“We're here if you need us,” Raquel volunteered. She sipped from her glass of champagne.
Sonyell nodded and then she looked at the clock on the wall. “I hate to break up the party, but I've got to go. Sasha is at Michael's mother's house and I need to pick her up.” She took her car keys out of her purse and her cell phone sounded. She pulled it out of her purse and pressed talk. “Hi, Sasha, what's up?”
Sonyell listened for a minute and then she said, “Let me speak to your grandmother.” She waited for Sasha to give the telephone to her grandmother. “Hi, Miss Nedra. Sasha tells me she wants to spend the night with you. Are you sure it's all right? I was just leaving Mariah's house to pick her up.”
The older woman assured Sonyell that Sasha's spending the night with her was fine. She went on to say that she planned on keeping her other granddaughters, and Sasha was welcome to join them. Nedra informed Sasha that the girls would be at her house until noon, so Sonyell could sleep in the following morning if she wanted to.
“Great. Please put Sasha back on the telephone.” She waited for daughter to return. “I talked to your grandmother and she said that you can stay the night. I will pick you up tomorrow around noon, so be ready.”
“Thanks, Mommy. Granny keeps pajamas and a change of clothes here for me. Tell Auntie Mari and Auntie Rocki I said hi. Love you, Mommy.”
“I will. I love you too, baby. Have fun.” Sonyell smiled like she could see her daughter's face. She ended the call.
“I guess I'm free the rest of the evening. Sasha, as you could probably tell, is spending the night with Miss Nedra. So what y'all got planned for later? At least I don't have to go home and cook.”
“Like you were going to cook anyway. We all know that you were going to fix a plate from the leftovers on the stove,” Raquel teased her friend. “It's Friday. Who cooks on a Friday?”
“Okay, I'm busted.” Sonyell held up her hands. “What do you want to do?”
“How about a game of gin rummy?” Mariah suggested as she stood up and walked to the cabinet and took a deck of cards out of the drawer.
“Bring it on.” Sonyell laughed as she rubbed her hands together. “I feel like giving someone a good beat down.”
Raquel took the plates off the table and took them to the sink. “Let's clean up in here first, and then I'll show you what a real beat down feels like, Sonni.” She reached under the sink and removed the dishpan and turned on the hot water faucet. She squirted drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid into the pan and quickly washed the dishes as Mariah brought them over to the sink.
Sonyell put the fish in a bowl and covered it with aluminum foil and did likewise with the spaghetti. She put the food inside the refrigerator.
Twenty minutes later, Raquel turned the portable stereo on the kitchen counter to V103, so they could listen to old school R&B music while they played cards. Mariah dealt the first hand. The friends laughed, talked, and played cards until the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting anyone else, Mari?” Sonni asked.
“Not really,” Mariah replied grimly. “I just hope that's not who I think it is.” She looked fearfully at the door.
Chapter Two
Mariah exhaled loudly as she rose from her chair and walked to the front door. She stared out the peephole and saw Cassandra. Mariah quickly unlocked and opened the door. With an inexpressive look on her face, Mariah said, “Cassie, come in.” She stepped back to allow Cassie entrance to the house. “We haven't seen you in a long time. How have you been doing?”
When Cassie stepped over the threshold, Mariah's nose twitched and she flinched from the odor emanating from Cassandra's body. Mariah changed her mind about kissing her mother.
Cassie strolled to the living room and plopped on the sofa. Mariah sat in the chair across from the sofa. Her eyes roamed the room and landed everywhere except on her daughter. “I'm okay, just a little short of cash,” she mumbled and looked downward. She looked up at Mariah, and said, “I came by to see if you or Momma could loan me a few dollars.”
Mariah's heart rate dropped a notch as she took in her mother's haggard appearance. Cassie looked and smelled like she hadn't bathed in weeks. Her micro braids were hanging loosely from her scalp. She wore a soiled red sweatshirt, and the sleeves didn't cover her thin wrists. He jeans were tattered and not because that was the latest fashion style. Mariah's eyes traveled from the top of Cassie's head to the thick soles of the dingy, run-down tennis shoes on her feet.
Cassie's eyes were blurry and her nose was running. She rubbed her shirtsleeve across her face. Mariah stood up and walked into the kitchen. Sonyell and Raquel had become quiet and looked at their friend questioningly. Mariah shook her head and returned with a napkin for her mother. She handed it to Cassie and returned to her seat. Cassie wiped her nose; then she balled up the napkin in her hand. “So what do you think, Mari, can you spare me a few dollars?” She looked at her daughter hopefully.
Mariah was averse to giving Cassie any money. She knew from past experience, her mother would just shoot it up into her arm. Mariah tried to change the subject. “Are you hungry? Granny fried catfish. You're welcome to stay for dinner.”
“No, I'm not hungry.” Cassie's legs jiggled impatiently. She pushed a braid out of her face.
Rosemary walked slowly down the narrow staircase. “I thought I heard the doorbell ring.” Her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at her daughter. “Come give me a hug.” She held out her arms to Cassie.
Cassie stood up and walked over to Rosemary. Rosemary engulfed Cassie in her arms as Cassie's arms dangled at her sides. Then, mother and daughter sat on the sofa. Mariah watched their interaction from the chair.
Raquel and Sonyell walked into the room. They greeted Cassandra, shot Mariah sympathetic looks, and informed Mariah that they were going home.
“I'll call you later,” Sonyell said. Then she and Raquel departed.
“So, can I get some money?” Cassie asked her mother impatiently after Mariah locked the door.
“I don't have any money.” Rosemary shrugged her shoulders. “I don't get paid until next week.”
Cassie sucked her lips and rolled her eyes at Rosemary. Then she looked at Mariah. “What about you? You got any money?”
“I may have a couple of dollars. I don't keep much money on me,” Mariah answered as she stood up and walked upstairs to her bedroom. She had five dollars in her wallet. She removed it and returned downstairs. Mariah gave the money to Cassie.
Cassie turned up her nose. She waved the bill in the air and asked, “Is this all you got? I can't hardly get nothing with this.”
“I'm sorry, like I said,” Mariah repeated after she sat back on the chair, “I don't keep money on me.”
“Hmm,” Cassie mumbled as she stuck the money in her jeans pocket.
“Why don't you spend the night with me and Mariah?” Rosemary suggested anxiously. “You look like you could use a good meal and a bath.”
“Whatcha trying to say, Momma?” Cassie rolled her eyes at her mother.
“I'm not trying to say anything, Cassandra,” Rosemary said soothingly. “You look like you've lost weight since the last time I saw you. I made dinner and I'd like to spend time with you.”
“I've been good.” Cassie folded her trembling hands together.
“Why don't you stay and have dinner?” Rosemary pleaded. “Sonni bought a cheesecake. It looked good.”
“I really got to go.” Cassie stood up. “One of my friends drove me over here and he's waiting on me. Maybe next time.” She walked toward the door.
Rosemary stood up and walked over to Cassie. Her voice was full of anguish when she asked her daughter, “Where are you living now, Cassie? Are you still living in the Garden?”
Cassie turned around. “You know me,” she said with a dimpled smile. “I'm like the wind: here, there, and everywhere.” She wiped her dripping nose again. “Hey, I gotta go. I'll see you next time.” She opened the door, waved, and slipped out of the house.
Rosemary twisted the lock and returned to the living room. She sat heavily on the sofa. Her face was bowed and her arms were clasped around her body.
Mariah stood up, walked to Rosemary, and patted her shoulder. “I'm sorry, Granny. I know how seeing Cassie upsets you.”
Rosemary lifted her head. “You would think I would be used to Cassie's behavior by now. But I guess I'm not.” She tried smiling and her lips twitched into a grimace.
Mariah nodded her head. Rosemary's life hadn't been easy. Mostly because of her worries regarding Cassie's drug addiction. Since she was a young child, Mariah tried to do everything in her power to make her grandmother's life happier. Most of the time, she succeeded. Whenever Cassie visited, Rosemary would become sad and withdrawn for a couple of days afterward. Rosemary was fearful that Cassie committed crimes to support her habit, along with prostitution. Actually Rosemary was partially incorrect; Cassie wasn't shy about selling her body for drugs. She had been living with a man for over ten years and he helped support her habit.
“I wish Cassie were stronger and could get herself together.” Mariah sighed as she rubbed her grandmother's arm.
“Me too.” Rosemary exhaled loudly as she wiped a tear from her eye. “I think I'm going to pass on going with you and the girls tomorrow. I would just be in the way. You should go with your friends and enjoy yourself. Though your father wasn't around when you were growing up, I do approve of the way he's taken care of you in death.”
“Granny,” Mariah protested. Her mouth dropped and her eyes widened in disbelief. “You would never be in the way. You've taken care of me my entire life. And now I'm in a position to do something for you. You've worked your entire life and have never taken a vacation. I don't even think we ever went to one of the better stores to shop until I finished school and started working. We never went to the movies when I was a kid. You always washed and styled our hair on Saturday nights, so we'd look presentable for church. You sewed our clothes and now it's time for me to give back to you. I didn't mention this to anyone before, because I was still trying to process everything that happened. But my fa . . . father”âshe stuttered a bitâ“left me quite a bit of money. I mean a lot.” Her hand fluttered in the air. “His will has finally been probated and I can do what I want with the money now.”
Rosemary twisted her hands together. She turned and looked at her granddaughter's face. “I did what I had to do, Mari, and everything I've done was out of love for you. You don't need to spend any of your money on me. Maybe you can go back to school and get your degree, if there's enough money for that.”
Mariah chuckled. “I could get a PhD if I wanted to, Granny. He left me enough money for that and more. I received possession of his house and other properties he owned.”
Rosemary blinked rapidly, as her hand flew to her throat. “I thought you were talking about a house and perhaps twenty thousand dollars, like most folks leave their kin. You mean he left you more than that?”
“Yes, ma'am.” Mariah nodded, grinning. “That's why I want you to go with me and the girls in the morning. Please, Granny, please come with us tomorrow?” Mariah cajoled her grandmother. She threw her arms around Rosemary's neck. “Pretty please with sugar on top?”
Rosemary blinked back tears. She bobbed her head. “Okay, I guess so. Let's get an early start. I have a meeting at church tomorrow afternoon.”
Mariah kissed Rosemary's cheek loudly. “Thank you. I think you're going to be in for a pleasant surprise.”
A few minutes later, Rosemary stood up. “I'm going upstairs. I guess I'll turn in for the night. I'll see you in the morning.”
Mariah nodded. She stood and turned off the light in the kitchen and downstairs. Then she went upstairs to her bedroom. She sat on the bed, reached for the remote control on her nightstand, and turned on the small television. She lay across the bed; her head was filled with thoughts of everything that transpired that day. With a smile on her face and praises to God on her lips, Mariah fell asleep.
She awoke around eight o'clock Saturday morning. She had showered and dressed and could hear Rosemary puttering in the kitchen. Mariah rushed downstairs. “Granny, I forgot to tell you last night that I'm treating everyone to breakfast. So don't bother making anything.”
“Okay.” Rosemary nodded. She sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in one hand and thumbed through the newspaper with her other one.
Mariah glanced at her watch on her wrist. “Rocki is driving. She should be here shortly. I just need to do my hair; I should be ready shortly.”
Rosemary couldn't help but notice how her granddaughter was filled with nervous energy. The corners of her lips curved into a smile, and she turned her attention back to the newspaper.
Twenty minutes later the doorbell sounded. Rosemary opened the door for Sonyell and Raquel. “Good morning, girls. Would you like coffee?” She walked back to the table, took her cup to the sink, rinsed it, and put it in the drain.
“I have a cup in the car,” Sonyell replied. She walked to Rosemary and kissed her cheek.
“Thanks, Granny, I'm good,” Raquel replied as she sat at the kitchen table across from Rosemary.
Mariah ran down the stairs. “I'm ready. I'm so excited. I can hardly wait for you to see my inheritance,” she exclaimed with a wide smile that covered her face from ear to ear.
The women left several minutes later and shared breakfast at a local restaurant. Forty minutes later they were on the expressway en route to Hammond, each eagerly looking forward to behold the blessing bestowed on Mariah by a father she'd never known.