the living room. Her heels clicked loudly against Big Momma’s hardwood floors. The conversations went quiet for several seconds as everyone turned their attention toward her. Zenobia stood dripped in designer, her shades sitting on top of her head. She looked around the room then straight at me.

“So…” She folded her arms. “I had to hear from Zoie that there was a party going on.”

“I told you I was bringing my momma home.” I nodded toward my mother.

“Yeah, but you forgot to mention the part where everybody was celebrating her arrival.”

Then her eyes landed on Ava. Everyone else had gone back to their conversations and paid Zenobia no mind. However, the atmosphere instantly felt heavy and uncomfortable.

“It’s just a small family gathering.” I shrugged.

“Doesn’t look small to me and everybody here ain’t family.” She looked Ava up and down.

For some reason I expected Ava to react but she didn’t. I took that as a sign of respect because she knew what this moment meant to me with having my momma back in the family’s presence. Zenobia on the other hand was acting out of character and it was pissing me off at a rapid pace. Smoothly, I pulled her down the hallway so we could talk without everybody in the mix. The moment I got her in the hallway we stood toe to toe.

“What the fuck do you think this is? Huh? What the fuck do you want?” I grilled her.

“Wait a minute,” she held her hands up. “Why are you talking to me like this? I came here to help you celebrate your mom, that’s what the fuck I want.” She snapped back.

“I don’t need you here to help me celebrate shit. If I wanted you here, I would’ve told you myself to come. I don’t need or want you poppin’ up like you’re my bitch. You’re not my bitch, Ze. You've been acting out lately and it’s starting to piss me off. I’m not about to allow you to fuck up my mood. So, if you’re going to stay, cool. Stay the fuck outta my face, though.”

“I don’t appreciate how you’ve been treating me, EJ. Ever since you started hanging around that girl, you’re the one that’s been acting out.”

“Is everything okay?” Ava asked, appearing out of nowhere.

Zenobia smacked her lips and rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest.

“Yeah, bae, everything is good.” I assured her while motioning her to come my way.

“You good?” I asked, placing a kiss on her lips.

“Yes, just checking on you.”

“He’s fine.” Zenobia interjected.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Ava shot back. “And let’s be clear, he doesn’t need you speaking for him.”

“Bitc—”