Curious, I asked, “Is Ms. Tea just you and Granny Joyce?”
“No. There are four of us.”
“I have to hand it to you … you all did an excellent job of hiding your identities. Unlike Samira.”
“That was all Joyce. She couldn’t take the chance that someone would connect the dots, so she hired a computer whiz to handle all the content.”
“Smart.”
“The young lady is a gifted hacker.”
“Figures,” I muttered, still a little salty that none of my tricks worked. “I need to meet her one day.”
“Maybe.” She slid a folder out from under her newspaper. “There’s something else you need to know.”
I braced myself. “What is it?”
She handed it to me. “Here.”
Eyeing her warily, I opened the folder and pulled out the documents. It was a deed. “You’re giving me your house?”
Grandma sighed sadly. “Ace and I want to move into something that’s ours, something new, and something a lot smaller.”
“I can’t take your house, Grandma. Why not just sell it?”
“Because it’s yours. It’s a done deal.” She pointed at me. “Don’t you argue with me. Now … there’s more.”
Turning my attention back to the documents in my hand, I read through everything. Most of it pertained to the property. It was mine free and clear. I could choose to live there or rent it to a single family. “I’m just … I don’t know what to say.”
“Keep going,” she pressed.
I flipped the pages, until I came across a check. From Liberty Life. My eyes bugged out of my head at the dollar amount. “What?”
“My marriage was an albatross on my life. But one thing that I did right was take out that life insurance policy on your grandfather once I found out about his first side chick. I never needed the money. So, I made you and Moses the beneficiaries.”
“This is a lot. What about Dad?”
“Your father will be fine. I gave him a little something—even though he doesn’t deserve it.”
With shaky hands, I read the note attached.
Pooh,
You will never have to worry about money again. Never. Do good.
Love always,
Grandma
I fell into her arms, holding on for dear life. “Thank you so much,” I whispered. “I promise I’ll do good.”
She kissed the top of my head. “I know you will.”
The similarities that me and Grandma shared were almost uncanny. We’d both been burned by love and now we would have the last laugh. Everyone who doubted us—Granddad, Allison, Darrell, my father … They didn’t factor into the grand scheme of our lives.
After years of heartache and pain, trauma and abandonment, we’d both been healed by love. Her, by someone new. Me, by someone old. And, for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t wait for tomorrow. I couldn’t wait for forever. With Wes.
Chapter 20
