I spend the rest of the morning vacuuming around the drill holes and re-steaming clothes that got dusted yesterday. Once I’m sure the items are like new I place them back on display.
Lola and I chat. I ask her about Trick and what’s new.
She responds, “I’m not sure what’s going on with Trick. Just when I think he’s going to make a move, he stops. And I’m there, you know? I want it to happen. But something’s holding him back. Not sure what more I can do.”
I turn thoughtful. Nik told me Trick moved back in with his Mom. He didn’t elaborate but I’m sure it has something to do with her. Maybe she’s sick? I don’t want to make assumptions to Lola and freak her out so I stroke her pretty brown hair and utter, “Be patient, honey. Trick isn’t a player. There must be a reason.”
She nods and replies sourly, “Hope he’s worth waiting for.” She looks at me and immediately softens. “Because I will, you know? I’ll wait.” She lowers her head and nods as if reassuring herself. “For Trick, I’ll wait.”
I squeeze her shoulder and make my way towards the counter. Just as I get there I see an older man on the other side of the road. He’s clutching his chest and using his bowler hat to fan himself.
Holy Smokes!
He’s going to faint!
I run to the staff room, get a bottle of water from the fridge and snatch my stash of candy from counter before bolting out the door. I run into traffic using my hands to show cars I’m trying to help someone; luckily the cars stop.
I reach the short, African American man just as he’s about to fall. I put my arms around him and slowly lower him to sit on his bottom against The White Rabbit.
I quickly ask, “Are you okay?” I open the water and hand it to him.
He takes it from me with shaking hands, drinks a little and replies breathily, “Oh, thank you, child. It seems the sun has it out for me today.”
My heart slows its pace and I plop down next to the old man.
I open up my stash of raspberry bullets and hold it out to him. He raises a brow but takes one and pops it into his mouth.
With the candy at the side of his mouth he says, “These are my favorite.”
I nudge his shoulder slightly and reply a little over excitedly, “Me, too!”
Bonding with an old man over candy is nice. Don’t judge me.
He chuckles but quickly firms his voice and reprimands, “You could’ve got hurt rushing over here, child. Best not be doing that again.”
I nod and reply, “Sorry, I’d promise I won’t but if I saw someone going down the way you were, I probably would.”
I hold out a hand to him and say, “I’m Tina.”
For some reason, his face looks stunned for a moment.
He covers it quickly, takes my hand and replies, “Jermaine.”
We shake and smile at each other. Bonding over candy and water on a dirty sidewalk.
This is how good friendships start.
I’m just about to ask Jermaine to come to the store for coffee when I hear, “Uncle Jerm?”
Max stands there staring wide eyed at the two of us.
Oh, Crudsickles.
This sweet old man is big, bad Uncle Jerm of the Sixes? How can that be?
My face must show my unconcealed shock because when Uncle Jerm looks at me again he chuckles.
He looks up at Max and replies, “Was just coming to see my boy Nik. Felt a little dizzy when superwoman over here flew in and saved me.” He shuffled sideways and takes my hand in both of his. “You know, when people told me Nik’s woman was different, I didn’t get it. I thought a woman is a woman.” He kisses one of my hands and continues quietly, “Now I get it. You a special type of woman, Miss Tina. I’m glad to have met you. It was an honor and all my pleasure. Be sure of that.”
My throat thickens.
That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I don’t know how to respond. I just open and close my mouth like a fish out of water.
Uncle Jerm smiles at me and hold his hands up to Max. He says, “Help an old man up, son.”
Max helps Uncle Jerm up and holds his arm with one hand. Then he holds out his other arm to me and I use it to pull myself up.
I dust myself off and stutter “W- well, I better get back to work.”
I kiss Max on the cheek then do the same to Uncle Jerm. I know who he is but I feel we have a connection after today’s incident. I’m so happy when he takes my hand smiling and kisses it.
Then I waltz back over to the store leaving Max smiling and shaking his head.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Attack of the She-Devil
Poker night has turned into board game night.
Turns out the guys were losing too much money to Ghost who has a supreme Poker face and no tell whatsoever.
Max, Ghost, and Lola sit at the dining table asking the others if anyone else wants to play. I see Nat raise her hand and walk over to the table.
Uh oh.
I don’t even try to hide my worry.
I walk over to Max and speak softly, “Are you sure you want to play with her?”
Max looks confused and replies ,“Sure, T. We’re a player short.”
I raise my brows and respond a long, drawn out, “Ooookaaay.” Then I lean closer and whisper, “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”
I make my way over to the sofas with Uno. Meems hates playing this with me but is always a good sport and a tad competitive which is great because she doesn’t give in easily when I whoop her butt.
Nik, Trick, and Mimi gather around me as I deal. We all take our cards and play.
Nik tries to cuddle me but I know he’s trying to look at my cards. I give him a don’t even think about it look that must look serious enough because he raises his brows, puts up his hands in surrender and backs away.
Shit almost got serious.
We play three rounds. I win the first two and I’m actually happy when Meems wins the other. I jump off the sofa and tackle her to the ground saying, “You want a piece of me?”
I’m even happier when she bursts out laughing. Mimi seems a lot happier these days.
Just as I jump off of her I hear Nat say loudly, “This game sucks.”
Oh poop!
Ghost smirks at her and responds, “No. You suck.”
Why, oh why, Ghost?! Don’t taunt the bull!
Nat stands and leans toward him over the table. I see her eye twitch.
That can’t be good.
She whispers in eerie calm, “Oh yeah?”
Ghost doesn’t even look at her when he replies a firm, “Yeah.”
Nat picks up the board and throws it across the room. It hits the wall and bits and bobs fly everywhere. Then she stands and walks coolly to the sofa where she plops down and says sullenly, “I’m bored.”
I smile and look over to a shocked Max, a chuckling Ghost, and a pissed Lola.
I say sweetly, “I told you so.”
Max nods his head and says, “Game over, Red Rover.”
***
“Daddy?”
I look to the monitor but see Tina is already making her way to the kitchen for a glass of water for Ceecee.
Smiling to myself, I think about how perfect a mom she’d be.