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“Of course, I do. I would take Jacob’s word over Justine Parker, Satan herself, or any of the witches that taught her how to ride a broom. Those women are so evil, every night before I go to bed I pray over your name. I say, ‘Lord, You could’ve let me fall and crumble into a million pieces a thousand times over. Yet, You held me tight, and each and every time I was too weak to carry on You carried me. You now have my daughter in your gentle embrace. Perform resuscitation to her spirit during earthly turmoil. Hold her together, like no man has the power to hold. Heal her wounds like only You can. Fix and mold us all and make us impermeable with each repair. In Jesus name.’ And baby, that prayer works. God has protected you and my grandchildren and even blessed us with another on the way. He has sculpted us into flawed, yet perfect children of God.”
I hugged her neck. She had always been a praying mother. A trait I hadn’t embraced fully, but would start. “That’s a beautiful prayer, Mama.”
“And I say the same one for John and Jacob when I wake up, because I want them covered to. If Jacob is anything like his father, he’s been bamboozled by Justine and it just ain’t nothing more to it than that,” Mama said matter of factly.
“Mama, let’s find your dress. Your prayers have us covered with everything else,” I smiled. “I don’t want you stressing over Justine. She’s already taken something special from me and my husband. Her shenanigans are not going to hurt you, too.” I pulled her toward a rack of black dresses.
“Oh, she’s not going to hurt me. Believe that.”
I shook my head. “I think this is the one,” I said pulling out a dress with a one shoulder strap that had blue and black carnation on it, and the other side strapless. It was knee length and pencil style.
“Now, that’s more my style than anything I’ve seen today.”
“Let’s get it then,” I squealed with joy that we would be leaving the stores as soon as she paid for her dress. While Mama was at the counter, Tasha called. “Where are you? You were supposed to meet us hours ago,” I lit into her as soon as I answered.
“I’m in South Dakota with Matt and Cody,” she said with too much pep in her voice. “Matt had to leave town on impromptu business. Since he already promised me and Cody that he would take us on the slopes, this was the perfect opportunity to have a working vacation.”
“Sounds like you are just blending into their family nicely.”
“I guess you could say that,” she said, giggling and flirting with the idea of she and Matt being a couple.
“You have a lot to explain when you get back, Ms. Ski Girl. Make sure you take some pictures of you on the ski slopes.”
“I will, and sorry I couldn’t make it shop with y’all. Tell auntie I will come hang out with her when I get back.”
“Yeah, that’s if Matt lets you off work. Since you’re having working vacations and all, maybe you’ll have more working sleepovers too.”
“Shut up, Destiny! I’ll be free. Just tell her I’m coming by and to have some food ready for me.”
“Okay, have fun, Tasha. You deserve it.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up as Mama was finishing up her transaction.
“That was Tasha, Mama. She said she couldn’t meet us today because she had to work. She said she will come by when she gets free.”
“Oh, so she has a man, too, huh?”
I laughed.
Mama knows everything.
Chapter Fifteen
Destiny
We Are Family
Mom and I walked through the hallways of Jacob’s childhood home. Many of his pictures still hung on the wall in the same place I saw them the first time I visited. I followed Mom into the dining area, preoccupied by the décor of the immaculate room that seemed to hold so much love, now that Jacob’s mother wasn’t sucking up the air.
“So, glad you could make it, Destiny,” Jacob’s father, John, said when I entered the dining room fully.
“I’m glad to be here. Jacob wanted to be here. As you know, he important meetings in Atlanta all day today,” I said.
“That’s fine. You’re the one that I need to talk to,” John said in booming voice that resonated seriousness.
“What is it, John?” Mama asked before I could respond.
