Page 54 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

I finished her last nail, cleaned up my station, and grabbed my purse. We followed each other over to Grandma Lorraine’s, and soon as I opened the front door, that smell hit me.

“Lord…”

Shante walked in behind me. “Grandma cooking like somebody's birthday.”

Grandma came from the kitchen laughing. “I knew that food was gone, bring y’all running.” She pointed toward the kitchen. “Go wash your hands.”

We did exactly what she said. A few minutes later, we were sitting around the table with plates full of baked spaghetti, fried fish, green beans, and cornbread. I took one bite and closed my eyes. “Now this is what I needed.”

Grandma smiled. “I know what my babies like.”

We ate for a few minutes before Grandma leaned back in her chair. Then she looked straight at me. “So…”

I swallowed. “What’s up?”

“Why haven’t you been going to court with Deuce?”

I stopped eating. “Grandma…”

“I’m asking you a question.” She interrupted me.

I looked down at my plate. “I just haven’t been ready.”

She nodded. “I figured something was wrong.”

I didn’t say anything. Grandma folded her hands on the table. “Listen to me, when you married that man, you didn’t just marry him for the good days. You married his last name, his family, his problems, and everything that comes with him.”

I nodded slowly. “I know.”

“And I’m not saying what happened at that baby shower wasn’t enough to make you mad. Because baby, I would be mad too.”

Shante looked down at her plate.

“But you have to understand something.” Grandma pointed her fork at me. “Whatever is happening inside that marriage stays inside that marriage until you decide otherwise. People don’t need to know your house is divided. Because the minute people see weakness, they start attacking.” She shook her head. “You and Deuce might be going through some shit, but when you’re out in public, you better remember who you are. You’re his wife and he's your husband. And until you decide that marriage is over, don’t give the world a front row seat to y’all problems.”

I nodded that hit different coming from Grandma. She wasn’t telling me to forgive him. She wasn’t telling me to forget what happened. She was telling me not to let everybody else watch my marriage fall apart.

Grandma took another bite.

“Now…” She turned toward Shante. “You got something to say?”

Shante looked up. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

I already knew where this was going.

“When was the last time you went to see your brother?”

Shante swallowed. “I’ve been busy.”

Grandma’s eyebrows went up. “Busy? Your brother is sitting in the county and you haven’t been to one damn court date.”

Shante looked down. “I know.”

“Knowing ain’t doing.” Grandma replied.

I tried not to laugh. Grandma caught me smiling. “And what’s funny, Alisha?”