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Her smile fades. “No, not really, except we don’t kill for control of other people’s turf.”
“Right. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She touches my arm. “It’s fine. Just, don’t mention it today with my grandmother, okay? The wounds are still fresh for her. Nobody ever talks about those days.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good.” She links her arm with mine. “Come on then, let’s hurry before the old lady gets impatient.”
Jamila’s grandmother lives on a decent block in a row home surrounded by family. An uncle on the left, an aunt on the right, a cousin two doors down, more aunts and uncles across the street. It’s like they control the whole row. As soon as we’re on the block, people are sitting on stoops, leaning out windows, shouting at Jamila, greeting her. I’m introduced to half a dozen people in ten seconds, a dizzying amount, all of them shaking my hand, the women hugging me tight. “We heard so much about you,” Jamila’s aunt says, a tall woman with an intense grin. “Not all good, but mostly.”
“Uh,” I say as Jamila pulls me away.
“Don’t mind them,” she says, laughing as we head up a stoop and knock on a brown door. “They’re just messing with you.” Two men are sitting out front on lawn chairs and both of them looking dour. Jamila leans over to call out. “Hey, Uncle, where’s Grandmother?”
“She’s got a visitor already.” The old man scowls. “Been in there too long. Got half a mind to rush in and check to make sure she’s safe.”
“Visitor?” Jamila looks surprised. “Who’d show up at nine on a Saturday?”
“Big fancy man.” The uncle rolls his eyes. “He shouldn’t have shown his face here, but what can we do?”
My stomach sinks deep into my knees. Jamila looks uncertain as she knocks on her grandmother’s door again, and finally, it opens up.
Revealing Nolan standing beside a wrinkled old woman, the aged version of Jamila.
I step back in shock. Jamila goes stiff. The whole block is silent, like everyone’s staring as Nolan turns to Jamila’s grandmother and kisses her cheek.
The old woman pats his face. “Thank you, young man,” she murmurs. “I can’t forgive you, but this helped.”
“I understand. I’m thankful you spoke with me.” Nolan glances at me, a frown tugging at his lips. “Keely. Jamila.” He brushes past us, down the stoop, and walks away.
I gape after him in total shock. Once Nolan’s gone, the block comes to life again, everyone chattering at each other. Gossiping about the kiss, about what the old woman said to him.
“Keely.” Jamila beckons at me from her grandmother’s door. “Come on.”
I follow the pair inside, not sure how to feel. My emotions are a conflicting mess.
Why would Nolan be here? What was he thinking, visiting Jamila’s grandmother like that? And what did she mean, their conversation helped? I don’t know what Nolan could possibly have to say to her that might make any difference. And yet it seems like it did.
But I know already. He’s here for me—because of me—because he wants to wipe away some of the stain, some of the sin. Even if he’s not ashamed, he came here to make things right, or at least to try, all for me.
All because of me.
I’m in a daze as I’m introduced to Jamila’s grandmother, a sweet older woman named Adhya. She eats a donut and praises it effusively, which helps bring me back down to earth, although Jamila remains concerned.
“Grandmother, what was Nolan Crowley doing here?” she asks, taking her grandmother’s hand. “I thought you hated him.”
“I do, darling, I do.” She pats Jamila, shaking her head. “But he came to make things right between us. Him personally, not as a member of his family. That sort of visit takes guts. I respect that.”
“What did he say?” I ask, unable to help myself.
The old woman glances at me. “You’re the wife, aren’t you? He said you were friends with my Jamila. I wasn’t sure I believed him, but now here you are, sitting in my kitchen.”
I feel my cheeks turn red. “He mentioned me?”
“He did,” he says, nodding sagely. “He talked a lot about family. It seems very important to him. Another thing I can respect.”
“Grandmother, you don’t need to tell us.” Jamila looks almost panicked. “Whatever you said to Nolan, you can keep to yourself.”
