Page 22 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

Frankie looked toward the restaurant. “Should I be nervous?”

“No.”

“That answer came fast.”

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. They’re going to love you.”

“You sound sure.”

“I am.”

I placed my hand against her back and led her inside. The dinner crowd filled most of the tables. Music played beneath overlapping conversations, and the scent of fried chicken and baked macaroni met us near the entrance.

Aunt Cherry spotted me from behind the bar.

“There’s my Elijah.” She came around it, wiping her hands on a towel. Her face brightened when she saw Frankie. “And this must be your date.”

“Aunt Cherry, this is Frankie. Frankie, my Aunt Cherry.”

“It’s good to meet you,” Frankie said.

Aunt Cherry pulled her into a hug. “Baby, you are gorgeous.”

“Thank you. So are you.”

My aunt held her at arm’s length and looked her over again. “Elijah did well.”

“I thought so, too,” Frankie said.

I laughed as Aunt Cherry drew her into another brief hug.

“Your mother and Aunt Bernice are in the kitchen,” she told me. “Everybody else is out back.”

We crossed the dining room and entered the kitchen, where Aunt Bernice stood over a pan of gravy. Mom arranged rolls in a basket while Brent, my step-father, leaned against the counter beside her.

“Elijah.” Mom kissed my cheek before turning to Frankie.

“Mom, this is Frankie. Frankie, my mother, Ella, and her husband, Brent.”

Frankie accepted my mother’s embrace. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“You too,” Mom said. “Naomi has told us about you.”

“Only good things, I hope.”

“Wonderful things.”

Aunt Bernice set down her spoon. “Come here and let me see you.”

Frankie went to her without hesitation.

“Do you eat?” Aunt Bernice asked.

“Everything.”

Her face filled with relief. “Good. I don’t know what these young women have against food now.”

“I don’t have a problem with anything that smells this good.”