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“Come on, Mama, my ass! She’s been uptight since she got here. Sitting on her high horse. She ain’t God, so she don’t need to be judging nobody. I’m sick of it. Ever since she got saved, she wanna run around here, telling people what to do with their lives. Not in my damn house. Get your damn wife, EJ.”

Gina choked out a fake ass sob. “I-I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Yes, you did. You’ve been throwing lil’ jabs at me for months. What I do with my man is my business. Worry about your marriage,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

Gina jumped up from the table and ran off crying. EJ got up and went after her. Kinsley sat there, her knee bouncing like she wanted to say something, but the way Ms. Ronette looked at her made me hope she stayed in a child’s place.

“MiMi, can I say grace?” Simi asked.

“Yeah, baby. Everybody bow your heads,” she replied, grabbing Mr. Elgin’s hand.

“Dear God, thank You for this meal my Mimi made. Thank You for my family. And please bless the pancakes so I can eat a lot. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

“Amen,” Ms. Ronette said. “Now, let’s eat. I got the munchies. Shit.”

We all sat there, eating, laughing, and talking about the New Year. Simi for sure ate four pancakes. That boy was only six, and he was over four feet tall. He definitely got his height from EJ. Kinsley still hadn’t said a word. She sat there, pushing her eggs and grits around her plate and glancing toward the kitchen every few seconds.

“Kins, you can go find your mama if you want. You don’t have to eat if you ain’t hungry,” Mr. Elgin said.

“Thank you, Granddad.”

When she got up, she rolled her eyes at me and walked out. I could have said something to her, but I knew that behavior came from Gina’s ass. One thing about Kinsley, she would ride for her mama. I couldn’t blame her, though. Because when it came to Marley, I’d go to war with whoever. She’d better keep her mouth closed, though, because I wasn’t above driving Mini to her school to beat her ass.

“She acts just like Gina. Poor baby don’t know no better,” Ms. Ronette muttered, stabbing her eggs with her fork. “Simi, if you’re done, go wash your hands. And don’t be jumping on my couch.”

“Yes, Mimi. Thank you for breakfast.”

Simi jumped down from his chair and ran over to hug Ms. Ronette, Mr. Elgin, then Emery and me. He snatched up his truck and ran off.

“Stop running through this house, Simi!” Ms. Ronette shouted.

“Yes, Mimi!” Simi yelled back.

“Them kids ain’t coming back this way, are they?” Ms. Ronette whispered.

“No, Mama, they gone. Probably upstairs. Don’t you hear that thumpin’? I bet Simi jumpin’ off the bed,” Em said, laughing.

She let out a breath. “Thank God. But… Gina got a point, Vannah. What are you and Emery doing? Y’all look good together. I know my son loves you, and you love him. Y’all thinking about marriage? Give me some more grandbabies before I get too old to chase them around.”

I choked on my orange juice, looked at Em, then back at Ms. Ronette. “Uhm, marriage right now? We’ve only been together a year and a half. Don’t you think it’s a little early?”

“Girl, I married their daddy after knowing him for five months. I can admit, we were extreme, and those first five years of marriage took us through something. But I don’t regret it. You two are in your thirties with successful careers… I feel like the timing is perfect.”

I sat there, quiet as a church mouse, looking at Em, hoping he’d save me.

Em grabbed my hand and rubbed across my knuckles. “Ma, I’m not rushin’ her, and she’s not rushin’ me. I ain’t against marriage, and I ain’t against kids. When the time does come, I want us to be ready.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Savannah, baby, how about you? Don’t you want to get married? Have some babies?”

“Uhm, yes, eventually. Emery and I are in a good place, and if it keeps going like it is, I can see that… in the future.”

Ms. Ronette sighed and leaned against Mr. Elgin’s arm. “Well, okay. I won’t pressure you two. I just think y’all would make me the cutest grandbabies.”

“Aw, Roni, let these kids move at their own pace. Marriage ain’t easy. Y’all see what I gotta deal with? I can’t retire no time soon when my credit card statements come in with three zeros on the balance every month. Em and Savannah, take your time. Y’all will know when you’re ready.”

“Elgin, stop telling my business. You gave me a certain lifestyle. Now, you have to maintain it,” Ms. Ronette said, then turned to me. “Don’t let my son off either. If he did certain things in the beginning, make sure he keeps doing them. Hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am. He’s doing a great job.”