“We did the ABC islands,” she replied. “I told Morris I wanted to move to Curaçao. It was so beautiful, Wes. You would’ve loved it.”
Admittedly, I hadn’t traveled much. Before I moved back to Detroit, I spent most of my time doing stupid shit. Now that I was here, I mostly worked. “Maybe I’ll make a trip there soon. Not on a cruise, though.”
“I’m telling you it’s like a big city in the water.”
I enjoyed the excitement in her voice. For years, she didn’t smile, and I would forever be grateful to Morris for making her happy. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Erica told me about Joyce’s ultimatum.” She cracked up. “I’m not surprised she lit a fire under your behinds.”
The past several weeks had been so hectic, I hadn’t really thought about the whole marriage thing. “For them, maybe,” I said.
“Your sister is freaking out.”
The last time I’d seen Erica, she had scheduled several dates with old friends. Her plan was to marry someone she didn’t love, someone with shared goals for success, and someone who wouldn’t want her to “pop out a baby.”
“I told her to relax,” Mom said. “Your grandmother would not want you to marry someone you don’t love.”
Another bolt of lightning cracked the sky, followed seconds later by a roll of thunder.
“Is it storming there?” she asked.
“Not right now.”
“Are you outside, boy?”
I was sure my behavior had given my mother heartburn over the years, but I’d never lied to her. Not even if I thought it would help me. “Yes.”
She groaned. “Oh, Lord. I need you to take your butt inside the house.”
“I’m safe.”
“I worry about you. When are you coming to visit?”
We moved to Wellspring, Michigan, after my father died. My mother was born and raised in the small town on the western side of the state. She had a supportive family, friends, and a safety net she didn’t have here.
Wellspring was supposed to be a short stop on the way to something better. She’d suggested she wanted to move south, somewhere like Charlotte or Atlanta. Then, she’d rekindled a flirtation with the county sheriff and declared she wasn’t going anywhere.
“I don’t know, Ma,” I admitted truthfully. “I’m pretty busy.”
“Erica told me Albany is back in town.”
My sister talked too damn much. “Did she?”
“Yeah. She also said you seem to be enamored.”
I barked out a laugh. “Did she say that exact word?”
“No.” She giggled. “She said you looked thirsty.”
“Figures.”
I heard the alert for the rooftop door and glanced at my watch.Nine thirty. Albany was late, which meant she wasn’t coming. She was as anal about timeliness as I was, and if she was running behind, it was usually on purpose.
The only people with access to the common area were residents and maintenance. Since I was the only one who didn’t mind sitting outside in the rain, I figured it was an employee of the building doing a security check.
“Well?” Mom called, pulling my attention back to her.
“What are you asking me, Ma?”
