Episode 60
Episode 60
Southern Charm
MEMPHIS
Naomi stared at my family home as though it was the entrance to a magical forest. When we pulled up, I glanced over and saw her mouth fall slightly open, the air leave her lungs in a small puff, and her eyes widen dramatically.
“What?” I asked, trying not to feel shame about the humble 1900’s home. My family had put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into renovating the hundred-year-old house to what it is today. Butter yellow with pristine white trim. Two stories, a porch with a wooden railing, ceiling fans to offer a cool-down during the hotter months, and concrete steps that led up to the front door.
Right at that moment, my granny was silently rocking in her chair, otherwise known as her neighborhood throne, where she watched the comings and goings of the street. I knew without even having to look she’d be sipping on a glass of ice-cold lemonade. She had a quilted blanket over her lap and was surrounded by lush plants my mother tended as if they were her very own children.
“This is your home? Where you grew up?” Naomi gawked while pointing a finger at the house.
I nodded and chuckled. “Yeah.”
“Complete with a cute-as-a-button little ol’ lady on her porch, rocking away and knitting?”
A couple of neighbors strode down the path in front of us, their golden retriever on a leash. They waved at Granny, and she waved back, called out something I couldn’t hear, but knew had to be funny because the neighbors laughed and paused to chat a bit.
“Unbelievable,” Naomi whispered. “It’s like I’ve entered a scene from a movie. White picket fence and all.”
I grinned. “We may have a full house and live on a budget, but we take care of what we have. Dad always said, ‘If you get the privilege of owning your own home, son, make sure you have pride of place.’ And he showed that to us in everything he and my mother did throughout the years. Wait until you see the backyard.”
“Well, if it’s anything like the front, I might just pass out from all this quaint beauty and southern charm.”
“Says the woman whose family has a mansion in the Hamptons as their quote, unquote ‘vacation home’”
She shook her head. “Point made, but still, I half expect a woman with an apron on and a tray of fresh baked pies to come walking out the front door.”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t put it past my mother. She definitely likes to bake.”
“Sweet baby Jesus, I’m in trouble.” She frowned. “They’re gonna hate me.”
“What would make you think that?” I turned and took her hand, watching the diamond ring I bought her sparkle in the sunlight.
“Look at me.” She gestured to her fashionable jumpsuit. It was a royal-blue silk that she’d tied a rope-like belt around. Her shoes were dainty stiletto sandals with a strip of leather running across the toes and around the ankle. Her long hair had been parted down the middle, flat ironed, and pulled back into a sleek ponytail. On her ears were some large gold hoops with a diamond dangling on a gold chain down the center of the circle. To me, she looked sexy as fuck, elegant, and expensive.
“You look incredible. Fashion forward, hittin’ those trends like my sister Sydney. As a matter of fact, you and Syd will get along famously.”
“Oh good.” She let out a breath of air she must have been holding. “Is she here now?”
“Nah, she’s back in New York.”
“Dammit! Way to lead me on. I thought I might have a friend here. Ugh, they’re going to take one look at me and think I’m a rich bitch. I should’ve worn jeans and a t-shirt.”
“Baby, your jeans are top of the line. Your t-shirts cost more than my Air Jordans. None of that shit matters to my family. Just wait and see.” I lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her sweet-smelling wrist. “They’re gonna love you. Trust me on this.”
Naomi pouted, closed her eyes, and nodded. Then I watched as she took a deep breath, lifted her shoulders up and back, cracked her neck from side to side, and then plastered a bright, winning smile on her face. “Okay, let’s do this. There’s no getting out of it.” She hesitated and then looked at me with those Bambi-like doe eyes. “Unless… We could just elope and then tell everyone about the wedding after the fact,” she hinted.
I burst out laughing and shook my head. “Woman, you need to stop fretting. My family is really cool. Just roll with it. And no matter what, I’ve got your back. All right?”
She sighed heavily. “Yeah, you’ve got my back. Fine, let’s go.” She pulled the handle to open the door of the rented Land Rover and got out of the car.
I got out and went around the car to take her hand. She was trembling more than my Granny did at the ripe old age of seventy-five. The same Granny who was watching us from the porch.
“Is that who I think it is?” Granny hollered.
“Yes ma’am, it is,” I smiled and tugged on Naomi’s arm until she followed me up the walk.
Granny stood and held her arms open the second we made it to the top of the steps.
“My boy!” she gushed in that beloved tone I adored.
“Granny,” I said and enfolded her round body in my arms. “I missed you so much.”
She pulled back. “Welp, let me get a good look at‘cha.” She cupped my cheeks and turned my face this way and that. “You’re looking a little thinner than the last time I laid eyes on you, son. Nothin’ a good meal or six won’t fix. Now who’s this looker you’ve got with you?” She pushed me to her side, with an arm around my waist so she could take in my girl.
I grinned. Nothing got past Gran. “Granny, this is my girlfriend, Naomi Shaw. Naomi, this is Althea Taylor, but everyone calls her Granny.” I didn’t announce Naomi as my fiancée just yet. The plan Naomi and I came up with on the plane ride from New York to here was that we’d tell them over dinner tonight when everyone was present. Everyone except Syd, that is, but she already knew we were engaged. Sydney was the only person who knew the truth.
Granny pursed her lips and sucked at her teeth. “Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing? Reminds me of my Sydney.” She gestured to Naomi’s attire. “Always dressing up in fancy clothes in the middle of the week. You know, you don’t always have to wear your church clothes when you come around, though I like a woman who presents herself well to the family. Shows you care.”
“Um, thank you.” Naomi swallowed and twisted her fingers together in front of her. “I’ll keep that advice in mind.”
Such a class act.
“You go to church?” Granny asked, zeroing her gaze on Naomi, putting her right on the spot. “Lord knows we all need to worship His good name, if we want good in our lives. Can I get an amen to that?” She pressed both of her hands together in a prayer position in front of her chest and looked up to the heavens as though God and Jesus himself were paying close attention to everything she said.
“Gran, don’t start recruiting my girlfriend as one of your new parishioners to your church. You’ve just met. Give it some time to get to know her before you start any of that. Jesus !” I clapped back.
“ Jesus ? Boy, I know you did not just use the Lord’s name like that to make a point. You’d best keep that mouth quiet. Now, have a seat and pour yourselves some lemonade. Goodness gracious. Acting a fool in front of your girl.” She clucked her tongue as though I was the one that started the smack talk.
“Yeah, Memphis. Don’t say the Lord’s name in vain.” Naomi smirked and took a seat next to Gran.
I hooked a finger toward Granny. “You’re on her side…already?” I asked in a playful tone.
“Mmm hmm, as it should be. We women stick together, son. Surprised you haven’t figured that out, living in a home full of women.” She gestured toward the extra glasses. “Your girl looks parched, and your granny could use a refill.”
“I’ve been here all of five minutes, and I’ve already been relegated to server. I see how it is, Granny. No love for your favorite grandson.”
“Oh, my love for you knows no bounds, Memphis. Lord knows that doesn’t change the fact that I’m old, I’m the matriarch of this family, and I ain’t got the time for your sass.” Her tone brooked absolutely no argument. I knew better than to clap back. Besides, Granny was already on her newest victim.
“Naomi Shaw, now why does that name sound familiar to me? You famous, sugar?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m famous, but my family has been in the news many times over the years. My father is Abraham Shaw.”
“The famous miner?”
She knew exactly who he was, which didn’t surprise me, because Granny had a thing for keeping track of the rich and famous, especially if they were Black.
“That would be the one.” Naomi gave a half-hearted smile. I knew she didn’t like talking about her family.
“And Naomi is a successful jeweler. She creates things you’d imagine royalty wearing. Nay, show my Granny that piece you wore the day we met. Do you have a picture of it?” I said with pride.
She smiled at me and pulled her phone out of her purse, scrolled through her gallery and turned the phone to show Granny.
“Whoo boy!” Granny fanned her face. “That is some rock!”
Naomi chuckled. “It is. Though this is phase one. I’ll take this four-carat diamond and design around it. Maybe add some small rubies or sapphires in a series of inlayed gems around the large center stone. When I’m done, it will look something like this.” Naomi swiped across the phone screen to the next image, which was a sketch of what the piece could look like.
“That is incredible. And you do this for special clients?”
“Yes.”
“Gran, she’s being modest. Naomi crafts designs and pieces for companies like Cartier, Harry Winston, and Tiffany’s, not to mention one-of-a-kind pieces for the rich and famous.”
Granny’s eyes widened. “Wow, congratulations, young lady. You’ve done the sisterhood proud. That is one beautiful design.”
“Thank you. I’ll have to make you something in the future.”
Gran waved her hand in the air. “Don’t you bother with diamonds on an old woman. I’ve got the one and only diamond I need right here.” She pointed to her wedding ring with the tiniest chip of diamond in the center. “My beloved Douglas purchased this for me when I’d just turned eighteen. He proposed, and we were married a month out of high school. It was 1966. We were married fifty-two wonderful years before the good Lord saw fit to take him back home.”
Naomi reached her hand out and covered Granny’s. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Granny took a deep breath and patted Naomi’s hand right back. “When you find the right one, you don’t waste time on what if’s. You grab the love of your life by the hand and walk into that life together.”
Naomi wiped a tear away, and I wanted to go to her, but instead, I handed her a glass of cool lemonade. Granny always had extra glasses out and a full pitcher in case someone wanted to have a seat and chat.
“Don’t you be sad for me, sugar. I had the best fifty-two years of life a true southern woman could have. We made lots of babies. Raised ’em right. Now I have lots of grands to dote on until it’s my time. Then my Dougie will be waiting with his hand out for me to hold as we walk into the afterlife. That’s why you gotta live every day to the fullest, and never take advantage of the ones you love.”
Naomi cleared her throat and sipped her drink. “You’re a wise woman, Althea.”
“Oh, hush now with the Althea business. I’m Granny to you too.”
“Ma! Are you hoarding my son and his new girlfriend out there?” I heard my mother calling through the opened screen door.
Granny rolled her eyes. “Always ruining my fun, that daughter-in-law of mine.”
“I heard that!” Mother yelled.
“It wasn’t meant to be a secret!” Granny fired off.
I grinned and stood. “Thanks for the chat, Granny.”
“And the lemonade. It was delicious,” Naomi added.
Granny nodded. “Course it was, I made it myself, and I’ve had decades of practice. I’ll teach you the recipe.”
“I’d love that.” Naomi beamed. I could tell she was not only relieved by the time we spent with my favorite human on this Earth but also enjoyed it.
We both gave Gran hugs and kisses on the cheek.
“So, church on Sunday?” Granny added right before we could escape into the house.
Before I could respond with a no, Naomi smiled and said, “Would love to. I’ll wear my best dress.”
“Now that’s a good girl.” Granny hummed, sipped at her lemonade and looked out over her territory. Suddenly she lifted up and pointed at something in the yard. “You best keep that dog off my lawn! There will be no squatting over here. Keep on moving,” she instructed a teenage girl who was walking her dog.
“Yes, Mrs. Taylor,” the girl responded.
I held the screen door open, and Naomi preceded me through.
My mother bulldozed me the second I entered, her body slamming against mine, her arms around my neck. “I thought she was never going to let you in. I’ve been waiting all day. We’ve got several of your favorite dishes tonight. Your dad’s grilling ribs, chicken, and shrimp. We’ll have some bacon wrapped asparagus, rosemary potatoes, and of course, I’ve made a couple fresh peach pies with our peaches right off the tree.”
“You are going all out!” I gushed and hugged her tight.
“It’s not every day my only son brings a woman home for the family to meet. As a matter of fact, the last time was when you were in high school. I admit to being very excited.”
I laughed heartily and let my mother go, then turned around. “Momma, meet my girlfriend, Naomi Shaw. Naomi, this is my momma, Robin Taylor.”
“Wow, aren’t you just gorgeous!” My mother waved away the hand Naomi held out to shake and pulled her into a hug. “So, so, so good to meet you, dear. Come on in and go say hello to your father and your sisters. They’re out on the back deck. I’ll just be in the kitchen,” she said and disappeared down the hall.
I put out my hand and Naomi looked at it, her gaze and expression softening, likely remembering what my Granny had just told us about her and Grandad.
When you find the right one, you don’t waste time on what if’s. You grab the love of your life by the hand and walk into that life together.
Naomi slipped her hand into mine, and I held on tight.
“You’re going to get a kick out of my sisters,” I murmured.
“After having met your grandmother and your mom, I have no doubt.”
“Are we really going to church on Sunday, or do I need to get us out of that?” I half joked.
Naomi stopped in the center of the hallway and turned to face me. “If you think I’m going to go against your grandmother’s wishes, you’re crazy.”
“Guess it’s church on Sunday for the whole family,” I chuckled.
“What Granny wants, Granny gets.” Naomi snapped her fingers and started to walk down the hall again.
“I like this one. You should marry her,” I heard come from directly behind us. I hadn’t realized Granny’d snuck up on us. The woman was as quiet as a ninja with decades of training.
Naomi burst out laughing. “Yeah, you should marry me. I’m with Granny!”
“Granny, I’m gonna have to put a bell on you.”
“Bigger men have tried and failed. Good luck with that.” She flicked her hand for us to move out of her way. “Don’t got all day. The clock is ticking; don’t slow me down.” She shuffled silently past us.
“I think we just got your grandmother’s blessing,” Naomi whispered.
“I think we did too.” I tugged on her hand and pulled her against my chest then laid a heated, wet kiss on her. “One down, several to go.”
She smiled, and I swear my heart melted. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t have to wait long,” she teased.
“Where’s my son and his new girl?” I heard my father’s voice, joy-filled and booming, coming from the kitchen.
“We better go.” I pecked her lips once more.
“Where you go, I’ll happily follow.” She winked and put her hand in mine once more. The weight of it felt different somehow.
More important. More real. More like she’d hold my hand forever.