Page 22 of Double

Compton looked pissed.

Journey broke the silence of the awkward encounter. “I’m Journey.”

“I’m Tinsley. It’s nice to meet you.”

My father took that moment to cross the room and join us. My mother met him halfway. He wrapped his arm around her waist while she laid her head on his chest. “This is my husband.”

My dad held out his hand toward Tinsley. “It’s good to meet you, Tinsley. I’m sorry the circumstances aren’t the best, but it’s still a pleasure.”

Tinsley smiled brightly at my dad. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mr. Waters.”

“Nah. Please, call me Jinx.”

“No, thank you.” She shook her head.

Everybody laughed.

“We’ll have to come up with something else,” she told him.

“Dinner’s ready. Let’s go to the table,” my mother told us before she and my dad headed for the dining room.

“Can I help?” Tinsley offered as we walked into the dining room.

The house was open concept, so the kitchen was visible.

“You’re company.” Passion waved her off playfully with her hand.

“I’m family, Mama Passion. Please, let me help.”

A grin cracked my mother’s face. Tinsley was winning her over without really even trying. “Okay. Come on into the kitchen with Journey and me.”

The ladies brought the food to the table: seafood jambalaya; a huge garden salad; hush puppies; fried green tomatoes; collard greens; and deviled eggs. Everybody filled their plates and began eating.

“What have you been doing since you’ve been here?” Journey asked Tinsley.

“Not much.” Tinsley giggled self-consciously. “I’ve mostly been at Double’s house. Yesterday was the first time I left his house.”

“She’s only been here four days,” I added.

“And I just got clothes yesterday. But Double’s been encouraging me.” She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. “He offered to take me on a honeymoon.”

“You didn’t want a honeymoon?” Compton’s face was a mask of incredulity. “What kinda marriage do y’all have? What are you, in the witness protection program or something? You have an accent. Are y’all on some passport bro sh—stuff?” She corrected herself, turning to me. “What? Let me find out that you went to the islands to find you a little wifey to help you get over Erica.”

“Is you coo?” Justus asked her with a look of disgust.

“My brother’s not thinking about Erica.” Journey rolled her eyes before mumbling low enough for only me to hear, “With her ho-hoppin’ ass.”

“I was just wonderin’. If it’s none of my business, just say that.”

“It’s none of your business,” we all chorused.

“What kind of work do you do, Tinsley?” my mother asked.

“I co-owned an event design business with my best friend. Weddings. Milestone birthdays. Anniversaries. Retirements.” She had a faraway look in her eyes. “I loved helping people celebrate their big moments in life.”

“That’s what you do, right, Compton?” my mother asked.

“Uh.” Compton’s nose was turned up once again. “I plan events. I don’t know nothin’ about designin’ them. That sounds kinda pretentious to me.”