Page 65 of When Love Takes Root

Wednesday Evening

By four thirty, Celestial Crowns looked like a salon, a study hall, and a tiny government agency run by children with snack demands.

The front stations were still moving. Starr had a client laughing under her cape. The back row stayed taped off, quiet and useless, while Josiah’s crew worked around it with drop cloths, tools, and the steady hum of men who knew what they were doing.

At the small table near the waiting area, my children acted like homework was a personal attack.

“Everything needs to be finished and checked before Uncle Onyx gets here,” I said, holding my pen like a judge with a gavel.

Zuri dropped her forehead to her paper. “Mama.”

“Don’t Mama me. I’m raising scholars over here.” I tapped her math sheet. “Future veterinarian.”

She lifted her head and smiled despite herself.

I pointed at Maya. “Future artist.”

Maya kept sketching in the corner of her packet. “Artists don’t need fractions.”

“Broke ones do.”

Starr’s client hollered.

I turned to Skye, who had one shoe off and a pencil tucked behind her ear. “Future Olympic gymnast.”

Skye perked up. “Olympic?”

“With correct spelling words.”

Her face fell. “Dang.”

“And Kayden,” I said, looking at my seventeen-year-old standing by the window like unpaid security. “Future doctor, engineer, coach, principal, or whatever you decide once you stop eating cereal over the sink like a bachelor with bad credit.”

The shop cracked up.

Kayden tried not to smile, but his mouth betrayed him.

I kissed Zuri’s forehead, Maya’s temple, Skye’s cheek, and Kayden’s jaw because he was too tall for me to reach his cheek without making a production. “Groan all you want. This work is getting done, and it’s getting done right.”

The bell chimed.

Josiah Brooks walked in carrying a tool bag in one hand and a coil of wire over his other shoulder.

He wore dark work pants and a black Brooks Hardwire shirt stretched across shoulders broad enough to block bad decisions. His braids were tied back, beard neat, eyes steady. He looked like responsibility had put on boots and walked into my shop.

“Afternoon, Ms. Coleman,” he said.

“Afternoon, Mr. Brooks.” My voice behaved better than my pulse. “I’ll be right with you.”

“No rush.”

Kayden’s eyes moved from Josiah to me, then back to Josiah.

I knew that look. That was the don’t get too comfortable around my mama look.

Josiah must’ve known it too because he didn’t challenge it. He simply nodded. “How you doing, young man?”

Kayden nodded back. Barely. “I’m good.”