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“Good for her. You have no idea how happy this makes me to hear! That’s good about stopping alcohol. The mix with the medicine can probably make her sick.”
“Yeah. She sounded really optimistic, and now she’s glad Ayanna is with me while she works on herself. I told her that as long as she’s doing what she needs to do, I’d never try to keep Ayanna away from her. I want them to have a relationship. I know Lily loves Ayanna; it’s just that love ain’t enough to raise a child. Ayanna is still mad at Lily about what she said to me, but I know, with time, things will get better. Lily called her daughter the other day and apologized to her for some of the things she’d said to her, too. She’s never done that before.”
“That’s just beautiful. I’ve been worried about Lily for years, baby. Even before this all hit the fan. She wasn’t actin’ right. Your mother would shove it under the rug when I would tell her, ‘Something ain’t right with Lily.’ She changed so fast, and so drastically. It scared me. It scared the whole family.” She could hear the emotions in Aunt Blue’s voice. “Speakin’ of my beautiful niece, what are y’all going to do about school?”
“We’re keeping her in her school until the end of the school year, and then, she’s going to enroll out here to finish high school.”
“That’s a good plan. You’re so good to that girl.”
“I just thank God I was able to get her and raise her. If things had played out differently in the courts, this conversation wouldn’t even be happening.” She shook her head. “I love that girl so much.”
“The whole family can see that. You’re going to be a great mother, Iris, because in a way, you already are.” Iris took a deep breath, reflecting on her aunt’s words. “She’s growing up to be an amazing young lady.”
“That she is.”
“I spoke to Ayanna yesterday, and she said you and Jude are turnin’ one of the guestrooms into her bedroom, and she loves it already.”
“Yes! We’re letting her pick out a lot of her own stuff for it. It’s got a huge walk-in closet, and a bay window overlooking his pretty backyard and—”
“That’sy’allsbackyard now… Get used to saying it.”
“You’re right.” Iris’ face warmed. “It’s ours. The courtyard is beautiful, Auntie, I can’t wait until you see it. He’s got a covered patio with a grill and sitting area. There’s a gazebo, and a sauna, too, and a lot of acreage. Mostly shallow forest. I’m plannin’ to use part of the yard to start a garden. Tomatoes, zucchinis, things like that.”
“Speakin’ of tomatoes and zucchinis, have you put in your notice at Kroger yet?”
“I’m doing it once I reach four months.”
“Girl, why? Your husband got bank!”
“I know, but a lot of people rely on me, and like I told you, I like my job—it just didn’t pay enough. I’ve got to train a couple new people before I go anyway, so it’s fine.”
“I would’ve told those folks to kick rocks. Anyway, how’s classes going?”
“Good. I’m taking a computer science one now, and then an accounting one. I’ve gotten only one B so far. All the rest have been A’s.” Iris smiled with pride. “I’m going to have my Associates Degree in Business Management soon, Auntie. That’ll make things easier with the boutique. With the baby coming now, I’ll have to slow down my plans, but I am still movin’ forward.”
“God’s timing is always the right timing. Have you decided on a location for the store?”
“Well, that’s a little premature, but yeah, I’ve narrowed it down. Since I’m movin’ in with Jude, I found a spot close to my new home. I just got to look at available commercial real estate out this way. I already rented a storage unit and have been collecting stuff and putting it in there to sell. Hats, jackets, shoes, you name it.”
“You want me to sell some of my stuff in there, too?”
Iris burst out laughing. The last thing she wanted was Aunt Blue to be in her shop causing a ruckus.
“Girl, I’m serious! You could have a little corner in there called, ‘Aunt Blue’s bundles’ and it would be toiletries, you know, all that stuff!”
“Bundles make it sound like I’m sellin’ hair weave.”
“Fine, then Aunt Blue’s Bargains. Yeah… Bargains! That’s got a nice ring to it.”
“Auntie, I ain’t about to be selling your stolen toilet paper rolls up in my store!” They were both cackling now.
“It was tissues, thank you very much, and that was just one time. They ain’t miss it.”
“I doubt it. You don’t have any shame. Thank goodness the doctor didn’t bring it up again when I had my next appointment. You embarrassed me somethin’ awful.”
“You’ve embarrassed yourself plenty of times with no help from me. Like when you tripped in the parking lot and fell in a pile of trash, or that time a bee flew in your shirt and you tore it off, yellin’ and screamin’ outside of my house, jumping up and down in your bra. Now you got nasty man Nate next door always askin’ me when you comin’ through again.”
“Stop it!” Iris giggled. “You didn’t have to bring that up.” She’d forgotten all about that.
