Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“I’m proud of you.” Nana leaned lightly into her, her face tipping towards hers as they sat across from one another on the porch, enjoying the early morning sunlight.
“Thank you, Nana. That means a lot to me. I’m proud of you, too.”
“Proud of me? What for?” The woman beamed.
“Proud that God chose you to me my grandmama. I couldn’t wish for a better one.” Nana’s complexion deepened. “Here I am sittin’ on this porch the morning after bein’ at the police station, then here for the rest of the night. What a difference a day makes. I can’t do this anymore. This has to stop, Nana. I’ve had warning after warning, sign after sign. Today was my last day workin’ at that club. Any club.” She sighed. “I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
“You can stay here long as you wish, baby.”
“Nana, not here, I mean with my job.” She grinned, then gave a light laugh.
“Oh, I see. I heard you on the phone with your new boyfriend this mornin’…” Nana’s lips curled in a mischievous grin. “You ain’t tell him ’bout last night.”
“Not yet. He’ll raise the roof.” She bit into her lower lip, not looking forward to that conversation. “The past came back to haunt me. The past’s name was Lennox.” She smiled sadly. “That man knows the best and worst of me. Running into him drudged up a bunch of old memories.”
“Good or bad?”
Nadia reached for her coffee. “Most of ’em good. Some of them, not so good.” She brought the rim of the cup to her lips. Its heat made her upper lip feel prickly and moist. “He asked all the wrong questions for all the right reasons. He wants me, Nana… He wants me as a friend.” Her stomach stirred and butterflies took flight. “He wants me as a lover. As an everything. Said he’s gonna make me his wife.” She took another taste, then set it down. “He’s movin’ too fast. At least that’s what I tell myself, and yet, at the same time, the pace seems just right.”
“I can’t have nobody else hurtin’ my grandbaby. You believe in your heart of hearts that he’s sincere?”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s sincere. I can feel it. We love each other.” She smiled so hard, it hurt. “When we first started seeing each other, he turned down sex. With me. Can you believe that?” Nadia asked sarcastically as she pointed to herself, and they both burst out laughing.
“He must be a keeper then ’cause you know ain’t no hot-blooded man gonna turn down no cookies from a pretty girl.” Nana slapped her knee. “ ’Specially a man that’s been pining over you for years.”
She loved that she could speak to her Nana about anything and everything. No subjects were off limits, except for JoAnn’s Pandora’s box.
“So, an old friend opened new doors. That’s beautiful, baby. Walk through them then. See what’s on the otha side.”
“I will. I’ve got to.”
Nana sighed. “So, you’re makin’ moves. What’s the plan for the future, baby girl?”
“Well, I’ve been reading a lot lately, mostly self-help stuff, and thinking about my life in general. Health, career, everything. Thinkin’ about getting a therapist, too. I know our family don’t talk about that sort of thing.”
“I don’t know much ’bout that, baby. We was told to let God carry our burdens, but I ’spose God gives man gifts, too. We’re supposed to help one another. Maybe it does some folks some good.” Nana shrugged.
“Mama said a therapist don’t do nothin’ but make you feel worse than you already did fo’e you walked in their door, but then turn around and charge you for fallin’ apart in front of them. Said she’d charge me half that price, give me a Coke, and throw in a free pretzel,” she scoffed. “Anyway, I even looked at taking online law classes while I work. Now that I’m quitting, I can focus on it full time. I got enough money saved up to last me while I do this. Should be able to pay for it, too. Maybe that was God’s plan all along, you know? For me to learn some things, go some places… then try again. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”
Nana’s eyes lit up like bright stars. “Oh, Nadia!” She brought her hands together and rocked back and forth. “My prayers have been answered. All I wanted you to do was try ’nd get back into your schooling, ’cause it was so important to you. You were doin’ so well, too. I told you back then and I’m tellin’ you now, you’d be a great lawyer.” Nana’s eyes narrowed as she drew serious. “You’re so smart. Just like your mama.”
“I miss school, Nana. I finally admitted it to myself. I love learning, and I would enjoy trying to get back into the swing of things.”