Page 21 of Double

“You ready?” I asked.

“I’m kind of nervous,” she admitted.

“I wanna tell you not to be, but I know that’s hard. My moms is cool as hell, though. If you’re nervous about how they’re gonna treat you, . . . they’re gonna be cool.”

My mom, Passion Hill-Waters, answered the door for us. I may as well have been invisible because once she spotted Tinsley, it was up.

“Are you her? Are you my new daughter-in-law?” My mother’s volume was way louder than it needed to be as she pulled Tinsley into an impromptu hug.

“I am,” Tinsley admitted as Passion led us into the house. She stopped right inside the foyer and looked Tinsley up and down.

“You are gorgeous. Your aunt was as wrong as two left shoes to try to sell you to that creepy, old man, but I can’t pretend like I don’t see why she tried it. Come on, beautiful.” She grabbed Tinsley’s free hand, the one I wasn’t holding, and started walking. “Of course, I’m Double’s mother. You can call me Passion if you’re comfortable with that. I’m from a different generation, so I was never comfortable calling my elders by their first names.”

“Is it all right if I call you Mama Passion?”

My mother gave her the brightest smile. “It is. Now, let me introduce you to your father-in-law and your sister-in-law. I’ve heard your story. I know that the way you came to be here was unconventional and not what you would’ve chosen for yourself. But let me assure you, you are with family now. We’re ready to welcome you, get to know you, and love on you.”

In that moment, I loved my mother one hundred times more than I already did. We stopped walking when we made it to the family room. My father was in his recliner. Justus and the girl he messed around with most frequently were on the sofa. Her name was Sharla, but since she claimed to originally be from California, she liked to be called Compton.

“Sis-in-law.” Justus stood from the sofa, crossed the room, and caught Tinsley up in a side hug. “You good? The Chi treatin’ you all right? This nigga makin’ sure you’re comfortable over there at Casa de Double?”

“I’m good. And yes, he is.”

“Since you’ve never been formally introduced, this is Justus. We call him Just,” I told her. “And since he’s too rude to introduce her, that’s his⁠—”

“Friend,” he cut me off. He turned Tinsley toward the sofa so that she and Compton were facing one another. “This is my homegirl, Compton.”

“Hi.” Compton all but turned her nose up at Tinsley as her eyes slow dragged over my girl. “Where’s ya ring? If y’all are married, and J is claiming you as a sister-in-law, where’s ya ring?”

“Sharla . . .” my mother began. Passion didn’t play about disrespect.

“It’s cool, Ma,” I said easily. I turned to my brother. “Get yo’ girl.”

He nodded, his face morphing into a frown that he aimed at her.

“Journey!” my mom called. “Come meet your new”— she threw a glance at Compton —“sister-in-law!”

Two seconds later, Journey Waters bounded into the family room with a bright smile on her face. “Where’s she at?” she questioned before her gaze fell on Tinsley. “Girl, those boots and that coat!” Journey tapped her pointer finger and thumb together while gesturing up and down Tinsley’s frame with her other hand. “Come through, baby girl.”

“Double, you forgot to take her coat,” Passion accused me.

“Ma, you’re the one who dragged her in here to meet the family.” I helped Tinsley slide out of her coat.

“Pass it right on over here.” Journey jokingly motioned with her hand for Tinsley to hand her the coat.

“Sorry. It’s the only trench coat I have. It’s too hot in . . . where I’m from, for trench coats, so I was super excited when Lyric pulled it off the rack.”

“You got it from Lyric?”

“Yes.” Tinsley turned to me with unsure eyes. I nodded my head that I was cool with her sharing that information with Journey. “Um, Double had her bring some things by the house since I didn’t have any clothes.”

My mother pulled a face. “You poor thing.”

Tinsley gave her a small smile. “It’s been tough. But between Double and Lyric, I have a very fashionable new wardrobe.”

“I can’t believe he hired Lyric to dress her. I’ve asked you a thousand times to hook me up with your cousin, and you ain’t did it yet,” Compton muttered.

“That’s his wife. You’re my homegirl.”