“Duly noted,” Nina said.
“Well, I gotta go,” Yvonne said. “I have to figure out how to put together a business plan.”
Nina smiled as she walked her sister to the door.
“Now, how much longer before you get this whole lotto stuff resolved? ’Cause I’m broke.”
“We have a court hearing next week. I’ll let you guys know something soon.”
Yvonne held out her hand. “Okay, but in the meantime, let me hold twenty dollars.”
Nina eased the door closed. “Good-bye, Yvonne.”
“What, I’m gonna pay you back. Didn’t you hear? My sister’s a millionaire.”
“Talk to you later, Yvonne,” Nina said firmly. She shut the door, only to have her sister race over to the window on the porch.
“I love you, Nina. With or without the money.”
“I love you, too,” Nina said, closing the curtain on her sister’s wide grin.
19
Todd smiled at the sight of his mother. While her nit-picking could work his every nerve, she was a woman who exemplified true class. A music teacher for many years, she was now retired, and as her only child, Todd was her pride and joy. She’d dedicated her life to making sure he had the best of everything.
That’s why she was devastated when he dropped out of college and that’s why, to this day, he didn’t like disappointing her. She knew the reason he and Nina divorced, but they never talked about it, much to Todd’s relief.
“So, are you going to stand there looking crazy, or are you going to tell me why you’re at my house at eight A.M. on a Sunday morning?”
“Well, ummm…”
“Stop umming and ahhing. You know I have to go teach Sunday school. Tell me what you have to talk to me about.”
Todd took a deep breath and began the speech he’d been rehearsing all the way over. “Well, I talked with Dr. Phelps and the surgery is all set for next Friday.”
His mother’s mouth dropped open. “They fit us in?”
Todd nodded.
“And what about the money?”
“It’s taken care of.”
“You told me that. But how?”
“I got it. Or at least, I’m getting it.”
“How?” she asked again. He stood in uncomfortable silence. “I’m listening,” his mother said when he didn’t reply. She marched up to him, her arms folded, looking stern. “Are you doing something illegal to get this money?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “Oh, Lord, you’re selling drugs, aren’t you?” She clutched her heart. “My son is Nino Brown! It’s a good thing you don’t have a brother to shoot him in the head.”
Todd chuckled at his mother, always the drama queen. “Mama, no more cable for you. And no, I’m not a drug dealer.”
“Well, where are you getting this money? And don’t you dare lie to me. You know I can tell when you’re lying.”
“It’s nothing illegal.” He wondered for the last time how he would ever explain, and then admitted, “I’m getting the money from Nina.”
“Nina?” she asked, disbelief lacing her words. Her face cleared and she broke out in a wide smile. “Oh, my, she wants to help. She is such a sweetheart. But where did she get that kind of money?”
Todd began pacing the room. “I know you’ve been a little wrapped up with Grams, so you probably haven’t heard.” He turned to face his mother. Might as well get it over with. “Nina won the lottery.”
“What?” his mother exclaimed.
“Yep. Sixteen million dollars—well, really eight after taxes.”
“And she’s going to share some with you? After the way you broke her heart?” she asked quizzically.
Todd grimaced. He hated when people reminded him of what he’d done to Nina. “Not exactly.” He released a long, hard breath. “Mama, me and Nina’s divorce was never finalized.” He debated whether he should tell her what Pam did but decided he didn’t need to give her any more ammunition for disliking Pam. “There was a problem with our paperwork and our divorce never went through.”
His mother’s hands flew to her mouth. “So you’re still married to her?” she asked in shock.
Todd nodded.
“And what does she have to say about this?”
“Naturally, it came as a surprise to her as well.”
“Well, she must not be too mad if she’s giving you the money for Mama’s surgery. I mean, she does know how expensive it could get, doesn’t she? How much did she agree to give you?”
He swallowed hard. “Well, the truth is, because I’m still married to her, I’m entitled to half her lottery winnings.”
“Entitled to?” She stopped and frowned. “Todd Demario Lawson. Do not stand here and tell me that you are taking half that woman’s money.”
He scrambled for an explanation. “Mama, what else would you suggest I do? We don’t have a choice. I’m not gonna let Grams deteriorate before our eyes, and I’m sure not going to let you sell your house.”
At the mention of his grandmother, his mother’s mood immediately shifted. Todd seized the moment and continued talking. “You saw how Grams was and you heard what the doctor said. This is our only hope. And it’s not like I’m leaving Nina broke.”
His mother started pacing across the room herself. “I don’t feel good about this,” she said after a few turns.
“Neither do I, Mama, but what choice do we really have?”
“Can’t we find some other way?” she pleaded with him.
“If there was another way, I’d take it.”
Gloria stopped short, struck by a new idea. “Maybe if you just talk to her and tell her, she’ll give it to you,” she suggested.
“I can’t take that chance. Too much is at stake.”
His mother was pensive for a moment. “Well, can’t you just take enough for the surgery?”
“What about long-term care? And you know I’m having a hard time paying for her to stay at Memorial Greens as it is. The money would help if there are any complications. Truthfully, I am entitled to half the winnings.”
His mother rejected that notion instantly. “I didn’t raise you to be an evil, conniving person. It’s bad enough what you did to Nina. Now you want to slap her in the face even more.”
“What do you suggest we do, then? The surgery is scheduled for next week. We have to pay twenty grand before they’ll begin the surgery. I’ve already borrowed against my 401k, but it’s not enough. Lincoln has agreed to front me the other ten for the down payment until we get the lotto money worked out.”
“What do you mean, worked out?”
Todd groaned inwardly. Just as he feared, his mother was dragging everything out of him. “Naturally, Nina plans to fight, but the attorney says the facts speak for themselves.” Todd entreated his mother, “Mama, please understand, if there was another way, I’d take it. Do you know of any other way?”
Standing by the fireplace, Gloria picked up a photo of her mother and fingered it gently. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice quavering. “I just know I don’t like it.” She spun around, the photo still clutched in her hand. “Talk to Nina. Maybe if you tell her what’s going on, she’ll offer the money we need for the surgery and long-term care. She always did love your grandmother.”
“And you really want to take that chance?” Todd asked, walking over so he could look his mother in the eye. “Nina is engaged now. What if her fiancé says she can’t do it. Then what, Mama?”
His mother saw the difficulty. “I don’t like this,” she repeated.
“Me neither, Mama.”
Gloria set the photo back on the mantel. “I’d better go to church. Because I’m going to have to pray extra hard this morning for our souls.”
20
Nina’s eyes had to be deceiving her. The image standing in front of her car could not possibly be real.
“Baby girl!”
Nina closed her eyes like she was trying to ward off a bad dream. When she opened them again, though, the mirage hadn’t g
one away.
“Mama?”
“In the flesh, baby,” her mother said, sashaying toward her. She wore an oversized Delta Sigma Theta T-shirt, which she must’ve gotten from Goodwill since she was no Delta. She also wore baggy khaki pants, and her stringy black hair was pulled back in a small ponytail.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Nina said, looking around the parking lot of 24 Hour Fitness. She’d come to work out with Rick, but she left early because all those women in there were throwing themselves at her man. Since he still had an attitude, he didn’t reassure her like he usually did.
“I can’t work out?” Her mother cackled, displaying a missing front tooth.
“Somehow I doubt seriously you’re here to work out.”
“You got me,” her mother said. She was swaying side to side like she was drunk. “I came to see my baby girl. You ain’t gonna give your mother a hug?”
Nina looked at her mother like she had to be kidding. She hadn’t seen Doris Morgan in six years. She’d shown up to Christmas dinner at Nina and Todd’s, gotten sloppy drunk, cursed out Todd’s mother, fondled his horrified father, and thrown up on the table next to the turkey and dressing. It was the most humiliating moment of Nina’s life.
Nina had long ago given up hope that her mother would sober up and turn her life around. After a lifetime of missed birthdays, broken promises, and being teased because her mother was “the neighborhood drunk,” she no longer wished for a happy ending.
“Well, I guess you too big to give your mama a hug,” she said, playfully pushing Nina’s shoulder. “Anyway, your cousin Janay told me I might find you here, so I bummed a ride and came right over.”
Janay taught hip-hop aerobics at 24 Hour Fitness, and she knew Nina usually came in on Wednesdays to work out. But Nina didn’t appreciate her cousin letting her mother know her schedule.
“Where did you come right over from, Mama?” Nina asked, not bothering to hide her disdain. “I haven’t seen you in I don’t know how long, so where is it you could’ve possibly come right over from?”
“Awww, there you go with that ‘my mama was never around’ song.”
“It’s not a song, Mama. It’s the truth.”
“Whatever. I’m sorry, all right? I’m here now.” She grinned widely. “I’m here to make things right with my baby girl.”
Nina couldn’t believe the tears welling up in her eyes. She used to pray when she was growing up to hear her mother say she was sorry and wanted to make things right.
Nina shook off her budding tears and headed to her car. She popped open the trunk and placed her duffel bag inside. “Mama,” she said, after slamming the trunk closed, “the time to make things right with me was when I needed you. The time to make things right with me is not after I won the lottery.”
By this point she was fuming. Out of all her relatives who had shown up with their hands out, this took the cake. Her mother had no shame whatsoever. She had never offered an explanation or apology for bailing on her kids, let alone elucidated where she’d been for the last six years.
“Wah, wah, wah,” her mother said, leaning against a car to steady herself. “I see you still whining. Ain’t nothing changed.”
Nina fought back all the dark emotions inside her. “And I see ain’t nothing changed with you. You’re still a drunk.”
“Sticks and stones.” Her mother laughed as she reached in her pants pocket and pulled out a small flask. “Yeah, I like a little spirits. You ain’t hurt my feelings by calling me a drunk. You gotta get strong, girl. Don’t let stuff get to you. Life is too short.” Her mother raised the flask in a toast before taking a sip.
“I gotta go,” Nina announced. The last thing she wanted was her mother to see her crying, and if she stayed in this parking lot one minute longer she’d not only be crying, she’d be out-and-out bawling.
“What?” her mother said. “I was just playing with you, girl. Dang.” Her eyes darted across the parking lot. Nina turned to see what she was looking at. A scrappy-looking middle-aged man was pacing back and forth. Dressed just as sloppy as her mother, he was pointing to his watch and frowning.
“Do you know him?” Nina asked.
“That’s yo’ stepdaddy,” Doris said proudly.
Nina didn’t bother asking for any more details. She just rolled her eyes as she reached to open her car door. She’d had enough of her mother to last her another six years.
“Nina, baby, wait.”
“Mama, what do you want?” Nina said, turning back to her mother.
“What you think I want? Some money.”
Nina laughed. At least she was honest. “I am not giving you any money.”
“Girl, I know you won all that money. Now, I know you got bills, so I’m not gon’ take all your money. But as your mother, I feel like I am entitled to at least one point three million, seeing as how I gave birth to you. And if it wasn’t for that little fact, you wouldn’t even be here to collect no money.”
She’d actually said that with a straight face. “Did you pick that figure out of the blue sky?” Nina asked.
“Yep. Don’t you think it’s fair? See, I’m thinking about you, baby girl.” Doris smiled like she’d really done something great.
Nina answered by climbing into the car.
“Hey!” her mother called out. “Whatchu doing?” She banged on the hood as Nina started the engine. “Girl, I’m your mama. Don’t you drive away from me. You hear me?”
Nina cautiously backed up, trying to ignore her mother’s screaming and cursing. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she finally let her tears flow freely.
21
Nina punched in Rick’s number for the sixth time. She’d paged him, texted him, and left him messages at work and on his cell phone, and still no return call. She desperately wanted to talk to him. Her run-in with her mother had left her frazzled, and she needed someone to comfort her. He’d been distant since this whole lotto mess with Todd began, and it was driving her crazy. She wished they could go back to the way things were before the win.
“Hi, Brenda, it’s me again,” Nina said when the receptionist at the health club answered the phone. She’d driven about ten minutes before pulling over in a parking lot because she was too upset to drive.
Irritated, Brenda replied, “Yes, Nina. Rick is still not available. But as I told you already, I let him know that you called.”
“Did you tell him that I said it was urgent?”
“Yes, I did. Both times.”
Nina sighed, thanked Brenda again, then hung up the phone. This was even more reason why she needed to settle with Todd, so she and Rick could go on with their lives. Maybe then he could let this attitude go.
Nina leaned back against the seat, exhausted. She didn’t want to go home. Finally, she decided to call Michelle. After she got her voice mail, she called Rene.
“Speak, it’s your dime,” Rene said, answering the phone.
“Hey, it’s Nina.”
“I know.” She laughed. “That’s what I have Caller ID for. What’s up?”
“Are you busy?”
“Never too busy for my girl. What’s wrong? You sound like somebody killed your cat.”
Nina swallowed hard. “Can I come by? I need to talk.”
“Of course. I wasn’t going anywhere today.”
“Thanks, Rene. See you in a bit.”
Twenty minutes later, Nina was sitting in Rene’s living room, sour-apple martini in hand.
“I cannot believe your mother just showed up out of the blue,” Rene said, looking casually stunning in a rust-colored sundress. “I know you were too embarrassed.”
“I think I was too shocked to be embarrassed,” Nina said, sipping her drink. She felt herself relax as the liquor slid down her throat. She needed the strong boost the liquid sent through her body.
“So do you think she’s staying in town?” Rene asked. Rene had been around since high school, so she knew all the drama Nina had endured behind her mot
her.
“I don’t think she’s going anywhere until I give her some money.”
“Girl, if I were you I’d give her some just to make her go away.”
Nina shook her head. “No. I’m not contributing to her drug and alcohol consumption. Sooner or later she’ll get the message. I’m not giving her any money.”
“Please. You’re a freaking millionaire and everybody knows it. She ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Rene said matter-of-factly.
Nina massaged her temples. Just thinking about her mother was making her head throb. “Can we change the subject?” At first she’d wanted to talk, but the more she did, the more she felt sick to her stomach.
“Sure.” Rene plopped down on the bearskin rug in front of Nina. “Let’s talk about your ex. What did you decide to do about him?”
“I don’t know. I hate him, Rene,” Nina said, feeling the drink going to her head. She closed her eyes to ward off the dizzy feeling and the tears creeping up on her. “I hate what he did to me. I hate the fact that he destroyed our marriage. I hate the fact that him and that tramp are now coming back, trying to claim this money. If it was just Todd, maybe I’d be halfway all right. After all, he did pay for me to finish college, then take my real estate classes. So I could halfway take giving him some money, but I can’t stand the idea of Pam enjoying one penny of my money.”
“Hey, I feel you there. But you’re gonna be sick if the judge agrees with them and awards them half the money.”
“Sick is an understatement. Tell me again, what would you suggest I do? And legally,” Nina added.
Rene was pensive before warning her, “You don’t want to know what I’d suggest.”
“Trust me, I’ve thought about exactly what you’re thinking,” Nina said, shuddering at the memory of her phone call to Lee Roy, “but I just can’t do that.”
Rene shrugged as if Nina didn’t have any other options. “Well, then, I think I agree with Michelle. You should settle. Why don’t you try talking to him?”
“Talk to Todd?”
“Yeah. I mean, he was a really nice guy before he cheated on you. Maybe if you get him away from that she-devil, he’ll be willing to settle.”
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