Page 14 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“My head still hurts.” I let her know.

“I bet it does.”

She pulled her chair over and sat down with a long sigh. “Lord, our family can’t have one peaceful gathering.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Malik said.

Grandma sucked her teeth. “That girl done lost her everlasting mind.”

I already knew who she was talking about. She waved her church fan. “That little heifer walked in there like she was accepting an award.”

I laughed. “Grandma…”

“I’m serious.” She stood up and started acting it out. “I brought gifts!” She held her imaginary bags up. “‘For me and Deuce’s twins.’” Grandma looked around the room dramatically. “Girl, I almost hit her with my shoe.”

Malik laughed so hard he leaned forward.

“You had your shoe off.” I asked.

“I surely did, I was ready.”

I shook my head. “You are something else.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “Then your Auntie Keisha…” Grandma started laughing. “That fool grabbed Kim by the arm and said, ‘Come on, Beyoncé.’”

I covered my face. “Oh my God.”

“And Kim hollering, ‘Don’t touch me!’” Grandma slapped her own leg. “Keisha said, ‘Baby, I’m trying not to.’”

I couldn’t stop laughing. For a few seconds the room didn’t feel so heavy. Then Grandma’s smile disappeared. “Oh I almost forgot.”

The way she said it made my stomach tighten. “What?”

She looked at me. “Don’t get yourself worked up.”

That was the worst thing she could’ve said. “What happened?”

She looked over at Malik. “You told her?”

He frowned. “Told her what?”

Grandma sighed. “Well there really ain’t no easy way to say it.”

I felt my heart start beating faster. “Grandma.”

She reached over and grabbed my hand. “Baby the FBI came.”

I frowned. “To the baby shower?”

She nodded. “And they arrested Deuce.”

For a second I thought I heard her wrong. “…What?”

“They put handcuffs on him right there.”

I sat straight up. “No.”

“They did.” Grandma said matter of factly.