Chapter 14 #2
Kept and I decided that we would both take Saturday to face down our family dysfunction. So, while I was at the trunk party that I didn’t want to attend, he would be at Gannon’s house. He would have the conversation that he didn’t want to have with his parents.
“Ugh,” I said to Yahirah as she parked the truck halfway down the block. Apparently, Nay’Tron was one of the more popular members of the Simpson family. There was a gang of vehicles on the block, and that was unusual.
“I already have a nasty feeling in my stomach. You know these people are gonna be talking shit.”
“Girl, fuck these people. If they start acting up, you can give baby boy the envelope, and we can leave. We can head straight to Sweet Potato Soul and get some more of that fried chicken and macaroni.”
Since I was hungry, I agreed. “Okay. We’ll give them thirty minutes, then we’re out.”
We knew the party was in the backyard, so instead of going through the house, I just led Yahirah through the back gate.
I could tell right away that Auntie Bobbi had spent some money to make the party nice.
There was a deejay in one corner. The backyard was dotted with decorations in blue and white, which I knew were the school colors, since both Yahirah and I had also graduated from Hyde Park Academy.
There were tables piled high with what was obviously catered food, and there was a bar with a sign that invited the attendees to try a delicious signature mocktail.
“The Diplomatini. Peach for the Stars. Graduation Gateway. Sip to Success,” I read. “That is so cute.”
“It is,” she agreed.
My Aunt Bobbie spotted us. “Xari! Xari, baby. You’re here.”
Dragging Yahirah along, I headed toward my aunt. We wrapped each other in a hug when we were close enough to connect. She rubbed her hands over my fresh braids and then took my face in her hands.
“You are gorgeous,” were the first words she spoke.
Tears sprang to my eyes. My family was toxic. I couldn’t remember any of them ever giving me a compliment.
“Thank you.” I dabbed at my leaking eyes.
“Wherever you’ve been, whatever you’ve been doing, it agrees with you. There’s a light in your eyes I haven’t seen since you were a little bitty girl.”
“Thank you. This is my best friend, Yahirah.”
Aunt Bobbie gave her a smirk. “We’ve never officially met, but I remember you. Nehemiah used to have your little cute self in the back of the car when he would pick up Nisha sometimes.”
“Hi. It’s nice to see you again,” Yahirah said with a smile.
“How come I just found out yesterday that my cousin used to mess with your brother?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted.
Aunt Bobbie took my hand. “Come sit down. Tell me everything. Where are you living?”
She pulled me toward some empty chairs.
“Auntie, I can’t take you away from your guests. You have all of these people here.”
“Baby, I’m not the host. These are Nay’Tron’s friends. He’s the host.” She plopped down in an empty chair.
“Auntie Bobbie, I’m hungry,” Yahirah announced. “Is it okay if I get some food?”
“Yes. Help yourself.” Once Yahirah was on her way to the tables, Aunt Bobbie turned back to me. “Let me guess.” She gave me a slow once-over. “I’m gonna say that you’re either working in California or Florida. You have a tan, and your skin is perfectly sun-kissed.”
I smiled. “It’s a secret. I haven’t told anybody.”
“I don’t blame you. The Simpsons are dysfunctional as hell. Have you been in therapy to heal from everything you’ve experienced at their hands?”
I stared at her. “I never even thought of that. You think I need therapy?”
“Xari, you’ve been through a lot of trauma, baby—your daddy dying so unexpectedly, your mother abandoning you, being raised by your granny. Lord knows that alone will send you into therapy. It sent me to a therapist?—”
“You see a therapist?” I cut in.
“Yes, baby. Having a mother like Glenda makes a lasting impact.”
“Why is she like that? All distant and unemotional?”
“For years, your grandmother dealt with undiagnosed depression.”
“What?”
“Yep, atypical depression.”
“Wow.” I let that sink in.
“Uh, Bobbie,” Cassandra’s voice rang out as she made her way over to us.
I sighed heavily.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said when her eyes fell on me.
I didn’t even bother responding.
“What’s up, Cassandra?” Aunt Bobbie questioned.
“All the drinks at the bar are nonalcoholic. If you couldn’t afford liquor, you should’ve cut back on some of this food.”
Auntie Bobbie twisted up her face. “I can afford liquor, Cassandra, but it’s illegal to serve liquor to minors. These kids are in high school.”
“Some of us are grown, grown.”
“Well, take your grown, grown ass to the liquor store and get whatever you want to sip on. Get the hell outta my face.”
Cassandra looked me up and down, and I could feel that she was about to start with me. Before she could get any words out, Yahirah returned with a plate filled with food.
“Xari and I just said we wanted some Sweet Potato Soul , and you had them cater this party. Great minds think alike.” She bent down and playfully bumped my aunt’s shoulder with her own.
Aunt Bobbie chuckled.
Cassandra scowled.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have time for this. Yahirah, let me find my grandmother, give Nay’Tron his envelope, and we can be out.”
“Aww, niecy pooh, don’t leave. Stay and spend some time.”
I wrapped my arm around her neck. “I’ve already seen and spent time with the only person I wanted to see and spend time with unless I missed Nisha.”
“Nisha’s at work. She’ll be through here later.”
“Nisha and Bobbie are the only people out of this entire family that you want to see and spend time with?” Cassandra asked me with her face balled up in a scary frown.
“How many people in this family want to see or spend time with me?”
She was silent.
“That’s what I thought. Yahirah, I’ll be right back.”
“Girl, I’ll be right here eating this food.”
I snickered as I walked away. On my way into the house, I walked into Nay’Tron standing with a group of his peers.
“Congratulations.” I gave him a one-armed hug and handed him his envelope. “Good luck in college.”
“Thanks, cuz. And thanks for the Cash App too. I really appreciate it.” He gave me a real hug.
“You’re welcome.”
I found my granny in the recliner in the front room.
“I knew you would be in here,” I teased, sitting down on the loveseat across from her.
“I knew you would know where to find me.”
“You knew I was coming?”
“Nisha texted me last night and told me she ran into you. I hoped you would come by. I’ve been thinking about you. Prayin’ for you. You look good, Xari. Happy.”
“Thank you. I am. I love my new job. I’m a nanny for two little girls. They’re the sweetest little girls ever.”
She smirked. “Oh, that glow you’re walking around with isn’t an ‘I love my job’ glow. It’s an ‘I love my man’ glow.”
“Granny!”
“Don’t Granny me. I’ve been around the block a few times and raised three daughters. Usually, not too long after I saw one of them with the glow you’re sporting, a new addition to the family was announced.”
I cackled loudly, and to my surprise, Granny joined in. I couldn’t remember the last time I heard her laugh, not chuckle sarcastically, but actually laugh.
“Well, that’s not what’s happening here. I mean, I might have a . . . gentleman friend, but we’re not announcing any new additions.”
“Not even for the two girls he already has? We won’t be welcoming them to the family?”
“What? What do you know about?—”
“Nisha is a hairdresser, Xari. That girl is one of the most observant people I know. She thinks you’re in love.”
“I’m not in love, Granny.”
“She thinks he’s in love too.”
“What?” I stood up from the loveseat.
My granny laughed again while holding up her hands in a sign of surrender.
“Look, don’t shoot the messenger.”