Page 41

“Your pops whopped my ass,” he whispered. “Nigga ain’t give me a chance to shake back.”

I shook my head, laughing. “I told you. Let me train you. I know all his secrets.”

“Ima take you up on that offer.”

“Everybody got their tail in a seat?” Grandma shouted over all the noise. “Move a little faster, so I can pray over this food and this family.”

Everybody got quiet and found a seat, waiting for her to start saying grace.

“Alright now. Bow your heads. Heavenly Father, first we wanna thank You for allowing all of us to be here together one more year. Thank You for this food, for this home, and for every person sitting at this table. Thank You for keeping us, even through the things we don’t talk about and the things only You know we’ve been through.

“Bless the hands that prepared this meal, bless the ones who traveled to get here, and keep Your hand over this family when we leave this house and go back to our own lives. Keep us healthy, keep us close, keep us loving on each other, and give us sense enough to appreciate each other while we’re still here to do it.

“And Lord, bless these babies, bless these marriages, bless these relationships, bless everybody’s work, and please keep peace in this family because You know some of these people are hardheaded.”

A few people laughed, and Grandma cracked one eye open.

“I’m serious. Y’all know who y’all are.”

“We thank You for everything You’ve already done, everything You’re doing now, and everything You’re still working out for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Daddy stood up to carve the turkey, and serving dishes started passing around. Turkey, glazed ham, mac and cheese with the crust burnt just right, collard greens, cornbread dressing, and sweet potato pie crowded the table until we could barely see the tablecloth underneath. Before we could all finish making our plates, my mom’s other sister, Melody, Tempress’ mom, popped in just as loud as her sisters.

“Now I know y’all ain’t get started without me?”

Auntie Mel went around hugging everybody, then stopped at me and grinned.

“I would ask how life is treating you, but you seem to be doing just fine,” she said, looking at Emery. “I see you, niece.”

I laughed, leaning into Emery. “Life is treating me well, and so is Emery. Emery, this is my Aunt Melody.”

“Nice to meet you. I heard a lot about you.” Emery leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t tell nobody, but Vannah said you’re her favorite aunt.”

“That would be right. It ain’t no secret, baby. Mookie knows. Her favorite cousin is outside on the phone, hollering at some nigga. Go get your cousin and tell her to come in here, Savi.”

Tempress being here made my whole night. We did everything together growing up. We were close in age, so we fought each other and other bitches. By the time we were teenagers, Tempress and I were inseparable. Every school break or summer, I spent it with her. I got up from the table and went outside to find my cousin.

“Nigga, do you really think Ima keep going back and forth with you? You worried about the wrong shit. What I do on my time is my business. I need my hoes to understand shit gotta go my way. If you ain’t with that, get the fuck off my line…”

Tempress was standing in the front yard, cussing some man out so bad that I felt bad for him. I stepped off the porch, and she swung around to face me and smiled.

“Listen, I gotta go. I just laid eyes on one of the baddest bitches I ever seen in my life! Saviii!” She screamed, tossing her purse.

She grabbed me and hugged me so tight, rocking me back and forth. I held her just as tight, happy as hell to see her.

“Tempress, where the fuck have you been? I missed you,” I said, kissing her cheek.

“I missed you more,” she replied and kissed me back. “I’ve been in London.”

I pulled back and stared at her. “London? Girl, what the fuck is in London?”

“Fashion, duh! Oh, and international niggas. Whew, girl, I had a mothafuckin’ BALL, okay? When I go back, you gotta come with me. But you know I brought you some goodies. I’m home for the next four months.”

“Oh, hell yeah! I got you for Christmas AND New Years? We gotta do something asap,” I said, linking my arm in hers.

“Uh huh… but uhm, I heard something through the grapevine…” she said, throwing me one of her looks.

My brows furrowed as I looked at her. “What? Why you looking like that?”