Chapter 32
Val
Jackie’s living room is littered with toy cars, a stuffed dino (known affectionately as Roar by Ollie), and a pile of laundry. She folds one of my nephew’s tiny shirts as if Fran and I haven’t been sitting here the past ten minutes waiting for her to speak.
Fran nudges me in the side, and I grunt, sparing a glare at her.
Get on with it, she mouths. I want to roll my eyes.
I want to ignore her, but she’s right. Even though I literally wish to be doing anything else but explaining myself to my older sister—I’m a grown woman, and I don’t have to answer to her—I do want a healthy relationship with her.
And for Jabari to be able to be around my family without everyone believing he’s persona non grata.
I just need my big sister to admit she lied about him cheating, so mentally reaching for big girl undies—nope, that image is terrible—I reach for pants and speak.
“I like Jabari.”
“I gathered. The vibe coming off that photo said as much.”
I resist the urge to rub the throbbing spot in the middle of my forehead. “How does a podcast even have a picture for you to see?”
“They upload to YouTube, and you can watch them talking. They’re not strictly audio,” Fran says.
“That’s beside the point.” Jackie purses her lips. “Do you know what it feels like to have your sister stab you in the back? You’re dating the man who hurt me. It’s one thing to be friends, which I still don’t understand.” She sneers. “But this, this is betrayal.”
“I didn’t stab you in the back, I found out you lied about your breakup.
I gave someone a second chance because you lied.
I’m not asking you to bend over backward like you ask me to do over and over.
I’m asking for one thing.” I hold up a finger as if the visual will make my words penetrate her thick skull.
“Tell Mom and Dad the truth. Tell Fran the truth. Tell me the truth.”
Jackie juts her chin forward as if she’s going to dig her heels in deeper. “I didn’t lie about him hurting me.”
“Did you lie about him cheating?”
My breath hitches in my chest like you do when you pass a graveyard. Only I refuse to pass out because my sister can’t be . . . won’t be honest.
“Jackie?” Fran asks.
The doorbell peals in the house, and she flies off the couch.
“She is not saved by the bell,” I grouse.
Fran chuckles. “You know she’s going to let whoever’s at the door hijack the conversation. And judging by how high her chin hit the air, she’s not admitting anything. Queen Jackie can never be wrong.”
She’s been a diva since she could talk, and I’ve always followed after my big sister like she’s the sun I’ll happily orbit. The older I get, the more I understand idolizing my sister hasn’t done me any favors. I’ve become a second-class citizen, and it’s all my own doing.
Then Mom and Dad walk into the living room, and my gut drops to my toes.
“Oh my word,” Fran whispers.
We haven’t seen Mom in months, and judging from the brown glow she’s sporting, Caribbean life has been very good to her. She looks younger than a woman in her fifties should look, but the grim expression on her face tells me everything I need to know.
“Fran,” she says dryly.
“Hi, Mama.”
Mom meets my gaze. “Val.”
“Hey.” I give a weak smile. Her tone of voice says everything. We. Are. In. For. It.
“Jackie.” Mom crosses her arms as Jackie finds a seat, head hanging down.
“I thought you were in Aruba,” Fran says.
“I called her,” Dad interjects, lowering into Isaac’s favorite recliner. “Turns out Fran didn’t tell her she’s about to be a grandma again.”
Mom shudders. “I am not being called grandma. I’m not that old.”
“Yes, you are.” Dad smirks.
She rolls her eyes, and it’s like seeing a browner version of Fran. I hold my laughter because if both of our folks are here, we’re all in trouble.
“I wanted to tell you in person,” Fran states.
Mom opens her arms. “Here I am.”
“Um, congratulations, Mimi?”
“No. Don’t like that one either.” She sits next to Jackie. “What does Ollie call me?”
“When you’re around?” Jackie frowns. “Mimi.”
Mom blinks as if it’s the first time she’s heard that. She waves a hand in the air. “Judging from the sour expressions on y’all’s faces, you’re not talking about Fran’s pregnancy.”
Yikes! She doesn’t know?
Jackie arches a brow, and Fran’s expression turns mischievous. “Val has a boyfriend.”
Dad’s gaze narrow. “You’re dating him now? What about what happened to your sister?”
“Dating who?” Mom asks.
“Jabari Hall,” Jackie spits out.
“The boy who cheated on you?” Mom’s voice rises.
I hold up a hand. “Can I please explain?”
“This oughta be good.” Dad folds his arms across his chest, mirroring the same stance as Jackie. Only while Dad seems skeptical, Jackie is definitely defensive.
Lord God, please give me the words. “I was set up on a blind date with Jabari. I had no clue it would be him until I showed up to the restaurant on Valentine’s Day.
However, he shared about his eyesight and swore me to secrecy.
” Now that the whole world knows, I can finally explain everything. “He needed a friend, so I became one.”
“And that’s all?” Mom asks.
I shake my head. “I started to like him and gathered the courage to ask what happened between him and Jackie. I fully intended to keep my loyalties to her, but she lied about how their relationship ended.”
“Is this true, Jackie?” Dad asks.
“Here come the waterworks,” Fran whispers.
Right on cue, silent tears fall from my sister’s face.
“Honey, it’s okay.” Mom lays a hand on Jackie’s arm for comfort. “Share what you’re able.”
“Why do you always cater to her?” Fran asks, hands on hips. “All you do is teach her she can do no wrong despite doing so repeatedly.”
The bitterness in Fran’s words hurts my heart. But I can’t disagree with her.
“He hurt me,” Jackie cries. “He’s not a good man.”
“He is,” I counter. “I can’t even begin to put into words how magical our date was and how well he treats me. I don’t believe he’s lying about your breakup.” Though I wish Jabari was so that I wouldn’t have to deal with Jackie’s drama.
“What did he claim?” Dad asks.
“Does it matter?” Jackie interrupts. “I’m the victim.”
“Let Val speak,” Dad says.
Mom glances at Dad but doesn’t argue.
“He said Jackie accused him of cheating with the coach’s daughter but that he and other teammates were being tour guides. She didn’t react well when he said he wanted to break up.”
“Sweetie, is that true?” Mom asks.
“He didn’t want me,” Jackie moans. “I just wanted him to understand he was making a big mistake.”
Dad’s brow furrows. “What did you do?”
“Just threw some things to get his attention. I didn’t hurt him.”
My heart hammers in my throat. She tried to hit him? I can’t help but look at Jackie in a different light, and it’s not favorable.
“How could you?” Fran asks.
“Girls, I’m sure she had her reasons,” Mom said. “Now’s the time to support her.”
“Shouldn’t we be supporting Val and Jabari instead? Jackie’s a menace, and it’s a wonder Isaac and Ollie have mellowed her as much as they have.”
“Fran, I won’t have you talking about your sister like that,” Mom says. “Besides, we’ll see if motherhood smooths out your rough edges.”
“Oh, I already know I’ll be ten times better than Queen Jackie. I can own up to my mistakes, unlike some people.”
“Whatever. If that’s true, then you’d be telling Val to apologize for dating my ex.”
“Are you still in love with him?”
The question booms in the middle of the room as if the voice came from heaven in the form of thunder. All of our heads swivel to take in Isaac’s furious expression as he holds Ollie in his arms. My nephew looks confused by the commotion.
“Babe, it’s not like that.” Jackie stands up and takes a stuttered step toward her husband.
He steps back. “Sure sounds like it. If you don’t love him, what does it matter if Val dates him?” He shakes his head and stalks up the stairs.
“Grovel.” Fran’s voice breaks the quiet. “Tell him you’ll let this nonsense go, you’ll stop talking about Jabari in any negative way, and show Isaac you love him. And for goodness’ sake”—Fran throws her hands in the air—“support Val for once in your life.”
“I do love Isaac,” Jackie whispers.
“Then go upstairs and tell your husband that,” Dad says, sparing Mom a side-eyed look.
Jackie disappears up the stairs, and by unspoken agreement, Dad, Mom, Fran, and I filter out of their house.
I hug Mom, and Fran invites her over for breakfast tomorrow so they can talk. I hope Mom decides to give Fran a break and help her through the pregnancy instead of heaping more judgment.
We walk to the nearest Metro station.
“So did you two kiss good-night?” Fran asks.
I shake my head. “I’m trying to take things slow. I want to make sure this is what we both want before jumping all in.”
“You can stand to loosen up. You like him. What’s the problem?”
I hook a finger over my shoulder. “Our sister? Hello!”
“Well, if you didn’t answer her summons, you could’ve gotten your kiss today. You don’t always have to jump when she says so.”
My stomach bottoms out. “Good grief. When will I learn?”
“Hopefully today. When will Jabari be back in town?”
“Wednesday.” How am I supposed to go four more days until I can be with him again?
“Where is he today?”
“Jersey. They’re playing there Monday.” The good thing about East Coast games is they don’t have to travel very far.
“Then go back up and surprise him.”
“We’re already home.” I give Fran a duh look.
She merely rolls her eyes. “Like you can’t buy a ticket up to Jersey and get on another train. Must I do all the thinking?”
I bite my lip as she smirks. Should I do that? Just show up in Jersey and surprise Jabari?
“Just do it. Stop being so cautious all the time.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t hesitate,” Fran urges. “Go cheer your hockey guy on.”
I chuckle. “You know he’s not playing.”
“Maybe if he knows you’re coming, he’ll sit with you.”
That’s actually a great idea. Will Jabari be willing to do that? Better question, Will there even be a seat for me at the game?
“Do it. Call him and say you’re coming back up there.”
I glance at my watch. “It’s late. He might be out with the guys.” So I compose a voice text.
“Hey, it’s me. Just wanted to let you know I’m coming back to Jersey as soon as I get on a train.” A short laugh escapes me at the rashness. “Any possible way you can get me a seat to the next game? Even better if you’re able to sit with me. Let me know.”
“Atta girl.” Fran wraps an arm around me, and I lean my head against her.
My thoughts turn to Jackie and the anger on Isaac’s face.
Lord God, please be with Jackie. Help her patch up her relationship with Isaac. I bite my lip. And maybe even help her truly be okay with my relationship with Jabari. I think I can love him, Lord.
My brain stops on that thought as I realize how true it is. Before I fall headfirst, I need other elements to fall in line first.
Take it slow, Val. Don’t forget.