Renovation of Love by Meka James

Author:Meka James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jazen Ink Press

I cussed under my breath at the sight of Cynthia’s car already in the driveway. Hopefully, Jen would wait until after we’d eaten before she started in. Hell, I was still surprised Cynthia agreed to join us. I entered through the back door to find them seated at the kitchen island all smiles over iced tea while Cynthia chopped cucumbers for the salad.

“Sorry I’m late.” I kissed my sister’s cheek and handed her the bag of rolls she’d conveniently asked me to stop and get at the last minute. I walked around, hesitating before giving Cyn the same greeting. Jennifer watched me like a hawk. When I started to take a seat she was quick to tell me no.

“G’on in there with your brother, I’m almost done.” She tried to shoo me toward the living room where I could hear Eddie yelling at the TV.

Instead, I headed over to the sink to wash my hands. “I can help. What else needs to be done?”

Over to the fridge she went. She pulled out a beer, used her apron to twist off the cap, and shoved it into my hands.

“I said out my kitchen.”

Cynthia put her head down, but I could see the smile on her face before I walked out of the kitchen. That was a good sign, maybe. Some things never changed. My sister pushing me around, literally, was one of them.

“Afternoon, man,” I said, dropping onto the couch next to him.

“She kick you out, too?”

“Yup. But for different reasons. I’m sure you were all in the way trying to taste test.”

He laughed. “Hey, I’m only trying to help. What if it needed more salt?”

“Man, you and I both know you’d never tell her that.”

He nodded. “You right. Anyway, so…”

“So…”

I craned my neck back over the sofa trying to see if I could hear anything. No luck.

“She’s looking good after all these years. Like life’s treated her well.”

I took a pull of the ice cold, amber liquid. “Yup, she’s lookin’ good alright.”

He twisted, appraising me up and down then smirked. “A’ight then.”

“What?”

“Whatcha mean what? You know what.”

I sucked my teeth and shook my head.

“Come on and eat,” Jennifer called out.

Eddie grunted as he heaved himself up, his limp ever present on the walk from the sofa to the table. I glanced at Cynthia, trying to get a read on her mood. Her face was neutral with no hints of annoyance. Maybe my sister would not play the mother hen role today.

I whistled through my teeth. “Damn, Jennifer.”

“What?”

“A simple lunch, huh?”

The spread laid out was more in line with dinner. Fried chicken, rolls, salad, and green beans. Hell, she’d even made a red velvet cake. Cynthia’s favorite.

“It does look good, Jennifer,” Cynthia stated. “You didn’t need to go through all this trouble.”

She waved us both off. “This ain’t nothing big. And long as Eddie there don’t overdo it, I won’t have to cook tonight. I already set some aside for the kids when they get back from their friends.”

Eddie rubbed his hands together and licked his lips.

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