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I handed her an ornament before she could start another argument. The front door opened a few minutes later, and Uncle Sha came in carrying a shopping bag, with Aunt Tori right behind him.

“Why the hell does it sound like y’all fighting in here?” he asked.

“Because MJ thinks he’s an interior designer,” I told him.

Sha looked at the tree, then at MJ.

“What you do to it?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“That’s what everybody says when they fuck something up.”

Aunt Tori laughed as she took off her coat.

“Leave him alone.”

“I ain’t even start yet.”

Mama held out her arms when she saw them.

“Come give me a hug.”

Auntie went to her first. She bent down to hug her before rubbing her stomach.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“I’m feeling like I’m tired of everybody asking me that.”

Uncle Sha leaned down to hug her when Auntie stepped aside.

“You know we gotta check on you.”

“I know... I’m fine.”

“Good.” He straightened up and looked toward the kitchen. “Now, what’s cooking?”

“Ribs, macaroni and cheese, greens, and cornbread,” Mama told him.

Uncle Sha rubbed his hands together.

“Now, that’s what I came for.”

Aunt Tori smacked his arm.

“You told me you came to spend time with everybody.”

“I can do both.”

He walked over to Daddy and leaned down to hug him, but Daddy pushed him away while laughing.

“Get your ass off me.”

“Damn. I can’t even love on my brother?”

Uncle Sha pulled a chair closer and sat beside him. Aunt Tori joined Mama on the couch, and within a few minutes, the two of them were talking about baby clothes while Uncle Sha tried to convince Daddy that the tree needed to be moved. I threw my hands up.

“Not you too,” I said as I rolled my eyes.