by J. Nichole
Kenya crosses her arms across her chest. “Well, you sure as hell didn’t try to come to anyone’s rescue.”
“What? And have my momma curse me out. I’m good.” Bean laughs. “I think I need a break from this house. Who wants to ride with me to pick up EJ?”
Kenya scrunches her nose. “Pick up EJ? Last time I checked he had a car. Why do you need to pick him up?”
Before Bean could answer James says, “I’m down to get out of the house.” We all laugh. I’m sure all the drama of the day has been a bit overwhelming for James.
“Let’s all ride.” I look at our kid cousins still sitting too close to the television and issue a warning. “Y’all better be good till we get back.”
“You remember how it was as a kid. Staring at gifts all day because Memaw had some crazy rule that we couldn’t open gifts until the sun went down.” Kenya grabs her jacket and walks towards the door. “I’d be mad, always arguing that every other kid in the neighborhood was already outside playing with their toys from Santa.”
“Yeah, and she would always say, ‘Believe in that mess if you want to.’ Always a dream crusher,” I said as we pile into Bean’s Camry.
“Dang, she didn’t want y’all believing in Santa,” James asks, looking at us in disbelief.
We all shake our heads. As a kid, Memaw wanted us to know the real meaning of Christmas and not be caught up in the commercialization of Christmas. “Yeah, so we know how it is for our cousins. They have to be suffering.”
“Damn. That’s hard for a kid. Growing up, we couldn’t even sleep through the night. We were up at the crack of dawn under the tree waiting for our parents to give us the go-ahead to rip through wrapping paper.”
We pull up to EJ’s apartment complex and Bean calls him downstairs. When he appears with a chick by his side, Kenya and I both look at Bean. “He didn’t say he was bringing someone with him.”
EJ opens the back door. “Damn Bean, you had to bring the entire crew to pick me up?”
“And I’m not making another trip so y’all better lap up,” Bean says, not once looking in the back seat to see how unrealistic his request would be.
“Fuck man. Alright. Hold up, Veronica. Y’all squeeze in tight.” EJ looks at me and Kenya before saying, “Y’all got thick over the years. All them hips in the back seat. Glad we don’t have to ride too far.” He squeezes in beside us. “Veronica, you can sit on my lap.” With a laugh, she obliges and climbs into the car. I’m pretty sure the car is dragging as Bean pulls off, cursing under his breath.
“I don’t remember you,” EJ says, looking around Veronica to James sitting in the front seat.
“Hey man, I’m James.” James peers around Veronica to find EJ tucked in the back seat. “Corinne’s boyfriend.”
“What, you finally left ol’ fuck boy Caleb alone?” Kenya slaps EJ’s arm.
“How about you introduce us to Veronica instead of being in Coco’s business,” Kenya says with her eyes set on EJ.
“Right, this is Veronica.” EJ points to each of us telling Veronica our names. She smiles and repeats each of our names under her breath.
“If we weren’t traveling like clowns I’d venture out a bit.” Bean looks in his rearview mirror. “I’m sure not much is happening at Memaw’s house and we still have a couple of hours till the food will be on the table.”
“Didn’t we tell their bad asses to be good while we were gone,” Bean says as we pull up to the house. Our cousins are running the path between our house and Caleb’s grandmother’s house.
“Even kids these days can only stay in the house for so long,” James says as we pile out of the car.
We disperse our separate ways when we get into the house. EJ takes Veronica around to introduce her to the family. When I walk into the living room I realize why the kids are running around outside. Bean’s borrowed subscription is logged out and the television is blank. “Bean, get in here and fix your girl’s Netflix account,” I yell.
James grabs the remote from me. “We can just use mine.” I wrap my arm around his waist. The small gesture and lack of contact today has me wanting to take him up to the bedroom and thank him properly for putting up with my crazy family.
“Y’all better go get a room with all that,” Kenya says. I cut my eyes at her. “I’m not hating, I’m just saying. Tonight is going to be extra tough.”
“Papaw.” I narrow my eyes at Kenya when I hear Veronica’s voice from the kitchen.
“Who the hell is she calling Papaw?” Considering we all call my grandfather Grandpa Dean, and there aren’t any other grandfathers in this house, we were stumped. We all leave the living room; even James puts the remote down and follows behind us.
“Veronica, what are you doing here with EJ,” Grandpa Dean asks.
“Wait,” EJ looks between Grandpa Dean and Veronica. “Did you just call him Papaw?”
Grandpa Dean puts his hand in the air and says, “EJ, this is my granddaughter Veronica.” He cocks his head and says, “Shit. Have y’all been…”
EJ backs away from Veronica and looks at Grandpa Dean as if he could tackle him. “Man, you gotta be kidding me. So she’s my,” he points to himself, “my cousin?”
Veronica gasps. “No, Papaw, what?”
“Damn, kissing cousins.” Kenya murmurs. “At least you found out before y’all had some babies.” Veronica snaps her head to look at Kenya and Kenya throws her hands in the air. “Too soon.”
“I need to get out of here.” Veronica walks out of the kitchen, into the foyer and slams the front door.
“Who the hell is around here slamming doors,” Aunt Ivy calls from the den.
“Grandpa Dean, how could I have gone all this time without knowing your other grandkids? What kind of craziness is this?” Considering we all knew Grandpa Dean was remarried with kids, we should all expect he had more grandkids. But because his other family was never welcome around the house, we never met any of them. Even after his wife passed away and he came around more, none of us had any interest in meeting his other family.
“Wow, this day just keeps surprising me.” James wipes his hand across his head.
EJ leaves out of the kitchen when Grandpa Dean doesn’t respond to his question.
Grandpa Dean leaves the kitchen, walking after EJ. I can only imagine what he can say that will calm either of his grandkids. If EJ thought it was a good idea to bring someone home for Christmas, like me, he had to believe she was someone special. At the least they’ve been together for some time. Then hearing ol’ girl is a blood relative, at least half-blood, that’s enough to make someone sick, damn near crazy.
“Damn, imagine who else in this city could be related to us and we don’t even know.” Kenya looks at Bean across the kitchen. He still has his mouth hanging open. “Just think, the chick who is supplying our Netflix today could be your cousin.”
Bean’s eyes grow wide. “It’s definitely a possibility that I’ve messed with a cousin before.” He leans against the counter. “It’s more of a possibility that you,” he points to Kenya, “have danced for a cousin.” He laughs. “Maybe even an uncle.”
“Do y’all know how many other kids your grandfather has,” James asks. We all shake our heads.
“What y’all asking about his other kids for?” Aunt Denise, who happens to appear at all the wrong times, walks into the kitchen. “No need for us to know about any of them.” She refills her cup with ice.
“May have been true before, but now my brother is in a little situation,” Bean says.
“What type of little situation?” Aunt Denise pours a shot of Vodka in her cup followed by a splash of orange juice.
“He just brought home one of our cousins.”
Aunt Denise cackles and bends over to hold her stomach. “After all these years, his paths were bound to cross.” She walks away and says, “That’s what his old ass gets.”
Bean starts to follow Aunt Denise when Kenya grabs his arm. “How about let’s go outside and find
EJ.” Bean turns to follow her. “I’m sure he’s probably just as pissed as you are right now.”
“I think I’m going to book that hotel after all.” I pull my phone out of my back pocket and start a search for a hotel with availability for the rest of the weekend.
James nods his head in agreement. “Probably a good idea.”
Chapter Four
Reunited
“Who thought it was a good idea to put the mac and cheese in the oven with the ham?” Placing the crispy mac and cheese on the counter, Aunt Loretta looks around the kitchen. Grabbing a fork from the drawer, she says, “Hopefully it’s not ruined. We don’t have time to cook a new batch before dinner.”
“Baby, it is what it is at this point. Mac and cheese or not, dinner is going to be served shortly.” Memaw wipes her hands on a kitchen towel. “Today has been one hell of a day.” My little cousin gasps. “Oh honey, I didn’t see you standing there. You should go in the living room.” There it is. What I’ve been waiting for the entire day. The ‘stay out of grown folks business' dismissal. My cousin walks away with his head hung low.
“Maybe we should let the little ones open their gifts now,” Aunt Mary says, standing behind Memaw. “Today has been a rough day for all of us and the gifts will at least bring them a little cheer before dinner.”
My grandmother nods her head. “Just the little ones.”
“I’m sure EJ could probably use some cheer too,” Kenya chuckles.
Aunt Ivy cuts her eyes at Kenya. “Kenya, get out the kitchen.” Kenya’s eyes widen. “We don’t need any additional commentary on today’s events.” Kenya turns and walks out.
“Now,” Aunt Ivy looks at me. “I’m sure I won’t hear anything from you. Get your pies ready to put in the oven next.”
I shrug my shoulders and grab my pies from the island, two-by-two, and place them near the oven. When Aunt Loretta takes the ham out of the oven I add my pies. I stand nearby to ensure I don’t burn them. I’d hate to be cursed out for ruining dessert.
“Have you seen EJ?” Bean stands beside me as I watch the pies. “He disappeared on me again.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he decided to go home. Aunt Loretta, can you watch these pies?” I look to Bean. “I’m going to help Bean find EJ.”
“Sure,” she looks to Bean. “Wherever he is, don’t try to convince him to come back till he’s ready.” Bean nods his head and we walk out of the kitchen.
“He’s not answering his phone either,” I say as I walk behind Bean to the backyard. When we were kids and had issues with our parents or grandparents, we would escape to the trees. “I doubt EJ’s grown butt is out here,” but it’s the first place Bean leads us to.
“Maybe he’s a creature of habit,” Bean says as he looks around the yard. “This shit is just crazy.” Bean leans against a bench that sits amongst the trees. “And Grandpa Dean acting as if he wasn’t even remorseful for it happening.”
“Yeah, I can’t believe he doesn’t see his fault in this situation.” I look towards Caleb’s grandmother’s house. “Do you think he went to visit Caleb?” As kids, EJ and Caleb were pretty close.
Bean twists his mouth. Looking between the house and me, he says, “Maybe, but I can’t ask you to go along with me. I’ll go check.”
“Come in the house and get me if he isn’t there, then I’ll ride with you to his apartment.” I walk through the door of Memaw’s house as Bean makes his way to the path between the houses.
My aunts are setting the table so I leave them to it and go find James. He isn’t in the living room with my little cousins and neither is Kenya. “Hey, y’all seen James?” I look between the two of them sitting on the floor. “Or Kenya?”
“They said to tell you they’d be back.” They continue playing with the toy in front of them that was probably opened after Aunt Mary’s request to bring them cheer.
They’d be back? Where the hell could they have gone? I wouldn’t trust her… Of course, Grandpa Dean’s warning is ringing in my head. If Kenya tries me, I don’t even think after everything that’s happened today I’d be surprised. But if James went along with that mess, he’ll be finding his own way back to Florida. On an empty stomach.
I grab my phone from my back pocket and call James. After a few rings I hear his voicemail.
Corrine: Where’d you go?
He doesn’t answer my text either. I shake my head and go to the kitchen to make sure Aunt Loretta watched my pies. Most of the finished pies are sitting on the kitchen island. With the food set on the table it won’t be long before Memaw is ready to bless the food and we can start eating. My aunts are in the kitchen, but almost everyone else is missing in action.
“Alright,” Memaw throws the towel on the island. “Dinner is ready. Corinne, can you go tell everyone to wash their hands and get to the table?” I nod my head then look down because I know the task will be damn near impossible. “If they aren’t around, they can catch the leftovers,” she says with a tinge of attitude in her voice.
I turn to gather the folks I can find in the house and hope everyone else makes it in before we say grace. My cousins are eager and run to the bathroom to wash their hands; my uncles rub their stomachs as they walk towards the dining room, ignoring my order to wash their hands.
Upstairs I check each bedroom just in case someone decided to lay low and grab a nap before dinner. I find EJ laying across a bed with his head buried in the pillows. “EJ,” I whisper, afraid to wake him. He pulls his head up from the pillow. “Feel like eating?”
He sits up on the bed. “Hell, after what happened today, the only reason I didn’t leave is because I wanted a plate full of Memaw’s cooking. Can’t let the old man steal all my damn joy,” he laughs.
“Good, get downstairs.” Before watching him walk downstairs, I say, “And call Bean, he’s looking for you.” He nods his head and makes his way down the stairs. The last room I check I find Grandpa Dean lying comfortably on Memaw’s bed. Seeing him in her bed as if he’s been there before, or at least recently, is odd. I’d expect her bed would be the last place he’d lay. From the door I call out, “Grandpa Dean.” He shifts on the bed but doesn’t respond. “Grandpa Dean, dinner is ready.” When he doesn’t lift his head I move closer and repeat myself. I reach out to tap his arm and he lifts his head. “Hey, dinner is ready.”
“I’m coming down, Coco, just give me a second to get myself up.”
He was right when he said he’s nothing like Memaw. Her level of energy and ability to get around is mind-blowing in comparison to the way he moves around. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
When I make it down to the dining room to claim a seat at the grown folk's table, I see Bean, Kenya, and James have found their way back. James is standing next to an open chair and I stand beside him. With my eyebrow raised I ask, “Where’d you go?”
“Had to make a quick run. Kenya was nice enough to take me,” he says with a smile directed at her.
Grandpa Dean takes his seat, at the opposite end of the table from Aunt Denise this time. Memaw looks around the table, taking inventory of all of us standing nearby. “Dear God,” she starts, and I close my eyes and bow my head. “Thank you for this food we are about to eat, for those that have spent most of the day slaving over it, thank you for your continued blessings and forgiveness.” She pauses. “Allow us all to be more like you, Lord.” She clears her throat and I open my eyes slightly to catch her wiping away at a tear rolling down her face. “Amen.” We repeat amen and take our seats.
We pass the dishes of food around the table and I take a fair share of each. I pile my plate high with no regard to how James may feel about me stuffing my face. Out with modesty today.
“Which dish did you help with,” James asks as he passes me the green beans.
“The dessert, Memaw’s sweet potato pie recipe.”
James smiles. “I’ll make sure to save room for the pie.”
“I helped her with the pies,” Ken
ya blurts out.
Bean says, “I don’t think he was asking you, Kenya.” He laughs. “Good for you though, helping in the kitchen, for once.”
“You know I’m not the domestic type.”
Memaw says, “Oh we know, honey.” My eyes grow wide and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
The room gets quiet as everyone starts digging into their food, except for our little cousins, who are yapping about the toy they were able to open.
“Your grandfather and I have decided it’s time for us to introduce his kids and grandkids to you all.” Memaw looks around the room with a look challenging anyone to make a smart comment. Aunt Denise takes a sip of her drink but keeps her focus on the plate in front of her. “Today would have never happened had I stopped being stubborn and allowed them to come around.”
“Ma,” Aunt Ivy says, “It’s not your fault.” Everyone starts to offer their understanding before Memaw cuts them off.
“Let me finish. What’s happened in the past is done.” She stares at Grandpa Dean. “We have to move on from it.” She looks over at Aunt Denise. “We can’t continue to carry this bitterness from year to year.” Aunt Denise starts to stand from the table when Memaw says, “Get up and you can forget about coming next year. Continue this mess, then you can just keep your butt at home and celebrate Christmas alone.”
Memaw looks at Grandpa Dean. “I’ll let you share the rest of the news.”
Grandpa Dean shifts in his seat and waits for Aunt Denise to decide if she’s staying or going. “Okay,” Aunt Denise says, taking her seat. With her arms across her chest, she says, “I’m going to work on my bitterness.”
“Thank God,” Aunt Mary shouts. We all laugh and I’m thankful for the relief of anxiety that had started to build in my chest.
“Thank you, Denise,” Grandpa Dean says from across the table. “Your grandmother and I have decided to get back together.” I gasp and look to Memaw, who is smiling wide. “I’ll be moving back in after the holidays.”
Memaw looks around the room, making eye contact with each of her children. “If any of you have any objections, keep them to yourself.” Nobody dares to even mumble a word.