by Shana Burton
Lawson closed and locked the door after the last of her ministry members filed out of her house. Sullivan, Angel, Reginell, Kina, and Desdemona stayed behind.
“That was nice of the women’s ministry to have a special luncheon for Sullivan today, wasn’t it?” commented Desdemona, referring to the thoughtful gesture on the part of Mount Zion’s Women of Virtue.
“Yeah, the whole church has been concerned about her and Charles. They wanted to do something to try to cheer her up.” Lawson stowed the last covered dish in her refrigerator. “Look at all this food they brought over. Sully probably won’t have to cook again till Christmas!”
“I’m just thankful I was invited to come,” said Desdemona. “I’ve really been enjoying getting to know all of you and attending church with Kina. Savannah is becoming more like home every day.”
“No thanks necessary. We’ve enjoyed having you,” Kina told her. “And it was very nice of you to volunteer your home to host it in, Lawson,” added Kina.
“They did all the work. All I had to do was open the door . . . and, of course, make sure the honored guest showed up.” Lawson nodded her head toward Sullivan, who sat many feet away, watching Charity and Simon play.
Desdemona lowered her voice. “Did anyone else notice that Sullivan was kind of quiet through the whole lunch? She mostly kept to herself or interacted with the kids.”
“She’s still struggling a little bit,” remarked Angel. “Between the accident and all the hormonal changes from her pregnancy and losing Christian, that’s to be expected.”
“It’s been over a month, though. How long is she supposed to be like this?” wondered Lawson.
“Well, at least she isn’t drinking today,” observed Desdemona. Then she whispered, “She was hitting the bottle pretty hard the last time we spoke.”
“Really?” Lawson was concerned. “We really need to keep a closer eye on her. We can’t let her sink into a full-blown depression.”
“We can start by lightening the mood around here.” Angel called over to Sullivan. “Don’t you want to come join us at the grown folks’ table?”
“I’m fine,” she replied.
“Sully, come on,” invited Reginell. “You know how much you love to gossip. Kina was just about to spill some hot tea, weren’t you, Kina?”
Kina was confused. “Was I?”
“Yeah. Earlier today Des said that you’ve had a ‘gentleman caller’ hanging around, and I want to know who it is!”
Desdemona sat down next to Kina. “I wasn’t putting your business out there, Kina. Reginell asked me why you’ve been so chipper lately, and I told her it may have something to do with your new friend.”
“Well, he’s definitely not new, and I don’t know if I’d call him a friend.”
Angel leaned in. “What’s going on?”
Kina nodded. “It’s true. I’ve kind of been seeing somebody. Well, not really seeing him as in dating, but . . . I don’t know.”
Lawson held up her hand. “Wait a minute. Backtrack. Who are you sort of seeing?”
“Elvin Battle.”
“Elvin?” Lawson thought for a moment. “Hold up. Are you talking about Daddy E’Bell?”
Kina huffed. “Do we have to call him that?”
“Would you prefer Big Daddy or perhaps Dirty Daddy?” joked Angel. “It sure seems like you’re headed that way!”
Sullivan’s ears perked up. “Huh? What did she just say?”
“Kina has been picking fruit off the family tree, it seems,” Lawson quipped.
Kina elbowed her. “I have not!”
“Kina, are you gettin’ it on with E’Bell’s daddy?” Sullivan joined them at the table. “What’s up with all this inbreeding? First Reggie, Lawson, and Mark. Then Angel and Duke’s cousin, and now Kina and her father-in-law! Is ‘Help! I’m in love with a family member!’ your new pitch to get a reality show?”
“I’m not in love with him, and technically, he’s not any kin to me,” argued Kina.
“But he’s very much kin to your child and dead husband,” Lawson pointed out.
“Elvin is nothing like E’Bell, though. I mean, he is, but only his good parts.”
Sullivan wrinkled her nose. “E’Bell had good parts?”
“Yes, Sullivan, like being hardworking and funny and protective.”
“Protective?” squawked Angel. “Do I have to remind you that this is the same man who regularly used your face as a punching bag?”
“He wasn’t all bad, y’all. There were some happy times between Kenny, E’Bell, and me. When he wasn’t drinking or smoking weed, E’Bell was a pretty good husband.”
Lawson shook her head. “But how often was that, Kina? Every thirty-first of February? I know we don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but that doesn’t mean you should start sugarcoating your marriage. E’Bell was a terror to you and Kenny, and I doubt that the apple falls too far from the tree.”
Angel frowned. “Plus, weren’t you the one who said you find the whole notion of sleeping with relatives . . . What was the technical term you used . . . ? Icky, I believe it was. What’s he doing here, anyway? I thought E’Bell’s side of the family excommunicated you and Kenny after the funeral?”
“They did, but E’Bell’s mom passed away a year ago. I think that prompted Elvin to want to reach out to the rest of his family. He’s been great with Kenny.”
Angel smirked. “And how’s he been with you?”
Kina blushed. “He’s great there too, but it’s nothing serious. I’m not expecting him to be anything more than Kenny’s granddad and a friend. We’re just hanging out. It’s all very platonic.”
“But do you want it to stay that way?” inquired Desdemona.
“Yeah. I mean, wouldn’t his mom dating his grandfather be confusing to Kenny?”
Lawson laughed. “No more confusing than Namon’s dad being married to his mother’s sister!”
Reginell rolled her eyes.
“He did kiss me, though,” confessed Kina in a low voice.
“What?” Lawson blurted with a mixture of shock and amusement.
“It was one kiss. It just kind of happened, but I don’t anticipate it happening again.”
Lawson was skeptical. “So you say . . .”
“Girl, don’t listen to Lawson! If he makes you happy, I say, Go for it. Besides, we’ve all made rather questionable dating choices,” admitted Angel. “Sully, you remember that guy you dated junior year?”
“I dated several guys junior year.”
“I’m talking about the weird one. What was his name?” Angel thought back. “Julian something . . .”
“Oh, yeah, Julian Floyd. He was weird. He had a thing for sniffing women’s underwear.”
Lawson frowned. “And you let him smell yours?”
Sullivan shrugged. “To each his own. The craziest thing about it was that he liked to smell them after they’d been in the hamper a couple of days. He said time gave them a nice heady aroma.”
“Eww! I work with teenagers. I hear things that make me gag all day long, but I do believe that’s the grossest thing I heard all week!” Lawson exclaimed.
“You’ve had your share of weirdos too, Lawson,” Sullivan reminded her. “What about Sage?”
“Sage?” repeated Reginell. “You mean like the plant? Who names their kid that?”
“No one,” said Lawson. “He said Sage is the name Mother Earth gave him. However, his real mother, Joy-cine, named him Orlando Parker. We dated before I started going out with Garrett. And he wasn’t weird. He was introspective.”
“And cheap!” added Sullivan. “Who gives someone a water jug and a leaf as a birthday gift?”
“It was not just any leaf. It was the first leaf that grew in spring on the tree outside my house. The water jug was actually fresh rain sealed in a jar that had been recycled for twenty years, and it happened to be my twentieth birthday at the time.”
“Like I said,” continued Sullivan, “a water jug and a le
af!”
Angel beamed. “This feels like old times! It’s good to see you like this, Sully.”
Sullivan nodded. “It feels good to laugh again.”
Lawson wrapped her arm around Sullivan. “It’ll get easier day by day. You’ll see. Keep leaning on God, and when you need some laughs, lean on us.”
“So, Lawson, how’s your son?” asked Desdemona, changing the subject.
“He’s good. Um, school is going well. I’m still not thrilled about this baby of his, but I’m coming around. Mark has been a great help with me coming to terms with it.”
Reginell narrowed her eyes at Lawson. “Oh, has he?”
Lawson sighed. “Yes, Reggie, we talk. Mark knows how I feel about the situation. He’s just been trying to help.”
“Shouldn’t your husband be the one helping you?” snarled Reginell.
“He is, but I see Mark every day at work. Of course, we’re going to talk about whatever is happening with our son.”
“Just be careful,” cautioned Desdemona. “You know what happened the last time you and Mark were alone together.”
The tension in the room thickened.
“You mean when she got pregnant with Namon?” asked Reginell. “That was almost twenty years ago.” Reginell could sense something was amiss. “That is what you’re talking about, right? The one night they shared when Lawson was sixteen and they conceived Namon?”
“Don’t listen to me,” said Desdemona, brushing it off. “I was just talking.”
“Talking about what, though?” Reginell’s curiosity was piqued. “What part am I missing?”
Desdemona apologized. “Lawson, I-I’m sorry. I thought Reggie knew about the kiss.”
Angel and Kina winced.
Reginell was taken aback. “What kiss?”
Lawson exhaled. “It was nothing, Reggie.”
“You let me be the judge of that,” Reginell snapped. “Now, what’s this about a kiss? Did you kiss Mark?”
“It happened months ago,” blurted out Desdemona. “I’m sure it didn’t mean anything to Lawson or your husband.”
“Des, I really think this is something that should be discussed between my sister and me,” said Lawson.
Desdemona bit her lip. “Of course. We should leave.”
“No, wait,” insisted Reginell. “I want to hear this. What happened between you and Mark, Lawson?”
“We kissed, all right?” Lawson revealed. “It was nothing major, just a stupid kiss.”
Reginell turned to Desdemona. “You said this happened months ago, right?”
Desdemona nodded.
Reginell faced her sister. “So this kiss happened while Mark and I were together?”
“You weren’t married yet,” added Kina.
“So you knew too, Kina?” Reginell was stunned. “Dang, did everybody know except me? I guess the wife really is the last to know!”
“Reggie, that kiss happened a long time ago,” explained Lawson. “It was right after Kina busted you at the strip club. You and Mark weren’t even speaking then.”
“So!” spat Reginell, disinclined to accept that as an excuse.
“Plus, Garrett and I were going through such a rough time dealing with Simon and Simone. Mark and I leaned on each other for support.”
“It sounds like y’all did a lot more than just lean!”
“Look, we were both heartbroken and upset, and it just happened. We both knew it was a mistake and stopped before it went any further.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better, Lawson? My husband cheated on me with my sister!”
“In all fairness, Reggie, you married her baby’s daddy,” pointed out Sullivan. “I say this makes you even.”
“It’s not about getting even or going behind your back,” asserted Lawson.
“Then why did you do it? And if it wasn’t a big deal, why did you keep it from me?”
“Because I know you have a tendency to make mountains out of molehills. The kiss was nothing.”
“I’m sure Mark reached out to Lawson only because he was hurt,” offered Desdemona.
“So that’s it?” asked Reginell. “When my husband is hurt, he reaches out for you instead of me?”
“Reggie, don’t do this. You know Mark and I have been close for years. We share a child together. I don’t think it’s that big of a stretch that he’d reach out to me from time to time, but he’s never crossed the line with me.”
“Except for when he kissed you,” retorted Reginell.
Lawson groaned.
“You know, for some people, kissing is more intimate than sex. In fact, the only other thing that’s more intimate is sharing a child together. It looks like you and my husband have all of your intimacy bases covered!”
Desdemona interceded. “I know that Lawson and Mark share a powerful connection through their son and that it can be tough for you because that’s a part of himself that he doesn’t share with you, Reggie, and never will, because of your hysterectomy.”
“I don’t think pointing that out is helping,” noted Kina with a raised brow.
“My point is that Mark loves you,” continued Desdemona. “You’re the one he chose to spend his life with. Your sister loves you too. I don’t think she’d ever do anything to hurt you or disrespect your relationship again. Let’s just pray that it was a one-time mistake and lapse in judgment.”
“If the kiss was so insignificant, why didn’t either of them bother to tell me? Why the secrecy?” Reginell wondered aloud.
“Reggie, come on now. Is there really an easy way to tell anyone, especially your sister, that you shared a passionate kiss with her husband and not expect an all-out war?”
“Des, I can answer the question myself, thank you,” grumbled Lawson.
Desdemona shrank back. “Sorry . . . I was just trying to help.”
“The reason I didn’t say anything is that we knew it was a mistake and regretted the kiss as soon as it happened.”
“That’s understandable,” said Kina. “Sometimes people just get caught up in the moment. I know that’s how it was for me and Elvin.”
Desdemona dove back into the conversation. “Right. Just because you kiss someone doesn’t mean it has to lead to sex or even has to mean anything.”
“Oh, it means something, all right!” hissed Reginell.
“What? More threats, Reggie?” muttered Lawson.
Reginell leapt up and got in Lawson’s face. “I don’t make threats! Don’t come for me, Lawson. You ain’t about this life!”
“I think you need a time-out.” Desdemona dragged Reginell outside before the argument escalated any more.
Reginell began pacing, trying to calm herself down.
“You all right?” asked Desdemona.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Reginell stopped and took a deep breath. “I bet you must think I’m real ghetto for carrying on like that.”
“No. I didn’t want to say this in front of everybody, but I understand why you got upset. A person can only take so much disrespect.”
“Yeah, but when all is said and done, Lawson is my sister, though. I should go back and apologize.”
Desdemona stopped her. “I don’t think so. Your relationship with your husband supersedes yours with Lawson. Doesn’t the Bible say you should leave and cleave? You have every right to fight for your marriage, even if it means fighting your sister. Right now Lawson is acting like the other woman. You can’t stand on the sidelines, waiting for her to seduce your husband. If you don’t put a stop to it, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
“Honestly, Des, I don’t think either one of them would take it that far.”
“You didn’t think they’d take it as far as the kiss, either, did you?”
Reginell admitted that she didn’t.
“Reggie, you just had that hysterectomy. Your sex life isn’t what it was while you’re in recovery. Your husband is vulnerable right now, and she could easily take advantage. It wouldn’t tak
e much—a slight touch here and a flirtatious smile—for Lawson and your husband to give in to their flesh. They’ve been physically intimate, and they’ve been intimate emotionally. You can’t turn a blind eye to it.”
Reginell nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
“I hate that I am, but I don’t want to see another happy family destroyed. Keep her away from you, and definitely keep her away from your husband!”
Reginell and Desdemona rejoined the other ladies. The moment Reginell set eyes on her sister, the rage she’d felt when she left the house came flooding back. She envisioned Lawson and Mark kissing, then pictured the two of them rolling around in the bed she shared with Mark, laughing about how they’d been able to deceive her.
Without warning, Reginell lunged forward and socked her sister in the face.
“Reggie!” shrilled Desdemona.
“Oh, my God!” shrieked Kina. “What did you do that for?”
They all huddled around Lawson.
“It’s gonna be hard tryin’a kiss my husband with your lip swelling up like that!” taunted Reginell, standing over her sister.
Angel was horrified. “Reggie, what the devil is wrong with you? That’s your sister!”
“I don’t care what she is! I told her to back up off my man. She can learn the easy way, or she can learn the hard way.”
“Reggie . . .” began Lawson, but she stopped when her mouth started filling with blood.
“You don’t have to say anything.” Reginell rubbed her knuckles. “Now we’re even.”
Chapter 26
“You don’t so much as take a leak without thinking
about it first. Nothing ‘just happens’ with you. There’s
always a plan, always an agenda.”
–Reginell Vinson
“You should’ve called first,” warned Mark when Lawson turned up at his front door two days after the blowout with Reginell. “Wow. She really did a number on your lip, didn’t she?”
Lawson touched her distended bottom lip. “It’ll heal, but I’m not as worried about my lip healing as much as I am the rift between my sister and me.”
“For the record, I don’t think what she did to you is cool. I told Reggie I don’t want to be the source of any friction between the two of you. I’ve done everything I know to do to assure her that nothing is going on between us, nor will there ever be again.”