Page 63 of When a Soul Cries

“She made sure we did.”

His laugh faded. “She didn’t eat that night.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Mama. She made us those hot dogs and said she’d already eaten.”

I remembered the hot dogs. Remembered the candles. Remembered Kai and me laughing in the dark. I didn’t remember Mama going without food.

“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. I looked around my house. At everything that struggle had eventually produced.

“We came a long fucking way.”

“We did.”

“Maybe we can make that road a little shorter for somebody else.”

Kai was quiet for a moment. “Run the numbers.”

I straightened. “You serious?”

“Yeah. Talk to legal. See what programs we can partner with. Figure out what makes sense without fucking Eastview up financially. If it works, I’m with it.”

Something in my chest loosened. “Bet.”

“But Rome?”

I already knew bullshit was coming. “What?”

“If I find out we changed the leasing structure on a multimillion-dollar property because Sol got a fat ass, I’m beating your ass.”

I laughed. “Goodnight, Kai.”

“Wait. She do got a fat ass though, don’t—”

I hung up.

My phone rang immediately. Declined.

Then a text came through.

KAI: SHE GOT A FAT ASS DON’T SHE?

I stared at the screen before laughing and shaking my head.

That nigga was an idiot.

⸻

I was at the office before eight the next morning.

By ten, I’d already been through two conference calls, three coffees, and enough emails to piss me off for the rest of the week. The one thing I hadn’t wanted confirmed had also been confirmed.

Hollis was talking to another development company.