Grand Opening 2
Page 26
Not to be outdone by his cousin, Curtis ran over and said, “Are you my Aunt Donna too?”
Donna shrugged at him and said, “Sure, I’m your Aunt Donna too.”
“Nee Nee, I know you got something strong in here to drink. Now, tell me where it is,” Shirley snapped impatiently.
“Restroom, please, Nee Nee.” Donna ignored Shirley and asked as she stood up.
“Down the hallway and to the right, Donna. Top cabinet over the refrigerator, Shirley,” Nee Nee replied. When both Donna and Shirley were out of earshot, she asked, “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
“I will, but first, have you heard from Larry or Lou?” I asked. Now that I’d seen my boys and knew they were safe, it was time to pull everyone together and find Miss Bettie.
“They called a few hours ago from a gas station. He said they were on their way to Atlanta,” Nee Nee said. “Wait, you haven’t talked to LC since you’ve been gone?”
“Not since late last night. I’ve been calling, but I haven’t talked to him.” I sighed. I had to find my husband. There was no telling what Mr. Mahogany was capable of, or LC, for that matter, when it came to his mother.
“Nee Nee, you ain’t gonna believe this.” Shirley came out of the kitchen holding a glass of what looked like bourbon. “Miss Bettie is alive. I saw her with my own two eyes.”
“What! Where?” Nee Nee’s eyes bugged out.
“At Shirley’s boyfriend’s house at the beach,” I said, cutting my eyes at Shirley. I was still pissed about her recent antics, and I didn’t want her to think that it was all water under the bridge. She still had a lot of explaining to do.
“Levi, come on and take that puppy outside before it pees on Nee Nee’s nice carpet,” Shirley quickly said. “Come on, boys. Let’s go outside and—”
The front door opened, and Larry walked in. Lou was right behind him.
“Daddyyyyyyyyy!” Curtis ran over and jumped into his father’s arms.
“Hey, boy.” Larry lifted him off the floor. Although his face was fatigued, he still lit up when he saw his son.
“About time y’all got home,” Nee Nee said. He walked over and gave her a long kiss.
“I see y’all found him.” Lou pointed to Levi; then, when he noticed Shirley, he added, “I told you to find Levi. Y’all could’ve left her cheating ass wherever the fuck she was. And where’s Donna?”
“I’m right here.” Donna entered the living room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she and Lou seemed happy to see one another.
“Lou, have y’all heard from LC? I’ve been calling everywhere, but I can’t reach him. I’m worried, because Shirley said Belinda—”
“I’m right here, sweetie.” LC’s voice came from behind me, and my heart skipped a beat. I turned around and ran to my husband. He looked as if he had been through hell, but he was still the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on.
“Dammit, LC. I was so scared. Where the hell were you? I thought the Mahoganys had done something to you. They’re the ones who have your mother.”
“Those motherfuckers ain’t got me. I’m right here.”
We all turned and stared at the front door, where Miss Bettie was now standing. I couldn’t believe it. She was alive, and now she was home.
“M–M–Momma!” Levi ran over and picked Miss Bettie up, swinging her around the same way Larry had done to Curtis. Then, in true Levi fashion, he began covering her face in kisses. “Y-you’re h-home again!”
“Boy, if you don’t put me down . . . I keep telling you when you do that I have to pee!”
Levi put her down, and she spoke to all of us. “Yes, I’m home again with my family, and this time, I ain’t going nowhere.”