Mama B - A Time to Mend (Book 4) by Stimpson Michelle

Author:Stimpson, Michelle [Stimpson, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Meanwhile, Frank wasn’t too happy about the arrangement. I was so used to talkin’ to him about everything, I slipped and told him about the blow-up at the Allens’ house, which came as a total shock to him since I failed to mention that I was plannin’ a mass clean-up in the first place.

The night I told him, he got a cross expression on his face. He swallowed the bite of turkey chili he’d just put his mouth. “So, you went over there to clean the house?”

“Yeeees...” Tell you one thing: Folks who ain’t used to lyin’ and deceivin’ don’t need to take up that business at age 73.

Frank sucked his teeth. Top and bottom. “Honey, I thought we’d already decided you were going to keep your distance from the Allens.”

WE didn’t decide anything. “Well, Frank, I…I can’t turn Jeffrey away. He’s hungry. Sometimes I think if it wasn't for me and the other neighbors who feed him, he’d starve.”

“Then Ida Mae was right to call the authorities,” he said.

Ain’t that something? My second husband took Ida Mae’s side, just like my first husband used to. “So you think the next time he comes knockin’ for food, I ought to just dial 2-1-1 and get the state over here?” I snapped.

“Don’t be silly.” He shook his head and got back to the chili.

“Well, that’s what you tellin’ me to do, right?” I pushed.

“All I’m asking you to do is stay out of the Allens’ business. We’ve got twenty other families on this street who probably need just as much help. Why don’t you go help them?”

“Because Jeffrey’s the one who’s reachin’ out for me,” I explained. I could feel my face heating up.

“It’s one thing to feed Jeffrey breakfast every morning. But making the Allen household a mercy mission is well beyond the scope of ‘keeping your distance’.”

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “Since you keep bringing up that term, let me just say for the record that I never agreed to keep my distance.”

“We already know that when two don’t agree, they can’t walk together. Opens the door to confusion.”

“How can I agree to something that goes against who I am? I’m a country woman, I’m a mother, a grandmother. I done raised my own boys and plenty more in my old neighborhood. I don’t believe in turning away somebody needy. I don’t think it’s right.”

Frank scooted out of his chair. “All I can say is, you know me. I’m telling you what I think needs to happen, but I’m not going to put my foot down ‘cause that’s not my style, either.” He had a little nip in his voice that time. He took his empty plate to the kitchen and left me alone at the table.

All manner of evil thoughts came to my head. You can put your foot down, up, around, under—wherever you want to put it, Mister Doctor Frank Wilson, you ain’t gon’ change me! They don’t call me ‘Mama’ B for nothin’!

Sittin’ at

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