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“Awww, baby girl, it can’t be that bad,” he says softly,, his face full of compassion. He squeezes my shoulder encouragingly.
“It’s not that.” I pat his hand to reassure him. “It’s just…the campaign trail is grueling.”
He’s immediately nodding. “I can’t imagine. My fiancée, Tk, would be losing her mind.”
“Wasn’t she y’all’s boss, the head librarian?” I query, a knowing smirk playing across my face until I think of how closely Mathias and Natalie work together. How she’s always there. Not that it matters now that he’s planning to rid himself of his troublesome wife. I should be glad he’s not thinking of a deadly solution like King Henry The Eighth.
“Well.” Blay pauses for a long moment, as if trying to find the right words. “Ezekiel-Jane and Angel helped us more than they know on that score.” His words hold a lot more meaning that is lost on me.
Staring at him blankly for a moment, I’m puzzled when it comes to my super-innocent, saved-by-grace cousin. “What?” I ask, giggling even though wanting to be messy even though that is another big media training no-no.
“Oh, no, don’t worry about it.” He waves me away.
“Mm-hmm.” I give him a skeptical look.
“It’s nothing, I promise.” The mischievous twinkle in his eyes belies the statement, though.
“Uh-huh, I got your number buddy.” I poke him in the shoulder, smirking.
“So where are y’all headed next?” he queries with true interest.
“More local stuff and community events. A few more fundraisers. I used to wonder why people were raising so much money, but now I realize how expensive campaigns are. Mathias is paying his people a living wage, and a salary for the more seasoned people. And don’t get me started on the ad buys.” Of all the events we’ve attended so far, this one in Shelby-Love is the most welcoming and down home despite Joi’s little plant. I look around to see if he’s lurking and trying to get more dirt or if LL and the campaign’s security team showed him the door.
Scanning my surroundings, I don’t see the young man. I only see people mingling. Krie waves and starts making her way over to me, along with Mimi. My cousin Valentine’s here talking to everyone but pointedly ignoring her sister, Summer. I guess she’s still mad Summer dropped out of Tuskegee’s veterinary program to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
Summer doesn’t seem the least bit bothered, though, working the crowd for more clients. Her bright effervescence has everyone flocking to her. I’m going to have to tell Val that sometimes following your own dream is best.
“Well,” Blay says, all Southern charm, patting my back. “I won’t monopolize all your time, Mrs. Shelby.”
“Boy, stop calling me that like I’m some old bitty.Nikkiis fine.”
He smiles, moving to the side to pass and allow Krie and Mimi to come close. Just as he moves to my left, I see what he was blocking: the furious countenance of one Mathias Shelby.
The fury on his face makes me step back apprehensively.
“Whoa, cuz.” Krie stops me from stepping all over her. She comes and looks me over. “You okay?” Both my cousins’ heads swivel, trying to find the cause of my upset, but Mathias has already turned away, talking a group of men that includes their husbands.
“It’s nothing,” I tell them, shoving my unease away. Changing the subject, I ask, “How did y’all think he did tonight?”
“Good,” Mimi says as they both nod. “He’s going to be a good senator. I think he means business about bring more jobs and opportunities to the rural areas.”
“How’s he treating you, though?” Mimi doesn’t mince words. “I know what Joi pulled was some mess, but he can’t think you had anything to do with it. Everybody knows she put my business all out in the street.” It took Mimi and the entire family a long time to forgive Joi for the exclusive interview she did that almost ruined not only Santiago’s and Mimi’s career but their relationship as well.
“Yeah, and me too.” Krie adds, “Talking about, ‘it was for the public interest’ that she cover what Thad and his friends did. Never mind it almost cost me my restaurant. Then she straight did Kiyoshi dirty, not even interviewing his team when the strike went down.”
“That was the dirtiest ever.” Mimi seethes, sucking her teeth.
“Y’all, stop,” I tell them. “I don’t know what she’s up to, but trust, when I see her, we are going to have a misunderstanding. It can be in five days or five years, but it’s happening.”
They laugh, but they know I am deadly serious. I’ve been nothing if not nice to Joi. I was the first one to deal with her after she pulled that stuff with Mimi and pled her case when she did it to Thad and Krie. I feel silly for telling people how she had no choice, being the only new reporter around these parts, added to the fact that she professed to be a “just the facts, ma’am” type of journalist. But this thing with Mathias was salacious and gossipy.
“She went too far. She could have given you a heads-up. Especially after you confided in her.” Krie huffs and Mimi nods.
“I never told her anything.” I shake my head vehemently, hurt they think that of me. “I would have never told his business like that.” I lower my voice but make no effort to hide my affront.
“Then how did she find out?” Mimi leans in to ask, while Krie makes sure we’re not being overheard.
“I don’t know,” I say miserably. “And he doesn’t believe me.”
