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Muted sounds of a heated conversation reach us, and we stop to listen. I can’t make anything out though.
“Is that Alana and Alek arguing?”
Nani’s pinched eyebrows confirm my conclusion.
The voices rise and then abruptly stop. A door slams. Then reopens. Alana’s crying reaches us and then another door slam follows.
“What just happened?” I whisper.
Before she can answer, Alek walks into the room. He rubs a temple and looks at our concerned faces.
“I’m sure you heard that.”
“We couldn’t hear what you were saying. Why is Alana so upset?”
“She doesn’t want to go back home.”
I am not saying a word. But Nani does.
“It isn’t up to her. You are the parent.”
“I mentioned that. Did you hear her response?”
“I thought she was excited to be going to a new school. What happened to that?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I need to cool off. I’m going to get out of here. I’m meeting Big Lucky at the restaurant.”
He comes to me and kisses me goodbye. I don’t know what to say about any of the news. Squeezing his hand is all I can think of doing.
“I’ll be back by six.”
“Okay. It will all work out, Alek.”
“Don’t know how,” he says, walking to the door.
It shuts, not with a slam, but loud enough for Alana to know someone walked out. I look at Nani and say the first thing that comes to mind.
“Oh, shit!”
She picks up the dinner bell and starts ringing it. When my eyes question, she puts a finger to her lips. It takes about thirty seconds for Alana’s bedroom door to open. Walking into the living room, she spots me at her grandmother’s feet. Her red eyes are still teary. She is obviously put out for being summoned. I get busy doing nothing, attempting to fade into the background. And I make no eye contact with either of them.
“What!?”
“Don’t take that tone with me, little girl.”
It is said calmly, but with no room for argument. A pointed finger tells her to sit.
“Let’s talk. I want to hear about this new plan of yours. What is it exactly?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have a plan.”
“That’s what I thought. So you just decided to upend your father’s? His has been years in the making.”
“Well, I just think I’d be happier here. Going to public school. Being with you, Tutu. What’s wrong with that?”
Nani doesn’t fall for the obvious ploy.
“How kind of you to want to spend more time with me. But let’s get real, shall we? I won’t bullshit you, and I expect the same respect.”
