I slid some gold hoops in, glossed my lips, and spritzed my cocoa body spray, all the little steps that helped make up the big picture of me. Looking at my reflection dressed in a soft blue tee and white skater skirt, I nodded. I was cute but comfortable. I grabbed my crossbody bag, shoved my phone into it, and walked out of my room and down the stairs.
“What do you want to eat?”
“It’s up to you. I know whatever you make is going to be good.”
“You’re so sweet.”
My parents’ voices drifted out of the living room, and I rolled my eyes affectionately. Married twenty-five years and together for thirty, they were still deeply in love. I wasn’t surprised whenI walked in the living room to find my mom cuddled all up under my dad like a teenager instead of the fabulous fifty that she was. They looked up as I appeared, smiles on both of their faces.An only child, I had always known that I was the much-loved realization of my parents’ dreams. I adored them right back.
“You look cute, suga! Where you going?” Mama asked.
“Kera has a game today. I’ma go support her.”
“Tell her good luck,” Daddy said.
“I will. I won’t be out too long. I want to spend some time with y’all before you leave tomorrow.”
They were leaving for a month’s vacation in Bali tomorrow. I was going to miss them, but I was happy for them, too. They worked way too hard, and I couldn’t believe they were leaving their jobs for four weeks. Walking over to the couch, I dropped kisses on both of their foreheads before I exited the house. I climbed into my little BMW and pulled off.
The drive flew by as I listened to a true crime podcast. I was studying to be a forensic psychologist, and I loved this kind of stuff. I pulled onto my grandparents’ driveway and blew my horn before shutting off my car’s engine. Before I could even get out, my MiMi was in the doorway.
“What I done told you about pulling up in my yard and blowing? You better get out and speak like you got some sense!” she fussed as she leaned against her door frame.
I shook my head as I smiled at her. “MiMi, please. Everyone around here knows you raised me right.”
She stepped out onto the porch and hugged me as soon as I made it to her.
“Sorry. I just wanted Mariah to know I’m out here. I know she’s not ready,” I said, speaking on my first cousin who lived with our grandmother.
“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled as she led me into her house.
I breathed in deeply as I walked over the threshold. MiMi and PawPaw’s house always smelled so good, like vanilla and whatever she was cooking. Everything felt familiar, the sound of “Matlock” on the TV, the throw pillows with their seasonal covers, the family photos that needed updating—hell, I was snaggle-toothed on a couple—but everybody knew better than to touch them. I smiled when I saw her sister-in-law, my Aunt Nette, flipping through channels.
“Hey, Teedy,” I greeted her, walking over to get my hug.
She embraced me tightly, and I reveled in it. Aunt Nette had the best hugs, I swear. It just felt like she meant them, every single time.
“Look at you! I believe you get prettier each time I see you,” she complimented.
“She get it from me,” MiMi asserted smugly.
Aunt Nette kissed her teeth. “This girl looks just like the little red, freckle-faced women running around my farm. Those Miller men got strong genes.
MiMi waved dismissively. “Whatever. Where y’all fast asses going anyway, Farrah?”
“To the park to watch Kera play softball.”
“Mm-hmm. Softball, my ass. Y’all going to the park to watch some niggas,” she sassed, pulling on my skirt as she said it.
“MiMi!” I gasped dramatically. I was so fake. I knew my grandmother was a character. If she thought it, she was saying it.
Aunt Nette laughed. “Marian, leave that baby alone.”
“Girl, please. I ain’tthatold.” Her attention suddenly shifted. “Mariah, hurry yo ass up! Got this child up here waiting!” MiMi yelled.
“I’m coming, MiMi. Farrah ain’t in that big of a hurry!” Mariah yelled back from the depths of the small house.
MiMi and PawPaw could afford more, but they refused to leave the place they’d first bought. My PawPaw’s brother, AuntNette’s husband, tried to get them to move on his big ol’ farm, but my grandparents weren’t going.
