Chapter 28 Giselle #2
guys tonight too. Our little sweetheart is due at the end of February.” Chanel reached for Taylor’s hand again. “We both decided
that if it’s a boy, he’ll be named after Austin.”
Taylor started crying again. “He would’ve loved that.”
The impact of the moment wasn’t lost on any of them as they stood in quiet reflection. Giselle thought it a beautiful way
to honor Austin.
After a couple more minutes, Chanel wiped her face and said, “Enough of the tears. We’re here to have some sister and mama
love time, so let’s eat!”
A chorus of amens went up.
“Y’all really did a Sunday dinner on Saturday, and in this heat?” Taylor asked with a little chuckle as Chanel uncovered all
the dishes.
Kamryn smiled. “Yep, and I made all your favorite desserts.”
“Thanks, sis.”
Everyone filled plates and took seats around the table. Mama Yvonne said the blessing, and the women dug in.
“Where’s your salt, Chanel?” Kamryn asked.
“I’ll get it. I’ve got barbecue sauce and ranch for the wings too.” Chanel rose from the table, disappeared into the kitchen,
and returned with the salt, pepper, and condiments.
Giselle watched with irritation as Kamryn shook salt over the mac and cheese and the chicken. She was further annoyed when
everyone else did the same.
“This ranch hits the spot on the wings,” Taylor said.
“So does the barbecue sauce.” Mama Yvonne lifted a lamb chop. “And I’ve been looking forward to these since you made them
last time. I know you said you’d give me the recipe, but I think I’m going to let you make them.”
“I said the same thing.” Chanel saluted Kamryn with her chop. “I don’t know what kind of seasoning you put on them, but it’s
amazing.”
“Girl, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You put your foot in these yams.” Kamryn pretended to swoon in her chair. “And
these roasted brussels sprouts? Let’s just say, I am now a big fan.”
“Aw, see, that’s why you’re the best big sister.” They continued eating for a few minutes, then she asked, “Giselle, did Shawn
go over to hang out with the guys? Vincent mentioned that Papa Aaron was grilling, and he knows how much Shawn loves the ribs.
With Tariq cooking too, they’ll probably be eating better than us,” she added with a giggle.
“Yes, he went. He sounded like he was looking forward to it.”
Taylor’s cell rang. She dug it out of her pocket and checked the display.
“Excuse me for a minute,” she said before connecting.
“Hi, Damon. I’m hanging in there.” There was a pause before she continued.
“I don’t need anything at the moment, and I appreciate you for asking and for calling.
Have a good evening too.” She disconnected.
“That was the sergeant who took care of Austin. He’s been nice enough to check on me this past year.
” She toyed with the remaining food on her plate.
Taylor’s face seemed to brighten while she talked to the soldier, and Giselle wondered whether it was because it gave her
some sort of connection to Austin or something else.
“He’s such a nice young man and was so wonderful in making sure everything was done right with my baby,” Mama Yvonne said.
“I’ll always be grateful to him for making the process less stressful.”
“I didn’t know the military kept in touch this way. That’s really nice,” Giselle said. She remembered the man who looked to
be around Shawn or Tariq’s age. He’d come to either Taylor’s or the Bradleys’ home every day to assist with the arrangements
and whatever else the family needed until after the funeral.
Taylor shrugged as she got up to get some of everything except the chicken and mac and cheese. “They don’t. He’s just being
kind. He asked if I would be okay with him checking in on me every now and again to make sure I was good and didn’t need anything.
It’s usually a text or a two-minute call maybe once every month or two.”
Chanel said, “He sounds like a really nice person.”
“Taylor, can you bring me another one of those lamb chops, please?” Mama Yvonne asked.
Taylor picked up another one using the tongs and placed it on her mother-in-law’s plate. “Anybody else want anything while
I’m up?” Everyone declined, and she returned to her seat.
When everyone finished a short while later, Kamryn pushed back from the table. “I’m going to take some of these dishes into the kitchen and set out dessert. I figure we can just serve ourselves here at the table to make it easier.” She took hers and Mama Yvonne’s plates to the kitchen.
Giselle picked up hers and followed. She found Kamryn scraping the bones and remnants into the trash, then rinsing the plates
and putting them into the dishwasher. She placed hers on the counter.
“Do you want me to leave the lid up on the garbage can, Giselle?”
“Oh, is that supposed to be your way of telling me to empty my plate? I hope you don’t treat Tariq the same way.”
“Exactly what is that supposed to mean? And why are you so worried about what I do with my husband? I wonder why it is, Giselle, that you always find a reason to criticize me but have no problem always smiling up
in Tariq’s face. Maybe you should try focusing on your own husband and not mine.”
Giselle let out a bitter chuckle. “Oh, we’re back to you being insecure again.” Every time she tried to talk to Tariq, Kamryn
always managed to appear and insert herself between them. “He’s my brother-in-law, and I’ve known him longer than you, so
what, now that he married you, I have to stop talking to him so you won’t get upset?”
“So because you’ve known him longer, that means what?
You get to have two brothers? I don’t ever see you acting the same way with Vincent, and you didn’t with Austin either.
Maybe it’s time you stop lying to yourself and everybody else.
You made your choice, so stay away from mine.
” Kamryn closed the dishwasher, picked up the dessert tray, and started to leave.
She paused. “I’ve dealt with your crap for the past five years, and I am sick and tired of you.
From now on, I don’t have anything to say to you.
I packed a box with some of the desserts for Shawn and texted him to let him know.
So if they somehow come up missing, he’ll know who did it. ” She stormed out of the kitchen.
Now she’d have to deal with Shawn when he found out what happened, because he would certainly ask. Giselle clenched her fists
to quell her anger. I can’t stand her. And she didn’t have anything to say to her either.